Southern Jewelry News columnist Tammy Williams (I Love my Job) took home four honors from the Georgia Jewelers Association (GJA) Design Competition. Williams, owner of JD Jewelers in Suwanee, earned the People’s Choice Award along with a first place finish and two third place finishes in the Competition which was conducted during the GJA Convention in September.
Williams took 1st place in the $3000 and up category with a stunning 4 strand natural corundum bead necklace (approximately 160 carats). All four strands faded from pure white, through pink to intense ruby red. Three of the strands ended with a briolette ruby and the longest strand concluded with a 14 karat white gold diamond pave’ puffed heart. The heart had a hollow center that allowed a single 2.5 carat heart shaped diamond, that had been bezel set and a pearl clasp added to allow it to be suspended from the opening in the hollow heart. The versatility of this piece is exciting and allows the single diamond to be worn as a solitaire or suspended from pearls.
In the $300 – $1000 group Williams took 3rd place with a 14 karat white gold “Circle of Life” pendant that was set with Chatham synthetic alexandrite and a double cut trillion diamond. What made this piece unique, besides the double cut trillion, was that the diamond was bezel set and placed on a rod that acted as an axis, allowing the diamond to spin.
She also placed 3rd in the $1000 – $3000 category with a 14 karat yellow gold custom designed three stone pendant. The three stones were natural fancy diamonds that included not only a canary and chocolate diamond but a GIA certified grey. The three stone pendant was suspended on 4 strands of 3-4mm faceted natural zircon beads. Each strand matched the diamond to which they were strung; with two strands of natural grey zircon strung to the rare grey diamond. This beautiful piece also earned the People’s Choice Award.
On the People’s Choice honor Williams said: “We won People’s Choice, and that thrills me. I take great pride in designing wearable, meaningful, unique and versatile jewelry for the everyday person. Nothing thrills me more than to see a client wearing a piece of jewelry that we designed, that looks like it belongs on the red carpet, yet I know they did not need a movie star’s budget and can still afford to send their children to college.”
Williams would like to send a special thank you to Melbry Collins, a GIA student that is using the laboratory at J D Jewelers to complete her Graduate Gemology training. Collins designed the diamond and zircon necklace and the alexandrite necklace and commissioned the experts at J D Jewelers to build them. J D Jewelers sponsored her entry into the competition.
