Photos Up: 2011 AGTA Cutting Edge Awards

We were able to show you some of the 2011 Spectrum - Cutting Edge Award Winners earlier - but the AGTA has now posted the COMPLETE Set of photos...and these are glorious!!!

...of course the jewels are beautiful...but the photography of Robert Weldon makes them SING!

Check out the complete set at:http://www.agta.org/awards/2011-winners.html

...and a few new teasers...the winners in the Carving Category.

1st Place
D - Carving
Joseph August Voss
Joseph August Voss
Boise, ID USA

220.30 ct. crystal Quartz carving.

2nd Place
D - Carving
John Dyer
John Dyer & Co.
Edina, MN USA

62.64 ct. "Golden Reflections" Beryl.

3rd Place
D - Carving
Naomi Sarna
Naomi Sarna Designs
New York, NY USA

Carved white Opal sculpture (149 grams).

...and as usual I will be posting individual photo galleries at Posterous

http://aflyonthewall.posterous.com/

Photos In: 2011 AGTA Spectrum Awards

We were able to show you some of the 2011 Spectrum Award Winners earlier - but the AGTA has now posted the COMPLETE Set of photos...and these are glorious!!!

...of course the jewels are beautiful...but the photography of Robert Weldon makes them SING!

Check out the complete set at: http://www.agta.org/awards/2011-winners.html

...and a few new teasers...

2nd Place
Business/Day Wear
Gregore Morin
Gregore Joailliers
Santa Barbara, CA USA

18K white and yellow gold earrings featuring lemon Chrysoprase (22.0 ctw.) accented with Garnets (2.38 ctw.).

Editor's Choice
Katey Brunini
K. Brunini Jewels
Solana Beach, CA USA

18K rose gold and silver ring featuring white Opal accented with blue Sapphires (3.26 ctw.), Diamonds (.13 ctw.) and Rubies (.06 ctw.).

Honorable Mention
Business/Day Wear
Eva Cheng
Elite Import
San Francisco, CA USA

18K rose gold pendant/brooch featuring a freeform rose Quartz set with a .70 ct. round Diamond and accented with 178 Diamonds (1.20 ctw.).

AGTA's 2011 Spectrum Awards™ - Platinum Honors!

Three new categories have been added to the Platinum Honors Division of the AGTA's 2011 Spectrum Awards™.

We have photos of four of the winners and as we receive photos we will add them.

There will be a complete photo gallery later on Posterous at: http://aflyonthewall.posterous.com/

Platinum Honors, sponsored by Platinum Guild International, recognizes outstanding use of platinum in colored gemstone and/or pearl jewelry in the five Spectrum Awards categories and for the Best Use of Color and Platinum. New for this year, Platinum Honors adds three new categories: Platinum Honors Innovation – Bridal Wear under $2,500, Platinum Honors Innovation – Classical under $3,500 and Platinum Honors Innovation – Day Wear under $2,000.

Bridal Wear - Platinum Honors

Yehouda Saketkhou, Yael Designs: Platinum "Triad" ring featuring a 6.34 ct. unheated blue Sapphire accented with white Diamonds (1.03 ctw.)

Bridal Wear - Entry Platinum Honors

Robert Pelliccia, J.R. Dunn Jewelers: Platinum ring featuring a 1.37 ct. round blue Sapphire accented with Diamonds (.46 ctw.) and blue Sapphires (.28 ctw.)

Business/Day Wear - Platinum Honors

Maria Canale, Richard Krementz Gemstones: Platinum "Wave" pendant featuring a 2.18 ct. Paraiba Tourmaline accented with Diamonds (3.72 ctw.).

Business/Day Wear - Platinum Honors

Ron Lodholz, Stonehaven Jewelry Gallery: Platinum ring with a 1.41 ct. Aquamarine, Diamond Accent (.06 ctw.).

Classical - Platinum Honors

Christopher Olson, Molina Fine Jewelers: Platinum "Temple of the Sacred Heart" ring featuring a 10.05 ct. oval untreated Ruby accented with white Diamonds (7.18 ctw.) and Rubies (.22 ctw.).

Evening Wear - Platinum Honors (see photo above)

Ralph Wobito, Zultanite Gems, LLC: Platinum earrings featuring Zultanite (Diaspore) briolettes (25.15 ctw.) accented with white Diamonds (0.95 ctw.).

Men's Wear - Platinum Honors

Alan Friedman, Alan Friedman: Platinum ring with a cushion-cut purple Spinel (6.62 ct.).

...and the big one:

Best Use of Platinum and Color:

Judy Evans, Omi Gems, Inc.

Platinum "Princess of Ratnapura" bracelet featuring nine round Sapphires (14.0 ctw.) and round Diamonds (8.48 ctw.)

AGTA's 2011 Spectrum Awards™ "Cutting Edge" Winners

If you read yesterday's report on the AGTA announcement of the Winners of the 2011 Spectrum Awards™, you know that the announcement included the "Cutting Edge" Awards.

Unfortunately photos of the winners haven't been released yet - so I didn't add it to my post. Seriously - what good is a list of winners if you can't see them....

I want to give a HUGE thank you to the awesome John Dyer - Gem Artist ! We have John's winning entries! ...the Object of Art entries were announced with the Jewelry Awards.

(BTW - if you are a cutter that won an award in 2011 free to submit photos to my email at robynahawk at yahoo dot com)

AGTA Cutting Edge Awards honor excellence and creativity in lapidary arts, including natural colored gemstones and cultured pearls, carvings, other gem materials and objects of art. Categories included: Open Category - Classic Gemstone Division, Open Category – All Other Faceted Gemstones Division, Open Category – Phenomenal Gemstones Division, Pairs & Suites, Faceting, Carving, Combination and Objects of Art.

