Platinum Honors at the 2012 AGTA Spectrum Awards™

PGI-USA Awards Eight Jewelry Designers with ‘Platinum Honors’ for Outstanding Work in Platinum at the 2012 AGTA Spectrum Awards™

Platinum once again took center stage at the 28^th annual AGTA Spectrum Awards, a competition hosted by the American Gem TradeAssociation that celebrates outstanding design using colored gemstones. An impressive array of platinum entries were submitted in this year’s competition, nine of which were recognized in the Platinum Honors™ category sponsored by Platinum Guild International USA (PGI-USA). The Platinum Honors™ winners were chosen from each of the five Spectrum Awards categories as well as Best Use of Color and Platinum, and new entry price-pointed categories Entry Platinum Honors in Bridal Wear and Platinum Innovation in Classical and Day Wear designs.

PGI-USA Senior Vice President, Jenny Luker notes, “We were thrilled to see so many stunning platinum submissions at this year’s awards, especially because platinum’s natural white color makes it an ideal setting for showcasing gemstones. Designers truly outdid themselves by creating breath-taking platinum designs that ranged from dainty and elegant to bold and innovative.”

PGI-USA’s participation in the AGTA Spectrum Awards™ is an integral part of their continued effort to support up and coming, as well as established designers and manufacturers and inspire them to work in platinum.

Winners of the Platinum Honors™ category are awarded with a generous prize package valued at more than $15,000 including several high profile publicity opportunities, professional photography of the winning piece featured on PGI-USA’s consumer website PreciousPlatinum.com and a customized poster of the winning piece featured in a trade advertisement – all of which aims to generate national brand awareness and desire for the winning designer.

The 2012 AGTA Spectrum Awards™ competition was held in New York City on October 22-23.  

Platinum Honors™ 2012 Winners:

Best Use of Platinum and Color

Michael Endlich, Pave Fine Jewelry: Platinum ring featuring a 19.05 ct. cushion-cut Aquamarine with pave-set Diamonds (.41 ctw.).

Bridal Wear

James W. Currens, J.W. Currens Inc.: Platinum ring featuring a 16.80 ct. sugarloaf Ruby accented with Diamaonds (4.54 ctw.).

Bridal Wear – Entry Platinum Innovation

Mark Schneider, Mark Schneider Design: Platinum ring featuring a 1.81 ct. round blue Sapphire accented with white Diamonds (.14 ctw.).

Day Wear

Leon Mege, Leon Mege, Inc.: Platinum Ring featuring a 16.76 ct. Paraiba Tourmaline cabachon accented with antique cushion-cut Diamonds and Diamond melee (3.10 ctw.). 

Day Wear – Entry Platinum Innovation

Susan Drake, Spectrum Art & Jewelry: Platinum and yellow gold ring featuring a 1.08 ct. emerald-cut red Spinel accented with Diamonds (.18 ctw.).

Evening Wear

Evelyn Clothier, Evelyn Clothier Jewelry: Platinum butterfly brooch featuring brown diamond slices (104.42 ctw.) accented with a 5.06 ct. brown Diamond and white Diamonds )3.04 ctw.).

Classical

Erica Courtney, Erica Courtney: Platinum ring featuring an 11.19 ct. Imperial pink Topaz accentedwith Diamonds. 

Men's Wear

Mark Schneider, Mark Schneider Deisgn: Platinum ring featuring a 15.0 ct. shield-cut rubellite Tourmaline accented with white Diamonds (.90 ctw.) and yellow Diamonds (.22ctw.).

In addition to the Platinum Honors™ winners, The American Gem Trade Association recognized the following platinum designs:

Best Use of Color

Deirdre Featherstone, Featherstone Design: Platinum earrings featuring removable Opal enhancers (15.64 ctw.) accented with blue Zircons (3.27 ctw.), Tanzanites (3.53 ctw.), Paraiba Tourmalines (.40 ctw.) and Diamonds (5.79 ctw.).

Bridal Wear - 1st Place

Maria Canale, Richard Krementz Gemstones - Platinum "Lace" ring featuring a 4.10 ct. blue Sapphire accented with Diamonds (.77 ctw.).

