Frederic Sage, J.W. Currens, and Erica Courtney were among the big winners in the 2009 AGTA Spectrum Awards competition hosted by the American Gem Trade Association. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the competition.

The competition was held Oct. 25-26 in New York at a penthouse studio in Greenwich Village. Judges for the 2009 competition included Tom Heyman of Oscar Heyman, Donna Sturm of Verdura, Claudia Mata of Town & Country, and lapidarist Walter Casaravilla. The winner are as follows:

BEST OF CATEGORY:
Best of Show and First Place in Evening Wear: Frederic Sage, Frederic Sage, Great Neck, N.Y.
“Enchanted Stallion” brooch featuring 158.26 ct. hand-carved enhanced Turquoise, white diamonds (3.77 ctw.) and demantiod darnets (.16 ctw.) set in 18K green and white gold.

Best Use of Color and Fashion Forward Honors- Business/Day Wear: James W. Currens, J.W. Currens, Inc., New York.
Platinum “Kaleidoscope X2” ring featuring an 85 ct. Crystal surrounding Diamonds (10.13 ctw.), Amethysts (2.50 ctw.), Aquamarines (1.45 ctw.), fire Opals (.90 ctw.), Topaz (1.10 ctw.), Citrines (4.89 ctw.), Garnets (2.13 ctw.) & Tourmalines (2.85 ctw.).

Best Use of Platinum and Color and Platinum Honors in Bridal Wear: Erica Courtney, Erica Courtney, Los Angeles.
Platinum necklace featuring a 112.84 ct. Aquamarine briolette accented with Diamonds and Aquamarines (4.79 ctw.).

Best Use of Pearls – Bridal Wear: James W. Currens, J.W. Currens.
Platinum and 18K yellow gold ring “Celebration” ring featuring a 16mm South Sea white Pearl, a 12.5mm South Sea golden Pearl, a 14.4mm Tahitian black Pearl and a 10.15mm Tahitian black pearl accented with white and yellow diamonds (3.76 ctw.).

SPECTRUM AWARDS 

Bridal Wear
First Place – Bridal Wear: Judy Evans, Richard Krementz Gemstones, Springdale, N.J.
Platinum earrings featuring Morganite briolettes (27.08 ctw.) accented with diamonds (2.35 ctw.).

Second Place – Bridal Wear: Evelyn Clothier, Evelyn Clothier Jewelry, Philadelphia. Platinum earrings featuring white donut Agates accented with Diamonds (4.15 ctw.).

Third Place – Bridal Wear: Carley  McGee-Boehm, Carley Jewels, Solana Beach, Calif.
Palladium earrings featuring cuprian Tourmalines (18.09 ctw.) accented with black Spinel and rock Crystal Quartz helioliths.

Best Use of Pearls – Bridal Wear: James W. Currens, J.W. Currens, Inc.
Platinum and 18K yellow gold ring “Celebration” ring featuring a 16mm South Sea white pearl, a 12.5mm South Sea golden Pearl, a 14.4mm Tahitian black Pearl and a 10.15mm Tahitian black pearl accented with white and yellow Diamonds (3.76 ctw.).

Manufacturing Honors – Bridal Wear: Michael Endlich, Pave Fine Jewelry, Oakland, Calif.
Platinum ring featuring a 2.85 ct. rainbow Moonstone cabochon accented with Diamonds (.20 ctw.).

Platinum Honors and Best Use of Platinum and Color – Bridal Wear: Erica Courtney, Erica Courtney.
Platinum necklace featuring a 112.84 ct. aquamarine briolette accented with diamonds and aquamarines (4.79 ctw.).

Business/Day Wear
First Place – Business/Day Wear: Devta  Doolan, Devta Doolan Jewelry, Portland, Maine.
24K yellow and 14K rose gold necklace featuring Jasper cabochons (630 ctw.).

Second Place – Business/Day Wear: Jennifer Rabe Morin, Jennifer Joailliers, Santa Barbara, Calif.
18K white gold ring featuring a 38.67 ct. star rose Quartz cabochon accented with pink sapphires (7.19 ctw.) and diamonds (1.04 ctw.).

Third Place – Business/Day Wear: Ashleigh Branstetter, Ashleigh Branstetter, LLC, Baton Rouge, La.
18K yellow gold ring featuring a 32.10 ct. pink tourmaline cabochon accented with Diamonds (.58 ctw.).

