(DALLAS) – The American Gem Trade Association is pleased to announce the winners of the prestigious 2019 AGTA Spectrum Awards™. The competition was held in New York on August 3rd and 4th and is regarded as the world’s prominent colored gemstone and cultured pearl design competition. The distinguished panel of judges included: John Carter, Jack Lewis Fine Jewelers; Paula Crevoshay, Mellika Company, Inc./CREVOSHAY; Myriam Galli, Gemveto Jewelry Company, Inc.; Brett Kosnar, Kosnar Gem Co.; and Naomi Sarna, Naomi Sarna Designs.
“The judging week for the AGTA Spectrum Awards™ continues to be an absolute highlight of our year. When we see the entries coming into our office and those submitted during our New York City drop off program, there’s always a lot of internal speculation about how the judges will respond to each piece. After all of these years, one thing is certain and that is that there is no way we can anticipate the dynamics that will develop within the panel, nor the pieces they will ultimately select after hours of contemplation and discourse,” noted Douglas K. Hucker, AGTA CEO. “The spirit of collaboration within our extremely professional and diverse panel resulted in a number of first time winners. Within all categories, the quality of materials entered were absolutely superb.”
Winners of the 2019 AGTA Spectrum Awards™ are:
Best of…
Best of Show
David Nassi, 100% Natural, Ltd. – 30.19 ct. untreated cushion-cut Tanzanian red spinel.
Best Use of Color
David White, Aucoin Hart Jewelers – 18K yellow and white gold cufflinks featuring sapphires (3.09 ctw.) accented with diamonds (2.36 ctw.) and tsavorite garnets (1.37 ctw.).
Best Use of Pearls
Chris Faber, Stuller, Inc. – 18K rose and white gold cufflinks featuring 12-15mm South Sea cultured pearls accented with black diamonds (5.69 ctw.) and rubies.
Best Use of Platinum and Color
Roland Krainz, Krainz Creations – Platinum “Emergence” cuff bracelet featuring sapphires (9.23 ctw.), emeralds (1.41 ctw.), rubies (1.08 ctw.) and diamonds (1.17 ctw.) set on a stingray cuff.
Best Use of Platinum Crown
Heena Shah, Valani – Platinum “Nova” ring featuring 7.17 ct. hexagon emerald accented with kite-shaped emeralds (.98 ctw.) and diamonds (2.63 ctw.).
Fashion Forward
Adam Neeley, Adam Neeley Fine Art Jewelry – Purple titanium, 14K white gold and green VeraGold “Aria” earrings featuring indicolite tourmalines (41.45 ctw.) accented with tsavorite garnets (3.34 ctw.) and diamonds (2.42 ctw.).
Bridal Wear
Bridal Wear – 1st Place
Bella Campbell, Campbellian Collection/BHI – 18K white gold bracelet featuring rainbow moonstones (20.00 ctw.), blue sapphires (2.0 ctw.) and diamonds (2.51 ctw.).
Bridal Wear – 2nd Place
Lindsay Jane, Lindsay Jane Designs – Platinum “Inner Beauty” ring featuring a 3.71 ct. unheated purple sapphire accented with diamonds (1.54 ctw.) and sapphire melee (.33 ctw.).
Bridal Wear – 3rd Place
Avi Raz, A & Z Pearls, Inc. – Platinum ring featuring a 4.75 ct. emerald cabochon accented with diamonds (1.63 ctw.).
Bridal Wear – Honorable Mention
Erica Courtney, Erica Courtney, Inc. – 18K yellow gold earrings featuring marquise-cut morganites (19.78 ctw.) inlaid with marquise diamonds (.61 ctw.) and accented with pear-shaped diamonds (.60 ctw.) and diamond melee (1.41 ctw.).
Bridal Wear – Honorable Mention
Evy Edelman, Designs by Evy – 18K white gold “Ice Butterfly” pin/pendant featuring carved white jadeite accented with emeralds (2.06 ctw.) and diamonds (.56 ctw.) with a freshwater baroque pearl and two tourmalines (.45 ctw.).
Bridal Wear – Manufacturing Honors
William Travis, William Travis Jewelry – Platinum ring featuring a 1.82 ct. round blue sapphire accented with light blue sapphires (.10 ctw.).
