Winners of 2015 AGTA Spectrum and Cutting Edge Awards Announced

Winners of the annual American Gem Trade Association Spectrum and Cutting Edge Awards were announced yesterday.

This marks the 31st year that the competition has taken place. Judging took place in Manhattan on Oct. 25–26, and included Jerrold Green of Reginald C. Miller; Myriam Gumuchian of Gumuchian; Joseph Mardkha of ColorMasters; Tim McClelland of McTeigue & McClelland; Larry Pelzel of Neiman Marcus; and Jeffrey Post of the Smithsonian Institution.

“I did not envy the decisions that our judges had to make, yet I was pleased to see how carefully they deliberated over each and every decision they made, resulting in this year’s amazing list of winners,” said Douglas K. Hucker, CEO of the AGTA, to the media this week.

The AGTA Dinner Dance and Awards Gala will take place on February 7, 2015, during the 2015 AGTA GemFair Tucson, Feb. 3–8 at the Tucson Convention Center in Tucson, Ariz., and winning entries will be on display. Tickets for the gala are $100 and cocktail attire is encouraged.

Winners are listed below.

All photos courtesy of SANDRO Art & Photography for AGTA.

Spectrum Awards

Best of Category Winners


Best of Show

Leon Mege Paraiba and diamond ring AGTA winner 2014

Ring in platinum with a 4.71 ct. Paraiba tourmaline accented with 1.31 cts. t.w. French-cut diamonds by Leon Megé, Leon Megé Inc.

Best Use of Color

Best Use of Color bracelet for 2014 AGTA Spectrum by Paula Crevoshay

Venus bracelet in 18k yellow gold with freshwater baroque cultured pearls and 29.32 cts. t.w. pink and green tourmalines by Paula Crevoshay, Crevoshay

Best Use of Platinum and Color

Anemone earrings by Deirdre Featherstone took Best Use of Platinum and Color in the 2014 AGTA Spectrum Awards

Anemone earrings in platinum with 5.37 cts. t.w. tanzanites, 2.88 cts. t.w. blue zircons, 3.72 cts. t.w. purple sapphires, 1.67 cts. t.w. tsavorite garnets, 0.4 ct. t.w. indigo-color tourmalines, 0.36 ct. t.w. Paraiba tourmalines, and 0.16 ct. t.w. diamonds by Deirdre Featherstone, Featherstone Design

Best Use of Pearls

Pearl necklace by Naomi Sarna took Best Use of Pearls 2014 AGTA Spectrum Award

Necklace featuring in 18k rose gold with white cultured pearls and pink diamonds by Naomi Sarna, Naomi Sarna Designs

Fashion Forward

Ion Ionescu ring took Fashion Forward award in the 2014 AGTA Spectrum Awards

Ring in 18k gold with a 36 ct. turquoise, 9.2 mm Tahitian pearl, 0.32 ct. t.w. Paraiba tourmalines, and 0.43 ct. t.w. diamonds by Ion Ionescu, Ionescu Design

Category Winners

Bridal Wear Sponsored by The Knot

1st Place

Anemone earrings in platinum with 5.37 cts. t.w. tanzanites, 2.88 cts. t.w. blue zircons, 3.72 cts. t.w. purple sapphires, 1.67 cts. t.w. tsavorite garnets, 0.4 ct. t.w. indigo-color tourmalines, 0.36 ct. t.w. Paraiba tourmalines, and 0.16 ct. t.w. diamonds by Deirdre Featherstone, Featherstone Design 

2nd Place and Manufacturing Honors

Ring in 18k rose and white gold with 0.8 ct. t.w. golden beryl, orange citrines, orange sapphires, and diamonds by Laurence Bruyninckx, Laurence Bruyninckx

3rd Place and Platinum Honors

Earrings in platinum with 7.07 cts. t.w. diamond slices and 0.67 ct. t.w. diamonds by Michael Endlich, Pave Fine Jewelry

Bridal Wear Entry Platinum Innovation

Tilt-a-Whirl ring with a 2.06 cts. t.w. tanzanite with 1.63 cts. t.w. diamonds by Susan Drake, Spectrum Art & Jewelry

Bridal Wear Gem Diva Award

Necklace in 18k white gold with 30 mm white topaz and 3.7 cts. t.w. diamonds by Suzanne Kalandjian, Suzanne Kalan

