AGTA's 2011 Spectrum Award Winners

The 27th annual AGTA Spectrum Awards competition, sponsored by the American Gem Trade Association was held October 23-24, in New York. Judges for the 2011 competition included magazine editors, jewelry designers and gemstone cutters. The annual AGTA Spectrum Awards Media Day was held Monday and featured all of the jewelry and gemstone submissions. Attendees included top fashion/accessory editors from the trade and consumer press, stylists and bloggers.

AGTA SPECTRUM AWARDS
BEST OF CATEGORY WINNERS

Best of Show
Todd Reed, Todd Reed, Inc. (opening photo)
Palladium cuff bracelet featuring a 22.40 ct. Aquamarine accented with gray diamonds (6.90 ctw.) and white diamonds (2.20 ctw.).

Best Use of Color
Martin Key, Martin Key Co. 

22K yellow gold "Frame" ring featuring a 1.50 ct. blue tourmaline accented with four Mexican fire opal baguettes (1.82 ctw.).

Best Use of Platinum and Color
Niveet Nagpal, Omi Gems, Inc.
Platinum "Princess of Ratnapura" bracelet featuring nine round sapphires (14.0 ctw.) and round diamonds (8.48 ctw.).

Best Use of Pearls
Llyn L. Strelau, Jewels by Design
Sculpture titled "Who Are You" featuring two-tone gold and silver with freshwater baroque Pearls, South Sea keshi Pearls, akoya seed Pearls, demantoid garnets (.25 ctw.), .20 ct. ruby and cognac diamonds (.03 ctw.) on a crystal quartz base (242 ctw.).

Fashion Forward
Gregore Morin, Gregore Joailliers
18K white and yellow gold earrings featuring lemon chrysoprase (22.0 ctw.) accented with garnets (2.38 ctw.).


BRIDAL WEAR

 

Bridal Wear - 1st Place
Niveet Nagpal, Omi Gems, Inc.

Platinum and 18K yellow gold ring featuring a 5.55 ct. oval tsavorite garnet accented with fancy yellow diamonds (.71 ctw.).

Bridal Wear - 2nd Place
Guilherme Ferreira, Vielle Jewelers, LLC

18K yellow gold, palladium and titanium ring featuring a 3.14 ct. yellow tourmaline accented with fancy-colored diamonds (.74 ctw.).

Bridal Wear - 3rd Place
Michael Endlich, Pave Fine Jewelry

Platinum ring featuring a 10.08 ct. cushion-cut spinel accented with diamond baguettes (1.09 ctw.).

Bridal Wear - Honorable Mention
Ryan Roberts, Ryan Roberts, Ltd.

18K white gold ring featuring a 3.02 ct. pink diamond, white diamonds (29.5 ctw.) and pink and brown diamonds (24.5 ctw.).

Bridal Wear - Platinum Honors
Yehouda Saketkhou, Yael Designs

Platinum "Triad" ring featuring a 6.34 ct. unheated blue sapphire accented with white diamonds (1.03 ctw.).

Bridal Wear - Entry Platinum Honors
Robert Pelliccia, J.R. Dunn Jewelers

Platinum ring featuring a 1.37 ct. round blue sapphire accented with diamonds (.46 ctw.) and blue sapphires (.28 ctw.).

Bridal Wear - Manufacturing Honors
Neda Benham, Diamonds For A Cure: 18K rose gold ring with a 3.80 ct. emerald-shaped, rough-cut pink diamond and round diamonds (0.88 ctw.).

BUSINESS/DAY WEAR

Business/Day Wear - 1st Place and Best of Show
Todd Reed, Todd Reed, Inc.: 

Palladium cuff bracelet featuring a 22.40 ct. aquamarine accented with grey diamonds (6.90 ctw.) and white diamonds (2.20 ctw.).

Business/Day Wear - 2nd Place and Fashion Forward
Gregore Morin, Gregore Joailliers

18K white and yellow gold earrings featuring lemon Chrysoprase (22.0 ctw.) accented with garnets (2.38 ctw.).

