Key takeaways
• The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) has announced the panel of judges for the 2026 Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards, featuring experts from various jewelry industry disciplines including gemology, design, and retail.
• Judging for the competition will take place in Dallas in late October 2026, with entries being evaluated on criteria such as beauty, innovation, quality of workmanship, and consumer appeal.
• Key deadlines for participants include an Early Bird mail-in deadline on September 25, 2026, and a final mail-in deadline on October 9, 2026.
(DALLAS) – The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) started accepting entries for the 2026 AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards last week and is now pleased to unveil the list of judges for the competition. Five were selected this year, comprising experts from different disciplines within the jewelry industry, plus more judges in the sponsored category awards. All are tasked with assessing hundreds of entries based on the criteria of beauty and wearability, innovative design, effective use of materials, quality of gemstones, quality of workmanship, consumer appeal, and potential to generate positive publicity for natural colored gemstones and cultured Pearls. Each piece is examined by hand with an eye for craftsmanship and quality of the materials used.
“AGTA is thrilled to once again welcome another prestigious group of judges to experience the 2026 Spectrum and Cutting Edge Awards,” says John W. Ford, Sr., CEO of AGTA. “Every year we bring in a new panel of judges with different backgrounds. This year’s judges have exceptional expertise and talent, and we look forward to seeing what wins. I encourage designers and gem dealers with all levels of experience to send in your best work.”
Judging will take place in Dallas in late October. Judges for this year include:
John Bachman | Gemstone Dealer Judge
John Bachman of John M. Bachman, Inc., set out to become a gem merchant by moving to Sri Lanka for three years to learn the trade. He first found his niche with Spinel before moving into fine Sapphire and white Topaz production. Modern style gem cutting was in its early stages in Sri Lanka when he and his local partners began operating commercial lapidaries using new techniques to cut and polish their rough stones. He eventually helped establish a BOI-approved export lapidary in Kuruwita, Sri Lanka, for fine cutting on a large scale, an operation responsible for training over 4,000 skilled lapidarists in the country. Bachman’s perspective on the lapidary arts comes from his experience in all aspects of Sri Lankan gem production and operating a 100% loose color gem business in the U.S. since 1978.
John Bradshaw | Lapidary Judge
John Bradshaw is a gemologist (GIA-GG) and gemstone cutter. With a B.S. degree in chemistry from the University of Massachusetts (1979) and geology from Salem State College (1981), he began his cutting career on a part-time basis in 1979. Within a short period, he launched his full-time faceting business, John J. Bradshaw, and became a wholesale dealer of a wide variety of gems. In 1987, he formed Coast to Coast Rare Stones with Mike Gray and Art Grant and later, Brad Wilson. Bradshaw has worked as a consultant on many gem projects both in the U.S. and internationally in Pakistan, Russia, and the Central African Republic, and has maintained a 20-year tenure as an Associate at the Harvard Mineralogical Museum curating the gem collection in Cambridge, Mass. He has many published articles including writing the “Gem Notes” section for GemWorld International’s GemGuide from 2013–2025. John is a member of AGTA and the American Gem Society.
Yehouda Saketkhou | Manufacturing Judge
Yehouda Saketkhou is the Founder and CEO of Yael Designs, an award-winning fine jewelry house established in San Francisco in 2001. Over more than two decades, he has built a reputation for bold creativity, meticulous craftsmanship, and an innovative approach to colored gemstones. His work reflects a distinctive design philosophy that blends artistic storytelling with technical precision, resulting in pieces that are both visually striking and enduring in quality. While the company began with a focus on diamonds, Yehouda soon developed a deep appreciation for rare and vibrant gemstones, embracing color as a central element of design and establishing a signature aesthetic recognized by collectors and retailers across the country. Throughout his career, his designs have received numerous accolades, including repeated recognition at the AGTA Spectrum Awards.
Zoltan David | Designer Judge
Master goldsmith, diamond setter and jewelry designer Zoltan David established his business in 1980 following a seven-year-long apprenticeship in hand fabrication and diamond setting in Vancouver, Canada. Since then, he has earned 17 Spectrum Awards and more than 20 other national and international design honors, including two “Cool Store” awards from INSTORE Magazine for his retail locations. His works can be viewed in several museums, including the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, the Alfie Norville Gem and Mineral Museum, and the GIA in Carlsbad, Calif. His designs are recognizable due to their originality, craftsmanship, and proprietary and patented techniques. In addition to his professional work, he is a dedicated supporter of CASA for Children and various other charitable organizations.
Jerry Raine | Retailer Judge
Jerry Raine has worked in the gem and jewelry business since 1979, with his first-ever Tucson gem shows experience taking place in 1981—one year before AGTA GemFair Tucson debuted. Since touching down in that annual, nearly monthlong colored gemstone oasis in Arizona, buying and selling colored gemstones has been his passion. One year later in 1982, Raine founded Turgeon Raine Jewelers in Seattle with Norman Turgeon. Their store developed a reputation for fine gems and meticulously custom-made pieces as well as outside artisan-produced heirlooms, with Jerry and his wife Yukiko contributing to many of their handmade treasures. Norman retired in 2013, but Jerry and his team continue to offer fine ready-made designs as well as lending their bench expertise and creativity to those seeking one-of-a-kind engagement rings or other celebratory styles.
