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AGTA Announces 2020 AGTA Spectrum Awards Winners October 26, 2020 (0 comments)

Dallas, TX—The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) has announced the winners of the 2020 AGTA Spectrum Awards. The competition was held on October 24-25 in Dallas. The competition is normally hosted in New York City, with judges from around the country but pandemic travel restrictions forced its relocation this year, with a slate of Texas-based experts as judges:  Michael Johnson, Eiseman Jewels; Monica Kitt, Arkenstone, Ltd.; Clare Adams Kittle, Clare Adams Kittle Company; Chris Pampillonia, Pampillonia Designs; and Ray Zajicek, Equatorian Imports. Image: "Lady Gaga Metropolitan Gala" earrings by Peter Schmid were the "Best of Fashion Forward" winner. 

Fashion Forward: Peter Schmid, French Designer Jeweler - 22K and 18K yellow gold featuring pear-shaped rubellite tourmalines (10.10 ctw.) and aquamarines (2.31 ctw.) accented with diamonds.

"This year's event was a little different than the past few years. A few months ago, we had to decide if we could make Spectrum happen,” said Douglas K. Hucker, AGTA CEO. “We made many personal phone calls to past entrants to gauge interest, and they overwhelmingly wanted to participate. We were incredibly lucky to have these outstanding judges dedicate their time to us, especially in light of COVID restrictions.”

Judging took place in separate rooms with PPE procedures in place, said Hucker. But even with the hurdles, he cited both amazing collaboration among the judges and a 20% increase in entries this year, many from first-time entrants. 

"The foundation of this industry is creativity, even during these trying times," said Hucker., "It's a privilege to be able to provide an outlet for that creativity."

Two new categories debuted this year: North American Mined Gemstones in the Cutting Edge competition, and a new "Best of" Award, called Best of Single Entries. The North American Mined Gemstones category highlighted gemstones from the United States and Canada and was the largest category in Cutting Edge this year.  

Separately, entrants who only submitted one piece into the competition were eligible for the Best of Single Entries award. A Best of Single Entry award was given in both the Spectrum Awards for jewelry and the Cutting Edge Awards for a single gemstone.

Here were the “Best of” winners: 

Best of Show: David Nassi, 100% Natural, Ltd. - Pair of pear-shaped spessartite Garnets (90.48 ctw.).

Best Use of Color: Rosa Van Parys, Rosa Van Parys Jewelry - 18K yellow gold "Links" necklace featuring a 14.9mm black Tahitian cultured pearl accented with multicolored sapphires, tsavorite garnets, Aquamarines, multicolored diamonds, and amethysts.

Best Use of Pearls: Brenda Smith, Brenda Smith Jewelry - 18K rose gold "Black Lace" ring featuring a 16.5mm cultured pearl accented with pink and lavender sapphires (2.86 ctw.) and diamonds (.06 ctw.).

Fashion Forward (image top of page): Peter Schmid, French Designer Jeweler - 22K and 18K yellow gold "Lady Gaga Metropolitan Gala" earrings featuring pear-shaped rubellite tourmalines (10.10 ctw.) and aquamarines (2.31 ctw.) accented with diamonds.

Best of Single Entries Spectrum: Sean Olufson, Olufson Designs - Platinum pendant featuring a 3.39 ct. oval pink sapphire surrounded by matched pear-shaped alexandrites (3.36 ctw.) accented with diamonds (.54 ctw.).

Best of Single Entries Cutting Edge: Afshin and David Hackman, Intercolor USA - 7.04 ct. oval ruby. 

Best Use of Platinum and Color: Adam Neeley, Somewhere In The Rainbow - platinum and 18K yellow gold "Dark Knight" ring featuring a 9.81 ct. black opal accented with blue sapphires (5.06 ctw.), tsavorite garnets (2.56 ctw.), and diamonds (.28 ctw.).

