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SECOND ANNUAL CENTURION DESIGN AWARDS DRAW ALMOST 100 ENTRIES February 02, 2012 (0 comments)
Scottsdale, AZ—Winners of the Centurion Design Awards 2012 were feted during the closing dinner of the 2012 show, held earlier this week. There were three finalists in each of 11 categories, resulting in 14 first-place winners (two categories had a tie).
Participants placed their entries in specially-created showcases designed by Richard Zucker of Exhibit Management Corp. for the competition. Pieces were on display and open for retailer voting from 10 a.m. Sunday morning through 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. Once voting closed and the results were tallied, winning pieces were quickly photographed on-site by RSP Media, in time for the evening's gala awards ceremony. While on display, pieces were insured by Jewelers' Mutual.
The Centurion Design Award for Bridal went to Etho, with A. Jaffe as first runner up and Mark Patterson and Simon G tied for second runner up.
Etho's “Classic Collection” 18K white gold ring with marquise and pear shaped diamonds in VVS F-G color won the Bridal category.
For Colored Stone Classic, the winner was Erica Courtney, first runner-up was Jack Abraham, and second runner-up was Charles Krypell. For Colored Stone Fashion, the winner was Spark Creations, the first runner-up was Bellarri, and tied for second runner-up were Dove’s and Penny Preville.
Left, Spark Creations' one-of-a-kind necklace won the Colored Stone Fashion category. It has a 26.76-ct. spessartite set in 18k gold with a 1.76-ct. yellow sapphire and 2.20 cts. of diamonds. Right, Erica Courtney's “Empress Collection” ring, which won the Colored Stone Classic category, features a 4.78-ct. square cabochon fire opal framed by round white diamonds and glittering pave. The 4-point diamond shaped prongs are set with bright orange sapphires.
For Contemporary Metals, the winner was Alishan, with Rebecca scoring the first runner-up position and Edward Mirell as second runner-up. In the Diamond Classic category,
Alishan's cuff bracelet in 18k hand hammered gold and oxidized sterling silver features rose cut natural yellow diamonds, 1.40 ctw. It was the Contemporary Metals category winner.
William Levine and Sethi Couture tied for first place. Paramount Gems was the first runner-up and Goldstein Diamonds, the second runner-up. For Diamond Fashion, the winner was Siera, with first runner-up position going to Rahaminov and second runner-up to Fana Jewelry.
The Diamond Classic category had a tie for the winner. Left; Sethi Couture's Peacock Collection earrings feature milgrain details and have natural champagne diamonds with white diamond accents set in 14k rose gold. At right, William Levine Fine Jewels' necklace has 46 cushion cut diamonds, 19.78 ctw., and 3.13 ctw of full cut diamonds set in platinum. In the Diamond Fashion category, below, the winner was Siera Jewelry's 18kt. rose gold and black rhodium bangle, encrusted with diamonds in a three-dimensional intricate design.
In the Gold category, H. Weiss was the winner, Nanis the first runner-up, and Gurhan the second runner-up. For the Pearl category, Yvel was the winner, Tara the first runner-up, and Autore, the second.
Left, H. Weiss's winning 14k gold hammered and sand blasted 35mm cuff, set with .90 ctw of chocolate and white diamonds set in a floral pattern. At right is Yvel's winning 18K white gold necklace combining a 25- by 29-mm baroque South Sea pearl and 23.50 ctw of black and white diamonds from the designer's "Black and White" collection.
In the platinum category, the winner was Gumuchian, below, with Furrer-Jacot as the first runner-up and a three-way tie for second runner-up, between Steven Kretchmer Designs, Precision Set, and Kwiat.
Gumuchian's Gallop collection won the Platinum category. Inspired by a horse bit motif, the platinum and diamond piece combines Art Deco classicism with modern dash and can be worn as a necklace, choker, or straight diamond chain, thanks to ingenious invisible clasps.
In the silver category, there was a three-way tie for the winning title, between Eli Jewels, Breuning, and Raymond Hak Couture.
The Sterling Silver category had a three-way tie for the winner. From left, Eli Jewels' silver spiral bracelet has an 18k yellow gold hand wired twist. It's accented with diamonds and rubies with a blackened antique finish. Center, Breuning's sterling silver cuff with a rose gold plating, and right, Raymond Hak Couture offered this silver and diamond cuff from the "Organza Collection." It's accented with .45ct. of diamonds.
Finally, in the Watches category, the winner was Frederique Constant. Le Vian was the first runner-up and Philip Stein was the second runner-up.
The Frederique Constant Lady Automatic Double Heartbeat watch has 109 diamonds, (1.17 ctw.), two intertwined hearts at 12 o’clock, and an automatic movement. All photos, RSP Media