Jewelers of America (JA) announced the winners of its 31st annual CASE Awards, the jewelry competition recognizing member brands of JA that exhibit creativity, artistry, style, and excellence in design.
This year saw an all-time high number of entries, with nearly 200 hopefuls vying for awards in one or more of the following categories: Bracelets up to $5,000; Bracelets $5,001 and up; Earrings up to $5,000; Earrings $5,001 and up; Necklaces up to $5,000; Necklaces $5,001 and up; Rings up to $5,000; Rings $5,001 and up; Engagement rings up to $5,000; Engagement rings $5,001 and up; Wedding bands up to $5,000; Wedding bands $5,001 and up; Pins/Brooches/Cufflinks; and Other (non-jewelry items made of precious metals or stones).
“Jewelers of America’s CASE Awards design competition showcases the fine craftsmanship and talent of JA Members across the country,” said JA spokesperson Amanda Gizzi in a statement. “Judging was incredibly difficult this year as we had a wide variety of immensely talented jewelry designers enter in every category. The judges had to carefully consider the judging criteria and it had to come down to the finest details to determine winners.”
Winners were chosen by a panel of judges that evaluated each entry on its overall design, marketability, originality, and quality of manufacture. The panel of design experts comprised Terry Chandler of DCA; Deirdre Featherstone of Featherstone Design; Amanda Gizzi of Jewelers of America; Brecken Branstrator of National Jeweler; JB Jones of NYC Jewelry Week; Adrianne Sanogo, GIA graduate gemologist, of Black in Jewelry Coalition; and Iveta N. Stephanopoulos of GIA. The winners are as follows.
Engagement rings up to $5,000: Ben Bridge Jeweler, designed by Angela Hope, Seattle
Engagement rings $5,001 and up: Omi Privé, designed by Niveet Nagpal, West Covina, Calif.
Wedding bands up to $5,000: Gabriel & Co., New York, N.Y.
Wedding bands $5,001 and up: Le Vian, designed by Moossa LeVian, Great Neck, N.Y.
Earrings up to $5,000: Le Vian, designed by Aaron Hakimian, Great Neck, N.Y.
Earrings $5,001 and up: Graziela Gems, designed by Graziela Kaufman, Highwood, Ill.
Necklaces up to $5,000: Lilly Street, designed by Lynn Gambino, Old Brookville, N.Y.
Necklaces $5,001 and up: Brody Designs, designed by Mike Anderson, Stevens Point, Wis. (tie)
Necklaces $5,001 and up: Schullin, designed by Hans Schullin, Graz, Austria (tie; pictured at top)
Bracelets up to $5,000: Schullin, designed by Hans Schullin, Graz, Austria
Bracelets $5,001 and up: Valani, designed by Heena Shah, New York, N.Y.
Rings up to $5,000: Steven Paul Designs, designed by Steven Kistner, Delafield, Wis.
Rings $5,001 and up: Alexandra Mor, designed by Alexandra Mor, New York, N.Y.
Pins/Brooches/Cufflinks (any price): The Gem Vault, designed by Sharon Curtiss-Gal, Flemington, N.J.
Other (non-jewelry items made of precious metals or stones, any price): Samuel B. Collection, designed by Samuel Behnam and Neda Behnam, Great Neck, N.Y.
Top: Necklace in 18k rose gold with red Mediterranean coral branches, 227.96 cts. t.w. silver sheen obsidian cabochons, and 1.09 cts. t.w. diamonds, $22,500; Schullin
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