Bridal Wear – Platinum Honors™
Erica Courtney, Erica Courtney, Inc. – Platinum ring suite featuring a 4.40 ct. oval white sapphire accented with pear and round paraiba tourmalines (1.05 ctw.) and diamond melee (1.34 ctw.).
Bridal Wear – Entry Platinum Innovation
Michael Endlich, Pave Fine Jewelry – Platinum “The Temple” ring featuring a 0.95 ct. brown diamond.
Bridal Wear – WJA Gem DIVA™ Award
Caysie van Bebber, CvB Inspired Design – Platinum ring featuring a 3.36 ct. custom-cut hexagonal blue sapphire framed with onyx and accented with diamonds (.20 ctw.).
Business/Day Wear
Business/Day Wear – 1st Place
Ricardo Basta, E. Eichberg, Inc. – 18K yellow gold “Karma Chameleon” ring featuring a 15.27 ct. barrel facet top tourmaline accented with sapphires (1.58 ctw.), tsavorite garnets (1.46 ctw.), rubies (.28 ctw.) and spessartite garnets (.02 ctw.).
Business/Day Wear – 2nd Place
Lisa Linhardt, Linhaus/Linhardt – 18K yellow gold “Remolino” ring featuring a 11.32 ct. cushion-cut emerald accented with diamonds (.51 ctw.).
Business/Day Wear – 3rd Place
Mark Schneider, Mark Schneider Design – Platinum ring featuring an 11.06 ct. aquamarine accented with diamonds (.80 ctw.) and blue sapphires (.65 ctw.).
Business/Day Wear – Honorable Mention
Almut Belote, Almut Belote Jewelry – 18K yellow gold and platinum necklace featuring a 4.30 ct. pear-shaped rubellite tourmaline accented with teal round tourmalines (.58 ctw.) and diamonds (.40 ctw.).
Business/Day Wear – Honorable Mention and Manufacturing Honors
Gaston R. Rives, Gaston Jewelry Studio, Inc. – 18K white gold ring featuring a 5.38 ct. emerald-cut Mexican fire opal set with turquoise cabochons, tsavorite garnets (.75 ctw.) and diamonds (1.10 ctw.).
Business/Day Wear – Platinum Honors™
Oscar Heyman, Oscar Heyman – Platinum “Jellyfish” pendant featuring an 8.58 ct. moonstone cabochon accented with paraiba tourmalines (4.07 ctw.) and blue sapphires (2.55 ctw.).
Business/Day Wear – Entry Platinum Innovation
Myles Mindham, Mindham Fine Jewellery – Platinum brooch featuring a 56.18 ct. hexagonal aquamarine cabochon accented with kunzites (27.87 ctw.) and diamonds (.84 ctw.).
Business/Day Wear – WJA Gem DIVA™ Award
Hisano Shepherd, little h by hisano shepherd – 14K yellow gold earrings featuring 6-11mm Tahitian cultured pearls accented with black diamonds (14.0 ctw.).
Classical
Classical – 1st Place
Jeffrey Bilgore, Jeffrey Bilgore, LLC – Platinum bracelet featuring a 3.00 ct. Russian demantoid garnet accented with Russian demantoid garnets (12.20 ctw.) and diamonds (4.18 ctw.).
Classical – 2nd Place and Platinum Honors™
Beatrix Laura Jewels, B & W Jewels, LLC – Platinum necklace featuring a 23.89 ct. aquamarine accented with emeralds (2.89 ctw.), aquamarines (22.92 ctw.) and diamonds.
Classical – 3rd Place
Jeremy Dunn, Dunn & Co. – Platinum ring featuring a 5.57 ct. indicolite tourmaline accented with diamond melee (.63 ctw.).
Classical – Honorable Mention
Joseph Ambalu, Amba Gem Corp. – Platinum and 18K yellow gold ring featuring a 3.44 ct. unheated burmese pigeon blood ruby accented with diamonds.
Classical – Entry Platinum Innovation
Michael Endlich, Pave Fine Jewelry – Platinum “Little Lilac” ring featuring a 1.85 ct. star sapphire accented with diamonds (.20 ctw.).
Classical – Honorable Mention and WJA Gem DIVA™ Award
Nikki Swift, Nicole Mera LLC – Platinum ring featuring a 4.88 ct. emerald-cut Tanzanian pink spinel accented with Asscher-cut, baguette and round diamonds (2.56 ctw.).
