American Gem Trade Association announced the winners in the 2010 AGTA Spectrum Awards competition.
The competition was held October 24-25th, in New York, NY at a penthouse studio in Greenwich Village. Judges for the 2010 competition included designer/educator Cecelia Bauer, gem artist John Hatelberg, Nicole Keating of W magazine, Benjamin Macklowe of the Macklowe Gallery, writer/consultant Marlene Richey and Mish Tworkowski of Mish New York.
The annual AGTA Spectrum Awards Media Day was held October 26th and featured all of the jewelry and gemstone submissions. New for this year was the selection of an Editor’s Choice award by those editors in attendance. Attendees included top fashion/accessory editors from the trade and consumer press, stylists, and bloggers.
BEST OF CATEGORY Winners:
Best of Show (tie): Best of Show and 1st Place – Evening Wear, James Currens, J.W. Currens, Inc., New York, NY, Platinum and silver “Empress” ring featuring a 15.58 pear-shaped Moonstone accented with color-change Garnets (19.36 ct. t.w.), oval Moonstones (6.40 ct. t.w.) and Diamonds (2.46 ct. t.w.).
Best of Show and 3rd Place – Evening Wear, James Currens, J.W. Currens, Inc., New York, NY, “The Quiet Moment” brooch featuring oval Emeralds (66.15 ct. t.w.) set in 18K white gold, silver and platinum accented with white and multi-colored Diamonds (17.05 ct. t.w.).
Best Use of Color: Best Use of Color and 1st Place – Classical, Lilly Fitzgerald, Lilly Fitzgerald/Goldsmith, Spencer, MA, 22K yellow gold necklace featuring multi-colored Sapphire cabochons.
Best Use of Platinum and Color: Best Use of Platinum and Color, Tracy Janule, Custom Jewelry and Wax Creations, Gilbert, AZ, Platinum ring featuring a 6.94 ct. Aquamarine, two tri-angel shield Peridots (4.95 ct. t.w.) and two square-cut Peridots (0.16 ct. t.w..).
Best Use of Pearls: Best Use of Pearls, Graham Edney, Graham Edney, Santa Barbara, CA, Platinum earrings featuring freshwater Pearls and white, pink and yellow Diamonds (1.50 ct. t.w.).
Fashion Forward: Fashion Forward – Victor Velyan, Victor Velyan, Los Angeles, CA, 24K yellow gold and silver with brown patina bangle featuring a 20.54 ct. oval star Ruby cabochon and natural colored Diamonds (3.15 ct. t.w.).
Editor’s Choice: Editor’s Choice – Evelyn Clothier, Evelyn Clothier Jewelry, New York, NY, platinum “Tassel” necklace, featuring a brown Diamond (5.59 ct. t.w.) accented with white Diamonds (9.35 ct. t.w.), Pearls (14.03 ct. t.w.) and Diamond beads (253.22 ct. t.w.).
SPECTRUM AWARDS
Bridal Wear
Bridal Wear, 1st Place, Maria Canale, Suna Bros., Inc., New York, NY, 18K white gold earrings featuring shield-cut pink Topaz (12.82 ctw.), full-cut Diamonds (1.56 ct. t.w.) and baguette Diamonds (0.15 ct. t.w.).
Bridal Wear2nd Place, Samuel Getz, Samuel Getz Designs, Miami, FL, Platinum and 18K yellow gold ring featuring a 10.71 ct. Asscher-cut mint green grossular Garnet, two Asscher-cut Diamonds (2.13 ct. t.w.) and 68 round brilliant-cut Diamonds.
Bridal Wear, 3rd Place, Evelyn Clothier, Evelyn Clothier Jewelry, New York, NY, 18K rose gold earrings featuring white Agate briolettes and pink Diamonds (0.91 ct. t.w.).
Bridal Wear, Honorable Mention, Richard Krementz Gemstones, Springfield, NJ, Platinum and 18K yellow prong-set pendant featuring a 33.58 ct. Peridot and Diamonds (9.71 ct. t.w.).
Bridal Wear, Manufacturing Honors, Ryan Roberts, Ryan Roberts, Ltd., Chimayo, NM, Platinum ring featuring an 11.65 ct. violet Spinel accented with white Diamonds (1.06 ct. t.w.) and pink Diamonds (0.24 ct. t.w.).
