Previous News:
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
May 2016
April 2016
December 2015
March 2015
January 2015
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
January 2013
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011

AGTA Announces the 2020 AGTA Spectrum Awards Winners

The American Gem Trade Association is thrilled to announce the winners of the highly-esteemed 2020 AGTA Spectrum Awards™. The competition was held on October 24th and 25th; due to travel restrictions, the event was moved to Dallas this year. The expert panel of judges included: Michael Johnson, Eiseman Jewels; Monica Kitt, Arkenstone, Ltd.; Clare Adams Kittle, Clare Adams Kittle Company; Chris Pampillonia, Pampillonia Designs; and Ray Zajicek, Equatorian Imports.

"This year's event was a little different than the past few years. A few months ago, we had to decide if we could make Spectrum happen. We made many phone calls to past entrants to gauge interest, and they overwhelmingly wanted to participate. We were incredibly lucky to have these outstanding judges dedicate their time to us, especially in light of COVID restrictions," said Douglas K. Hucker, AGTA CEO. "We had separate rooms for each of the categories and PPE procedures in place, but we still had an amazing collaboration among the judges." With over a 20% increase in entries this year and many first-time entrants, the 2020 AGTA Spectrum Awards™ were a much-needed outlet for designers. "The foundation of this industry is creativity, even during these trying times," said Hucker, "it's a privilege to be able to provide an outlet for that creativity."

The AGTA Spectrum Awards™ debuted two new categories this year, North American Mined Gemstones in the Cutting Edge competition and a new "Best of" Award – Best of Single Entries. The North American Mined Gemstones category highlighted gemstones from the United States and Canada and was the largest category in Cutting Edge this year. Entrants who only submitted one piece into the competition were all eligible for the Best of Single Entries award. An award was given in both the Spectrum Awards for jewelry and the Cutting Edge Awards for a gemstone.
.
Winners of the 2020 AGTA Spectrum Awards™ are:

Best of… Awards

Best of Show
David Nassi, 100% Natural, Ltd. - Pair of pear-shaped spessartite Garnets (90.48 ctw.)

Best Use of Color

Rosa Van Parys, Rosa Van Parys Jewelry - 18K yellow gold "Links" necklace featuring a 14.9mm black Tahitian cultured Pearl accented with multicolored Sapphires, tsavorite Garnets, Aquamarines, multicolored Diamonds, and Amethysts.

Best Use of Pearls
Brenda Smith, Brenda Smith Jewelry - 18K rose gold "Black Lace" ring featuring a 16.5mm cultured Pearl accented with pink and lavender Sapphires (2.86 ctw.) and Diamonds (.06 ctw.).

Fashion Forward
Peter Schmid, French Designer Jeweler - 22K and 18K yellow gold "Lady Gaga Metropolitan Gala" earrings featuring pear-shaped rubellite Tourmalines (10.10 ctw.) and Aquamarines (2.31 ctw.) accented with Diamonds. [Pictured].

Best of Single Entries Spectrum
Sean Olufson, Olufson Designs - Platinum pendant featuring a 3.39 ct. oval pink Sapphire surrounded by matched pear-
shaped Alexandrites (3.36 ctw.) accented with Diamonds (.54 ctw.).

Best of Single Entries Cutting Edge
Afshin and David Hackman, Intercolor USA - 7.04 ct. oval Ruby.

Best Use of Platinum and Color
Adam Neeley, Somewhere In The Rainbow - Platinum and 18K yellow gold "Dark Knight" ring featuring a 9.81 ct. black Opal accented with blue Sapphires (5.06 ctw.), tsavorite Garnets (2.56 ctw.), and Diamonds (.28 ctw.).

Best Use of Platinum Crown
Randy Coffin, Somewhere In The Rainbow - 18K yellow gold and platinum "Magic Man" magnetic lapel pin featuring a 13.03 ct. green Tourmaline accented with Diamonds (.86 ctw.), green Tourmaline melee (.45 ctw.), purple Sapphires (.43 ctw.), and Diamonds (1.58 ctw.).


AGTA Spectrum Awards™


Bridal Wear

Bridal Wear - 1st Place and Manufacturing Honors
Niveet Nagpal, Omi Prive - Platinum ring featuring a 3.38 ct. oval Emerald accented with Diamond epaulets (1.00 ctw.).

Bridal Wear - 2nd Place and Platinum Honors
Benjamin Javaheri, Uneek Jewelry, Inc. - Platinum "The Vision" ring featuring an 11.58 ct. cushion-cut blue Sapphire accented with Diamonds (.68 ctw.).

Bridal Wear - 3rd Place
Joseph Ambalu, Amba Gem Corp. - Platinum ring featuring a 7.23 ct. cushion-cut pink Sapphire accented with Diamonds.

