JA design competition winners

Jewelers of America announced the winners of its 15th annual JA Affiliate Design Competition, held during the recent JA New York Show, January 23-25. The contest entries were displayed and judged at JA’s booth on the show floor at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.

Designers from Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Montana, and Virginia each won an award. The contest featured 28 entries that had won design competitions hosted by JA’s state and regional affiliate organizations in the previous year. JA members or employees of JA member stores created all of the jewelry in the competition.

Entries were divided into three competition categories, according to the cost of materials used. A panel of industry experts selected by JA served as judges for these three categories. Each contest entry was evaluated based upon craftsmanship, marketability, practicality/wearability, and overall design. A separate balloting of attendees at the JA New York Show was conducted to determine the recipient of the Buyers’ Choice Award. 

The winners of the competition are:

First Place, Category I ($1,000 and Under)
Jon Philippi, Sissy’s Log Cabin, Pine Bluff, Ark.
Representing the Arkansas Jewelers Association
Brooch in 18k gold and platinum with spessartite garnet in mask design.

First Place (tie), Category II ($1,001 to $3,000)
John F. Codianni, Fine Craft Jewelers, Waterbury, Conn.
Representing the Connecticut Jewelers Association
Sterling silver and 14k yellow gold cuff bracelet with 68 bead-set diamonds.

Mikheil Kautengzhi, T.K. Anderson Ltd., Athens, Ga.
Representing the Georgia Jewelers Association
Two-tone 14k gold ring with rubies, sapphires, diamonds, and rubellite tourmaline.

First Place, Category III ($3,001 and Over)
Elichai J. Fowler, The Gem Gallery, Bozeman, Mont.
Representing the Montana/Wyoming Jewelers Association
Platinum & 18k yellow gold ring with tsavorite garnet and yellow diamond accents. 

First Place, Buyers’ Choice Award
Charlie Kingrea, C.K. Jewelers, Palmyra, Virg.
Representing the Virginia Jewelers Association
Two-tone 18k gold pendant with two piggybacked diamonds and removable slide.

All winners receive an engraved trophy and a framed certificate.

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