Articles and News

Wick & Greene Jewelers, Josette Patterson, Claudia Kretchmer Among Spectrum Award WinnerssBy Hedda Schupak, Editor, The Centurion |  October 27, 2015 (0 comments)

New York, NY—The American Gem Trade Association announces the winners of its 32nd annual AGTA Spectrum Awards. The event was held October 24 and 25 in New York City. Competition judges this year were Ronald W. Arends of Aires Jewelers; Stephen M. Avery of Stephen M. Avery, Inc.; Deirdre Featherstone of Featherstone Design; Lauren Kulchinksy-Levison of Mayfair Jewelers; and Aron Suna of Suna Bros.

AGTA CEO Douglas Hucker said this year’s competition drew 492 entries, in a virtual whirlwind of colors, shapes, and textures. “It is very rewarding to see the continued growth in enthusiasm for our AGTA Spectrum Awards. Clearly, the level of sophistication amongst the design community, with respect to color, is constantly evolving and the willingness of our designers to push boundaries was evident in this competition.”

The winners will be on display during the AGTA GemFair in Tucson, AZ, in February and feted at a gala dinner on February 6. (Claudia Kretchmer's piece, which won firt place in the Evening Wear division, is shown at left). The other winners were:

Best of Show winner for 2016 was Allen Kleiman of A. Kleiman & Co., for a suite of Paraiba tourmalines (58.07 ctw.) carved into Nautilus shells, below left:

 

Best Use of Color went to designer Bella Campbell of Campbellian, for her 18k yellow gold earrings featuring blue-green Tourmalines (17.05 ctw.), accented with emeralds (4.14 ctw.), above right.

Best Use of Pearls went to Naomi Sarna of Naomi Sarna Designs, for a strand of freshwater baroque cultured pearls with 18k white gold and diamonds, and a freshwater baroque cultured pearl pendant.

Best Use of Platinum and Color was awarded to Andrew Costen of Costen Catbalue, for his platinum "Symphony of Colour" bracelet featuring a 3.85 ct. green tourmaline, a 4.88 ct. yellow zircon, a 4.68 ct. indicolite tourmaline and a 3.52 ct. rubellite tourmaline accented with diamonds (0.70 ctw.).

Best Use of Silver and Color went to William Travis Kukovich of William Travis Jewelry, for an oxidized silver and mixed gold pendant featuring a 4.74 ct. brown diamond and accented with rose cut diamonds (0.40 ctw.).

Best Fashion Forward design winner was Brian Cook of Nature's Geometry for a 24k yellow gold "Wheel of Light" numinous pendant featuring an 825 ct. quartz, Paraiba tourmaline, hauyn, ruby, spessartite garnet, golden rutilated quartz and fire agate beads.

Bridal Wear category:

• First place, Tony Nemyer, Grimball Jewelers, for a platinum and 18k yellow gold ring featuring a 3.55 ct. round purple spinel accented with diamonds (0.86 ctw.). Second place, Laurence Bruyninckx, for 18k white gold earrings featuring blue topaz, mint tourmaline and diamond tops, with interchangeable dangles with diamonds or mint tourmalines, blue topaz and diamonds. Third place, Caroline Chartouni, Caroline C, for her 18k white gold earrings featuring Paraiba tourmalines (12.07 ctw.) accented with diamonds (10.62 ctw.).
• Entry Platinum Innovation: Michael Endlich, Pave Fine Jewelry, for his platinum "Sweetness" ring featuring a 1.65 ct. lavender oval sapphire accented with diamonds (0.06 ctw.).
• Gem Diva Award: Erica Courtney, for her platinum "Champagne Bubble" wedding ring set featuring a 5.54 ct. blue sapphire cabochon accented with round blue sapphires (1.0 ctw.) and diamonds (2.58 ctw.).
• Manufacturing Honors: Michael Jakubowski of Gem Fanatic for a 14k white and rose gold ring featuring a 2.58 ct. unheated pink sapphire accented with white and pink diamonds (0.81 ctw.).
• Platinum Honors: Kathy Kinev, Jewel Creations Inc., for her platinum "Chartres" ring featuring a 4.65 ct. blue zircon accented with diamonds (0.73 ctw.).
• Savor Silver Award: Hisano Shepherd, little h, for sterling silver cufflinks featuring sliced 12 x 13 mm Tahitian baroque pearls accented with black diamonds (2.0 ctw.).