Bridal Wear - Honorable Mention
Niveet Nagpal, Omi Prive - Platinum ring featuring a 2.21 ct. oval Grandidierite accented with Alexandrites (1.18 ctw.) and Diamonds (.34 ctw.).

Bridal Wear - Platinum Innovation
Jacob Wosinski, Jacob Raymond Custom Jewelry - Platinum ring featuring a 1.39 ct. radiant-cut mint-green Maine Tourmaline.

Bridal Wear – WJA Gem DIVA™ Award
Kathleen Kerr, FTJCo (Fair Trade Jewellery Co.) - 18K yellow and white gold halo ring featuring a 1.49 ct. bicolored Australian Sapphire accented with multicolored Sapphire melee (.78 ctw.) and Diamonds (.23 ctw.).


Business/Day Wear

Business/Day Wear - 1st Place, Platinum Honors, and Platinum Innovation
Nikki Swift, Nicole Mera LLC - Platinum ring featuring pink and lavender pear-shaped Spinels (2.49 ctw.) accented with
Diamonds (1.26 ctw.).

Business/Day Wear - 2nd Place
Zoltan David, Zoltan David - Blue and purple steel with 24K and 18K yellow gold "Time" pendant featuring a 19.54 ct. fantasy-cut round Citrine.

Business/Day Wear - 3rd Place
Phillip Dismuke, Jewelsmith, Inc. - 14K white gold earrings featuring Chalcedony Quartz cubes (41.46 ctw.).

Business/Day Wear - Honorable Mention
Jon Barry DiNola, Yardley Jewelers - 14K gold bar pin featuring pink Tourmalines and Tanzanites (4.96 ctw.) accented with Diamonds (.72 ctw.).

Business/Day Wear - Manufacturing Honors
Timothy W Foster, T. Foster & Company - 18K yellow gold earrings featuring round Emeralds (.16 ctw.) and Diamonds (.20 ctw.).

Business/Day Wear – WJA Gem DIVA™ Award
Eve Streicker, Original Eve - 18K recycled yellow gold necklace featuring a pear-shaped cultured freshwater Pearl accented with Sapphires and Diamonds.


Classical

Classical - 1st Place
Joseph Ambalu, Amba Gem Corp. - Platinum ring featuring a 14.28 ct. oval blue Sri Lankan Sapphire accented with Diamonds.

Classical - 2nd Place and Classical - Platinum Honors
Niveet Nagpal, Omi Prive - Platinum ring featuring a 10.10 ct. oval pink Sapphire accented with Diamonds (1.36 ctw.), pink Sapphires (.72 ctw.), and a .01 ct. Alexandrite.

Classical - 3rd Place
Craig Slavens, Luxe Fine Jewelry - 18K rose, and white gold earrings featuring pear-shaped Morganites (19.92 ct.) accented with Diamonds (1.95 ctw.).

Classical - Honorable Mention
Raja Mehta, A. G. Gems, Inc. - 18K white and yellow gold ring featuring a 2.39 ct. untreated blue Tourmaline and a 1.03 ct. fancy yellow Diamond accented with round and bullet-cut Diamonds (1.14 ctw.).

Classical - Manufacturing Honors
Oren Nhaissi, EMCO Gem, Inc. - Platinum and 18K yellow gold ring featuring three untreated emerald-cut Colombian
Emeralds (2.48 ctw.) accented with Diamonds

Classical – WJA Gem DIVA™ Award
Paula Crevoshay, Mellika Company, Inc./ Crevoshay - 18K yellow gold "Brown-Eyed Susan" pendant features a 5.30 ct. orange Montana Sapphire accented with orange and yellow Sapphires (8.69 ctw.) and black and cognac Diamonds (1.98 ctw.).


Evening Wear

Evening Wear - 1st Place
Michael Tope, Raintree, LLC - 18K yellow and rose gold and platinum "Casatheia" ring featuring an 8.40 ct. rubellite Tourmaline paired with a 2.33 ct. blue Sapphire accented with Chrysoprase, Montana Sapphires (1.68 ctw.), Diamonds (.40 ctw.), and a pear-cut Turquoise.

Evening Wear - 2nd Place
Zoltan David, Somewhere In The Rainbow - 18K yellow gold and platinum "The Queen's Ring" featuring a 18.55 ct. Mahenge Spinel accented with Diamonds (1.63 ctw.) and Spinel melee (.68 ctw.).

