Design With Vision
By Carrie Soucy, Senior Editor -- JCK-Jewelers Circular Keystone, 10/1/2003
The American Pearl Company's Vision Awards this year recognized designers in two categories: Discovery and Inspiration. All designs feature pearls from American Pearl Company along with various other stones.
In the Discovery Division, the Grand Prize went to Ziad H. Noshie of Almaza Jewelers in Houston for the "American Wheat Flower" brooch created from an American cultured teardrop pearl adorned with more than a carat of diamonds in 18k white gold. Second-prize winner was Leigh Wulle, of Leigh Wulle Design in St. Louis, for the "Diva" brooch; and third place went to Ira Finchler of Lathrop's Fine Jewelry in Bellaire, Texas, for the "Come Fly with Me" brooch.
In the Inspiration Division, the Grand Prize went to Avi Raz and Peggy Croft of A & Z Pearls, Los Angeles. Their "Moonlight on the Amazon" brooch featured an American cultured Dome Pearl moon "lighting" the night over an American natural pearl and Lightning Ridge opal macaw perched alongside tsavorite and 18k yellow gold palm leaves. Second prize went to Glen J. Engelbrecht, of G.J. Design in Sarasota, Fla., for his "Minnie the Pearl Bear" brooch, and third prize went to Janet Ottonello, Janatello Designs in Alpine, Calif., for the "Graceful Orchid" brooch.
Awards of Excellence went to Paul J. Stetler, Paul J. Stetler Designs in Goodrich, Mich., and Stephen Ninich and Susan McLauchlan Jewelers in Ashland, Va.
