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The voting for the 2007 Colored Stone's Reader's Choice Award competition has concluded. Click here to see the results.

Below are the 2007 Reader's Choice finalists.

"I have an enthusiastic and everlasting drive to make sure my designs help women stand out as individuals and express their life's enjoyments freely. The museum-quality masterpieces I assemble are at the forefront of expressionism in the highest order. Every colorful creation is geared to attract attention while creating excitement for the wearer and for the admirer. The 'bigger-than-life,' passionate designs stem from my diverse background as an art historian, gemologist, jewelry appraiser, gem cutter, and my typical love for living in the moment."

Jeffrey Appling's recent work can be found at www.jeajewelry.com under the heading JEA Designs, and also at www.saulbellaward.com/2006winners/jeffappling.pdf.

Paula Crevoshay
"My collection is an extension of my spirit," says Paula Crevoshay."Living in beauty is as necessary to my soul as drinking water is to my physical being. Each jewel is imbued with this love of life, this respect for nature’s omnipotent power, and there is a talismanic property inherent in every finished jewel. I hear the stones speak, and they tell me what they wish to become. I normally begin with the heart of the jewel’s center stone and then the accent stones radiate outward to support the innermost beauty of the jewel’s essence.

"From the outset of my career as a jewelry designer in 1980, my mission has been to define jewelry as a fine art discipline on the same level as a painting or sculpture. This is the primary reason I have set a straight course of creating one-of-a-kind, highly collectible jewels. I want to help create a model in our culture for jewelry artists to be able to make a living creating the finest work that they can without consideration of what is easy to mass produce or what will sell in volume."

To learn more about Paula Crevoshay and her jewels, visit her Web site at www.crevoshay.com.

Thomas Dailing
The Thomas Dailing Design team's passion is creating timeless beauty within each jewelry piece. Thomas poetically blends engineering and aesthetics with pioneering techniques in a seemingly effortless fashion. The success of this is indicative of the almost 50 professional design awards the team has amassed over the past 10 years.

Thomas designs around the creations of world-renowned gem artist Richard Homer. Those innovative gems demand cutting-edge designs, and Thomas responds with masterful technique and exploratory form, fully realizing the three-dimensionality of each piece. These small in scale, yet monumental in scope, sculptural pieces captivate viewers worldwide.

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

Liz Donahue
Award-winning designer Liz Donahue has studied fine art and architecture for over 20 years. Her passion for ornamental motifs is inspired from world travels to creatively brilliant cultures that influenced the late 19th century, Art Nouveau and Expressionist periods of femininity and symmetry. Among her multi-faceted painting styles, Liz has spent years designing what is now the patented Starhaven motif. Her inspiration is based on a center spine accent, representing strength, cradled by symmetrical ornate swirls, symbolizing energy and balance in each piece.

Liz’s modern-day approach to the Art Nouveau and Expressionist periods are evident
throughout the distinctively vintage Starhaven collection. Her medallion treasures and prominent cuffs express the stately talent and influence of this artist to the jewelry world.

For more on Liz Donahue and her Starhaven Collection, visit www.starhavenusa.com.

Claudia Endler
Claudia Endler Designs is a premier creator of distinctive, contemporary jewelry that combines the best of graphic design, art, and architecture. The designs feature a series of stunning architectural and geometric inspired elements that create sculptural visual effects of both movement and substance.

Claudia Endler has received critical acclaim including several design awards. Most recently, she has been nominated for the prestigious Women's Jewelry Association Award for Excellence in Design. Her designs are in the private collections of some of Los Angeles’ top cultural leaders, including museum curators, architects, gallery directors, graphic artists, and even other jewelry designers.

“Jewelry is body language. I see it as a way to discover, express, and reveal,” says Endler. For more on Claudia Endler, visit her Web site at www.claudiaendlerdesigns.com.

Julia Fluker
"As a model-maker and bench jeweler in New York City for a decade," says Julia Fluker, "I gained the experience which gave me the confidence to start my own company, Maenad Design, in 1993.

"My designs are influenced by history and by nature, but my starting point is often a particularly beautiful stone."

To contact Julia Fluker or to see more of her designs, visit her Web site at www.maenaddesign.com.

Hubert Heldner
Jewelry is like gastronomy; there is Girardet and there is fast food. There are explorers who create pieces of art, and there are 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 the innocence of childhood, a confidence in his capacities paired with an exuberant 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 his team at Free Form Artists in Montreux, Switzerland, or on the Web at www.free-form.ch.

James Kaya
James Kaya began his career in jewelry at a young age. During his years of apprenticeship, Kaya was trained in the traditional mode to be a "classic jeweler." After establishing his own design studio, Solair Jewelers, in Boston, Kaya was inspired by three-dimensional forms and started creating his collection, artfully blending classic with contemporary themes of design. Kaya’s handcrafted treasures reveal his vision to propel the age-old craft of jewelry design into the uncharted potential of the 21st century.

Kaya is a recipient of numerous international and American jewelry design awards. His talent and passion for designing jewelry was recently recognized by colleagues and was honored by the 2006 American Vision Awards for Platinum Distinction. This award has been given to him for the second year in a row. Kaya was also named The New Designer of the Year in 2005.

