Color Connections
The 2001 AGTA Spectrum Awards
A celebratory – and colorful – mood is in the air for this year’s AGTA Spectrum Award competition. The prestigious colored gemstone jewelry design contest, is its 18th year, is full to bursting with colorful winning entries. Even more reason to Celebrate, this edition coincides with the 20th anniversary of the American Gem Trade Association. In fact, the anniversary was this year’s special “theme” category, a new feature that will change each year. So, without further ado, pop open the bubbly and toast this year’s top color designs.
In the theme category, an AGTA 20th anniversary award went to John Strobel, John/Christine Designs, Middleton, Wisconsin, for his “20 Years on the Rocks” brooch. The piece, which also received platinum honors, features a Tahitian pearl, ruby, tourmaline, and black jade. Another theme prize, plus manufacturing honors, went to Anthony Vela, A. James Ltd., Glendora, California, for an emerald Necklace.
In Division I (retail over $10,000), first prize was given to a faceted Tahitian pearl ring with opal inlay and tsavorite by Mark Schneider, Schneider Design Studio, Long Beach, California. Schneider also received an honorable mention and platinum honors for a tanzanite ring. Second place went to a tanzanite ring by Susan Marie Phipps, Asheville, North Carolina. Third place, plus platinum honors, went to a necklace with Tahitian pearls and aquamarine by Holly K. Croft, Beverly Hills, California. An honorable mention also went to Robert Pelliccia, J.R. Dunn Jewelers, Lighthouse Point, Florida.
Spectrum’s “Best in Show” was awarded to Gregory Morin, Silverhorn, Santa Barbara, California. The seahorse brooch, which also placed first in Division II, features spessartite garnet, sapphires, diamonds, and pearls. Morin also won third prize in Division III for a chalcedony cabochon ring. Second place in Division II) retail $5,001 to $10,000) went to a sapphire bracelet by Burdett Milkins, BAM Designs, Monroe, Michigan. Ruby and Tahitian pearl earrings won thirst for Ernesto Moreira, Houston, Texas. Honorable mentions went to Brenda Warburton, Auston & Warburton, Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Emmanuel Himmelberber, Ramona, California.
For Division III (retail $2,501 to $5,000), first prize and manufacturing honors went to Joe Kremer, F. Joseph Kremer Goldsmith, Louisville, Kentucky, for a multi-gem bracelet. A sapphire and platinum ring won second place, in addition to manufacturing and platinum honors, for Gabriel Ofiesh, Charlottesville, Virginia. Honorable mentions went to John Mason, Aurum, State College, Pennsylvania; and Robert Gesler, Equatorian Imports, Dallas.
Spectrum’s “Best Use of Color,” as well as first place in Division IV (retail $1,001 to $2,500), went to a platinum, 18k gold, and tourmaline ring by Kim Eric Lilot, San Francisco, California. Jason Baskin, the Gem Vault, Flemington, New Jersey, won second for a tourmaline ring. Kim Yanke, Yanke Design, Franklin, Michigan, won third for a pearl brooch. Honorable mentions went to Troy Ingram, Treasures Custom jewelers, Peoria, Arizona; and Sylvia Jaeggi, Lakewood, Colorado.
In Division V (retail up to $1,000), first place was awarded to Ronald Davidson, Davidson Designs, Vancouver, British Colombia, for a citrine and tsavorite ring. A frog brooch with fire agate won second place for Michael Boillot, Michael’s Creative Jewelry, Phoenix. Third went to Peter Lees, PJL Designs, Ithaca, New York, for a garnet ring. Honorable mentions went to Nanz Aalund, Seattle; and Michael Kelley, NT Ferro Jewelers, Woodstock, Vermont.
The remaining manufacturing honors want to An Nguyen, Lisa Kaye & Co., Durham, North Carolina; and Jane Bohan, New York. In addition, the international division had two winners: Bong Youn Cho, Jewelry Rubius, Tokyo, won for a tourmaline brooch; and Tom Munsteiner, Stiphausen, Germany, won for a golden beryl ring. The remaining winners of platinum honors, the division sponsored by Platinum Guild International: Mark Loren and Anisa Wiggington, Mark Loren Designs, Ft. Meyers, Florida; Gloria Stewart, London Gold, Phoenix; Susan Drake, Drake Designs, Blowing Rock, North Carolina; Scott Gauthier, Jewelry by Gauthier, Scottsdale, Arizona; Mark Lauer, Mark Michael Designs, Maple Grove, Minnesota; Apichart Warrachart, Catskill, New York; Jason Bouchard, Jason Bouchard Fine Jewelry, Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Travis Kukovich, Jewelsmith, Durham, North Carolina.
There were 326 entries to the Spectrum Awards. Judges for this year’s contest: Llyn Strelau, Jewels By Design, Calgary, Canada; Steven Lagos, Lagos, Philadelphia; and Kathleen Fitzpatrick, Departures magazine. For future contest and entry form information, contact AGTA at (800) 972-1162.
Pictured: Exquisite Black Pearl Ring (top right)