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AGTA Spectrum Award Winners Announced

The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) has announced the winners of its annual jewelry design competition, the Spectrum Awards. The competition encompasses the Cutting Edge Awards for lapidary excellence.

The competition recognizes originality, creativity, and market potential in original jewelry designs as well as cutting style and proficiency in loose gemstones. In addition to the winners in each category, designs were considered for the Manufacturing Honors, which recognizes design in pieces designed to be manufactured in large quantities.

One Best of Show winner was chosen for the Spectrum Awards and one for the Cutting Edge Awards. In addition, Spectrum Awards entries were eligible for the Best Use of Color prize and the Fashion Forward Honors, which are given for the outstanding use of colored stones or pearls in trend-setting jewelry.

The live judging took place at a photo studio in New York City on October 20-22. The judges were: Stuart Moore of the Stuart Moore galleries of jewelry design; Christopher Walling of Christopher Walling, Inc. retail jewelers; David Rees and Ron Anderson, designers and owners of Ten Thousand Things in New York City; and Ralph Wobito of Canadian lapidary firm Wobito Gems.

All entries were on display at an evening reception on October 24. Proceeds from the event were donated to Project Renewal, a charity that helps homeless people in New York get off the streets.

Of the 500 entries received, the winners were:

SPECTRUM AWARDS

Best of Show
Samuel Getz of Samuel Getz Private Jewelers for his platinum Gaia ring featuring a 19.16-ct. natural, cushion-cut sapphire; a 2.54-ct. trilliant-cut chrome tourmaline; and a 2.04-ct. trilliant-cut tsavorite garnet.

Best Use of Color
Robert Wander of Robert Wander for Winc Creations for his 18K white and yellow gold necklace featuring a 24.91-ct. purple tourmaline, a 22.82-ct. pink tourmaline, a 22.10-ct. yellow tourmaline, two green tourmalines (29.17 ctw.), garnets (1.85 ctw.), multicolored sapphires (3.34 ctw.), and diamonds (4.40 ctw.).

Fashion Forward Honors
Gregore Morin of Gregore Joailliers for his 18K white gold Hummingbird brooch featuring pink sapphires (0.85 ctw.), Paraiba tourmalines (0.42 ctw.), brown and yellow diamonds (0.50 ctw.), and boulder opal (0.04 ctw.).

Bridal Wear
First Place: Brandy Hurt of AVA Goldworks for a cultured pearl necklace featuring a 3.10-ct. opal drop-set in 18K white and rose gold and accented with diamonds (3.37 ctw.).
Second Place: Samuel Getz of Samuel Getz Private Jewelers for his platinum Gaia ring featuring a 19.16-ct. natural, cushion-cut sapphire; a 2.54-ct. trilliant-cut chrome tourmaline; and a 2.04-ct. trilliant-cut tsavorite garnet.
Third Place: Anthony J. Vela of A. James Ltd. for his 18K white and green gold pendant featuring green chrysoberyl (4.31 ctw.) and diamonds.
Honorable Mention: Robert Pelliccia of J. R. Dunn Jewellers for a platinum and 18K pink gold ring featuring a 2.95-ct. pink sapphire oval accented with diamonds (2.65 ctw.).

Business/Day Wear
First Place: Gregore Morin of Gregore Joailliers for his 18K white gold Hummingbird brooch featuring pink sapphires (0.85 ctw.), Paraiba tourmalines (0.42 ctw.), brown and yellow diamonds (0.50 ctw.) and boulder opal (0.04 ctw.).
Second Place: Eve J. Alfille of Eve J. Alfille Ltd. for her platinum and niobium earrings featuring rubellite tourmalines (5.11 ctw.) and diamonds (0.75 ctw.).
Third Place: Donald MacLachlan of donaldm jewelry designs, for a multi-karat gold and sterling silver bracelet featuring multicolored sapphires (1.37 ctw.), emeralds (0.29 ctw.), rubies (0.56 ctw.), diamonds (0.34 ctw.) and a 0.07-ct. tanzanite.
Manufacturing Honors: Julia Behrends of Julia Behrends Designs, for a pair of 18K yellow gold earrings featuring natural peridot (1.50 ctw.) accented by diamonds (0.32 ctw.).

Classical Wear
First Place: Zoltan David of Zoltan David Precious Metal Art for a platinum and 22K and 18K yellow gold ring featuring a 20.85-ct. spessartite garnet accented with tsavorite garnets (6.40 ctw.).
Second Place: Jeffrey Bilgore of Jeffrey Bilgore L.L.C., for a pair of platinum earrings featuring pink sapphires (22.33 ctw.) and diamonds (1.54 ctw.).
Third Place: Vahe Ghazarian of Rave Creations for an 18K yellow gold "Egyptian" ring featuring a natural 27.30-ct. moonstone, accented by diamonds (2.71 ctw.).
Honorable Mention: Ricardo Basta of E. Eichberg, Inc., for a 18K yellow gold and platinum Flying Baguettes eternity band featuring diamonds (1.94 ctw.) and natural yellow diamonds (1.20 ctw.).
Manufacturing Honors: Carley McGee-Boehm of Joeb Enterprises for a platinum split shank ring featuring a natural 3.73-ct. emerald-cut spinel accented with pink diamonds and diamond melee.

