The voting for the 2006 Colored Stone's Reader's Choice Award competition has concluded. Click here to see the results.

Below are the 2006 Reader's Choice finalists.

Gordon Aatlo
Gordon Aatlo began his work with metal at his father's side mainly as a means to keep him occupied while his dad completed his day at the bench. Little would Gordon expect that eventually it would all come together and "click."

One of the most daring and innovative designers emerged from that San Francisco studio where Gordon learned his techniques, becoming a master goldsmith and platinumsmith. Venturing about town, he drew inspiration from many sights for both design and the use of colored gemstones to complete his vision.

Gordon's work with colored gemstones is constantly evolving and creating new directions for jewelry designs using one-of-kind gemstones and limited production pieces in traditionally faceted gemstones. Gordon's work has been called not only jewelry as art, but art as jewelry. He is a winner of several design awards including the AGTA Spectrum Award Platinum Honors in 1999 and 2000.

For more information on Gordon Aatlo, please visit his Web site www.gordonaatlo.com.

Judi Anderson
"My passion is creating original jewelry featuring beautiful colored gemstones," says Judi Anderson. "When creating a new piece I begin with a gemstone that captures me. The gemstone may immediately suggest a design or may rest on my design table for several months awaiting the moment of inspiration. As the design emerges and evolves, other gemstones and design elements are added. A jewel is completed when there is an exciting synergy, a perfect balance, between the whole and the parts of the jewel.

"My philosophy is that within every beautiful gemstone there is a unique, beautiful jewel waiting to be discovered. The task of the jewelry designer is to help release the beautiful jewel hidden within the gem."

Judi Anderson is an award-winning jewelry designer with a focus on custom design and colored gemstones. She is a graduate gemologist of the Gemological Institute of America, a fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain, and the owner of Bijoux Extraordinaire Ltd., which can be found on the Web at www.JewelryExpert.com.

Charles P. Bahringer
Charles P. Bahringer is a designer specializing in titanium jewelry. After 13 years of owning a custom jewelry store featuring his own work, Bahringer and fellow artist Michael Meid have teamed up to start illumine i titanium LLC.

"Designing in titanium to me is very liberating," hails Bahringer. “I love to take a piece to it's furthest point of visual comfort. Titanium with its coloring ability and lightweight but bold appearance allows my designs to step outside the expected box of what jewelry is supposed to look and feel like."

illumine i titanium specializes in limited produced titanium collections that are sold through its Web site and at fine jewelry stores throughout the United States, Canada, and South America. Bahringer's pieces can be seen adorned by the likes of Cher, Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, and Oprah Winfrey. For more information on Charles P. Bahringer, visit his Web site www.illuminei.com.

Ronda Coryell
"One word to describe myself . . . passionate; my jewelry . . . regal," says Ronda Coryell. "My life revolves around my passion for metals. When I work with metal, it speaks to me in a way that it becomes alive. When I was growing up, my dad worked across the street from an art museum. I went every chance I had and found myself drawn to the jewelry of antiquity, to the gold and gems once worn by royalty. I hope that the people who view and wear my jewelry will feel attuned to the Kings and Queens that went before them.

"My passion for precious metals and gems is part of my desire to create unique versions of ancient designs, bringing ancient techniques into the new millennium. My designs and techniques are inspired by those of ancient craftsmen, however, I like having a modern, well-equipped studio with everything at my fingertips. I am especially drawn to the early creations that use the process of granulation. Incorporating granulation into a piece is an extremely exciting experience, requiring the ultimate mastery of torch control. The process has to be pushed to the limits every time . . . working on the edge between success and failure."

For more on Ronda Coryell, visit her Web site www.rondacoryell.com.

Thomas Dailing
With 45 professional designing awards, the creations of Thomas Dailing Designs regularly grace the pages of major jewelry magazines. They typically showcase concave faceted gems by Richard Homer. Thomas Dailing Designs are contemporary classics, delicately balanced with dramatic artistry and a strong sense of engineering. By continually pioneering new techniques, Thomas Dailing Designs brings its unique vision to the jewelry world.

For more on Thomas Dailing, visit his Web site www.dailingdesigns.com.

Zoltan David
"The magic of jewelry is that it imposes itself into an existing reality," says Zoltan David. "And by the power of its beauty, affects the world around us as well as within us. Although the materials of jewelry have an intrinsic value, it is not until these metals and gems are manipulated by the creative force of humans that its value is increased. This is also the magic of jewelry, it expresses the human spirit.

"Artists do not follow trends, they liberate people from them, and in so doing the next trend is born, and the evolution of fine jewelry continues."

For more on Zoltan David, visit his Web site www.zoltandavid.com.

Julia Fluker
"I started taking jewelry classes in high school, and after earning a university degree in Jewelry and Silversmithing, I worked at the bench in New York for 10 years, engineering and making pieces for several well-known jewelry houses," says Julia Fluker.

"The experience of crafting jewelry at the highest level, and a deep appreciation for historical jewelry -­ from Etruscan, to Renaissance, to Art Deco — combined with a fascination for the architecture of nature, and brought me to starting my company, Maenad Design, in 1993."