Best Use of Platinum Crown: Randy Coffin, Somewhere In The Rainbow - 18K yellow gold and platinum "Magic Man" magnetic lapel pin featuring a 13.03 ct. green tourmaline accented with diamonds (.86 ctw.), green tourmaline melee (.45 ctw.), purple sapphires (.43 ctw.), and diamonds (1.58 ctw.).

Individual category winners were:

Bridal Wear – First Place and Manufacturing Honors, Niveet Nagpal, Omi Privé- Platinum ring featuring a 3.38 ct. oval emerald accented with diamond epaulets (1.00 ctw.). 
Bridal Wear – Second Place and Platinum Honors, Benjamin Javaheri, Uneek Jewelry, Inc.- Platinum "The Vision" ring featuring an 11.58 ct. cushion-cut blue sapphire accented with diamonds (.68 ctw.). 
Bridal Wear – Third place, Joseph Ambalu, Amba Gem Corp. - Platinum ring featuring a 7.23 ct. cushion-cut pink sapphire accented with diamonds.
Bridal Wear – Honorable Mention, Niveet Nagpal, Omi Privé - Platinum ring featuring a 2.21 ct. oval grandidierite accented with alexandrites (1.18 ctw.) and diamonds (.34 ctw.).
Bridal Wear - Platinum Innovation, Jacob Wosinski, Jacob Raymond Custom Jewelry - Platinum ring featuring a 1.39 ct. radiant-cut mint-green Maine tourmaline.
Bridal Wear – WJA Gem DIVA Award, Kathleen Kerr, FTJCo (Fair Trade Jewellery Co.) - 18K yellow and white gold halo ring featuring a 1.49 ct. bicolored Australian sapphire accented with multicolored sapphire melee (.78  ctw.) and diamonds (.23 ctw.).
Business/Day Wear - First Place, Platinum Honors, and Platinum Innovation, Nikki Swift, Nicole Mera LLC - Platinum ring featuring pink and lavender pear-shaped spinels (2.49 ctw.) accented with diamonds (1.26 ctw.).
Business/Day Wear - Second Place, Zoltan David, Zoltan David - Blue and purple steel with 24K and 18K yellow gold "Time" pendant featuring a 19.54 ct. fantasy-cut round citrine. 
Business/Day Wear - Third Place, Phillip Dismuke, Jewelsmith, Inc. - 14K white gold earrings featuring chalcedony quartz cubes (41.46 ctw.). 
Business/Day Wear - Honorable Mention, Jon Barry DiNola, Yardley Jewelers - 14K gold bar pin featuring pink tourmalines and tanzanites (4.96 ctw.) accented with diamonds (.72 ctw.).
Business/Day Wear - Manufacturing Honors, Timothy W Foster, T. Foster & Company - 18K yellow gold earrings featuring round emeralds (.16 ctw.) and diamonds (.20 ctw.).
Business/Day Wear – WJA Gem DIVA Award, Eve Streicker, Original Eve - 18K recycled yellow gold necklace featuring a pear-shaped cultured freshwater pearl accented with sapphires and diamonds.
Classical - First Place, Joseph Ambalu, Amba Gem Corp. - Platinum ring featuring a 14.28 ct. oval blue Sri Lankan sapphire accented with diamonds.
Classical - Second Place and Classical Platinum Honors, Niveet Nagpal, Omi Privé - Platinum ring featuring a 10.10 ct. oval pink sapphire accented with diamonds (1.36 ctw.), pink sapphires (.72 ctw.), and a .01 ct. alexandrite.
Classical - Third Place, Craig Slavens, Luxe Fine Jewelry - 18K rose, and white gold earrings featuring pear-shaped morganites (19.92 ct.) accented with diamonds (1.95 ctw.). 