Kaya’s magnificent creations are simply elegant, simply amazing, and simply beautiful. For more information on James Kaya, please visit his Web site www.jameskaya.com.

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.

"There is a symbiotic relationship between fine art and all forms of design — a conceptual fluidity where influences may move freely between disciplines promoting exchange and evolution. 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.

Kathe Mai
"An absolutely crazy love and amazement of all colored gemstones continues to define and inspire me," says Kathe Mai. "I love gorgeous gemstones, a style that makes a bold,
individual statement and jewelry that feels yummy when I put it on. So that’s what I design and make.

"Designs that reveal the beauty of each gem are even more rewarding when clients are delighted and treasure wearing them. I believe that women today want a comfortable, versatile jewelry design they can wear casually with jeans or elegantly dressed for an evening out.

"I embrace our industry's Fair Trade Gem movement. I am committed to the ethical, responsible representation and procurement of these beautiful gifts of the earth. I want a sustainable living for all who participate in bringing these treasures to each of us."

For more information on Kathe Mai, e-mail her at kathe@triosstudio.com.

Lynn Oburg
"I have always been fascinated with the emotional connection that we have with the items that we adorn our bodies with," says Lynn Oburg. "Beyond aesthetic beauty and material value, our jewelry represents how we want to be presented to the world, our history, and a legacy to be passed down to our children and our children’s children.

"Taking my inspiration from natural forms, my work juxtaposes the bold and the delicate. Warm, organic lines reminiscent of fire and water envelope strong shapes and rich colors. I choose my gems based on character; I am always searching for the unusual. It is not the most perfect gem that catches my attention, but the one that defines itself as both fine and distinct. . . . Surrounding these lovely gems in 22K gold adds an ancient feel to the collection.

"It is the emotional connection that my clients have with my work that is one of the most satisfying aspects of what I do, and it is my best hope that the jewelry that I create will someday be a part of their legacy." For more on Lynn Oburg, visit her Web site at www.lynnoburg.com.

Dmitriy Pavlov
Originally from St. Petersburg, Russia, Dmitriy Pavlov is a world-class specialist in hand engraving and jewelry design. He has earned international recognition with exhibitions in Finland and Russia, including the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.

Dmitriy has established himself as a true master of his craft, producing work that is unique and exceptional in both quality and design. He has won numerous awards for his jewelry designs, including four first-place awards in Wisconsin Jewelers Association design competitions and three Jewelry Arts Awards from Lapidary Journal.

For more on Dmitriy Pavlov, visit his Web site at www.dpstudioonline.com.

Fred & Kate Pearce
Fred & Kate Pearce have been a design team since their student days at Syracuse University College of Visual and Performing Arts in the mid 1960s.

Together Fred and Kate have developed an ever-changing and uniquely stylistic approach to their jewelry work. Their creations have been exhibited widely, most notably in the Museum of Decorative Arts, the Everson Museum of Art, the Cartier’s and Georg Jensen Stores in New York City, and numerous fine art galleries around the United States.

They were awarded Designers of the Year in 1990 by Jewelers of America, and Jewelers of the Year in 2000 by the New Hampshire Jewelers Association. In addition to producing a limited-edition line of fine jewelry for wholesale, the Pearces own and operate a fine jewelry store and gallery in West Lebanon, NH. Their current collection is on display at Pearce Jewelers, as well as selected North American Galleries.

To see more of their collaborations, visit Fred and Kate Pearce on the Web at www.pearcejewelers.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.tschetterstudio.com.

Carolyn Tyler
"Colorful things that glitter and shine — prisms, stars, fireworks, holiday decorations, and even the sparkle on the ocean — have always inspired delight, reverence, and awe in me," says Carolyn Tyler. "I remember wondering as a child 'What makes shiny things so irresistibly magical?'

"Years ago, I had an epiphany during a near-death experience which gave me a glimpse of the answer: I believe that the joyful chord of resonance, or 'recognition,' which is struck when beholding something luminous is a subconscious remembrance of Home. It is this transcendental quality of Light, and its ability to transport us out of the ordinary and into the divine, that inspires me to create jewelry which, hopefully, will strike that same chord in others."

For more on Carolyn Tyler, visit her on the Web at www.carolyntyler.com.

Michael Valitutti has been active in the jewelry industry for over 25 years. His unparalleled passion for colored gemstones has led to a commitment to demystify the public's mystification regarding the world of gemstones. Michael’s jewelry has played an instrumental role in making exotic gemstones accessible to all.

For further information on Michael Valitutti’s collections, please contact david@nathanhennick.com.

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. I think this is such a wonderful way of defining what each one of us wants our jewelry to do for others and ourselves. I hope that my pieces convey a mood that speaks of mystery, organic movement, and lights in the darkness or shadows in the light. I also hope that my vision grows over the years, that it shows a maturation. I don't want to be telling the same stories now that I was telling five years ago. I want to change, to always offer something new and different, and to always have something new and different to say. Hopefully my work projects that journey."

Carol Weidman can be contacted through her Web site at www.iceopalsjewelry.com.