Bridal Wear, Platinum Honors, Evelyn Clothier, Evelyn Clothier Jewelry, New York, NY, Platinum earrings featuring blue Moonstone cabochons (48.82 ct. t.w.) and Diamonds (4.75 ct. t.w.).
Business/Day Wear
Business/Day Wear, 1st Place, Ariane Zurcher, Ariane Zurcher Designs, Long Island City, NY, 18K brushed yellow gold bracelet featuring cabochons of pink Topaz (25.08 ctw.), mandarin Garnets (17.21 ct. t.w.), Paraiba Tourmalines (4.03 ct. t.w.), Tourmalines (12.0 ct. t.w.), Aquamarines (2.96 ct. t.w.) and pink Sapphires (2.69 ct. t.w.).
Business/Day Wear, 2nd Place, Ashleigh Branstetter, Ashleigh Branstetter, LLC, New Orleans, LA, 18K white gold earrings featuring Chalcedony briolettes (40.61 ct. t.w.), moss Diamond slices (11.23 ct. t.w.) and white Diamond slices (2.32 ct. t.w.).
Business/Day Wear, 3rd Place, Michael Endlich, Pave Fine Jewelry, Oakland, CA, 22K yellow gold ring featuring a 9.51 ct. green Tourmaline accented with Diamonds (0.18 ct. t.w.).
Business/Day Wear, Honorable Mention, Susan Sadler, Susan Sadler Fine Jewelry Design, Tulsa, OK, Vintage turquoise-green bakelite bracelet featuring a 49.30 ct. Sonnoran Sunrise and 0.10 ct. bezel-set Diamond set in 18K and 18.5K yellow gold.
Business/Day Wear, Manufacturing Honors, Michael Endlich, Pave Fine Jewelry, Oakland, CA, 18K rose gold ring featuring a 9.93 ct. rainbow Moonstone accented with two Diamonds (0.23 ct. t.w.).
Business/Day Wear, Platinum Honors, James Currens, J.W. Currens, Inc., New York, NY, Platinum “Orbit” ring featuring a 5.37 ct. pink Spinel, spessartite Garnets (15.83 ct. t.w.) and Diamonds (1.16 ct. t.w.).
Classical
Classical, Best Use of Color and 1st Place, Lilly Fitzgerald, Lilly Fitzgerald / Goldsmith, Spencer, MA, 22K yellow gold necklace featuring multi-colored Sapphire cabochons.
Classical, 2nd Place, Leon Mege, Leon Mege, Inc., New York, NY, Platinum and silver ring featuring a 2.19 ct. Paraiba Tourmaline accented with Tourmalines (0.98 ct. t.w.) and Diamonds (0.52 ct. t.w.).
Classical, 3rd Place, James Currens, J.W. Currens, Inc., New York, NY, Platinum bracelet featuring natural Rubies (19.88 ct. t.w.) and Diamonds (12.78 ct. t.w.).
Classical, Honorable Mention, Lilly Fitzgerald, Lilly Fitzgerald / Goldsmith, Spencer, MA, 22K yellow gold hand-carved necklace featuring a Tanzanite cabochon.
Classical, Manufacturing Honors, Ashok Sancheti, Designs by Ashok Sancheti dba Pioneer Gems, New York, NY, Natural blue Agate bangle featuring platinum and white Diamonds (18.73 ct. t.w.).
Classical, Platinum Honors, Jeffrey Bilgore, Jeffrey Bilgore LLC, New York, NY, Platinum ring featuring a 10.78 ct. cornflower blue cushion-cut natural Sapphire accented with Diamonds (1.29 ct. t.w.).
Evening Wear
Evening Wear, Best of Show and 1st Place, James Currens, J.W. Currens, Inc., New York, NY, Platinum and silver “Empress” ring featuring a 15.58 pear-shaped Moonstone accented with color-change Garnets (19.36 ct. t.w.), oval Moonstones (6.40 ct. t.w.) and Diamonds (2.46 ct. t.w.).
Evening Wear, 2nd Place, Evelyn Clothier, Evelyn Clothier Jewelry, New York, NY, Platinum and 18K yellow gold butterfly brooch featuring sliced Diamonds (20.17 ct. t.w.) and pink, yellow and white Diamonds (15.93 ct. t.w.).
