The people have spoken. Presenting the 51 winners of our annual design competition, an eclectic collection of jewels that covers all the retail bases: bridal, fashion, gemstones, and precious metals.
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2012 GRAND PRIZE WINNER
Photo Credit: PHOTOGRAPH BY SARRA FLEUR ABOU-EL-HAJ, STYLING BY BROOKE MAGNAGHI
Earrings in 18k white and yellow gold with 7.50 cts. t.w. round brilliant-cut diamonds and 2.25 cts. t.w. heart-shape rubies; $14,000; Bapalal Keshavlal, Mumbai, India; 91-22-2363-1678; bapalalkeshavlal.com
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BEST BRIDAL DESIGN
Under $2,500
18k gold and diamond vine design mounting; $1,770; Hidalgo, Miami; 305-379-0110; hidalgojewelry.com
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BEST BRIDAL DESIGN
$2,501–$5,000Angelique collection mounting with split-shank, twist design and 0.35 ct. t.w. brilliant diamond rounds in 18k white gold; $3,930 (also available in platinum, 18k yellow gold, or 18k rose gold); Kirk Kara, Northridge, Calif.; 800-874-0181; kirkkara.com
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BEST BRIDAL DESIGN
$5,001–$10,000Charlotte collection mounting with 0.87 ct. t.w. emerald-cut sides, baguette, and brilliant diamond rounds in 18k white gold; $7,540 (also available in platinum, 18k yellow gold, or 18k rose gold); Kirk Kara, Northridge, Calif.; 800-874-0181; kirkkara.com
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BEST BRIDAL DESIGN
Over $10,000Engagement ring with a 2.37 ct. natural fancy intense yellow radiant-cut diamond and 0.52 ct. t.w. trapezoid sides surrounded by pavé diamonds in platinum and 18k yellow gold; $78,000; Norman Silverman Diamonds, Los Angeles; 877-687-3985; normansilvermandiamonds.com
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BEST BRACELET DESIGN
Under $2,500
Fleur de Lace bangle with hand-painted white Italian enamel and black cubic zirconia in black rhodium–plated sterling silver; $890; Belle Étoile, San Francisco; 415-626-9223; belleetoilejewelry.com
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BEST BRACELET DESIGN
$2,501–$10,000Madam B. Silver Collection hinged cuff with 18k rose gold accents, 13.35 ct. blue topaz, 19.05 cts. t.w. multicolor gemstones, and 0.22 ct. t.w. diamonds; $3,025; BELLARRI, Scottsdale, Ariz.; 800-255-0192; bellarri.com
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BEST BRACELET DESIGN
Over $10,000
Butterfly cuff with 1.26 cts. t.w. diamonds and 3.90 cts. t.w. rubies, sapphires, and tsavorite garnets in 18k yellow gold, pink gold, and black rhodium; $16,220; JYE Luxury, San Francisco; 415-621-8880; jyescorp.com
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BEST EARRING DESIGN
Under $2,500
14k gold and diamond convertible earring jackets turn diamond studs (not included) into drops or knots; $1,898; Gottlieb & Sons, Cleveland; 216-771-4785; gottlieb-sons.com
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BEST EARRING DESIGN
$2,501–$10,000Earrings in 18k yellow gold with 25 cts. t.w. boulder opals, 1 ct. t.w. rubellite, and 0.38 ct. t.w. diamonds; $8,400; Parlé/Idaho Opal & Gem Corp., Pocatello, Idaho; 800-635-9800; parlegems.com
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Photo Credit: PHOTOGRAPH BY TED MORRISON
BEST EARRING DESIGN
Over $10,000Earrings in 18k white and yellow gold with 7.50 cts. t.w. round brilliant-cut diamonds and 2.25 cts. t.w. heart-shape rubies; $14,000; Bapalal Keshavlal, Mumbai, India; 91-22-2363-1678; bapalalkeshavlal.com
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BEST NECKLACE DESIGN
Under $2,500
Diamond and 18k gold necklace with interchangeable pendant; $2,470; Hidalgo, Miami; 305-379-0110; hidalgojewelry.com
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BEST NECKLACE DESIGN
$2,501–$10,000
O Collection triple diamond pendant with 0.42 ct., 0.25 ct., and 0.14 ct. round brilliant diamonds in 18k rose gold with 0.43 ct. t.w. melee suspended on a matching rose gold cable chain; $8,800; Rahaminov Diamonds, Los Angeles; 213-622-9866; rahaminovdiamond.com
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Photo Credit: COURTESY OF CHAD ALLISON
BEST NECKLACE DESIGN
Over $10,000
Antoinette necklace in 18k white gold with 1.94 cts. t.w. sapphires and 1 ct. t.w. diamonds; $21,520; Chad Allison, New York City; 212-278-8669; chadallison.com
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BEST RING DESIGN
Under $2,500
Corsage ring in rhodium-plated sterling silver and Italian resin with white cubic zirconia; $440; Belle Étoile, San Francisco; 415-626-9223; belleetoilejewelry.com