Evening Wear - 3rd Place
Tariq Riaz, Tariq Riaz LLC - 18K white and rose gold "Chameleon" ring featuring a 3.55 rhodolite Garnet and a 2.10 ct. Peridot accented with tsavorite Garnets (1.88 ctw.), pink Sapphires (.70 ctw.), and Diamonds (2.07 ctw.). The ring features a mechanism that switches the center gem.

Evening Wear - Honorable Mention
Eddie Sakamoto, Somewhere In The Rainbow - 18K yellow gold, platinum, sterling, bronze, and Brazilian rosewood
"Bespoken" cuff featuring a 123.40 ct. green Beryl accented with cognac Diamonds (3.52 ctw.) and white Diamonds (2.50 ctw.).

Evening Wear - Manufacturing Honors
Tariq Riaz, Tariq Riaz LLC - 18K rose and white gold expandable ring featuring pink rhodolite Garnets (5.01 ctw.).

Evening Wear - Platinum Honors
Nikki Swift, Nicole Mera LLC - Platinum ring featuring a 3.0 ct. kite-shaped gray Spinel accented with baguette Diamonds (1.93 ctw.) and round Diamonds (.16 ctw.).
Evening Wear - Platinum Innovation
Sean Smokovich, Somewhere In The Rainbow - Platinum and 18K yellow gold "Razzle Dazzle" earrings featuring trapiche
Rubies (30.94 ctw.) and Diamonds (2.40 ctw.).

Evening Wear – WJA Gem DIVA™ Award
Paula Crevoshay, Mellika Company, Inc./ Crevoshay - 18K yellow gold "Moon Dance" bracelet featuring rainbow, blue flash, silver flash, and cat's eye Moonstones (133.19 ctw.) accented with Sapphires (38.61 ctw.).


Men's Wear

Men's Wear - 1st Place and Platinum Honors
Jeremy Dunn, Dunn & Co. - Platinum cufflinks featuring Asscher-cut spessartite Garnets (5.83 ctw.) and blue Sapphire melee (1.35 ctw.).

Men's Wear - 2nd Place and Manufacturing Honors
Gastón R. Rives, Gastón Jewelry Studio, Inc. - 18K yellow gold ring featuring Rubies (6.51 ctw.) and Diamonds (1.93 ctw.).

Men's Wear - 3rd Place
Adam Neeley, Somewhere In The Rainbow - Platinum and 18K yellow gold "Dark Knight" ring featuring a 9.81 ct. black Opal accented with blue Sapphires (5.06 ctw.), tsavorite Garnets (2.56 ctw.) and Diamonds (.28 ctw.).


AGTA Cutting Edge Awards™

All Other Cut Gemstones

All Other Cut Gemstones - 1st Place
Joseph Ambalu, Amba Gem Corp. - 21.81 ct. brilliant-cut pear-shaped Paraiba Tourmaline.
All Other Cut Gemstones - 2nd Place
Erica Courtney, The Courtney Collection - 10.59 ct. heart-shaped pinkish-red Mahenge Spinel.

All Other Cut Gemstones - 3rd Place
Niveet Nagpal, Omi Prive - 25.23 ct. pear-shaped Imperial Topaz.

All Other Cut Gemstones - Honorable Mention
Edward Boehm, RareSource - 21.58 ct. untreated Sri Lankan pink Spinel.


Carving

Carving - 1st Place
Yanqing Zhang Asdurian, Yanqing Asdurian - Jadeite snail carving.

Carving - 2nd Place
Dalan Hargrave, GeoGem-USA - 458.50 ct. carved Moonstone, titled "African Violets." Sits on a base of black and green Jade with yellow Sapphires.

Carving - 3rd Place
Meg Berry, Mega Gem - 32.11 ct. indicolite Tourmaline carving, titled "Mood Indigo."


Classic Gemstone

Classic Gemstone - 1st Place
David Nassi, 100% Natural, Ltd. - 12.99 ct. untreated vibrant pink Ceylon Sapphire.

Classic Gemstone - 2nd Place
Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co. - 20.54 ct. cushion-cut blue Sapphire from Sri Lanka.

Classic Gemstone - 3rd Place
Oren Nhaissi, EMCO Gem, Inc. - 6.47 ct. emerald-cut Colombian Emerald.


Innovative Faceting

Innovative Faceting - 1st Place
Thomas Trozzo, Trozzo - 70 ct. freeform faceted and carved Ametrine.

Innovative Faceting - 2nd Place
Darryl Alexander, Alexander's Jewelers - 123.0 ct. specialty-cut golden Beryl, titled "Seaweed & Bubbles."

Innovative Faceting - 3rd Place
Lee Haynes, LWH Gems - 55.75 ct. concave curved mixed-cut Citrine, titled "Sun Burst."