Evening Wear, Best of Show and 3rd Place, James Currens, J.W. Currens, Inc., New York, NY, “The Quiet Moment” brooch featuring oval Emeralds (66.15 ct. t.w.) set in 18K white gold, silver and platinum accented with white and multi-colored Diamonds (17.05 ct. t.w.).
Evening Wear, Honorable Mention and Best Use of Pearls, Graham Edney, Graham Edney, Santa Barbara, CA, Platinum earrings featuring freshwater Pearls and white, pink and yellow Diamonds (1.50 ct. t.w.).
Evening Wear, Manufacturing Honors, Yael Designs, San Francisco, CA, 18K white gold “Lava” earrings featuring black Diamonds (1.43 ct. t.w.) and white Diamonds (2.77 ct. t.w.).
Evening Wear, Platinum Honors, Ashok Sancheti, Designs by Ashok Sancheti dba Pioneer Gems, New York, NY, Platinum earrings featuring Morganite drops (81.15 ct. t.w.) accented with Zircons (6.66 ct. t.w.), Spinels (1.50 ct. t.w.) and Diamonds (1.65 ct. t.w.).
Men’s Wear
Men’s Wear, 1st Place, Jack Bigio, Basser & Bigio, LLC, New York, NY, Platinum cufflinks featuring Sapphire slices and Diamonds (1.0 ct. t.w.) attached to a platinum mechanism.
Men’s Wear, Platinum Honors Mark Schneider, Mark Schneider Design, Long Beach, CA, Platinum ring featuring a 13.81 ct. spessartite Garnet, yellow Diamonds (1.58 ct. t.w.) and Diamonds (0.62 ct. t.w.).
Men’s Wear, 2nd Place, Ivan Sagel, Ivan Sagel, Chicago, IL, 18K white and yellow gold ring featuring a 4.07 ct. millenium-cut blue Tourmaline.
Men’s Wear, 3rd Place, Link Wachler, Link Wachler Designs, Troy, MI, 18K yellow gold ring featuring a Baroque Pearl, a mother of Pearl “eye patch,” a 3mm cultured Pearl and a 0.02 ct. Ruby.
Men’s Wear, Manufacturing Honors, Ashleigh Branstetter, Ashleigh Branstetter, LLC, New Orleans, LA, Platinum cufflinks featuring London blue Topaz cabochons (39.89 ct. t.w.) and pave Diamonds (1.57 ct. t.w.).
Cutting Edge Awards
Classic Gemstones
A1 – Open Category Classic Gemstone, 1st Place, Robert Kane, Fine Gems International, Helena, MT, 4.53 ct. cushion-cut natural pink Sapphire.
A1 – Open Category Classic Gemstone, 2nd Place, Ruben Bindra, B & B Fine Gems, Los Angeles, CA, 33.16 ct. emerald-cut blue Sapphire.
A1 – Open Category Classic Gemstone, 3rd Place, Ruben Bindra, B & B Fine Gems, Los Angeles, CA, 13.11 ct. cushion-cut orange Sapphire.
A1 – Open Category Classic Gemstone, Honorable Mention, Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co., San Francisco, CA, 30.07 ct. natural cushion-cut yellow Sapphire.
Other Gemstones
A2 – Open Category All Other Faceted, 1st Place, Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co., San Francisco, CA, 10.78 ct. natural heart-shaped red Spinel.
A2 – Open Category All Other Faceted, 2nd Place, Ben Kho, Kho International, Ltd., Decatur, GA, 19.11 ct. trilliant-cut Sphalerite.
A2 – Open Category All Other Faceted, 3rd Place, Clay Zava, Zava Mastercuts, Carrboro, NC, 31.94 ct. “tricheck”-cut Tanzanite.
A2 – Open Category All Other Faceted, Honorable Mention, Ben Kho, Kho International, Ltd., Decatur, GA, 11.48 ct. antique cushion-cut Rhodochrosite.
A2 – Open Category All Other Faceted, Honorable Mention, Joseph Ambalu, Amba Gem Corp, New York, NY, 16.88 ct. cushion-cut Paraiba Tourmaline.
Phenomenal Gemstones
A3 – Open Category Phenomenal, 1st Place, Larry Woods, Jewels From the Woods, Blanco, TX, “Celestial Compass” 5.13 ct. color-change Garnet.