The 2011 Cutting Edge Awards Winners

Classic Cut Gemstones:

A1 - Open Category Classic Gemstone - 1st Place

Joseph Ambalu, Amba Gem Corp.: 8.04 ct. pigeon blood Ruby.

A1 - Open Category Classic Gemstone -2nd Place

Sailesh Lakhi, Lakhi Impex, Inc.: 43.42 ct. cushion-shape, step-cut blue Sapphire.

A1 - Open Category Classic Gemstone - 3rd Place

Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co.: 6.66 ct. cushion-cut pink Sapphire.

A1 - Open Category Classic Gemstone - Honorable Mention

Gonen Abrahami, ABC Gems: 4.93 ct. emerald-cut Emerald.

A2 - Open Category All Other Faceted - 1st Place

Ruben Bindra, B & B Fine Gems: 9.59 ct. trillion-cut red Spinel.

A2 - Open Category All Other Faceted - 2nd Place

Ruben Bindra, B & B Fine Gems: 32.58 ct. oval-shape tsavorite Garnet.

A2 - Open Category All Other Faceted - 3rd Place

Ben Kho, Kho International, Inc.: 12.91 ct. princess-cut Rhodochrosite.

A2 - Open Category All Other Faceted - Honorable Mention

Ben Kho, Kho International, Inc.: 15.28 ct. ct. oval-cut Imperial Topaz.

A2 - Open Category All Other Faceted - Honorable Mention

Jeffrey Bilgore, Jeffrey Bilgore, LLC: 49.24 ct. Asscher-cut Aquamarine.

Phenomenal Gemstones

A3 - Open Category Phenomenal - 1st Place

Robyn Dufty, DuftyWeis Opals, Inc.: 36.73 ct. Mexican fire Opal cabochon.

A3 - Open Category Phenomenal - 2nd Place

Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co.: Pair of oval Alexandrites (3.25 ctw.).

A3 - Open Category Phenomenal – 3rd Place

Jeffrey Bilgore, Jeffrey Bilgore, LLC: 15.0 ct. oval cat's eye Chrysoberyl.

Pairs & Suites

B - Pairs & Suites - 1st Place

Clay Zava, Zava Mastercuts: Suite of pastel Cuprian Tourmalines (127.40 ctw.).

B - Pairs & Suites - 2nd Place

Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co.: 15-piece round blue Sapphire necklace layout (68.75 ctw.).

B - Pairs & Suites - 3rd Place

Hemant Phophaliya, AG Color, Inc.: Pair of pear-shaped cabochon Tanzanites (41.62 ctw.).

B - Pairs & Suites - Honorable Mention

Darrell Jang, Darrell Jang: Aspen-shaped leaves cut from a 15.09 ct. Peridot and a 11.15 ct.

Heliodor

Faceting

C – Faceting - 1st Place

(Shown Left)

Jeff L. White, J.L. White Fine Gemstones:

48.83 ct. square, cushion-cut Morganite.

C – Faceting - 2nd Place

John Dyer, John Dyer & Co.: 14.43 ct. cushion-cut pink Tourmaline.

C – Faceting - 3rd Place

Ben Kho, Kho International, Inc.: 13.78 ct. sunburst-cut Sphalerite.

C – Faceting - Honorable Mention

Ben Kho, Kho International, Inc.: 50.20 ct. kaleidoscope-cut Kunzite.

Carving

D – Carving - 1st Place

Joseph August Voss, Joseph August Voss: 220.30 ct. crystal Quartz carving.

D – Carving - 2nd Place

John Dyer, John Dyer & Co.: 62.64 ct. "Golden Reflections" Beryl.

D – Carving - 3rd Place

Naomi Sarna, Naomi Sarna Designs: Carved white Opal sculpture (149 grams).

Combination

E – Combination - 1st Place

Thomas Trozzo, Trozzo: 66.48 ct. square, dimple, concaved, scissor-cut Aquamarine.

E – Combination - 2nd Place

John Dyer, John Dyer & Co.: 50.92 ct. trillion custom-cut Morganite.

E – Combination - 3rd Place

John Dyer, John Dyer & Co.: 9.50 ct. Umbalite Garnet.

Objects of Art

F - Objects of Art - 1st Place

Gregore Morin, Gregore Joailliers: Kokeshi Princess featuring white Opal (83.98 ctw.), Basinite (36.29 ctw.), rubellite Tourmalines (2.91 ctw.) and Diamonds (.72 ctw.) with 18K white gold and platinum on a base of silver, brass and wood.

F - Objects of Art - 2nd Place and Best Use of Pearls

Llyn L. Strelau, Jewels by Design: Sculpture titled "Who Are You" featuring two-tone gold and silver with freshwater baroque Pearls, South Sea keshi Pearls, akoya seed Pearls, demantoid Garnets (.25 ctw.), .20 ct. Ruby and cognac Diamonds (.03 ctw.) on a crystal Quartz base (242 ctw.).

F - Objects of Art - 3rd Place

Tigran Lementsyan, Repair Restoration Center: "Dandelion" featuring Quartz and Diamonds (.36 ctw.) with silver, 18K yellow gold and gold-plated leaves.

F - Objects of Art - Honorable Mention

Darryl Alexander, Alexander's Jewelers: "Got Paint?"- opalized wood with a sterling frame in a black marble base. The paint is Sugalite, Mookite, Turquoise & Onyx, with Quartz dish & sterling tube with Coral. The brushes are Onyx, Agate, Hematite, Quartz and multiple woods.