Judges for the sponsored Awards categories include:
Reena Norville | Alfie Norville Women in Excellence Awards (ANW) Judge
Born in Tucson, Ariz., and raised in Phoenix, Norville earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice and a minor in Sociology from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash. After working for a general contractor, Norville returned to school to complete her MBA, along the way discovering a passion for mixed martial arts (MMA) and becoming a professional MMA fighter. Today, she combines her academic background and athletic experience as the owner of a personal training and self-defense business, helping others build confidence, strength, and resilience. Beyond fitness, Norville is passionate about dog training and community service, regularly volunteering with therapy dogs throughout Las Vegas to bring comfort, connection, and a joy to those who need it most.
Michelle Alfena Spector | Alfie Norville Women in Excellence Awards (ANW) Judge
Michelle Alfena Spector, granddaughter of Allan and Alfie Norville and daughter of Patti Norville Spector, was born and raised in Tucson, Ariz. She grew up exploring the many vendor booths at the Gem & Jewelry Exchange (GJX) trade show in Tucson, Ariz., collecting samples of cut stones and jade figurines and following her grandmother around to learn about all the beautiful items on display—something she looked forward to every year! She took that passion for creativity and beauty with her to study digital and print media at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York state. Today, she is one of the show’s owners and now resides in Florida.
Ben Norville | Alfie Norville Women in Excellence Awards (ANW) Judge
Before he could even walk, Benjamin “Ben” Norville was astonished by gemstones thanks to his mother carrying him past the booths at his family’s GJX show in Tucson, Ariz. Norville spent his childhood hiking the Arizona mountains looking for geodes and unique stones, and couldn’t wait until February each year to attend GJX. Over the years, he got more involved with the show, assisting in planning, set up, and guest relations, and especially looked forward to spending time with his late grandmother Alfie, walking the show floor with her and admiring the breathtaking array of gems she wore. Norville’s passion for design, family, and learning led him to get his bachelor’s degree at Loyola University Chicago for Advertising and Public Relations, his grandfather’s alma mater. He graduated during the COVID pandemic, briefly volunteered in the U.S. Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer, returning home to Arizona at the end of his contract to rejoin the family business.
Jenny Luker | Platinum Guild International USA (PGI) Judge
With nearly 30 years of experience working with jewelry designers, manufacturers, and retailers, Jenny Luker now holds the position of President of Platinum Guild International USA. In this role, Jenny is responsible for the strategic business development of the platinum jewelry industry in the U.S. She leads her team in developing innovative marketing and trade programs that create value for the jewelry industry and fosters new generations of consumers. Jenny holds a B.A. from the University of Oklahoma and an M.A. from California State University at Fullerton, both in sociology. Additionally, Jenny is the Immediate Past Chairman of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, Past President of the Women’s Jewelry Association, an Executive Board member of Jewelers for Children, and member of the 24 Karat Club of New York.
Lauren Stuller | Stuller Color of the Year Award Judge
Lauren Stuller, GIA GG, GJ, is a jewelry professional from Stuller, Inc., with nearly a decade of experience spanning from custom design to business development. Known for her creative eye and strong industry relationships, she brings a well-rounded perspective shaped by both technical training and hands-on experience across multiple areas of the trade. Stuller studied Jewelry & Metals at the Savannah College of Art and Design before moving to California to attend the Gemological Institute of America, where she completed the Graduate Gemologist (G.G.), Graduate Jeweler (G.J.), and CAD/CAM Comprehensive programs. Her background includes expertise in custom jewelry design, colored gemstone and diamond sourcing, bench jewelry work, and cultivating relationships throughout the industry.
Charles Evans | Stuller Color of the Year Award Judge
Charles Evans, BSc (Hons), FGA, DGA, NAJA CM, is an experienced gemologist, gem buyer, appraiser, and gem educator with more than 25 years in the industry. He specializes in the sourcing, identification, and appraisal of colored gemstones, with a strong focus on supply-chain transparency and the evaluation of exceptional gem materials from mine to market. Evans holds a BSc (Hons) in Gemmology and Jewellery Studies from Birmingham City University and is a Fellow (FGA) and Diamond Graduate (DGA) of Gem-A. He has lived and worked in nine countries, gaining extensive first-hand knowledge of gem mining and colored gemstone market dynamics. An accomplished speaker and educator, Evans has presented at major industry events including the Scottish Gemmological Association, the JVA Registered Valuer Conference in the United Kingdom (UK), and the NAJA Conference in Tucson. An active faceter and member of both the U.K. and U.S. Faceters Guilds, Evans has also contributed articles to leading publications such as The Journal of Gemmology.
The Early Bird mail-in deadline for Spectrum & Cutting Edge entries is Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. The final mail-in deadline is Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. Click here to enter. Also be sure to save the date for the AGTA Spectrum Awards Gala to be held in the Tucson Convention Center in Tucson, Ariz., during the 2027 AGTA GemFair Tucson.
