COLORED STONES It was a big year for the 2016 American Gem Trade Association Spectrum and Cutting Edge Awards: 492 entries total. But the record number of contenders wasn’t the only outstanding aspect of this year’s competition. Craftsmanship, originality, and jewelers’ use of color were all noticeably improved. “Designers are not haphazardly putting colors together,” says AGTA CEO Douglas K. Hucker. “They are creating complementary and analogous combinations and pieces of jewelry that reflect what’s coming off the racks in clothing.” The Campbellian Collection’s Bella Campbell earned the award for Best Use of Color for a pair of gold statement earrings with blue-green tourmalines and emeralds (above), while A. Kleiman & Co.’s Allen Kleiman took both Best of Show and First Place in Carving honors for a daring suite of carved Paraiba nautilus shells. Color us im