13 Favorite Jewelry Designs From the 2018 AGTA Spectrum Awards



Yesterday we reported on the winners of the 2018 AGTA Spectrum Awards. And just like last year, the announcement was preceded by a press event that corralled not just the winners, runners-up, and honorable mentions in each category, but also the full register of submissions in all their head-spinningly gorgeous glory.

Naturally, JCK had boots on the ground at this important event. This year I noted an abundance of impeccable citrines and yellow sapphires, plus plenty of Paraiba, boulder opal, and aquamarine glamazons. More than a few submissions featured demantoid garnets, morganite, and zircons, which are now on my watch list.

Butterfly motifs were also well represented, and a new stone has captured my heart: rhodonite, courtesy of one Leon Megé.

Ricardo Basta, winner of the Best Use of Color Award, had exquisite submissions in nearly every category, but I’ve chosen to spotlight a design done in steely neutrals. The ring has an otherworldly quality, alternately reminding me of Star Wars spacecraft and something a costume designer might pull for Hecate in a futuristic staging of Macbeth.

Below are my favorite jewels, the ones I’m still thinking about days later.

Sydney Strong cabochon opal ring
Ring with 9.37-ct. opal cabochon accented with blue sapphires, blue diamonds, and white diamonds in 18k rose gold, Sydney Strong Jewelry
Lilly Barrack prasiolite bracelet
 Bracelet with prasiolite in sterling silver, Lilly Barrack
Jennifer Dawes fire opal ring
Ring with a 1.79-ct. fire opal accented with rubies, orange and yellow sapphires, and diamonds in 18k yellow gold, Jennifer Dawes
Yael Designs opal bracelet
Bangle with 8.72 cts. t.w. fire opal and 0.68 cts. t.w. diamonds in 18k rose gold, Yael Designs
William Travis Stay True ring suite
Stay True ring set featuring 2.46 cts. t.w. round pink and gray-green sapphires in 18k yellow gold and oxidized sterling silver, William Travis Jewelry
Ionescu Design jade ring
Floating Green Jade Bud ring featuring a 27 ct. jade centerpiece accented with tsavorite garnets, emeralds, and diamonds in 18k yellow gold, Ionescu Jewels
Paula Crevoshay opal bracelet
Queen Tiye’s Amulet bracelet with 48.34 cts. t.w. fire opals accented with tsavorite garnets and blue zircons in 18k yellow gold, Paula Crevoshay
Michael John Jewelry butterfly diamond ring
Ring with 7.02 cts. t.w. fancy-colored diamonds in 18k yellow gold, Michael John Jewelry
Mirjam Butz-Brown Jewelers conch shell ring
Conch shell ring with pearls, pink sapphires, garnets, pink tourmalines, and diamonds in 14k rose gold, Mirjam Butz-Brown Jewelers
John Meier Fine Jewelry opal ring
Ring with a 13.7 ct. opal accented with black diamonds and rainbow pavé in 18k yellow gold, John Meier Fine Jewelry
Ricardo Basta rutillated quartz ring
Spiked ring with a 29.75 ct. rutilated quartz and diamond accents in sterling silver, Ricardo Basta & E. Eichberg Jewelers
Color Source Gems yellow sapphire ring
Ring with 10.95 ct. unheated yellow sapphire accented with diamonds in 18k white gold, Color Source Gems

Top: Judith ring with a 27.2 ct. morganite accented with 6.5 cts. t.w. sapphires in 18k rose gold; Carolina Palermo Schultze, CPS Jewels

 

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Amy Elliott

JCK Contributing Editor

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