A3 – Open Category Phenomenal, 2nd Place, Nandu Nichani, Temple Trading Co., Encinitas, CA, Suite of 11 graduated oval blue Moonstones (84.27 ct. t.w.).
Pairs & Suites
B – Pairs & Suites, 1st Place, Ben Kho, Kho International, Ltd., Decatur, GA, Suite of 11 fantasy cushion-cut Beryls (93.35 ct. t.w.).
B – Pairs & Suites, 2nd Place, Darryl Alexander, Alexander’s Jeweler’s & Ty Montell, Gilbert, AZ, Pair of green Quartz (41.47 ct. t.w.).
B – Pairs & Suites, 3rd Place, Larry Woods, Jewels From the Woods, Blanco, TX, “Celestial” 19 gemstone suite of malaya Garnets (33.25 ct. t.w.).
B – Pairs & Suites, Honorable Mention, Ruben Bindra, B & B Fine Gems, Los Angeles, CA, Matched pair of cushion-cut Aquamarines (47.50 ct. t.w.).
Faceting
C – Faceting, 1st Place, Tom Schneider, Thomas M. Schneider, San Diego, CA, 11.54 ct. concave-cut round grossular Garnet.
C – Faceting, 2nd Place, Ben Kho, Kho International, Ltd., Decatur, GA, 10.01 ct. cushion-cut pink Tourmaline.
C – Faceting, 3rd Place, Dalan Hargrave, GemStarz, Spring Branch, TX, Rose Quartz displaying the Breast Cancer Ribbon.
C – Faceting, Honorable Mention, Stephen Kotlowski, Uniquely-K-Custom Gems, Newburgh, NY, 276.90 ct. faceted blue Topaz.
C – Faceting, Honorable Mention, John Dyer, John Dyer & Co., Edina, MN, 44.74 ct. Citrine in a “Star of David” cut.
Carving
D – Carving, 1st Place, Dalan Hargrave, Dust Devil Mining, Spring Branch, TX, 61.0 ct. tri-color Sunstone.
D – Carving, 2nd Place, Naomi Sarna, Naomi Sarna Designs, New York, NY, Hand-carved Mexican fire Opal (22.6 grams).
D – Carving, 3rd Place, Naomi Sarna, Naomi Sarna Designs, New York, NY, Hand-carved almandine Garnet (25.1 grams).
Combination
E – Combination, 1st Place, Darryl Alexander, Alexander’s Jeweler’s & Ty Montell, Gilbert, AZ, Pair of Ametrines (70.0 ct. t.w.).
E – Combination, 2nd Place, Michael Dyber, Michael M. Dyber, Rumney, NH, 153.88 ct. Aquamarine utilizing “Optic Dishes” and “Photon Phacets” lapidary techniques.
E – Combination, 3rd Place, Dalan Hargrave, Geo Gem, Spring Branch, TX, “Starlight-cut” 47.0 ct. green Beryl.
Objects of Art
F – Objects of Art, 1st Place, Tigran Lementsyan, Andrew Sarosi, Los Angeles, CA, 18K yellow “Wheat Shaft” accented with seed Pearls and round white Diamonds (0.66 ct. t.w.).
F – Objects of Art, 2nd Place, Gregore Morin, Gregore Joailliers, Santa Barbara, CA, “Swiss Connection” brooch featuring white Opals (84 ct. t.w.), brown Opals (12.72 ct. t.w.) and Diamonds (0.48 ct. t.w.).
This year’s AGTA Spectrum Awards will be presented during the 2010 AGTA GemFairTM Tucson to be held February 2nd- February 7th at the Tucson Convention Center in Tucson, Arizona.
Winning entries will be displayed during the show and AGTA Spectrum Awards recipients will be recognized during the AGTA Dinner Dance and Awards Gala. The event starts at 7:00 pm Saturday, February 6. Tickets for the gala are $100 and cocktail attire is encouraged.
For further information on the 2010 AGTA GemFairTM Tucson or the AGTA Dinner Dance and Awards Gala, please call (800) 972-1162 or visit our website at www.agta.org. For inquiries regarding the AGTA Spectrum Awards competition, please contact Adam Graham at adam@agta.org or (800) 972-1162.
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