Best Use of Color and Fashion Forward – Business/Day Wear: James W. Currens, J.W. Currens, Inc.
Platinum “Kaleidoscope X2” ring featuring an 85 ct. Crystal surrounding diamonds (10.13 ctw.), amethysts (2.50 ctw.), aquamarines (1.45 ctw.), fire opals (.90 ctw.), topaz (1.10 ctw.), citrines (4.89 ctw.), garnets (2.13 ctw.), and tourmalines (2.85 ctw.).

Honorable Mention – Business/Day Wear: Glen J. Engelbrecht, G J Designs, Sarasota, Fla.
18K yellow gold pendant featuring a drusy quartz leaf accented with diamonds (1.13 ctw.).

Manufacturing Honors – Business/Day Wear: Yehouda Saketkhou, Yael Designs, San Francisco.
Platinum ring featuring a 13mm black Tahitian pearl accented with pave diamonds.

Platinum Honors – Business/Day Wear: Evelyn Clothier, Evelyn Clothier Jewelry.
Platinum earrings featuring triangle-cut green tourmalines (13.68 ctw.) accented with diamonds (1.50 ctw.).

Classical
First Place – Classical: Gregore  Morin, Gregore Joailliers, Santa Barbara, Calif.
18K white and yellow gold frog brooch featuring Opals (2.32 ctw.), moonstones (1.08 ctw.) and pink sapphires (.03 ctw.).

Second Place – Classical: Erica Courtney, Erica Courtney.
18K yellow gold ring featuring a 17.51 ct. chalcedony cabochon accented with turquoise cabochons (3.10 ctw.) and diamonds.

Third Place – Classical: Jeffrey Bilgore, Jeffrey Bilgore, LLC, New York.
Platinum ring featuring a 14.80 ct. cushion-cut blue-green tourmaline accented with diamonds (.70 ctw.).

Honorable Mention – Classical: JJ Buckareff, JJ Buckar, Toronto, Canada.
18K yellow gold cameo featuring a carved shell accented with white Diamonds (2.03 ctw.), tsavorite and spessartite Garnets (1.08 ctw.), pink, blue and yellow sapphires (3.08 ctw.) and Paraiba tourmalines (.30 ctw.).

Manufacturing Honors – Classical: Richard Krementz Gemstones, Richard Krementz Gemstones, Springfield, N.J.
Platinum and 18K yellow gold ring featuring a 5.37 ct. blue sapphire accented with diamonds (1.05 ctw.).

Platinum Honors – Classical: Aron Suna, Suna Bros. Inc., New York.
Platinum ring featuring a 7.74 ct. antique cushion-cut topaz accented with diamonds (.62 ctw.).

Evening Wear
First Place and Best of Show – Evening Wear: Frederic Sage, Frederic Sage.
“Enchanted Stallion” brooch featuring 158.26 ct. hand-carved enhanced turquoise, white diamonds (3.77 ctw.) and demantiod Garnets (.16 ctw.) set in 18K green and white gold.

Second Place – Evening Wear: JJ  Buckareff, JJ Buckar.
Platinum “Ribbons” ring featuring an 11.50 ct. tanzanite accented with ideal-cut diamonds (3.50 ctw.).

Third Place – Evening Wear: Evelyn Clothier, Evelyn Clothier Jewelry.
Platinum earrings featuring green beryl drops (70.86 ctw.) accented with square and round-cut tourmalines (4.23 ctw.) and diamonds (.78 ctw.).

Honorable Mention – Evening Wear: Yehouda Saketkhou, Yael Designs, San Francisco.
18K white and yellow gold ring featuring a 60-ct. yellow sapphire accented with white and yellow diamonds (10.0 ctw.).

Manufacturing Honors – Evening Wear: Erica Courtney, Erica Courtney.
18K yellow gold earrings featuring pear-shaped and antique cushion-cut tanzanites (17.56 ctw.).

Platinum Honors – Evening Wear: Michael daCosta, Fortune’s Fine Jewellery, Ltd., Toronto, Canada.
Platinum brooch featuring a .57 ct. brown diamond accented with yellow diamonds (.52 ctw.), Rubies, pink and yellow sapphires (9.15 ctw.) and white diamonds (1.58 ctw.).

