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El Paso, TX—Jewelry designer and retail jeweler Susan Eisen recently won the Texas Jewelers Association Design Competition “2021 Best in Show” award for a contemporary yellow gold, ametrine, and diamond pendant (image) she designed and crafted in her store. 

The annual TJA Design Competition is open to Texas Jewelers Association members and their employees, and students enrolled at a college or university and majoring in jewelry design. All pieces submitted must be an original design and produced within the year prior to the show. This year’s judges included Melanie Bernal of supplier Malakan Jewelry, and retailer Debbie Meeks from Bermuda Gold. Prizes were awarded based on the creative use of materials, craftsmanship, wear-ability, originality, design, and fashion. 

Eisen’s pendant was created from designs hand drawn by her and involved a custom wax carving, lost wax casting, hand finishing, and hand set with diamonds. The center gemstone was a fantasy-cut 31.00 carat ametrine cut in a diamond profile shape and set vertically with diamonds.  

Jim Rodgers of Gold N’ Carats won first place for “2021 Bench Jewelers Exclusive,” an award given to the goldsmith who was the only one to touch the piece from conception to final polish. Various students from the Texas Institute of Jewelry Technology in Paris, Texas won the student categories. Student awards were sponsored by J. Patrick Diamonds.  

Along with various design awards, Eisen has a celebrity following with over 56 pieces of her jewelry having been seen on the red carpet at awards shows, including the Oscars, Emmys, SAG Awards, and on TV. Eisen founded her El Paso store in 1980 and features jewelry and watch repairs, appraisals, custom designs, and many designer jewelry and Swiss watch brands.