Evening Wear
Evening Wear – 1st Place
Tanja Schuetz, DuftyWeis Opals, Inc. – 18K white gold necklace featuring a 49.80 ct. boulder opal accented with blue sapphires (3.77 ctw.), tsavorite garnets (3.11 ctw.) and diamonds (1.12 ctw.).
Evening Wear – 2nd Place
Richard B. Berberian, Elyse Fine Jewelers – 18K white gold “Blooming” ring featuring sapphires (2.13 ctw.) accented with white diamonds (.86 ctw.) and chocolate diamonds (.90 ctw.).
Evening Wear – 3rd Place
Everett Wiethorn, Everett Wiethorn Jewelry – 18K yellow gold and platinum “KHATUN” necklace featuring a 21.27 ct. tourmaline accented with a 7.70 ct. ruby, a pink sapphire, white diamonds (7.71 ctw.) and black diamonds (.80 ctw.).
Evening Wear – Honorable Mention
Ricardo Basta, E. Eichberg, Inc. – 18K yellow gold “Zircon Suite” ring featuring inserts including a 6.84 ct. peach zircon & orange sapphires; an 8.43 ct. red zircon & pink sapphires; a 7.97 ct. blue zircon & rubies; a 6.45 ct. yellow zircon & garnets; a 6.61 ct. rose zircon & rubies.
Evening Wear – Manufacturing Honors
Michael Gauthier, Stuller, Inc. – Platinum ring featuring a 5.63 ct. tanzanite accented with rhodolite garnets (1.26 ctw.), amethysts (1.02 ctw.) and sapphires (0.93 ctw.).
Evening Wear – Platinum Honors™
Steph Farber, LeRoy Jewelers – Platinum necklace featuring graduated diamond-cut aquamarines.
Evening Wear – WJA Gem DIVA™ Award
Buddha Mama – 20K yellow gold “Dreamcatcher” pendant featuring a 42.52 ct. cinnamon cushion-cut zircon set with white and gray enamel with diamond flowers and pears.
Men’s Wear
Men’s Wear – 1st Place
David White, Aucoin Hart Jewelers – 18K yellow and white gold cufflinks featuring sapphires (3.09 ctw.) accented with diamonds (2.36 ctw.) and tsavorite garnets (1.37 ctw.).
Men’s Wear – 2nd Place
Bert Esterhuysen, Henne Jewelers – 14K white and rose gold “Fourfold Cross” ring featuring a 5.94 ct. radiant-cut diamond with cross inclusions accented with teal sapphires (1.39 ctw.).
Men’s Wear – 3rd Place
Chris Faber, Stuller, Inc. – 18K rose and white gold cufflinks featuring 12-15mm South Sea cultured pearls accented with black diamonds (5.69 ctw.) and rubies.
Men’s Wear – Platinum Honors™
Patrick Mohs, Patrick Mohs Jewelry – Platinum ring featuring a 3.49 ct. emerald-cut indicolite tourmaline accented with fancy gray diamonds (.31 ctw.) and white
diamonds (.27 ctw.).
AGTA Cutting Edge Awards™
All Other Cut
All Other Cut Gemstones – 1st Place
David Nassi, 100% Natural, Ltd. – 30.19 ct. untreated cushion-cut Tanzanian red spinel.
All Other Cut Gemstones – 2nd Place
Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co. – 16.65 ct. emerald-cut tsavorite garnet.
All Other Cut Gemstones – 3rd Place
Mikola Kukuharuk, Nomad’s – 10.10 ct. egg-shaped lavender spinel.
All Other Cut Gemstones – Honorable Mention
Mikola Kukuharuk, Nomad’s – 38.01 ct. oval mixed-cut Mandarin garnet.
Carving
Carving – 1st Place
Meg Berry, Fallbrook Gem & Mineral Society – 69.0 ct. carved rubellite tourmaline, titled “Himalaya Rose.”
Carving – 2nd Place
Nick Alexander, Alexanders Jewelers – 42.05 ct. Oregon sunstone carving.
Classic Gemstone
Classic Gemstone – 1st Place
David Nassi, 100% Natural, Ltd. – 7.34 ct. untreated emerald-cut Zambian emerald.
Classic Gemstone – 2nd Place
Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co. – 12.07 ct. unheated Sri Lankan blue sapphire.