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BEST RING DESIGN
$2,501–$10,000Tension-set diamond mounting in 14k white gold with 0.85 ct. t.w. side diamonds; $8,500; GelinAbaci, Glendora, Calif.; 626-914-7899; gelinabaci.com
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BEST RING DESIGN
Over $10,000Platinum ring with 6.40 ct. sapphire, 2.40 cts. t.w. oval diamonds, and 1.33 cts. t.w. accent diamonds; $45,000; Fourtané, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif.; 831-624-4684; fourtane.com
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COLORED STONE JEWELRY
Under $2,500
Diamond, 18k gold, and blue topaz interchangeable drop earrings; $2,495; Hidalgo, Miami; 305-379-0110; hidalgojewelry.com
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COLORED STONE JEWELRY
$2,501–$10,000
18k white gold ring with 6.47 ct. fire opal and 0.85 ct. t.w. colorless diamonds; $6,304; Yael Designs, San Francisco; 415-989-9235; yaeldesigns.com
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COLORED STONE JEWELRY
Over $10,000Circle of Love Collection 18k rose gold necklace with a 2.95 ct. blue topaz cabochon center, 14.50 cts. t.w. blue topaz and iolite, and 1.41 cts. t.w. diamonds, plus 10 strands of faceted blue topaz beads; $16,875; BELLARRI, Scottsdale, Ariz.; 800-255-0192; bellarri.com
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COLORED DIAMOND JEWELRY
Under $2,500
14k yellow gold diamond-engraved pendant with 28.02 ct. blue topaz and 0.29 ct. t.w. black diamonds; $1,700; Zeghani by Simon, Glendale, Calif.; 818-500-4173; zeghani.com
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COLORED DIAMOND JEWELRY
$2,501–$10,000
Reverie Noir Collection 18k black gold band with 1.41 cts. t.w. natural fancy color diamonds; $9,375; Parade Design, Los Angeles; 213-627-4019; paradedesign.com
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COLORED DIAMOND JEWELRY
Over $10,000
Reverie Collection gold band with 2.14 cts. t.w. white and natural color diamonds; $12,075; Parade Design, Los Angeles; 213-627-4019; paradedesign.com
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CONTEMPORARY METAL JEWELRY
Under $1,000
Geometric ring with zirconium and cobalt bands and 18k yellow gold rods; $599; Heavy Stone Rings, Orem, Utah; 801-765-4616; heavystonerings.com
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CONTEMPORARY METAL JEWELRY
Over $1,000
Través Collection necklace in patented Black Ti with sterling silver and choice of diamonds or three different semiprecious colored stones and anodized accents; $1,195; Edward Mirell, Deerfield Beach, Fla.; 866-390-4388; edwardmirell.com
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DIAMOND JEWELRY
Under $2,500
Forever 10 Signature Collection for IJO Master Jewelers pendant in white gold with 0.50 ct. t.w. diamond; $2,495; Simon Golub & Sons, Seattle; 800-426-7125; simongolub.com
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Photo Credit: COURTESY OF CHAD ALLISON
DIAMOND JEWELRY
$2,501–$10,000
Nouveau Luxe 18k gold and sterling silver pendant with 1.26 cts. t.w. white diamonds and 0.60 ct. t.w. cognac diamonds; $3,990; Chad Allison, New York City; 212-278-8669; chadallison.com
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DIAMOND JEWELRY
Over $10,000
Designer Free Form Super Gladiator ring in 18k Strawberry Gold with 2.91 cts. t.w. Vanilla Diamonds; $17,797; Le Vian, Great Neck, N.Y.; 516-466-7200; levian.com
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FASHION JEWELRY
Under $500
Portofino earrings in signature Liquid Gem resin, silver plate, and white topaz; $405; Angélique de Paris, Allentown, Pa.; 610-782-7227; angeliquedeparis.com
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FASHION JEWELRY
$501–$1,000
14k white gold ring with 0.11 ct. t.w. diamonds; $1,000; Zeghani by Simon, Glendale, Calif.; 818-500-4173; zeghani.com
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GOLD JEWELRY
Under $2,500
Gallery Collection 14k yellow gold hammer-finished ring, with 0.25 ct. t.w. pavé diamonds; $2,250; I. Reiss, Great Neck, N.Y.; 516-482-7900; ireiss.com
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GOLD JEWELRY
Over $2,500
14k gold mariners link bracelet; $4,000; De-ani, Inc., Monrovia, Calif.; 888-343-3264; deani.com
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MEN’S JEWELRY
Under $1,000
Cobalt chrome with five diamonds and wire mesh background; $899; Heavy Stone Rings, Orem, Utah; 801-765-4616; heavystonerings.com
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MEN’S JEWELRY
Over $1,000
