This year marks the 40th anniversary of the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) Spectrum Awards, and the competition’s significance in the industry is just heating up. Among the submissions AGTA received for the jewelry design contest and its Cutting Edge lapidary segment — a total of 375, nearly as many as last year — trends included tourmalines, pink stones, and fantasy-cut gems.
AGTA CEO John W. Ford, Sr., was pleased with the quality of entrants and the judges’ choices.
“There were some once-in-a-lifetime gemstones and incredible designs in the competition,” he told the media. “And I couldn’t be happier with the number and quality of entries in the new Engagement Ring category.”
The title of Spectrum or Cutting Edge winner is a coveted one that has boosted reputations and careers. Judges this year included Jean Francois Bibet of Cartier in New York, Sherry Bender of Chicago retailer The Goldsmith, Susan Jacques of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in Carlsbad, California, and Suzy Landa of New York’s Suzy Landa Fine Jewelry. They convened in Dallas, Texas, in late October to choose the best entries, basing their decisions on the quality of the colored gems, the manufacturing and craftsmanship, and the originality of the designs.
Here are six of the competition’s winning pieces.
John Dyer, John Dyer Gems
A 33-carat sapphire from Rock Creek, Montana.
Winner: Best of Show: Cutting Edge; First Place: North American Mined Gemstones
Joseph Dardashti and Sophia D. Karmel, Joseph Dardashti
Featuring more than 11 carats of emeralds, rubies, sapphires and diamonds in platinum and 18-karat yellow gold.
Winner: Best of Show: Spectrum; First Place: Evening Wear
Beatrix Laura Jessner, B&W Jewels
A convertible piece with a 2.04-carat Brazilian Paraiba tourmaline and 3.99 carats of diamonds.
Winner: First Place: Classical
Niveet Nagpal, Omi Gems
An emerald-cut, 12.42-carat bicolor tourmaline in platinum with 0.70 carats of spinel, 0.68 carats of demantoid garnets and 0.41 carats of diamonds.
Winner: Best Use of Color; Third Place: Business/Day Wear
Craig Slavens, Luxe Fine Jewelry
A bezel-set cabochon cat’s-eye blue topaz of 13.59 carats in platinum, along with 2.16 carats of ombré blue sapphires and 1.45 carats of diamonds.
Winner: Best Use of Platinum and Color; First Place: Men’s Wear; Men’s Wear: Platinum Honors
Adam Neeley, Adam Neeley Fine Art Jewelry
Featuring tanzanites and garnets totaling 20.66 and 23.62 carats respectively, along with 1.26 carats of diamond accents, in titanium and 14-karat white gold.
Winner: Fashion Forward; Editor’s Choice: Spectrum; Second Place: Evening Wear
Credit for all images: American Gem Trade Association (AGTA)