Business/Day Wear - 3rd Place and Best Use of Color
Martin Key, Martin Key Co.

22K yellow gold "Frame" ring featuring a 1.50 ct. blue tourmaline accented with four Mexican fire opal baguettes (1.82 ctw.).

Business/Day Wear - Honorable Mention
Eva Cheng, Elite Import

18K rose gold pendant/brooch featuring a freeform rose Quartz set with a .70 ct. round diamond and accented with 178 diamonds (1.20 ctw.).

Business/Day Wear - Platinum Honors
Maria Canale, Richard Krementz Gemstones

Platinum "Wave" pendant featuring a 2.18 ct. Paraiba tourmaline accented with diamonds (3.72 ctw.).

Business/Day Wear - Platinum Honors
Ron Lodholz, Stonehaven Jewelry Gallery: Platinum ring featuring a 1.41 ct. aquamarine accented with Diamonds (.06 ctw.).

Business/Day Wear - Manufacturing Honors
Alan Friedman, Alan Friedman

14K white and rose gold ring featuring a 12.59 ct. emerald-cut aquamarine.

CLASSICAL

Classical - 1st Place
Samuel Getz, Samuel Getz Designs

Platinum and 18K yellow gold necklace featuring yellow sapphires (68.77 ctw.), blue sapphires (24.34 ctw.), red spinels (24.20 ctw.) and diamonds (22.38 ctw.).

Classical - 2nd Place
Sean Ryan, Schmitt Jewelers

18K white and rose gold "Just Peachy" ring featuring a 4.50 ct. oval padparadscha sapphire accented with white micropave diamonds (1.13 ctw.).

Classical - 3rd Place
Patricia Van Wagoner, Beija Flor

22K yellow gold necklace featuring a 17.17 ct. rhodochrosite briolette and a 3.58 ct. rhodochrosite kite accented with Paraiba tourmalines (.45 ctw.).

Classical - Honorable Mention
Frederic Sage, Frederic Sage

18K white gold "Modern Deco" cufflinks featuring “seafoam” green tourmalines (4.48 ctw.) and diamonds (.56 ctw.).

Classical - Platinum Honors
Christopher Olson, Molina Fine Jewelers

Platinum "Temple of the Sacred Heart" ring featuring a 10.05 ct. oval untreated ruby accented with white diamonds (7.18 ctw.) and rubies (.22 ctw.).

Classical - Manufacturing Honors
Christopher Duquet, Christopher Duquet Fine Jewelry Design

14K white gold ring featuring a 12.5mm South Sea black pearl.

EVENING WEAR

Evening Wear - 1st Place
Cynthia Renee Zava, Cynthia Renee Zava

Palladium necklace featuring a suite of green tourmalines (75.89 ctw.).

Evening Wear - 2nd Place
Evelyn Clothier, Evelyn Clothier Jewelry

18K yellow gold earrings featuring aquamarine briolettes (50.95 ctw.) accented with Diamonds (9.29 ctw.).

Evening Wear - 3rd Place
Samuel Getz, Samuel Getz Designs

18K white gold ring featuring a 43.05 ct. spherical black opal accented with tsavorite garnets (2.70 ctw.), blue sapphires (2.51 ctw.), iolites (1.53 ctw.), Paraiba Tourmalines (.71 ctw.) and Diamonds (.63 ctw.).

Evening Wear - Honorable Mention
Erica Courtney, Erica Courtney

18K yellow gold earrings featuring tanzanites (77.99 ctw.) and diamonds (3.38 ctw.).

Evening Wear - Platinum Honors
Ralph Wobito, Zultanite Gems, LLC

Platinum earrings featuring zultanite (diaspore) briolettes (25.15 ctw.) accented with white diamonds (0.95 ctw.).

Evening Wear - Manufacturing Honors
Laura Jackowski-Dickson, LJD Designs

18K white gold cuff featuring two South Sea cultured Pearls (14.8mm and 11.3mm) and four freshwater pink cultured Pearls accented with Diamonds.

