| February 1998
Precious Metals: New Products
PLATINUM HONORS AT AGTA
Marriage of platinum and colored gems wins
accolades
As part of the 1998 American Gem Trade Association Spectrum Awards Contest,
Platinum Guild International-USA awarded Platinum Honors to 11 innovative
jewelry designs featuring platinum and natural colored gemstones.
"Their work validates the increasing popularity of pairing platinum
with colored gemstones," says Laurie Hudson, president of PGI-USA.
The 1998 AGTA Spectrum Award Platinum Honors Collection is on display at
the AGTA Gemfair in Tucson, AZ, on Wednesday, Feb. 4, and at other trade
shows PGI attends throughout the year.
- by Lorraine M. Suermann
All photos by John Parrish
Division I
Over $10,000 retail value
Left: Tanzanite platinum necklace - Robert
Benowitz of Ben-Dannie Inc., Los Angeles, CA.
Top right: Tanzanite and sapphire platinum ring
- Mary Ann Andrews of Mary Ann's Unique Jewels Inc., Erlanger, KY.
Bottom right: Ruby and diamond platinum ring
- Mark Loren of Mark Loren Designs, Ft. Myers, FL.
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Division II
Over $2,500 to $5,00 retail value
Top left: Tanzanite and chrome diopside platinum
ring - Jeffrey Mathews & Howard Donsky, Dallas, TX.
Top right: Peridot and mandarin garnet platinum
ring - Mirjam Butz-Brown of Mirjam Butz & Brown Jewelers, San
Diego, CA.
Bottom: Tourmaline and diamond platinum pendant/necklace
- Joseph Montanari of Montanari Fine Art Jewelers, Kansas City, MO.
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Division III
$2,500 to $5,000 retail value
Left: Tourmaline platinum ring - Ernesto
Sahagun of Ernesto Sahagun Designs, Tustin, CA
Right: Sapphire platinum brooch, titled "Ivy
League" - Llyn Strelau, Jewels by Design, Calgary, Alberta,
Canada.
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Division IV
$1,001 to $2,500 retail value
Left: Cultured Tahitian pearl platinum pendant
- Jack Demerjian of Demere Designs, J.D.M. Inc.,Livonia, MI.
Right: Cultured Tahitian pearl platinum pendant
- Lisa Barends of Jack Seibert Jewelers, Columbus, OH.
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Division V
Up to $1,000 retail value
Raspberry tourmaline and diamond platinum pendant - Mike
Kelley of NT Ferro Jewelers, Woodstock, VT.
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For more information about PGI-USA and Platinum Honors, call Lisa Labrado,
PGI-USA, at (714) 760-8279.
Copyright © 1998 by Bond Communications.
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