Classical - Honorable Mention, Raja Mehta, A. G. Gems, Inc. - 18K white and yellow gold ring featuring a 2.39 ct. untreated blue tourmaline and a 1.03 ct. fancy yellow diamond accented with round and bullet-cut diamonds (1.14 ctw.).
Classical - Manufacturing Honors, Oren Nhaissi, EMCO Gem, Inc. - Platinum and 18K yellow gold ring featuring three untreated emerald-cut Colombian
emeralds (2.48 ctw.) accented with diamonds. 
Classical – WJA Gem DIVA Award, Paula Crevoshay, Mellika Company, Inc./ Crevoshay - 18K yellow gold "Brown-Eyed Susan" pendant features a 5.30 ct. orange Montana sapphire accented with orange and yellow sapphires (8.69 ctw.) and black and cognac diamonds (1.98 ctw.).
Evening Wear – First Place, Michael Tope, Raintree, LLC - 18K yellow and rose gold and platinum "Casatheia" ring featuring an 8.40 ct. rubellite tourmaline paired with a 2.33 ct. blue sapphire accented with chrysoprase, Montana sapphires (1.68 ctw.), diamonds (.40 ctw.), and a pear-cut turquoise.
Evening Wear - Second Place, Zoltan David, Somewhere In The Rainbow - 18K yellow gold and platinum "The Queen's Ring" featuring a 18.55 ct. Mahenge spinel accented with diamonds (1.63 ctw.) and spinel melee (.68 ctw.).
Evening Wear - Third Place, Tariq Riaz, Tariq Riaz LLC - 18K white and rose gold "Chameleon" ring featuring a 3.55 rhodolite garnet and a 2.10 ct. peridot accented with tsavorite garnets (1.88 ctw.), pink sapphires (.70 ctw.), and diamonds (2.07 ctw.). The ring features a mechanism that switches the center gem.
Evening Wear - Honorable Mention, Eddie Sakamoto, Somewhere In The Rainbow - 18K yellow gold, platinum, sterling, bronze, and Brazilian rosewood "Bespoken" cuff featuring a 123.40 ct. green beryl accented with cognac diamonds (3.52 ctw.) and white diamonds (2.50 ctw.).
Evening Wear - Manufacturing Honors, Tariq Riaz, Tariq Riaz LLC - 18K rose and white gold expandable ring featuring pink rhodolite garnets (5.01 ctw.).
Evening Wear - Platinum Honors, Nikki Swift, Nicole Mera LLC - Platinum ring featuring a 3.0 ct. kite-shaped gray spinel accented with baguette diamonds (1.93 ctw.) and round diamonds (.16 ctw.).
Evening Wear - Platinum Innovation, Sean Smokovich, Somewhere In The Rainbow - Platinum and 18K yellow gold "Razzle Dazzle" earrings featuring trapiche
rubies (30.94 ctw.) and diamonds (2.40 ctw.).
Evening Wear – WJA Gem DIVA Award, Paula Crevoshay, Mellika Company, Inc./ Crevoshay - 18K yellow gold "Moon Dance" bracelet featuring rainbow, blue flash, silver flash, and cat's eye moonstones (133.19 ctw.) accented with sapphires (38.61 ctw.).
Men's Wear - First Place and Platinum Honors, Jeremy Dunn, Dunn & Co. - Platinum cufflinks featuring Asscher-cut spessartite garnets (5.83 ctw.) and blue sapphire melee (1.35 ctw.). 
Men's Wear - Second Place and Manufacturing Honors, Gastón R. Rives, Gastón Jewelry Studio, Inc. - 18K yellow gold ring featuring rubies (6.51 ctw.) and diamonds (1.93 ctw.). 
Men's Wear - Third Place, Adam Neeley, Somewhere In The Rainbow - Platinum and 18K yellow gold "Dark Knight" ring featuring a 9.81 ct. black opal accented with blue sapphires (5.06 ctw.), tsavorite garnets (2.56 ctw.) and diamonds (.28 ctw.).

Visit www.agta.org for winners of the Cutting Edge Awards.