Business/Day Wear category:

• First place, Ricardo Basta, E. Eichberg, Inc., 18k yellow gold "Enchanted Frog" ring featuring carnelian, tsavorite garnets and diamonds (0.18 ctw.). Second place, Heath London, Heath London Jewelry, 18k white gold earrings featuring rock crystal quartz (31.18 ctw.) and rubellite tourmalines (11.34 ctw.) accented with diamonds (0.91 ctw.). Third place, Kim Hurlbert-Sarosi, Sarosi by Timeless Gems, 18k yellow gold ring featuring a 16.10 ct. Imperial topaz accented with diamonds (0.56 ctw.).
• Entry Platinum Innovation: Heena Chheda-Shah, VALANI, Platinum "Rival" ring featuring two pear-shaped blue sapphires (1.10 ctw.) accented with diamonds (0.27 ctw.).
• Gem Diva Award: Gurmit Kaur Campbell, SRW - 18k yellow gold "Betwixt and Between" ring featuring a South Sea cultured pearl accented with diamonds.
• Honorable Mention: Heath London, Heath London Jewelry, 18k yellow gold "Rajasthani Dreams" earrings featuring Paraiba tourmalines (24.51 ctw.) and pink tourmalines (16.20 ctw.) accented with diamonds (0.34 ctw.).
• Manufacturing Honors: Stuller Inc., Platinum ring featuring an 18 mm pear-shaped topaz.
• Platinum Honors: Michael Endlich, Pave Fine Jewelry, Platinum "Moon Beam" ring featuring a 3.58 ct. moonstone cabochon accented with diamonds (0.30 ctw.).
• Savor Silver Award: Elizabeth Garvin, Elizabeth Garvin Fine, oxidized sterling silver and 18k yellow gold "Cyclone" cuff featuring aquamarine and heliodor (52.0 ctw.) in asymmetrical mirror cuts.

Classical category:

• First place: Brent Malgarin, Elegant Gems, Ltd., platinum necklace (below) featuring a 12.63 mm natural pearl and a 15.22 mm natural pearl accented with a 4.64 ct. blue zircon accented with Diamonds (1.05 ctw.). Second place: Lindsay Jane, Ambassador Gems, platinum ring featuring a 6.26 ct. Padparadscha sapphire accented with orange and pink sapphires (0.31 ctw.) and Diamonds (1.01 ctw.). Third place: Gil , Gil Int'l, platinum ring featuring a 3.24 ct. alexandrite accented with diamonds (1.11 ctw.).

​

• Entry Platinum Innovation: Lorenzo Chavez, Geogem-USA, platinum and 18k yellow gold "Big Sky" pendant featuring carved black jade and a 5.63 ct. freeform faceted sapphire accented with diamonds (1.06 ctw.).
• Gem Diva Award: Naomi Sarna, 18k white gold petal brooch featuring white, yellow, pink, brown and green diamonds accented with amethysts and multicolored sapphires.
• Honorable Mention: Josette Patterson, Mark Patterson, 18k white gold "Aura" earrings featuring pear-shaped rubellite tourmalines (12.69 ctw.) accented with diamonds (0.86 ctw.).
• Platinum Honors: Wick & Greene Jewelers, platinum fleur de lis pendant/pin featuring an unheated 2.66 ct. oval blue sapphire.
• Savor Silver Award: William Travis Kukovich, William Travis Jewelry, oxidized silver and 18k yellow gold ring featuring a 14.36 ct. prehnite cabochon.