Maenad Design produces one-of-a-kind and limited production pieces, many designed to be worn in multiple ways. Each piece is meticulously crafted to the highest standards, using specially developed gold alloys and individually selected precious stones.

Julia Fluker can be contacted at (859) 261-4554 or through her Web site www.maenaddesign.com.

Pamela Froman
Pamela Froman began her career in Paris, designing for top European couturier salons, including Courreges, Cacharel, Carita, Guy Larouche, and Valentino. In 2003, she felt the time was right to unveil her personal definition of exceptional jewelry; the Pamela Froman Fine Jewelry Collection was born. Pamela hand-selects diamonds and gemstones of the highest quality, pairing them with Platinum, 22K, and carefully-mixed colors of 18K gold to create her distinctive pieces.

“I feel strongly that individuality is the underlying theme of beauty,” the designer explains. “I believe that the more a piece is worn the more beautiful it becomes, because it takes on the unique essence of the wearer.”

Pamela Froman works in her studio in Los Angeles and can be reached there at (323) 954-7436 or through her Web site www.pamelafroman.com.

Richard Grinstein
"Much of my inspiration comes from a combination of exploring the possibilities inherent in the materials and seeking to create forms based on geological or naturalistic forms," says Richard Grinstein. "I view jewelry and metalsmithing as an art form almost unlimited in its possibilities: It encompasses sculpture and fashion, art and technology. Jewelry can be an exercise in formal design or the most expressive sculpture. For me, making jewelry for others has been most rewarding in a personal sense. Creating an object that encapsulates the emotions and esthetics of the giver, the recipient, and the artist is one of the most satisfying experiences imaginable."

To contact Richard Grinstein, visit his Web site www.grinsteinjewelry.com.

Hubert Heldner
Jewelry is like gastronomy, there is Girardet and there is fast food. Explorers who create pieces of art; and displays with kilos of gold and gemstones without life. Hubert Heldner belongs without doubt to the first category. And he expects to see one day his creations exposed in all the museums of the world. It may sound conceited, but for somebody who knows him, it is like a rest of childhood, a confidence of his capacities paired with an exuberating and inspiring enthusiasm.
This jeweler, who produces five ideas a minute, is on the way to success. Not covetous of his knowledge, he teaches classes in jewelry design, wax modeling, casting techniques, and the creation of jewelry. You will find him and the team of Free Form Artists in Montreux, Switzerland, or on the Web at www.free-form.ch.

Janis Kerman
"By 1975, I had completed my fundamental studies in jewelry design and began experimenting with various metals and techniques," says Janis Kerman. "I knew that jewelry making was my direction, my métier. Two years later Janis Kerman Design was established. The focus of my work for the next ten years was the design and production of limited edition collections, detailing for fashion accessories and unique pieces. Though I enjoyed the production years and the fact that my designs were available to many, my need to focus on unique pieces was determining the next era of work. Since 1986, I have been working exclusively in precious metals, gems, and experimental materials," adds Kerman.

"I am inspired by the form, colors, and textures of objects both artistic and common: architecture, furniture, paintings, ceramics, fashion. . . . My work is based on geometric shapes — their inherent strength, applicability, and timelessness command my respect. Balance rather than symmetry."

To see more of Janis Kerman's work, visit her Web site www.janiskermandesign.com.

Courtney Lane
Courtney Lane is known for her exquisite color combinations and quality of material. Her collection, Passementerie, is instantly recognizable to collectors because of her unique style combining stunning beadwork with traditional and contemporary metalsmithing techniques.

The inspiration for her designs comes from the colored stones themselves. “I am inspired by the endless possibilities of using colored gemstones as my artistic
palette,” says Courtney. From the beginning, Courtney has made it one of her primary goals to change the perception of beadwork as “costume” or “fashion” jewelry by using only fine gemstones, 18K and 24K gold, platinum, and occasionally sterling silver in her designs.

Courtney Lane's collection can be viewed online at www.passementeriejewelry.com.

Ronna Lugosch
Ronna Lugosch was born in Chicago in 1954. Already quite the artist at age four, Ronna graduated from beads and macramé to a Masters of Fine Arts from Temple University. She began her business in the fine crafts market and moved into fine jewelry wholesale in 1984. During this time she and her husband moved to the rocky coast of Maine. For 20 years she sold to galleries and jewelry stores nationwide. During that time Ronna became well known for tastefully designed symbolic pieces such as her Mother's Love heart collection and her pea pod designs.

The pressures of business traveling moved her in new directions. In 2000, Ronna opened Natural Expressions Jewelry Gallery right on her own property down the road from a fishing village. She continues to focus on her symbolic and pea pod designs but is enjoying experimenting with new looks with colored stones and diamonds.

For more on Ronna Lugosch, visit her Web site www.nat-expressions.com.

