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Omi Privé, Le Vian, Ben Bridge Among JA CASE Award Winners April 07, 2021 (0 comments)
New York, NY—Jewelers of America (JA) announced the winners of its 31st annual CASE Awards jewelry design competition. The national design competition, recognizes JA members and their employees, both supplier and retailer, who exhibit creativity, artistry, style and excellence in jewelry design. Image: 14K yellow gold earrings with natural pink and white freshwater pearl, and natural carved prehnite leaves ($4,999), designed by Eddie Le Vian and entered in the Earrings Up To $5,000 category.
This year marked an all-time high of nearly 200 entries. The CASE Awards expanded this year to include 14 different categories based on jewelry style and price: Bracelets Up to $5,000; Bracelets $5,001 and Up; Earrings up to $5,000; Earrings $5,001 and Up; Necklaces Up to $5,000; Necklaces $5,001 and Up; Rings Up to $5,000; Rings $5,001 and Up; Engagement Rings up to $5,000; Engagement Rings $5,001 and Up; Wedding Bands up to $5,000; Wedding Bands $5,001 and Up; Engagement Rings up to $5,000; Engagement Rings $5,001 and Up; Pins/Brooches/Cufflinks (any price); and Other (non-jewelry items made of precious metals or stones), any price.
This ring, designed by Niveet Nagpal of Omi Privé, features an 8.86-ct. oval blue moonstone accented by pear-shape Paraíba-type tourmalines (1.10 ctw), round Paraíba tourmalines (0.34 ctw) and round diamonds (0.96 ctw) won in the Engagement Rings, $5,001 and Up category. It retails for $34,000.
In the Engagement Rings Up to $5,000, this ring designed by Angela Hope of Ben Bridge Jeweler was the winner. Inspired by a sunrise, the ring is made of 14K palladium alloyed recycled white gold with baguette diamonds (0.42 ctw) and retails for $2,399 (for semi-mount).
“Jewelers of America’s CASE Awards design competition showcases the fine craftsmanship and talent of JA members across the country,” says Amanda Gizzi, spokesperson for Jewelers of America. “Judging was incredibly difficult this year as we had a wide variety of immensely talented jewelry designers enter in every category. The judges had to carefully consider the judging criteria and it had to come down to the finest details to determine winners.”
A panel of design experts evaluated the entries on the following criteria: overall design, marketability, originality and quality of manufacture. Judges included Terry Chandler, Diamond Council of America (DCA); Deirdre Featherstone, Featherstone Design; Amanda Gizzi, Jewelers of America; Brecken Branstrator, National Jeweler; JB Jones, NYC Jewelry Week; Adrianne Sanogo, G.G., Black in Jewelry Coalition; and Iveta N. Stephanopoulos, GIA (Gemological Institute of America).
15 winners were selected; one per category with two first-place winners in the Necklaces $5,001 and Up category. All winners will receive a customized CASE Award trophy and national and local media coverage.
Eddie Le Vian won two categories in this year's CASE Awards. The other was the Wedding Bands $5,001 And Up, for this platinum and 18K yellow gold wedding ring with 18 natural fancy light yellow diamonds (6.8 ctw of Sunny Yellow Diamonds and 0.48 ctw of Vanilla Diamonds). Retail $42,400.
The 2021 CASE Awards were sponsored by Synchrony, Jewelers Mutual Group and Chosen Payments. For more information about the competition and to view the Winner’s Photo Gallery, visit www.jewelers.org/caseawards.