Men’s Wear
First Place – Men’s Wear: Ricardo Basta, E. Eichberg, Inc., Beverly Hills, Calif.
18K yellow gold and platinum cufflinks featuring lavender Chalcedony cabochons (14.7 ctw.), round yellow sapphires (1.57 ctw.), round diamonds (0.17 ctw.) and round rubies (0.08 ctw.).

Second Place – Men’s Wear: Robert Pelliccia, J.R. Dunn Jewelers, Lighthouse Point, Fla.
Platinum and 22K yellow gold ring featuring a 1.75 ct. emerald-cut alexandrite accented with diamond baguettes (.69 ctw.).

Third Place – Men’s Wear: Jack  Bigio, Basser & Bigio, LLC, New York.
22K and 18K yellow gold cufflinks featuring bi-color watermelon Tourmaline slices (30.50 ctw.).

Manufacturing Honors – Men’s Wear: Ricardo Basta, E. Eichberg, Inc.
Palladium ring featuring a 19.68 ct. oval brown Zircon.

Platinum Honors – Men’s Wear: Mark  Schneider, Mark Schneider Design, Long Beach, Calif.
Platinum ring featuring an 11.54 ct. indicolite tourmaline accented with white and yellow diamonds (1.58 ctw.).

 

CUTTING EDGE AWARDS

A1 – Open Category Classic
First Place – A1 – Open Category Classic Gemstone: John M. Bachman, John M. Bachman, Inc., Boulder, Colo.
29.92 ct. natural yellow sapphire.

 

Second Place – A1 – Open Category Classic Gemstone: Joseph  Ambalu, Amba Gem Corp., New York.
6.05 ct. emerald-cut natural blue sapphire.

Third Place – A1 – Open Category Classic Gemstone: Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co., San Francisco
9.13 ct. heart-shaped natural yellow sapphire.

A2 – Open Category All Other
First Place – A2 – Open Category All Other Faceted: Jeffrey Bilgore, Jeffrey Bilgore, LLC, New York.
11.44 ct. oval-cut red spinel.

Second Place – A2 – Open Category All Other Faceted: Joseph  Ambalu, Amba Gem Corp., New York.

10.45 ct. natural elbaite tourmaline.

Third Place – A2 – Open Category All Other Faceted: Joseph  Ambalu, Amba Gem Corp., New York.
8.62 ct. oval-cut natural Paraiba tourmaline.

A3 – Open Category
First Place – A3 – Open Category Phenomenal: James W. Currens, J.W. Currens, Inc.
34.80 ct. natural boulder opal fancy cabochon.

Second Place – A3 – Open Category Phenomenal: Omi Nagpal, Omi Gems, Inc., Los Angeles
5.98 ct. cushion-cut alexandrite.

Third Place – A3 – Open Category Phenomenal: Stephen Kotlowski, Zultanite Gems, LLC, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
80.25 ct. oval zultanite.

B – Pairs & Suites
First Place – B – Pairs & Suites: Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co., San Francisco.
Pair of cushion-cut Peridot (28.47 ctw.).

Second Place – B – Pairs & Suites: Nandu  Nichani, Temple Trading Co., Encinitas, Calif.
Pair of silver pear-shaped Moonstones (107.09 ctw.).

Third Place – B – Pairs & Suites: Thomas  Trozzo, Trozzo, Culpeper, Va.
Suite of dimple-cut round Citrines (46.98 ctw.).

Honorable Mention – B – Pairs & Suites: David Brackna, David A. Brackna, Gemcutter, Germantown, Md.
“Carousel”-cut assembled opal inlaid and surrounded by heliodor (17.58 ctw.).

C – Faceting
First Place – C – Faceting: Ben  Kho, Kho International, Ltd., Decatur, Ga.
15.05 ct. cushion-cut rhodochrosite.

Second Place – C – Faceting: Shawn  Maddox, Jewels From the Woods, Blanco, Texas.
19.01 ct. “Celestial Compass” peridot.

Third Place – C – Faceting: Christopher  Wolfsberg, K.S. Export, LLC, Castle Hayne, N.C.
41.65 ct. modified square-cut heliodor.

D – Carving
First Place – D – Carving: Larry Woods, Jewels From the Woods.
40.47 ct. Lightning Ridge Opal carving.