Classic Gemstone – 3rd Place
Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co. – 11.04 ct. unheated emerald-cut Sri Lankan yellow sapphire.
Innovative Faceting
Innovative Faceting – 1st Place
Mark Gronlund, Mark Gronlund – 119.65 ct. specialty-cut aquamarine, titled “Beyond.”
Innovative Faceting – 2nd Place
Dalan Hargrave, GemStarz Jewelry – 28.66 ct. specialty-cut bicolored tourmaline.
Innovative Faceting – 3rd Place
Dalan Hargrave, GemStarz Jewelry – 37.36 ct. specialty-cut amethyst.
Innovative Faceting – Honorable Mention
Dalan Hargrave, GemStarz Jewelry – 23.84 ct. natural specialty-cut aquamarine.
Objects of Art
Objects of Art – 1st Place
Logan Cutshall, Hunt Country Jewelers – 18K white, yellow and rose gold “Treasure Hunt” pendant featuring a 180 ct. rough aquamarine accented with heliodor,
aquamarine, opals, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, spinels and sndalusite.
Objects of Art – Honorable Mention
Llyn L. Strelau, Jewels by Design – “The Owl and the Pussycat” featuring chrysocolla, phophory, freshwater pearl, cat’s eye chrysoberyl, spinels, tsavorite garnets,
sapphires, rose quartz and diamonds.
Pairs & Suites
Pairs & Suites – 1st Place
Ben Kho, Kho International, Ltd. – Suite of princess-cut multicolored beryl (181.44 ctw.).
Pairs & Suites – 2nd Place
Joseph Ambalu, Amba Gem Corp. – Pair of oval brilliant-cut untreated Colombian emeralds (3.63 ctw.).
Pairs & Suites – 3rd Place
Mikola Kukuharuk, Nomad’s – Suite of 20 leaf-shaped, mixed-cut peridots (163.10 ctw.).
Pairs & Suites – Honorable Mention
Gil Goel, Gil Int’l – Suite of 16 untreated Brazilian alexandrites (20.78 ctw.).
Phenomenal
Phenomenal – 1st Place
John Ford, Lightning Ridge Collection by John Ford – 6.90 ct. black opal, titled “Lucky #7.”
Phenomenal – 2nd Place
Robyn Dufty, DuftyWeis Opals, Inc. – 14.71 ct. Mexican fire opal cabochon.
Phenomenal – 3rd Place
Robert Shapiro, Robert Shapiro – 16.85 ct. boulder opal.
Phenomenal – Honorable Mention
Robert Shapiro, Robert Shapiro – 20.05 ct. wood replaced boulder opal.
AGTA Spectrum Awards™ entries were judged on the basis of overall beauty and wear-ability, innovative design, effective use of materials, quality of gemstones, and quality of workmanship, broad-based consumer appeal and potential to generate positive publicity for natural colored gemstones.
AGTA Cutting Edge Awards™ honor excellence and creativity in lapidary arts, including natural colored gemstones and cultured pearls, carvings and other gem materials.
Platinum Honors™, sponsored by Platinum Guild International, recognizes outstanding use of platinum in colored gemstone and/or cultured pearl jewelry in the five Spectrum Awards categories and for the Platinum Honors Innovation – Bridal Wear under $2,500 (semi-mount only), Platinum Honors Innovation – Classical under $3,500 and Platinum Honors Innovation – Day Wear under $2,000. PGI also awards two “Best of” awards – Best Use of Platinum and Color and Best Use of Platinum Crown.
WJA Gem DIVA™ Awards celebrated its seventh year of association with the competition. WJA Gem DIVA™ Awards were presented in the Bridal Wear, Evening Wear, Classical and Business/Day Wear categories. All women who entered the AGTA Spectrum Awards™ competition were eligible for this category.
Manufacturing Honors recognizes outstanding use of colored gemstones and cultured pearls in jewelry appropriate to be manufactured in production quantities. All designs that qualify for judging in the AGTA Spectrum Awards™ competition will also automatically be qualified for Manufacturing Honors judging.
Fashion Forward Honors recognizes the outstanding use of colored gemstone and/or cultured pearl in artful, trend-setting jewelry. All necklaces, earrings, bracelets or other jewelry that qualified for judging in the AGTA Spectrum Awards™ competition automatically qualified for Fashion Forward Honors judging.
For more information please visit www.agta.org.