Bridal Wear - 3rd Place

Craig Slavens, AuRTWORK Jewelry - Platinum and 18K yellow gold pendant featuring a 3.92 ct. rose-cut black Diamond accented with black and white Diamond melee (.52 ctw.) on an 18K white gold chain set with black and white Diamonds (.71 ctw.).

Bridal Wear - Manufacturing Honors

Mark Schneider, Mark Schneider Design - Platinum earrings featuring 12mm black Tahitian Pearls and 8mm cultured freshwater Pearls accented with white Diamonds (.99 ctw.) and black Diamonds (.53 ctw.).

Bridal Wear - Honorable Mention

Leonard McCue, L.A.M. Goldsmiths - Platinum "Hearts and Arrows" ring featuring a 19.0 ct. pear-shaped Moonstone accented with Diamonds (2.37 ctw.).

Classical - 1st Place 

James Currens, J.W. Currens, Inc. - Platinum ring featuring a 14.25 ct. unheated Ruby cabochon accented with Diamonds (7.97 ctw.).

Classical - 2nd Place 

Ashok Sancheti, Pioneer Gems - Platinum earrings featuring Emerald cabochon drops (18.45 ctw.) accented with Emeralds (18.21 ctw.) and Diamonds (4.81 ctw.).

Classical - 3rd Place

Jeffrey Bilgore, Jeffrey Bilgore, LLC - Platinum pendant featuring an 11.80 ct. pear-shaped Morganite accented with fancy-colored and white Diamonds (7.09 ctw.).

Classical - Honorable Mention

Christo Kiffer, Sissy's Log Cabin - Platinum art-deco ring featuring a 4.84 ct. oval black Opal cabochon accented with Emeralds (1.0 ctw.), blue Sapphire melee (.88 ctw.) and Diamonds (.93 ctw.).

Men's Wear - 1st Place  

Mark Schneider, Mark Schneider Design - Platinum engraved ring featuring channel-set Ruby melee (.59 ctw.) and yellow Diamonds (.115 ctw.).

Japanese Researchers Create First Spherical Diamond!

I don't know about you but can you imagine these in a necklace with South Sea Pearls?


Japanese researchers say they created first perfectly spherical diamond

A team of researchers at Ehime University in Japan say they have created the world's first perfectly spherical diamond, according to a media report.

The state-run university's Geodynamics Research Center said it has processed an artificially produced diamond, of a variety the center has named Hime, into a perfect four-carat sphere with a diameter of 7.5 millimeters.

The potential applications of the technology used to shape an artificial diamond into a perfect sphere are expected to be widespread, the researchers said in a report in The Daily Yomiuri.

In 2003, the research center synthesized a tiny grain of Hime diamond measuring less than 1 millimeter wide. The centre combined carbon atoms by subjecting them to 150,000 times the standard atmospheric pressure and temperatures of 2,300 C.

By last year, the research team had become able to create Hime diamonds up to 1 centimeter wide, they said.

Hime diamonds are far harder than naturally formed diamonds. They have a uniform degree of hardness throughout their structure, whereas this changes in different parts of a natural diamond, according to the centre.

From the Antwerp Facets Newsletter...

Celebrating the Cutting Edge...the Winning Gem Faceters!

As in previous years I would love to show the same credit to the Cutting Edge Awards that every Industry Magazine is showing to the Jewelry Awards - if you have a photo of your winning entry forward it to robynahawk at gmail and I would be happy to include you here and on my AFlyOnTheWall Posterous page...lets get the Rocks some press time  ;-p

This year's AGTA Spectrum Awards™ will be presented during the 2012 AGTA GemFair™ Tucson to be held January 31 – February 5 at the Tucson Convention Center in Tucson, Arizona. Winning entries will be displayed during the show and AGTA Spectrum Awards™ recipients will be recognized during the AGTA Dinner Dance and Awards Gala. The event starts at 7:00 pm Saturday, February 4. Tickets for the gala are $100 and cocktail attire is encouraged.


AGTA Cutting Edge Awards honor excellence and creativity in lapidary arts, including natural colored gemstones and cultured pearls, carvings, and other gem materials.

CUTTING EDGE AWARDS

Classic Cut Gemstones: 
Classic Gemstones- 1st Place
Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co. - 30.04 ct. unheated oval yellow Sapphire.

