Schuetz Winners Announced
The Gemological Institute of America has announced the winners of its 22nd men’s jewelry and accessories design competition, the 1998 George A. Schuetz Jewelry Design Contest. More than 70 designs were entered.
First place went to Mei Shan Lee of Hong Kong. Her design was an ornamental gold cufflink featuring a princess-cut diamond in the center, surrounded by granite. Jiajen Chuang took second place for a platinum tie tack studded with eight melee diamonds. New Jersey jeweler Rudolph Shtainhorn, who entered a ring of platinum with lapis lazuli, was the third-place winner.
Entry forms for the 1999 George A. Schuetz contest will be available April 1 from GIA.
Pearl Deadline Is Set
The deadline for the 27th annual International Pearl Design Contest (IPDC) is Feb. 23. The contest is sponsored by the Japan Pearl Promotion Society. The 1998 contest received 1,629 entries from 29 countries.
Three categories will be judged: freestyle, themed design, and paper renderings. Entrants are limited to two actual jewelry entries for either category and two paper rendering designs. The 1999 theme will be jewelry with a “sea” motif, the same as 1998’s theme.
This year, there will be an entry fee of $40 for jewelry submissions and $20 for paper rendering submissions. More information and entry forms can be obtained from the Cultured Pearl Information Center, Tele-Press Associates Inc., 321 E. 53rd St., New York, NY 10022; (212) 688-5580.
Frederick Festival Calls for Entries
The Frederick Festival of the Arts, Frederick, Md., has issued a call for entries to its 1999 Festival. The fair is to be held June 5 and 6 in Frederick. One hundred forty artists in a variety of disciplines will be participating in the juried fine arts and crafts market.
Application deadline is Jan. 31. Contact the Frederick Festival of the Arts, (301) 694-9632 or send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to FFOA, P.O. Box 3080, Frederick, MD 21701.
First CIBJO Competition DRAWS WIDE Interest
Approximately 60 student participants from 16 countries entered “The Flower in Jewellery” competition, sponsored by the Education Commission of Conféderation Internationale Bijouterie, Joaillerie, Orfèvrere (CIBJO) with the support of the Vicenza Trade Fair, Alpieagles, the Federation of Goldsmiths “Confedorafi,” and the Italian Federation of Jewellery Retailers.
Matteo Frioni from the Centro Elis in Rome received the first prize for a ring with a flower that closes and opens with the turn of the corolla. Second prize went to Theodores Izirozidis from the Mokume School of Athens. His entry was a necklace made according to the ancient canons of filigree work typifying Greek gold. Third prize was awarded to Nadia Suster from the Jewelry Technological Center of Israel, based in Tel Aviv. Her necklace entry was inspired by a passage from the Bible concerning the love of King Solomon and Sulamita, which mentions various flowers.
The winning pieces traveled to various world jewelry trade fairs throughout the fall and in December are set to be exhibited at the National Museum in Amsterdam.
Based on its enthusiastic response, CIBJO has announced the contest will again be run in 1999.
IJO Members Lauded for Creative Design
Three members of the Independent Jewelers Organization received first-prize honors in a jewelry design contest at the summer IJO buying show.
The contest was open to all IJO members. More than 26 entries were submitted. Entries were judged on originality, artistic flair, and quality of workmanship.
The winner in the under $500 cost category was Paul Bensel of Paul Bensel Jewelers, Yuma, Ariz. His entry was a 14k yellow gold, black drusy quartz, opal, and diamond pendant.
In the $500 to $1,000 range, first-place honors were awarded to Julia Brown and Robert Kleiser of Just Julia’s Jewelry in Fresno, Calif. Their entry was a brooch depicting a pearl mouse on a 14k gold wedge of cheese.
In the over $1,000 cost category, the winner was Gene Sanders of Hogan’s Jewelers, Gaylord, Mich. His entry was a 14k yellow gold and tanzanite slide.
Each winner was awarded an annual subscription to Gems & Gemology magazine; a fancy-cut gemstone, compliments of Joe Menzie Inc.; and a plaque and photo with their winning piece.
For information on future IJO contests or IJO membership, contact the organization’s headquarters at 25 Seir Hill Rd., Norwalk, CT 06850; (800) 624-9252 or (203) 846-4215.
Unique Cut Stars in Consumer Contest
Readers of Vogue magazine will get a chance to “reach for the stars” this month in the Star Diamond Sweepstakes, arranged with the assistance of the Diamond Promotion Service.
One lucky winner will receive the largest Star diamond in existence – 17 mm in diameter, approximately 20 cts., with an estimated retail value of $450,000. Three other winners will receive Star diamond suites, designed by Henry Dunay, with an estimated retail value of $25,000 per suite.
Earlier this year, Vogue invited retailers to participate in the Star Diamond Sweepstakes. Readers deposit completed entry forms with participating local jewelers, whose names will be printed in the magazine. Vogue is providing participating retailers with point-of-purchase displays and ballot boxes.
The rare, one-piece Star cut is available exclusively from Fancoldi. It is cut from octahedral rough usually used for cutting round stones and has 56 facets. More rough must be sacrificed in the cutting process; the objective is to achieve brilliance and symmetry of shape rather than to retain weight. The diameter is identical to that of a round diamond but weighs less owing to loss in the polishing process. Fancoldi’s patented Star diamonds are sold by millimeter size rather than by carat weight.