Bridal Wear Manufacturing Honors

Ring in 18k rose and white gold with 0.8 ct. t.w. golden beryl, orange citrines, orange sapphires, and diamonds by Laurence Bruyninckx, Laurence Bruyninckx

Bridal Wear—Honorable Mention

Earrings in platinum with 5.61 cts. t.w. aquamarines, 3.51 cts. t.w. grossular garnets, and 0.56 ct. t.w. diamonds, Bella Campbell, Campbellian

Business/Day Wear

1st Place

Ring in 18k rose gold with 29 ct. carved turquoise and 14 cts. t.w. amethysts by Jennifer Rabe Morin, Gregoré Joailliers

2nd Place

Jewel ring in 18k gold and sterling silver with a 24.6 ct. green quartz and 0.23 ct. t.w. diamonds by Elizabeth Garvin, Elizabeth Garvin Fine

3rd Place

In the Swim earrings in 18k yellow gold and copper featuring with 7.11 cts. t.w. Paraiba tourmalines, 2.23 cts. t.w. pink tourmalines, and 0.8 ct. t.w. diamonds by Heath London, Heath London Fine Jewelry

Platinum Honors

Blooming ring in platinum with a 21.4 ct. opal, 1.35 cts. t.w. spessartite garnets, and diamonds by Phillip Dismuke, Jewelsmith

Business/Day Wear Gem Diva Award

Jewel ring in 18k gold and sterling silver with a 24.6 ct. green quartz and 0.23 ct. t.w. diamonds by Elizabeth Garvin, Elizabeth Garvin Fine

Business/Day Wear Manufacturing Honors

Ring in 18k yellow gold with a 11.25 ct. chrysocolla, 0.62 ct. t.w. diamonds, and 0.56 ct. t.w. tsavorites by Ryan Roberts, Ryan Roberts Ltd.

Classical

1st Place

Ring in platinum with a 4.71 ct. Paraiba tourmaline accented with 1.31 cts. t.w. French-cut diamonds by Leon Megé, Leon Megé Inc.

2nd Place

Ophion’s Treasure ring in 18k white gold with 6.74 cts. t.w. emeralds and 2.19 cts. t.w. diamonds by Heena Chheda, Real Gems Inc.

3rd Place

Midnight Kiss ring in 18k yellow and white gold with a 5.76 ct. unheated blue sapphire, 1.18 cts. t.w. white and yellow diamonds, 0.91 ct. t.w. blue sapphires, and 0.79 ct. t.w. tsavorite garnets by Evelyn Huang, China Art & Fine Jewelry Inc.

Platinum Honors

Ring in platinum with a 4.16 ct. emerald, 1.2 cts. t.w. diamond baguettes, and 0.21 ct. t.w. yellow diamonds by Rex McClure, Sohn and McClure Jewelers

Platinum Innovation

Etude d’Vert earrings in platinum with tapered 15.5 cts. t.w. green tourmalines by Mimi Favre, Mimi Favre Studio

Gem Diva Award

Astra ring in 18k gold with a 24.16 ct. star sapphire and 8.08 cts. t.w. diamonds by Caroline Chartouni, Caroline C

Manufacturing Honors

Ring in platinum with a 5.81 ct. green sapphire and 3.87 cts. t.w. diamonds by Deirdre Featherstone, Featherstone Design

Evening Wear

1st Place and Gem Diva Award

Bracelet in platinum and 20k pink gold with 44.31 cts. t.w. multicolored spinels, 6.8 cts. t.w. diamonds, and 1 ct. t.w. pink diamonds by Maria Canale for Suna Bros. Inc.

2nd Place

Milky Way earrings in 18k yellow gold with 46.06 cts. t.w. opals, 2.03 cts. t.w. Paraiba tourmalines, and 1.98 cts. t.w. diamonds by Erica Courtney, Erica Courtney Inc.

3rd Place

Ring in platinum with a 6.5 ct. alexandrite and diamonds by Gil, Gil Int’l

Platinum Honors

Bracelet in platinum with 7.26 cts. t.w. multicolored tourmalines and 1.29 cts. t.w. diamonds by Cara Becker Lichtenstein, My Blue Heaven

Manufacturing Honors

Ring in 14k white gold with a 6.11 ct. pink tourmaline and 1.24 cts. t.w. diamonds by Linda Quinn, Linda Quinn Designs

Honorable Mention

Pink Elephant & Tipsy Writer Maneater ring in 18k pink gold with 2 cts. t.w. pink sapphires and 2.23 cts. t.w. rubies and brown and colorless diamonds by Wendy Brandes, Wendy Brandes Jewelry