Classic Gemstones - 2nd Place
Phillip Youngman, Richard Krementz Gemstones - 7.66 ct. cushion-cut blue Sapphire.

Classic Gemstones - 3rd Place,
Joseph Ambalu - Amba Gem Corp. - 6.07 ct. unheated Ruby.

Classic Gemstone - Honorable Mention
Richard Krementz Gemstones, Richard Krementz Gemstones - 19.18 ct. antique-cut yellow Sapphire.

Classic Gemstone - Honorable Mention
Joseph Ambalu, Amba Gem Corp. - 8.06 ct. oval Padparadscha Sapphire.





All Other Faceted Gemstones - 1st Place
Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co. - 10.07 ct. oval purple Spinel.

Roger Dery 12.7 x 12.7 x 8.4mm  8.77ct  

Merelani Mint Garnet; untreated; purchased in Arusha January 2011

All Other Faceted Gemstones - 2nd Place
Roger L. Dery, Spectral Gems, Inc. - 8.77 ct. trillion, step-cut Merelani mint Garnet.

All Other Faceted Gemstones - 3rd Place
Phillip Youngman, Richard Krementz Gemstones - 15.20 ct. cushion-cut Sphene.

All Other Faceted Gemstones  - Honorable Mention
Ben Kho, Kho International, Inc. - 18.80 ct. round Portuguese-cut Rhodochrosite.


Phenomenal Gemstones:
Phenomenal - 1st Place
Robyn Dufty, DuftyWeis Opals, Inc. - 27.30 ct. black Opal cat's eye.

Phenomenal - 2nd Place
Sailesh Lakhi, Sparkles and Colors, Inc. - 17.0 ct. oval Moonstone cabochon.

Phenomenal - 3rd Place
Joseph Ambalu - Amba Gem Corp. - 8.51 ct. oval Alexandrite



Pairs & Suites: 
Pairs & Suites - 1st Place
Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co. - Pair of oval red Spinels (22.28 ctw.).

Pairs & Suites - 2nd Place
Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co. - Cushion-cut mint Tourmaline suite (158.74 ctw.).

Pairs & Suites - 3rd Place
Aivan Pham, Commercial Mineral - Somewhere in the Rainbow - "My Fair Lady" pair of fan-cut rubellite
Tourmalines (26.75 ctw.).

Pairs & Suites - Honorable Mention
Aivan Pham, Commercial Mineral - Somewhere in the Rainbow - "Razzle Dazzle" graduated suite of
Asscher-cut rubellite Tourmalines (26.74 ctw.).



Innovative Faceting: 

Innovative Faceting - 1st Place
Dalan Hargrave, Geogem-USA - 30.0 ct. "Hugs and Kisses" Morganite.

Innovative Faceting - 2nd Place
John Dyer, John Dyer & Co. - 63.57 ct. "Super Citrine" featuring flat facets and micro-grooving for brilliance.

Innovative Faceting - 3rd Place
Darrell Jang, Darrell Jang - 9-10 ct. elongated octagon and concave-cut Tourmaline.

Innovative Faceting - Honorable Mention
Richard P. Homer, Gems by Design, Inc. - 30.95 ct. rutilated Quartz with a single natural needle in the
center.

Part of a Collection called "Somewhere in the Rainbow"
Material from Tammy & Dave Wheatley's Sunstone Butte Mine

Innovative Faceting - Honorable Mention
Darryl Alexander, Sunstone Butte Mining Co. - "Sea Foam and Sunset" 70.0 ct. bubble-cut Sunstone.
Carving

Carving - 1st Place
Naomi Sarna, Naomi Sarna Designs - 368.50 ct. carved Amethyst.

Photo Credit:   AZAD Photography

Carving - 2nd Place
Darryl Alexander - Alexander's Jewelers - "Immortal Flight" carved Agate feather.

Win "Naked Gems" from Gemvara!

2012 AGTA Spectrum Awards - Best of Winners

Winners Announced for AGTA's 2012 Spectrum Awards™ Competition 

Winners have been named in the 2012 AGTA Spectrum Awards™ competition hosted by the American Gem Trade Association.  This year marks the 28th  anniversary of the competition.