MEN'S WEAR

Men's Wear - 1st Place
Mark Lauer, Mark Michael Designs

18K yellow gold cufflinks featuring Jasper agate and lapis lazuli composite accented with 2mm spessartite garnets and sapphires.

Men's Wear – 2nd Place
Eddie Sakamoto, Schmitt Jewelers

Platinum "Suspense" ring featuring a 14.49 ct. blue star sapphire accented with diamond baguettes (3.60 ctw.).

Men's Wear - 3rd Place
Ron Lodholz, Stonehaven Jewelry Gallery

18K yellow and rose gold cufflinks featuring cone-cut garnets (10.96 ctw.) with platinum suspensions.

Men's Wear - Honorable Mention
Michael Endlich, Pave Fine Jewelry

22K yellow gold ring featuring an 8.01 ct. purple star sapphire cabochon.

Men's Wear - Platinum Honors
Alan Friedman, Alan Friedman

Platinum ring with a cushion-cut purple spinel (6.62 ct.).

Men's Wear - Manufacturing Honors
Oliver Smith, Oliver Smith Jeweler

Sterling silver and rose gold ring featuring Madagascar Ocean Jasper.

CUTTING EDGE AWARDS

CLASSIC CUT GEMSTONES

A1 - Open Category Classic Gemstone - 1st Place
Joseph Ambalu, Amba Gem Corp.

8.04 ct. pigeon blood ruby.

A1 - Open Category Classic Gemstone -2nd Place
Sailesh Lakhi, Lakhi Impex, Inc.

43.42 ct. cushion-shape, step-cut blue sapphire.

A1 - Open Category Classic Gemstone - 3rd Place
Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co.

6.66 ct. cushion-cut pink sapphire.

A1 - Open Category Classic Gemstone - Honorable Mention
Gonen Abrahami, ABC Gems

4.93 ct. emerald-cut emerald.

A2 - Open Category All Other Faceted - 1st Place
Ruben Bindra, B & B Fine Gems

9.59 ct. trillion-cut red spinel.

A2 - Open Category All Other Faceted - 2nd Place
Ruben Bindra, B & B Fine Gems

32.58 ct. oval-shape tsavorite garnet.

A2 - Open Category All Other Faceted - 3rd Place
Ben Kho, Kho International, Inc.

12.91 ct. princess-cut rhodochrosite.

A2 - Open Category All Other Faceted - Honorable Mention
Ben Kho, Kho International, Inc.

15.28 ct. ct. oval-cut Imperial topaz.

A2 - Open Category All Other Faceted - Honorable Mention
Jeffrey Bilgore, Jeffrey Bilgore, LLC

49.24 ct. Asscher-cut aquamarine.

PHENOMENAL GEMSTONES

A3 - Open Category Phenomenal - 1st Place
Robyn Dufty, DuftyWeis Opals, Inc.

36.73 ct. Mexican fire opal cabochon.

A3 - Open Category Phenomenal - 2nd Place
Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co.

Pair of oval alexandrites (3.25 ctw.).

A3 - Open Category Phenomenal – 3rd Place
Jeffrey Bilgore, Jeffrey Bilgore, LLC

15.0 ct. oval cat's eye chrysoberyl.

PAIRS & SUITES

B - Pairs & Suites - 1st Place
Clay Zava, Zava Mastercuts

Suite of pastel cuprian tourmalines (127.40 ctw.).

B - Pairs & Suites - 2nd Place
Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co.

15-piece round blue Sapphire necklace layout (68.75 ctw.).

B - Pairs & Suites - 3rd Place
Hemant Phophaliya, AG Color, Inc.

Pair of pear-shaped cabochon tanzanites (41.62 ctw.).

B - Pairs & Suites - Honorable Mention
Darrell Jang, Darrell Jang

Aspen-shaped leaves cut from a 15.09 ct. peridot and a 11.15 ct. heliodor

FACETING

C – Faceting - 1st Place
Jeff L. White, J.L. White Fine Gemstones

48.83 ct. square, cushion-cut morganite.