8.5 mm black zirconium Euro-square with 5 mm of 18k yellow, 14k white, and silver Mokume; $1,997; Lashbrook, Sandy, Utah; 801-352-7388; lashbrookdesigns.com
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MIXED METAL JEWELRY
Under $1,000
18k gold and sterling silver dragonfly bracelet; $549; Phillip Gavriel for Royal Chain Group, New York City; 212-382-3340; royalchain.com
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MIXED METAL JEWELRY
$1,001–$5,000
Shining Stars ring by Reena Ahluwalia for Royal Asscher in 18k rose gold–plated sterling silver with 0.50 ct. t.w. floating diamonds and rose enamel; $1,950; Royal Asscher of America, New York City; 212-922-1908; royalasscher.com
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MIXED METAL JEWELRY
Over $5,000
Cuff bracelet in 18k yellow gold and patina sterling silver with 1.40 cts. t.w. natural color yellow rose-cut diamonds; $5,475; ALISHAN, Irvine, Calif.; 949-756-1140; alishanonline.com
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PEARL JEWELRY
Under $2,500
Levitating Queen Bead Hope Necklace with 10 Levitating Queen Bead black South Seas pearl beads with magnetic cores and 3 mm sterling silver snake chain with Attraction magnetic clasp; $1,938; Galatea: Jewelry by Artist, San Dimas, Calif.; 909-592-0877; galateausa.com
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PEARL JEWELRY
$2,501–$10,000
Wavy Treasure earrings with cultured bluish-grey South Seas pearls and 1.38 cts. t.w. diamonds in 18k white gold; $6,900; Kavant Jewelry, Bangkok, Thailand; 66-2243-2446; kavantjewelry.com
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PEARL JEWELRY
Over $10,000
Magic Pendant–Volume II in 18k white gold with 0.68 ct. t.w. diamonds and 7.01 cts. t.w. black diamonds outside and 0.58 ct. t.w. diamonds and a South Seas pearl inside; $30,000; Jörg Heinz GMbH & Co. KG, Neulingen, Germany; 49-723-748-6300; joerg-heinz.de
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SILVER JEWELRY
Under $500
ECCE collection sterling silver geometric cuff; $450; Leslie’s, Greenwich, Conn.; 203-869-7071; leslies.com
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SILVER JEWELRY
$501–$1,000
Flourish Cuff in sterling silver; $561; Kit Heath, Providence, R.I.; 401-276-0300; kitheath.com
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SILVER JEWELRY
Over $1,000
Matte oxidized recycled sterling silver falling leaf wide spinner bangle; $1,150; David Tishbi, Inc., Los Angeles; 213-688-8737; davidtishbi.com
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PLATINUM JEWELRY
Under $10,000
Platinum mounting with diamond-cut accenting and milgrain edging; $2,148; Gabriel & Co., New York City; 212-719-3258; gabrielny.com
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PLATINUM JEWELRY
Over $10,000
Platinum Deco design ruby and diamond ring; $15,000; Michael Schofield & Co., Clear Creek, Ind.; 812-824-7789; michaelschofield.com
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TANZANITE JEWELRY
Under $10,000
18k gold ring with diamonds and tanzanite; $4,820; Hidalgo, Miami; 305-379-0110; hidalgojewelry.com
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TANZANITE JEWELRY
Over $10,000
14k white gold ring with 13.57 ct. cushion-cut tanzanite center stone and 18.47 cts. t.w. gemstones and diamonds; $42,897; Le Vian, Great Neck, N.Y.; 516-466-7200; levian.com
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PERSONALIZED JEWELRY (BEADS, CHARMS, MESSAGING, INSPIRATIONAL)
Under $1,000
1 1/8-inch Trinity Cross in sterling silver; $179 (also available in 18k gold); Charles Sherman, Van Nuys, Calif.; 310-435-2838; charlesshermanart.artspan.com
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PERSONALIZED JEWELRY (BEADS, CHARMS, MESSAGING, INSPIRATIONAL)
Over $1,000
Family Ring with names under a Swiss blue topaz on a 2 mm channel-set band with SI 1 diamonds in 14k gold; $7,100; Heather B. Moore, Cleveland; 216-932-5430; heathermoorejewelry.com
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BEST PRICE POINT
Under $500
Pendant in 14k white gold with 0.44 ct. pink sapphire and diamonds; $489; Parlé/Idaho Opal & Gem Corp., Pocatello, Idaho; 800-635-9800; parlegems.com
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BEST PRICE POINT
$501–$1,000
Fleur de Lace bangle with hand-painted white Italian enamel and black cubic zirconia in black rhodium–plated sterling silver; $890; Belle Étoile, San Francisco; 415-626-9223; belleetoilejewelry.com
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PALLADIUM JEWELRY
Under $5,000
Palladium ring with 0.21 ct. t.w. diamonds; $4,180; Todd Reed, Boulder, Colo.; 303-442-6280; toddreed.com