Men’s Wear

1st Place

Pink2 cufflinks in 18k red gold and stainless steel with 8.74 cts. t.w. pillow-cut morganites, 0.87 ct. t.w. rubies, and 0.6 ct. t.w. diamonds by Dawn Muscio, D. Muscio Fine Jewelry Studio

2nd Place

Ring in platinum with a 16.73 ct. tourmaline with 0.67 ct. t.w. yellow diamonds and 1.02 cts. t.w. tsavorite garnets by Mark Schneider, Mark Schneider Design  

3rd Place

Cufflinks in 18k blackened gold with 20.06 cts. t.w. tanzanites and 6.5 cts. t.w. tsavorite garnets by Michael Kanners, Michael Kanners

Men’s Wear Platinum Honors?

His and His rings in platinum with 5.68 cts. t.w. brown diamonds by Naomi Sarna, Naomi Sarna Designs

Men’s Wear Honorable Mention

Ring in 18k yellow gold and sterling silver wth a 13.17 ct. citrine by William Travis, William Travis Jewelry

Cutting Edge Awards

Classic Cut Gemstones

1st Place

20.24 ct. emerald-cut unheated yellow sapphire by Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co.

2nd Place

19.06 ct. brilliant step-cut unheated blue sapphire by Joseph Ambalu, Amba Gem Corp.

3rd Place

5 ct. oval-shape pink sapphire by Joseph Ambalu, Amba Gem Corp.

Honorable Mention

38.06 ct. blue sapphire by Alan Hackman, Intercolor

All Other Faceted

1st Place

43.96 ct. oval-shape cabochon-cut tanzanite by Hemant Phophaliya, AG Color Inc.

2nd Place

12.99 ct. oval-shape mint grossular garnet by Mikola Kukharuk, Nomad’s

3rd Place

28.21 ct. imperial topaz by Mikola Kukharuk, Nomad’s

Honorable Mention

115.48 ct. emerald-cut heliodor by Mikola Kukharuk, Nomad’s

Phenomenal Gemstones

1st Place

60.5 cts. t.w. natural split pair of boulder opals by Robert Shapiro, Robert Shapiro

Pairs and Suites

1st Place

Suite of 138.49 cts. t.w. rhodolite garnets by Dalan Hargrave for Geogem-USA

2nd Place

Pair of 70.14 cts. t.w. imperial topaz by Mikola Kukharuk, Nomad’s

3rd Place

Several 15.68 cts. t.w. fancy pear-shaped tanzanites by Hemant Phophaliya, AG Color Inc.

Honorable Mention

Suite of 57.73 cts. t.w. pear-shaped unheated yellow sapphires by Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co.

Innovative Faceting

1st Place

63.19 ct. fancy round-shaped Cuprian tourmaline by John Dyer, John Dyer & Co.

2nd Place

67.92 ct. swirling nebula ametrine by John Dyer, John Dyer & Co.

3rd Place

19.43 ct. royal velvet tanzanite by John Dyer, John Dyer & Co.

Carving

1st Place

1,015 ct. Rose de France amethyst carving by Naomi Sarna, Naomi Sarna Designs

2nd Place

Eye of Genesis carving with 260 cts. t.w. opals by Bernie Benavidez, Master Jewelers

3rd Place

102 ct. specialty-cut sunstone by Darryl Alexander, Nirinjan

Objects of Art

1st Place

A black chalcedony perfume bottle with 18k yellow gold and a 42.3 ct. carved Mexican fire opal flower stopper by Robyn Dufty, DuftyWeis Opals Inc.

2nd Place

Doctor’s Orders in 18k yellow gold and sterling silver with black jade, opal, and mammoth ivory by Darryl Alexander, Somewhere in the Rainbow

3rd Place

Letter opener/dagger in 18k yellow gold and oxidized sterling silver with fossilized walrus ivory, 6.09 cts. t.w. rubies, 3.98 cts. t.w. sapphires, 0.75 ct. t.w. black and 0.15 ct. t.w. colorless diamonds by Alishan Halebian, Alishan

Honorable Mention

Spacecraft pendant with docking station in sterling silver and 14k gold with a 30 ct. fantasy-cut ametrine, tourmalines, emeralds, alexandrites, lapis lazulite, tsavorite garnets, amethysts, diamonds, and sapphires by Adam Ramseyer, Ramstar Designs

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