C – Faceting - 2nd Place
John Dyer, John Dyer & Co.

14.43 ct. cushion-cut pink tourmaline (left).

C – Faceting - 3rd Place
Ben Kho, Kho International, Inc.

13.78 ct. sunburst-cut sphalerite.

C – Faceting - Honorable Mention
Ben Kho, Kho International, Inc.

50.20 ct. kaleidoscope-cut kunzite.

CARVING

D – Carving - 1st Place
Joseph August Voss, Joseph August Voss

220.30 ct. crystal quartz carving.

D – Carving - 2nd Place
John Dyer, John Dyer & Co.

62.64 ct. "Golden Reflections" beryl (left).

 D – Carving - 3rd Place
Naomi Sarna, Naomi Sarna Designs

Carved white opal sculpture (149 grams).

COMBINATION

E – Combination - 1st Place
Thomas Trozzo, Trozzo

66.48 ct. square, dimple, concaved, scissor-cut aquamarine.

E – Combination - 2nd Place
John Dyer, John Dyer & Co.

50.92 ct. trillion custom-cut morganite (left).



 E – Combination - 3rd Place
John Dyer, John Dyer & Co.

9.50 ct. Umbalite Garnet (left).

OBJECTS OF ART 
F - Objects of Art - 1st Place

Gregore Morin, Gregore Joailliers

Kokeshi Princess featuring white Opal (83.98 ctw.), basinite (36.29 ctw.), rubellite tourmalines (2.91 ctw.) and diamonds (.72 ctw.) with 18K white gold and platinum on a base of silver, brass and wood.

F - Objects of Art - 2nd Place and Best Use of Pearls
Llyn L. Strelau, Jewels by Design

Sculpture titled "Who Are You" featuring two-tone gold and silver with freshwater baroque Pearls, South Sea keshi Pearls, akoya seed pearls, demantoid Garnets (.25 ctw.), .20 ct. ruby and cognac diamonds (.03 ctw.) on a crystal quartz base (242 ctw.).

F - Objects of Art - 3rd Place
Tigran Lementsyan, Repair Restoration Center

"Dandelion" featuring quartz and diamonds (.36 ctw.) with silver, 18K yellow gold and gold-plated leaves.

F - Objects of Art - Honorable Mention
Darryl Alexander, Alexander's Jewelers

"Got Paint?"- opalized wood with a sterling frame in a black marble base. The paint is sugalite, mookite, turquoise and onyx, with quartz dish & sterling tube with coral. The brushes are onyx, Agate, hematite, quartz and multiple woods.

This year's AGTA Spectrum Award will be presented during the 2011 AGTA GemFair Tucson, February 1 – 6, 2011, at the Tucson Convention Center in Tucson, Ariz. Winning entries will be displayed during the show and AGTA Spectrum Awards recipients will be recognized during the AGTA Dinner Dance and Awards Gala on February 5.

AGTA Spectrum Awards entries were judged on the basis of overall beauty and wearability, innovative design, effective use of materials, quality of gemstones, quality of workmanship, broad-base consumer appeal and potential to generate positive publicity for natural colored gemstones.

AGTA Cutting Edge Awards honor excellence and creativity in lapidary arts, including natural colored gemstones and cultured pearls, carvings, other gem materials and objects of art.

Platinum Honors were once again awarded with the support of Platinum Guild International. All entries whose primary metal was platinum were eligible in this category.

All designs that qualified for the Spectrum Awards competition were considered for Manufacturing Honors. This award celebrates outstanding use of colored gemstones and cultured pearls in jewelry appropriate to be manufactured in production quantities.

Fashion Forward Honors recognizes the outstanding use of colored gemstone and/or cultured pearl beads in artful, trend-setting jewelry. All necklaces, earrings, bracelets or other jewelry that qualified for judging in the AGTA Spectrum Awards competition automatically qualified for Fashion Forward Honors judging.