Jewelers of America announced the winners of its CASE Awards, the group’s annual national retailer design competition. Winners were selected at the JA New York Winter Show, March 1–4, 2014, and recognize retail members who exhibit creativity, style, and excellence in jewelry design. Winning pieces featured handmade elements and high-quality stones, among other attributes.
Winners were selected from 63 entries from retail members across six categories: jewelry with retail values of up to $2,000, $2,001 to $5,000, $5,001 to $10,000, over $10,000, Buyers’ Choice, and Best in Show.
“Jewelers of America’s CASE Awards retail design competition is the only national platform that showcases the craft and creativity of independent jewelers,” JA president and CEO, David J. Bonaparte, told the media this week.
Winners were determined by an in-house JA judging panel and four industry experts, including Marc Adwar, Adwar Casting; Cindy Edelstein, Jewelers Resource Bureau; Michelle Graff, editor-in-chief of National Jeweler; and Malak Atut, ZAIKEN Jewelry. Voting for the Buyers’ Choice award was open to all JA New York attendees with a separate ballot. CASE Award winners receive a trophy from Jewelers of America.
The awards were sponsored by GE Capital and Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company and were open only to JA’s retail members and their employees. For more information, click here.
Jewelry Up to $2,000
Ring in 14k white with channel-set pear-shape chalcedony and diamonds by Susan Drake of Spectrum Art & Jewelry in Wilmington, N.C.
Jewelry $2,001 to $5,000
Ring in 18k yellow gold with round-shape opaque rose-cut diamond and melee by Craig Underwood, Becki Lamascus, and Tom Weishaar of Underwood’s Fine Jewelers in Fayetteville, Ark.
Jewelry $5,001 to $10,000, First Place
Ring in 14k rose gold with a round-shape chocolate diamond and colorless diamonds by Chris Roussel of Roussel’s Fine Jewelry in Gramercy, La.
Jewelry $10,000 and Over, First Place and Best in Show
Earrings in 18k yellow and white with moonstones, sapphires, and diamonds, by Belinda Vartenuk of Abshire & Haylan in Stow, Ohio
Buyers’ Choice
Men’s Trinity ring in 14k white and yellow gold with pavé-set, round brilliant-cut diamonds by Sherry Shifley and Tom Organ of Perry’s at Southpark in Charlotte, N.C.
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