The competition was judged October 22-23 in New York, NY. Judges for the 2011 competition were Master Goldsmith Klaus Burgel, Sylvain Chervin of Carvin French, Cindy Edelstein of the Jewelers Resource Bureau, Patricia Faber of Aaron Faber Gallery, and Clay Zava of Zava Master Cuts.

The annual AGTA Spectrum Awards™ Media Day was held October 24 and featured all of the jewelry and gemstone submissions.   Attendees included top fashion/accessory editors from the trade and consumer press, stylists, and bloggers.  Publications represented included Vogue, W, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, Women’s Wear Daily, Marie Claire, Essence, Smart Money, and many more.

SPECTRUM AWARDS:  

BEST OF CATEGORY Winners: 
Best of Show:
Todd Reed, Todd Reed, Inc.
Palladium and 22K yellow gold locket featuring blue Moonstones, grey Diamonds (24.51 ctw.), blue
Sapphires (17.34 ctw.) and white Diamonds (5.10 ctw.) opening to reveal a 76.03 ct. Moldavite Buddha.

Fashion Forward:  
Belle Brooke Barer, Belle Brooke Designs, Inc.
Oxidized sterling necklace featuring an approximately 30 ct. blue Chalcedony cabochon accented with
Diamonds (.55 ctw.).

Best Use of Pearls:  
Anil Maloo, Baggins, Inc.
18K white gold and black rhodium plated earrings encrusted with light cognac Diamonds (8.16 ctw.) and
13.3mm cultured South Sea Pearls.

Best Use of Color:
Deirdre Featherstone, Featherstone Design
Platinum earrings featuring removable Opal enhancers (15.64 ctw.) accented with blue Zircons (3.27 ctw.),
Tanzanites (3.53 ctw.), Paraiba Tourmalines (.40 ctw.) and Diamonds (5.79 ctw.).

Best Use of Platinum and Color: 
Michael Endlich, Pave Fine Jewelry
Platinum ring featuring a 19.05 ct. cushion-cut Aquamarine with pave-set Diamonds (.41 ctw.).

Best Use of Palladium and Color  
Dennis de Jonghe - Dennis de Jonghe
Palladium pendant featuring a 16.39 ct. Aquamarine accented with a 2.09 ct. Moonstone, Diamonds (.26
ctw.) and Pearls.

Photos from AGTA Spectrum Awards Facebook Page and JCK Magazine

Designer Jordan Askill Collaborates with Gemfields for Spring/Summer 2012

Jordan Askill presents his third chapter in the evolving tale of Jewellery and Sculpture in collaboration with ethical coloured gemstone producer, GEMFIELDS.

For Spring Summer 2012, Askill has created a collection which reflects the strength and purity of the Amethyst stone. Exploring the process of raw crystal carving, each piece is a marriage of hand carved craftsmanship and digital technological advances. Askill explains “I designed these pieces to reflect the strength and purity of the stone, working with GEMFIELDS allows my process and final product to protect the environment and stay true to nature”

Drawing inspiration from the serene idealism of the Emerald Buddha, Askill has designed a collection to be worn as natural armour, a physical interpretation of calm and well being. The collection begins with a swallow taxidermy interpreted as a sculpture and worn as jewellery of silver and crystal. Each piece of the collection contrasts the organic nature of the swallow with the strength of the elements of Amethyst.

For this collection Askill has humanised the characters of his very first sculpture: the ‘Horse Wave Home’ which has, up until now, featured inhabitants from the animal kingdom only. Upon arrival into the ‘Horse Wave Home’ world, we meet the physical presence of a female. She is represented as part of ‘The Swallow Bird Bust’, a sculpture created to house the jewellery. This sculpture combines the bust of a female figure with the taxidermy swallow; an exploration of a once live swallow and its relationship with the human form. It has also been interpreted as a corsage box, worn on the wrist to mimic a swarm of swallows a place to house smaller pieces of the collection. Askill has also re-interpreted the ‘Horse Wave’ jewellery box in amethyst coloured resin.

Joining the spiritual presence of the woman inside, the ‘Horse Wave World’ are characters from past chapters. This paradise allows nature and fantasy to collide, with the introduction of a flying Unicorn which hangs from double threaded amethyst beads. Amethyst stones adorn the Unicorn’s horn inspired by the element of fire to imitate the rising Phoenix, a swarm of swallows translate into a cuff, Panthers and horses are worn as rings, bracelets, necklaces and earrings. All pieces are created with intricate detailing.