Evening Wear category:

• First place: Claudia Kretchmer, Somewhere in the Rainbow, platinum and 24K crystallized gold "RockStar2" pendant (top of page) featuring a 37.31 ct. color-shift blue zircon accented with diamonds (1.95 ctw.). Second place, Ricardo Basta, E. Eichberg, Inc., 18k rose gold ring featuring a 10.41 ct. rubellite tourmaline accented with diamonds (0.23 ctw.) and Ruby melee (0.05 ctw.). Third place: Randy Coffin, Somewhere in the Rainbow, platinum ring featuring a 17.76 ct. bicolor tourmaline accented with pink sapphires (0.38 ctw.), Paraiba tourmalines (0.29 ctw.) and diamonds (0.13 ctw.).
• Gem Diva Award: Lisa Linhardt, Linhardt Design, oxidized sterling silver "Tempest" sculptural duster ring featuring yellow sapphires.
• Honorable Mention: Alexia Connellan, Alexia Connellan, LLC, 18k rose gold "Victoria" bracelet featuring a 16.06 ct. purple-pink tourmaline accented with diamonds and purple tourmalines.
• Manufacturing Honors: Troels D. Larsen, Troels D. Larsen Jewelry, 18k yellow and white gold necklace featuring a 10.75 ct. trillion-cut tanzanite and 23 round tanzanites (27.80 ctw.) accented with diamonds (2.75 ctw.).
• Platinum Honors: Eddie Sakamoto, Somewhere in the Rainbow, platinum "Ice-Ice Baby" bracelet featuring a 24.15 ct. tanzanite accented with diamonds (6.50 ctw.).
• Savor Silver Award: Priyanka Murthy, ARYA ESHA, Sterling silver ring featuring a 16.6 ct. blue topaz accented with diamonds (0.70 ctw.).

Men's Wear category:

• First place: Mark Schneider, Mark Schneider Design, platinum and 18k yellow gold ring featuring a 5.42 ct. peridot and a pair of spessartite garnets (3.66 ctw.) accented with tsavorite garnets (0.75 ctw.), white diamonds (0.38 ctw.) and a 0.16 ct. yellow diamond. Second place: Llyn L. Strelau, Jewels by Design, 18k yellow and 19K white gold "Paddle Your Own Canoe" reversible cufflinks featuring carved black onyx and rock crystal accented with black and white South Sea Keshi pearls and diamonds (0.24 ctw.). Third place: Mark Schneider, sterling silver men's ring featuring a 7.98 ct. freeform fire opal accented with tsavorite garnets (0.66 ctw.), colored diamonds (0.14 ctw.) and white diamonds (0.06 ctw.).
• Manufacturing Honors: Craig Slavens, Studio 247 Fine Jewelry, 18k yellow gold and platinum ring featuring a 7.29 ct. unheated Sri Lankan color-change violet-blue sapphire accented with diamonds (0.93 ctw.).
• Platinum Honors: David Hines, Nvit Blanche, platinum with 18k white gold "Cobra" ring featuring alexandrites (0.25 ctw.).
• Savor Silver Award, William Travis Kukovich, oxidized silver and 18k yellow and rose gold ring featuring a 20.98 ct. golden sheen sapphire.

AGTA also named its Cutting Edge Awards for lapidary arts. Click here for a list of the winners in the categories of classic gemstone, gem carving, innovative faceting, all other faceted, objects of art, and pairs and suites.

Spectrum Awards entries were judged on the basis of overall beauty and wearability, innovative design, effective use of materials, quality of gemstones, quality of workmanship, broad‐ base consumer appeal and potential to generate positive publicity for natural colored gemstones. Cutting Edge Awards  honor excellence and creativity in lapidary arts, including natural colored gemstones and cultured pearls, carvings and other gem materials.

For further information regarding the competition or the gala, please call (800) 972‐1162 or visit www.agta.org.