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With 35 new entrants and five first-time winners, the 2025 Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards were a celebration of fresh talent. Trends among the entries included tourmalines, pink and purple gems, sapphires, garnets, cameos, top-quality rainbow moonstones, ocean themes, and exceptional emeralds.
One in four entrants was new to the jewelry design competition, observed John W. Ford, Sr., CEO of the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA), adding that “AGTA is delighted to continue the tradition of hosting the awards, which offer a lifetime of opportunity to entrants.”
The judges for the 2025 edition, which took place in November, included Craig Underwood of retailer Underwood’s Jewelers, Donald Janson of retailer Walters & Hogsett Jewelers, manufacturing educator Blaine Lewis of the New Approach School for Jewelers, lapidarist Clay Zava of Zava Mastercuts, and designer Erica Courtney of the eponymous jewelry brand. They based their decisions on the quality of the colored gems, the manufacturing and craftsmanship of the pieces, and the originality of the entries’ designs.
Here are six of the competition’s winners.
Suite of no-oil emeralds
Oren Nhaissi of EMCO Gem, in collaboration with Yaron Nhaissi
Best of Show: Cutting Edge; First Place: Pairs & Suites
A suite of emerald-cut, no-oil Colombian emeralds totaling 12.91 carats.
Sunny Boy
Somewhere in the Rainbow Gem and Jewelry Collection, in collaboration with Gabi Klein
First Place: Carving
An 11.8-centimeter carving of an elephant in dark-gray obsidian, with a rhodonite tongue,
cacholong tusks, and black onyx eyes.
Elements bracelet
Somewhere in the Rainbow Gem and Jewelry Collection, in collaboration with Marc Höllmüller
Best of Show: Spectrum; First Place: Business/Day Wear
This bracelet features a 14.16-carat pink tourmaline in 18-karat yellow gold, platinum, and cocobolo wood, with 12.77 carats of peridot, 1.13 carats of spinel, 1.12 carats of demantoid garnet, and 4.80 carats of diamonds.
Rock Star ring
Craig Slavens of Luxe Fine Jewelry, in collaboration with Larry Rice
First Place: Men’s Wear
This platinum ring features a 24.62-carat, unheated star ruby cabochon from Sri Lanka in a bezel setting with 2.50 carats of diamonds.
Grassbright and Gilded Light
Ian Loska of Ian Loska Gems
First Place: Innovative Faceting
An oval concave-cut, color-zoned tsavorite garnet weighing 3.67 carats.
Love Struck ring
Nikki Swift of Nicole Mera
First Place: Engagement Rings
This platinum ring features a heart-shaped, 1.74-carat, unheated Mozambique ruby, 0.78 carats of baguette diamonds, 0.80 carats of round diamonds, and 1.22 carats of additional rubies.
All images: American Gem Trade Association (AGTA)
