Gemstones & Pearls:News

American Pearl Co. honors creative jewelry design with Vision '98 awards

The distinctive shape of American cultured and natural pearls elicited some distinctive jewelry in Vision '98, a design competition sponsored by American Pearl Co., Nashville, TN.

The company named 13 winners in two categories: Discovery Division (under $2,000 keystone) and Inspiration Division ($2,000 and over keystone). Judges were John Nels Hatleberg of Big Gems; Janice Keaveney of Born to Shop; Gerald Manning of Manning & Associates, New York City; Amber Michelle, a diamond industry journalist in New York City; and Gary Roskin of JCKmagazine, Radnor, PA. Here are the winners.

– by Ren Miller

Discovery Division

Grand Prize Roger T. De Fouw of Sarasota, FL, for "Metamorphosis," a brooch featuring American cultured marquise and double pearls set in 14k gold.
Second Prize Stephen Ninich of Capri Jewelers, Glen Allen, VA, for "Montee Du Soleil," a brooch with American cultured coin pearls and keshi pearls with fantasy-cut drusy and 14k gold.	Third Prize (tie) Glen J. Engelbrecht of G.J. Designs, Sarasota, FL, for "Honkin' Honk," a brooch with an American cultured navette pearl, a 0.10-ct. diamond and handcarved abalone shell accents in 18k gold.
Third Prize (tie) Melissa A. Boston of Bridgeton, MO, for "Fallen Acorn," a brooch with a natural-color gold American cultured coin pearl and peridots set in 14k gold.	Award of Excellence Marty Simone of R.M. Simone Studios, Ft. Myers, FL, for "Sweetwater Shrine," a brooch with an American cultured cabochon pearl, keshi pearls and 0.30 carat of diamonds set in 14k gold.

Award of Excellence Amy Veach of Demaurier Distinctive Jewelry, Salt Lake City, UT, for "Tulpen," a bracelet with an American cultured coin pearl set in sterling silver.

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Inspiration Division

Grand Prize Link Wachler of David Wachler & Sons, Birmingham, MI, for "Lunchtime," a ring featuring an American cultured cabochon pearl, 0.25 carat of diamonds and 0.06 carat of rubies set in 18k gold.
Second Prize Ziad H. Noshie of Almaza Jewelers, Houston, TX, for "The Rascal," a brooch with an American cultured marquise pearl and 0.58 carat of diamonds in 18k gold.	Third Prize (tie) Alishan Halebian of Alishan Designer Jewelry, Irvine, CA, for "Madame Butterfly," a brooch with American natural pearls, 0.15 carat of rubies and 0.30 carat of diamonds set in 18k gold and platinum.
Third Prize (tie) Marie Somos of Somos Creations, Valley Cottage, NY, for "Wishing Star," a brooch with American natural wing pearls, diamonds and emeralds set in 18k gold.	Award of Excellence Darryl Alexander of Alexander's Jewelry Designs, Gilbert, AZ, for "Love in Flight," an enhancer with a handcarved double American cultured domé pearl and 0.21 carat of diamonds set in 14k gold.
Award of Excellence Dalan Jay Hargrave of Dalan Hargrave Manufacturing, San Antonio, TX, for "Butterfly," a brooch featuring a handcarved American cultured domé pearl, diamonds, red spinel, tourmaline and garnet set in 18k gold.	Award of Excellence Jean M. Jung of Gold Dreams, San Anselmo, CA, for "On Golden Wings," a necklace with natural American abalone pearls, diamonds, rubies and sapphires set in 18k gold.

Copyright © 1998 by Bond Communications.

 

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