Contests

Staff -- JCK Online, 8/1/1996 2:00:00 AM

CONTEST WINNERS HONORED AT JCK SHOW

The winners of three design competitions were honored during the JCK International Jewelry Show in Las Vegas, Nev.

Winners of the JCK Retail Design Contest (see JCK, May 1996, pp. 112-114) were honored at a luncheon held May 31. They are Frank Yanke of Franklin, Mich.; Matthew Trent of Dallas, Tex.; and Marsha Donahue of Centerville, Ohio. Runners-up were John Strobel of Madison, Wis.; Ann Marie Montecuollo of Santa Rosa, Cal.; John Wallace of Chicago, Ill.; and Christoper Michael Stevens of Milwaukee, Wis.

In the first Ponte D'Oro design competition, Susan Sarantos of Newport, R.I., won the grand prize for a slim brooch of platinum, gold and diamond. Ronna Lugosch of Round Pond, Me., won first prize for a polished and textured gold pod brooch with pearls. Paul Robilotti of Kingston, N.Y., won second prize for a brooch of two fish in a grill. The student category winner was Bree Richey, daughter of jewelry designers William and Marlene Richey of Camden, Me. She created a bold gold and gemstone ring. The semifinalists were chosen from the renderings submitted, then the renderings were turned into actual jewelry by artisans in Arezzo, Italy.

The contest was sponsored by the Tuscany Region, Tuscan Chambers of Commerce, Foreign Trade Center, Chamber of Commerce of Arezzo, Municipality of Arezzo and Bank Monte dei Paschi of Siena. The manufacturers were Falcinelli Diamanti Oro Accessory of Arezzo for the Sarantos design, Galma & Cordif of Arezzo for the Lugosch design, Nazario Tristi of Arezzo for the Robilotti design and Garzi of Arezzo for the Richey design.

Peter Brams Designs Ltd., New York, announced the winners of its first Designing Tomorrow's Classic Award during a reception at Spago restaurant. The goal was to encourage creative design at middle-level price points, generally under $1,000 retail. Manufacturers Amish Gandhi and Tejal Parekah of Kaleidoscope, New York, N.Y., won first place. Designer David Worcester of Guerneville, Cal., won second place. Retailer Tim Gannaway of Portland, Ore., won third place.

OTHER CONTEST NEWS

The Georgia Jewelers Association announced winners of its fifth annual design contest. In Category 1 (under $1,000), Johnny Johnson of Edward Johns Inc. in Marietta won first place, Stephen Hollis of Aurum Studios in Athens won second and George Murray of T.K. Anderson Jewelers in Athens won third. In Category 2 ($1,000 to $3,000), Jane Wullbrant of Leebrant Jewelers in Atlanta won first, Louise Norrell of Aurum Studios won second and Johnny Johnson won third. In Category 3 (over $3,000), Virginia Anderson of T.K. Anderson Jewelers won first, Alex Rodriguez of Town Square Jewelers in Fayetteville won second and Johnny Johnson won third. Walter Rodriguez of Town Square Jewelers won Best of Show for a choker accented with natural brown and white diamonds. His piece went on to win the Best of Show in the Jewelers of America spring design contest.

Anya Kruman of Moscow, Russia, and Sara Zatkow of Rockaway, N.J., both students at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, won Faberge design scholarships worth $1,000. They were honored for original designs in keeping with Peter Carl Faberge's reputation for design innovation.