Second Place – D – Carving: Glenn  Lehrer, Lehrer Designs, Inc., Larkspur, Calif.
“Solar Flare” 70.13 ct. carved transparent-orange Brazilian Opal.

Third Place – D – Carving: Darryl Alexander, Alexander’s Jewelers, Gilbert, Ariz.
25.7 ct. “Autumn Forming” agate free-form carving.

E – Combination
First Place – E – Combination: Michael M. Dyber, Michael M. Dyber dba Ledge Art Studio, Rumney, N.H.
89.79 ct. carved aquamarine.

Second Place – E – Combination: Cheng Ming, Milani Jewelry Co., Ltd., Coquitlam, Canada.
11.0 ct. round citrine.

Third Place – E – Combination: John Dyer, John Dyer & Co., Edina, Minn.
106.84 ct. “Aqua Exuberance” aquamarine.

Honorable Mention – E – Combination: John Dyer, John Dyer & Co.
27.12 ct. concave-cut trillion aquamarine.

F – Objectw of Art
First Place – F – Objectw of Art: Dalan Hargrave, GemStarz, Spring Branch, Texas.
Executive desk set featuring Lightning Ridge Opal, black galaxy, black jade, and quartz (1500 ctw.).
Second Place – F – Objectw of Art: Dalan Hargrave, Juniper Ridge Opal.
“Cheese” carving featuring a full variety of Juniper Ridge Opal (2400 ctw.).

Third Place – F – Objectw of Art: R.A. “Art” Guyon, International Gem Mart, Southlake, Texas.
“Moods” sculpture of Jasper.

Honorable Mention – F – Objectw of Art: Robert Wander, Robert Wander for Winc Creations, Honolulu, Hawaii.
Walking stick with an 18K yellow gold flamingo handle featuring multi-colored sapphires (95.58 ctw.) and chocolate diamonds (1.57 ctw).

An editor’s event was held Oct. 27 and featured all of the jewelry and gemstone submissions. Attendees included top fashion/accessory editors.

This year’s AGTA Spectrum Awards will be presented during the 2009 AGTA GemFair Tucson, being held Feb. 4 – Feb. 9, 2009, at the Tucson Convention Center in Tucson, Ariz. Winning entries will be displayed during the show and AGTA Spectrum Awards recipients will be recognized during the AGTA Dinner Dance and Awards Gala, Feb. 7. Tickets for the gala are $100 and cocktail attire is encouraged.

AGTA Spectrum Awards entries were judged on the basis of overall beauty and wearability, innovative design, effective use of materials, quality of gemstones, quality of workmanship, broad-base consumer appeal, and potential to generate positive publicity for natural colored gemstones. Spectrum Award categories included Bridal, Business/Day, Classical, Evening, and Men’s Wear.

AGTA Cutting Edge Awards honor excellence and creativity in lapidary arts, including natural colored gemstones and cultured pearls, carvings, other gem materials and objectw of art. Categories included: Open Category – Classic Gemstone Division, Open Category – All Other Faceted Gemstones Division, Open Category – Phenomenal Gemstones Division, Pairs & Suites, Faceting, Carving, Combination, and Objectw of Art.

Platinum Honors was relaunched this year through the involvement of Platinum Guild International. All entries whose primary metal was platinum were eligible in this category.

Consumers Choice Honors sponsored by the Jewelry Consumer Opinion Council will be determined through an online research study involving the jewelry-buying public. The judging process is currently under way.

All designs that qualified for the Spectrum Awards competition were considered for Manufacturing Honors. This award celebrates outstanding use of colored gemstones and cultured pearls in jewelry appropriate to be manufactured in production quantities.

Fashion Forward Honors recognizes the outstanding use of colored gemstone and/or cultured pearl beads in artful, trend-setting jewelry. All necklaces, earrings, bracelets or other jewelry that qualified for judging in the AGTA Spectrum Awards competition automatically qualified for Fashion Forward Honors judging.

For more information on the 2009 AGTA GemFair Tucson or the AGTA Dinner Dance and Awards Gala, call (800) 972-1162 or visit the AGTA at www.agta.org. For inquiries regarding the AGTA Spectrum Awards competition, contact Adam Graham at adam@agta.org or (800) 972-1162.

Follow JCK on Instagram: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Twitter: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Facebook: @jckmagazine