The ‘Jordy’ range, a separate element of Askill’s collection allows the wearer an opportunity to bear an ‘imprint or tattoo’ of this world. These are instantly recognizable symbols of your imagination, poetic motifs from the ‘Horse Wave World’ world which can be taken with you.

Adding to the original motifs of hearts and stars, are flames, intertwined hearts and broken hearts, the silhouette of the moon and letter rings spelling ‘FLAME’ All representations of passion and evolution: the need to exist and survive, translated into jewellery and worn as a ring in variations of gold.


For a full gallery see Vogue UK:
http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/spring-summer-2012/ready-to-wear/jordan-askill# 

About GEMFIELDS

Gemfields is the world’s foremost coloured gemstone producer, positioned at the intersection of exploration, mining and marketing.


Natural gems are at the heart of the operation. Gemfields provides the market with ethically produced and fair trade coloured gemstones with a strong focus on Amethysts. The company’s unprecedented mine to market strategy through transparent partnerships with the world’s leading coloured gemstone dealers and manufacturers allows Gemfields to ensure the provenance of every gem.


Supported by a world-class management team of seasoned industry experts, Gemfields prides itself on excellence and transparency. Dedicated to preserving the environment, nurturing relationships with local communities and upholding human rights is paramount to their success.

MJSA Redesigns Buyers' Guide Online Search Engine

MJSA Redesigns Buyers' Guide 

Online Search Engine

New features include more detailed member information and buyer's tips

As part of its continuing digital advancements, MJSA-the U.S. trade association dedicated to professional excellence in jewelry making and design-has redesigned its Buyer's Guide Online search engine. The Guide's new features enable not only easier access to MJSA members' supplies and services, but also more detailed information to help buyers choose wisely. Among the improvements:

 

* More details about MJSA member companies, including minimum order requirements, special discounts and offers, and featured products and services.

* A "Buyer's Tips" section that offers trend forecasts and peer-reviewed technical articles to help buyers make the best purchasing decisions.

* A New Products section to showcase members' latest offerings.

* The expanded and strictly enforced MJSA Code of Ethics, which sellers agree to uphold upon joining the association.

The MJSA Buyer's Guide Online continues to provide a complete range of jewelry-related products and services, enabling searches for specific types of tools and equipment, metals, findings and chain, gemstones and beads, contract and business services, and packaging, displays, and finished jewelry.

"One of our primary goals as an association is to help our members better connect with buyers, and that includes through new digital opportunities," says David W. Cochran, president/CEO of MJSA. "The expanded Buyer's Guide Online represents our latest step in this area. Members now have more opportunities to differentiate themselves from their competitors, and buyers have easier searches and more information to make the best purchasing decisions. They also have the confidence in knowing they're dealing with companies that have agreed to abide by the highest ethical standards, and that any issues will be resolved promptly and fairly through our enforcement policy."

That buying experience is also enhanced through the new MJSA Buyer's Tips sections, which include both public and members-only articles. Among the offerings:

* Regularly updated fashion, gem, and metal trend overviews, contributed by Helena Krodel of the Jewelry Information Center, gem columnist Deborah Yonick, and MJSA Journal staff.

* A quality checklist for purchasing finished jewelry.

* Guidelines for calculating the return on investment in capital purchases, as well as a checklist for evaluating tools and equipment.

* Best practices for ordering metals and component parts.

* Glossaries of chain and findings terminology, to ensure buyers know all of their options.

* Guidelines to gem treatments.

Future improvements will include a section devoted to contract services, including detailed information about member companies' capabilities.

To visit the MJSA Buyer's Guide Online, go to mjsa.org. For more information, contact MJSA Membership Coordinator Travis Searle at travis.searle@mjsa.org, or call 1-800-444-MJSA(6572).

About MJSA 

MJSA is the U.S. trade association for jewelry makers, designers, and related suppliers. It provides the resources to achieve professional excellence and maintain a competitive edge. For more information, call MJSA at 1-800-444-6572 or visit www.mjsa.org.