Valerie Naifeh
Valerie Naifeh is a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and is Oklahoma’s only nationally and internationally awarded jewelry designer. Her career in jewelry design began while in college at the University of Tulsa, working as an apprentice for a local jeweler. During this time she learned all aspects of model making, casting, and stone setting and developed a love of colored gemstones while traveling in Asia and Europe on stone-buying trips. Valerie is a two time DeBeers Diamonds Today award winner (1990 and 1994) and also placed in the 1994 Japanese International Pearl Design Competition.

Today, Valerie owns and operates a retail store in Oklahoma City and has a select amount of wholesale accounts in California, Idaho, and Utah. She can reached through her Web site www.naifehfinejewelry.com.

Karen Olsen Ramsey
"Living on 30 acres in the Northern California foothills is a perfect backdrop and inspiration for the designs that dance through my dreams and manifest through my fingertips," says Karen Olsen Ramsey. "I have been fascinated with jewelry and beautiful stones since childhood, and have a passion for creating jewelry. I am fortunate to be able to put my passion into my hands and work on a daily basis, doing what I love.

"My pieces are formed by hand through the processes of repousse, chasing, and forging. Each chain, link, and clasp are hand made. I work precisely and methodically, spending as much time on design as I do on fabrication. My designs emerge from the environment around me. I find inspiration from the plants, animals, and bugs that share this steep, wooded canyon with me. My hope is that the singing birds, the raging creeks, and the playful breezes find voice in the flowing designs that I create.

"My studio is my haven; my pieces a reflection of the joy that I find while immersed in the peace, tranquility, and natural beauty that surround me." Karen Olsen Ramsey can be found online at www.artjeweler.com.

Kathleen A. Smick
"Personal adornment reveals who we are to the outside world," says Kathleen Smick. "I strive to capture the magic of that personal expression by hand making unique jewelry."

Kathleen has been mesmerized by colored stones ever since she can remember. "I began wearing jewelry at a very young age, inthralled by the rich beauty of unusual stones. But making my own jewelry seemed mysterious and out of reach."

She turned to landscape photography for many years to express her love for the natural beauty all around us. But after a serendipitous apprenticeship with jewelry artist Heyoka Merrifield she says, "I knew I had found my life's passion. Anything my imagination could dream up I could now make with rare gems, unique stones, and precious metals. My imagination is fired by fairy tales, Tolkien's elves, Lalique, Susan Boulet, Indian legends, and ancient myths. I hope my jewelry brings to light the magic in all of us when we sit still and look."

Kathleen A. Smick lives and works in Santa Barbara, California, and sells through galleries, art shows, and her Web site, www.spiritmtnart.com.

Greg Stopka
"My jewelry background goes as far back as eight years old," says Greg Stopka. "My father was in jewelry and I was always working with him to make some extra spending money. After graduating from college in sports management I spent some time at managing sports clubs. After a few years trying my hand at managing, I was brought back into the jewelry field because of my father’s untimely death. I ran my father’s business along with my brother for many years and then ventured out into creating jewelry service and design centers.

"The repair and service work was always available and profitable; however, the design side had always captured my interest. I first learned how to design by the challenge of redesigning or restyling past clients bits, parts and pieces of jewelry that they wanted to utilize. From that I started to evolve a fluid sculptured design that has become my signature look. I have always felt a passion to creating something that goes beyond traditional design where everything is symmetrical and easy to manufacture. The challenge is to play what if and develop something that is more a work of art that draws the attention of others."

For more on Greg Stopka, visit the site of his business JewelSmiths at www.jewelsmiths.com.

Patricia Tschetter
"I have been enchanted by stones for as long as I can remember," says Patricia Tschetter. "When I was a kid, I collected fossils near my grandparents' cabin in Colorado. Later, I begged my parents for a rock tumbler. Each stone from that rock tumbler had a story to tell. Each stone I work with today has a story to tell. My goal is to tell that story effectively through the language of metals."

For more information on Patricia Tschetter, visit her Web site www.krazykarrot.com. Some of her more recent work is also featured at www.dallasjools.com under "Artists."

Carol Weidman
"I have always loved jewelry art," says Carol Weidman. "I have never liked seeing someone else wearing the exact same piece I have. Original designs should speak to one' s heart and tell others about us.

"A fellow artist once told me that every piece of inspired art has the essence of the artist contained within. It speaks of their vision. I think this is such a wonderful way of defining what each one of us wants our jewelry to do for others and ourselves. My pieces should convey a mood that speaks of mystery, organic movement, and lights in the darkness or shadows in the light. Each stone has a story to tell, and if I listen close enough I can pick out something of its past and set it into a companion design. When an individual sees that piece, they will either “hear” it, and love the piece, or move on to something else."

Carol Weidman can be contacted through her Web site at www.iceopalsjewelry.com or by phone at (757) 238-9496.

Denise Wood
Jewelry designer Denise Wood creates a casually elegant jewelry collection that is inspired by the delicate textures and rich colors found in a tropical island paradise. Known for their quality, style and attention to detail — most pieces are executed in 18K gold, and each gemstone is hand-selected. Denise's designs adorn today's woman in a wonderfully wearable line of fine jewelry.

Denise Wood can be reached at (206) 655-0523 or by visiting her Web site at www.denisewooddesigns.com.