Evening Wear
First Place: Jennifer Rabe Morin of Jennifer Rabe Morin for her 18K white and yellow gold butterfly brooch featuring ocean jasper inlay, accented with spessartite garnets (1.24 ctw.) and diamonds (0.47 ctw.).
Second Place: Frederic Sage of Frederic Sage for an 18K yellow and green gold pendant, featuring a 26.18-ct. Mexican fire opal accented with orange sapphires (2.16 ctw.) and diamonds (1.90 ctw.).
Third Place: Robert Wander of Robert Wander for Winc Creations for a 18K white and yellow gold necklace featuring a 24.91-ct. purple tourmaline, a 22.82-ct. pink tourmaline, a 22.10-ct. yellow tourmaline, two green tourmalines (29.17 ctw.), garnets (1.85 ctw.), multicolored sapphires (3.34 ctw.) and diamonds (4.40 ctw.).
Honorable Mention: Philip Zahm of Philip Zahm & Associates for an 18K yellow gold necklace featuring sapphires, tsavorite garnets and emeralds (20.25 ctw.) and diamonds (2.67 ctw.).

Men's Wear
First Place: Alan Friedman of Alan Friedman for an 18K red and white gold ring featuring a 9.93-ct. spinel.
Second Place: Alan Friedman of Alan Friedman for a 14K red gold ring featuring a 38.69-ct., bi-color tourmaline accented with two diamond trapezoids (3.39 ctw.).
Third Place and Manufacturing Honors: Alan Friedman of Alan Friedman for his 18K white and red gold cufflinks set with 14 blue sapphires (0.63 ctw.).


CUTTING EDGE AWARDS

Best of Show
Ray Zajicek of Equatorian Imports Inc. for a 3.13-ct., pear-shaped emerald.

Open Category — Classic Gemstone Division
First Place: Ray Zajicek of Equatorian Imports Inc. for a 3.13-ct., pear-shaped emerald.
Second Place: Phillip Youngman of Phillip Youngman for a 11.57-ct., square cushion-cut blue sapphire.
Third Place: Joseph Ambalu of Amba Gem Corp. for a 5.51-ct., cushion-cut pink sapphire.
Honorable Mention: Nancy Attaway of High Country Gems for a 5.85-ct., bi-color Montana sapphire.

Open Category — All Other Faceted Gemstones Division
First Place: John Dyer of Precious Gemstones Co. for a 27.23-ct., flame-shaped imperial topaz.
Second Place: David Brackna of David A. Brackna Gemcutter for a 21.94-ct., emerald-cut blue-green tourmaline.
Third Place: Edward Boehm of Joeb Enterprises for a 5.39-ct., square cushion-cut spinel.
Honorable Mention: Roger L. Dery of Spectral Gems Inc. for a 14.22-ct., square emerald-cut scapolite.

Open Category — Phenomenal Gemstones Division
First Place: Omi Nagpal of Omi Gems Inc. for a 5.17-ct., natural, cushion-cut alexandrite.
Second Place: Jeffrey Bilgore of Jeffrey Bilgore L.L.C. for an 8.03-ct. cat's-eye chrysoberyl.
Third Place: Robyn Dufty of Dufty Weis Opals Inc. for a 20.91-ct. opal.
Honorable Mention: Robyn Dufty of Dufty Weis Opals Inc. for a 2.01-ct., cabochon-cut black opal.

Pairs and Suites Division
First Place: Allen Kleiman of A. Kleiman & Co. for a pair of pear-shaped Mozambique “Paraiba” tourmalines, 14.70 ctw.
Second Place: Allen Kleiman of A. Kleiman & Co., for a pair of Asscher-cut pink spinels, 9.60 ctw.
Third Place: Douglas Mays of Wild & Petsch USA for a pair of matched oval aquamarines, 30.59 ctw.
Honorable Mention: Ashok Kumar Sancheti of Pioneer Gems for a pair of mandarin garnets,14.55 ctw.
Honorable Mention: Dalan Hargrave of Gemstarz Jewelry for a pair of matched ametrine freestyle carvings backed with mother-of-pearl.

Faceting Division
First Place: John Dyer of Precious Gemstones Co. for a 20.74-ct., modified trillion-cut aquamarine.
Second Place: John Dyer of Precious Gemstones Co. for a 50.69-ct., rectangular pink tourmaline.
Third Place: John Dyer of Precious Gemstones Co. for a 26.47-ct., radiant-cut aquamarine.
Honorable Mention: John Dyer of Precious Gemstones Co. for a 67.38-ct., trillion-cut citrine.

Carving Division
First Place: David Hayes of David Anthony Designs for a 1.13-ct., corkscrew-shaped opal.
Second Place: Chu Alice Chan of A.J. Art Land Inc., for an intaglio heart and lady's face carved from a 43.01-ct. amethyst.
Third Place: Larry Woods of Jewels From The Woods for a 61.11-ct., carved rubellite tourmaline.

Combination Division
First Place: John Dyer of Precious Gemstones Co. for his 46.15-ct. Galaxy morganite.
Second Place: Michael M. Dyber of Ledge Art Studio for his 57.17-ct., hand-carved, free-form aquamarine.
Third Place: John Dyer of Precious Gemstones Co. for a 43.33-ct. citrine titled Citrine Celebration.
Honorable Mention: Dalan Hargrave for Stephanie Michael Young for an 87-ct. morganite featuring elliptical depressions and flat faceting.

Objects of Art Division
First Place: Dalan Hargrave for Dust Devil Mining Co. for his Polar Spring carving featuring a 202-ct. Oregon sunstone set on silver and white marble.

September/October 2006 • Cameroon: Douala Days • Gem Artists vs. The Internet • News & Updates • In This Issue