North American Mined Gemstones

North American Mined Gemstones - 1st Place (TIE)
David Nassi, 100% Natural, Ltd. - 0.80 ct. shield-shaped untreated red Beryl from Utah.

North American Mined Gemstones - 1st Place (TIE)
Edward Wilsek, Wilsek & Co - 35.43 ct. oval faceted spessartite Garnet from Virginia.

North American Mined Gemstones - 3rd Place
Jeff Hapeman, Somewhere In The Rainbow - Pair of modified cushion-cut Montana Sapphires (6.90 ctw.), titled "Thing1 & Thing 2."

North American Mined Gemstones - Honorable Mention
Brett Kosnar, Kosnar Gem Co. - 137.20 ct. specialty-cut Fluorite from New Hampshire.


Objects of Art

Objects of Art - 1st Place
Paula Crevoshay, Mellika Company, Inc./ Crevoshay - "Garden of Delight Mystery Box" made of Lapis Lazuli, Opal, Sugilite, Malachite, Turquoise and more. The hummingbirds, branch, and columbine feature multicolored Sapphires, Amethysts, Spinels, tsavorite Garnets, Opal, and Diamonds.

Objects of Art - 2nd Place
Ziad H. Noshie, Almaza Jewelers - Table ornament, titled "Shimmering Seas," featuring multicolored Sapphire (44.78 ctw.) and Diamond (.17 ctw.) harlequin fish on a base of mushroom Coral and sterling silver.

Objects of Art - 3rd Place
Dalan Hargrave, GemStarz Jewelry - Honey Citrine pyramid (1050 ctw.) on a black and green jade base with a black walnut drawer, titled "Pyramid."


Pairs & Suites

Pairs & Suites - 1st Place
David Nassi, 100% Natural, Ltd. - Pair of pear-shaped spessartite Garnets (90.48 ctw.).

Pairs & Suites - 2nd Place
Mikola Kukharuk, Nomad's - Suite of step-cut Emeralds (8.64 ctw.).

Pairs & Suites - 3rd Place
David Nassi, 100% Natural, Ltd. - Pair of pear-shaped Morganites (20.47 ctw.).

Pairs & Suites - Honorable Mention
Boyd Fox, Fox Hop Jewelry - Suite of 23 oval Kyanites (155.01 ctw.).


Phenomenal

Phenomenal - 1st Place
David Nassi, 100% Natural, Ltd. - 16.06 ct. untreated Vietnamese star Ruby cabochon.

Phenomenal - 2nd Place
David Nassi, 100% Natural, Ltd. - 69.90 ct. freeform harlequin black Opal.

Phenomenal - 3rd Place
Gary Braun, Finewater Gems - 45.59 ct. rose-cut faceted crystal Opal.


AGTA Spectrum AwardsTM entries were judged based on overall beauty and wearability, 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 AwardsTM 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 (PGI), recognized the outstanding use of platinum in colored gemstone and/or cultured pearl jewelry in the five Spectrum Awards categories and for the Platinum Honors Innovation Awards in Bridal Wear, Business/Day Wear, and Evening Wear. Platinum Innovation honors entries with a value under $3,500, excluding the main gemstone. PGI also awards two "Best of" awards – Best Use of Platinum and Color and Best Use of Platinum Crown.

WJA Gem DIVATM Awards, sponsored by the Womens Jewelry Association presented awards in the Bridal Wear, Evening Wear, Classical, and Business/Day Wear categories. All women who entered the AGTA Spectrum AwardsTM 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 designs that qualified for judging in the AGTA Spectrum AwardsTM competition were eligible for Fashion Forward Honors judging.

For more information regarding the AGTA Spectrum Awards™ competition, please contact Kami Swinney at (800) 972‐1162 or [email protected].

The American Gem Trade Association is a not‐for‐profit Association serving the natural colored gemstone and cultured pearl industry since 1981. The AGTA serves the industry as "The Authority in Color" and has its headquarter office in Dallas, Texas.

About The American Gem Trade Association
The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) is an association of United States and Canadian trade professionals dedicated to promoting the long term stability and integrity of the natural colored gemstone and Cultured Pearl industries. The Association pursues its goals through the combined use of educational programs, publicity, industry events, government and industry relations, and printed materials for both the trade and consumer. The AGTA is well-known in the gemstone and jewelry industries for maintaining the highest ethical standards and is recognized as the authoritative source on natural colored gemstones and cultured pearls – The Authority in Color.™ For more information, please visit www.agta.org.


AT: 10/30/2020 01:39:38 PM   LINK TO THIS NEWSLETTER
0 Comments:

Post a Comment
 
Comments are closed.
Copyright © 2009 - 2023 TRJ Publishing LLC.

Sitemap | Privacy Policy