Professional Jeweler Archive: Fanciful Lapidary

The American Gem Grade Association’s Cutting Edge™ contest yields a stunning collection of gemstones

Gemstone enthusiasts, take a break and admire the winning gems in the American Gem Trade Association’s Cutting Edge™ competition.

Winning entries in the 10th annual contest include several new and innovative cuts. Combine these with the other creative cuts honored this year and you’ll get a good picture of the direction of colored gem faceting and carving.

Judges for this year’s contest were Richard Homer, Kent, OH, a previous Cutting Edge award-winner; gemologist Linda Hunter of Johannes Hunter Jewelers, Colorado Springs, CO; and David Federman, former executive editor of Modern Jeweler magazine. The gems will be displayed and the winners will be honored at AGTA’s 2001 GemFair, scheduled for Jan. 31-Feb. 5 in Tucson, AZ.

Here are the winning gems, along with the thoughts of some of the cutters and carvers.

		Best of Show (also Carving, 1st place)

“The opal itself inspired me. I worked in Alaska in late ’60s, and one of the first things I saw was the Aurora Borealis over the north slope of the Brooks mountain range. This came from a 35-pound nodule composed mainly of rhyolite, with a pool of opal in the center. It was partially broken open so I could see the opal pool. As I formed it, I had to keep looking inside to get the largest chunk out. This slice came from the side of the pool; its formation displays a stunning columnar effect of color, much like the Aurora Borealis. Then I carved the north slope of the Brooks range and, in a little void in the opal, I carved the sun. The display is Gabon ebony.” Thomas Harth Ames Arvada, CO, (303) 424-3772 Sponsor: Dale Huett, West Coast Mining College Place, WA, (509) 522-4851 131-ct. rectangular opal carving from Opal Butte, OR, titled “Aurora Borealis”

Classic Gemstone

First Place

Allen Kleinman
Boulder, CO; (330) 440-7478

10.18-ct. cushion-cut sapphire from Sri Lanka

Honorable Mention (2)

Allen Kleinman
Boulder, CO; (330) 440-7478

0.55-ct. triangular-cut emerald from Brazil and 2.97-ct. emerald-cut ruby from Tanzania

Faceting

First Place

Joseph Mark Krivanek
Salida, CO; (719) 539-7493

12.93-ct. mixed square cut rhodochrosite from Alma, CO

“I have a passion for rhodochrosite – it’s such a shocking, unexpected color. I’ve been perfecting my rhodochrosite cut for a long time. Finally, I’ve found a combination of pavilion and crown angles that gives the gem that special ‘pop.’ It’s a labor of love.”

Second Place

Mark Kaufman
(619) 238-3880

Entered by Mark Herschede of Turmali & Herschede,
Sanibel, FL; (941) 472-6030

46.56-ct. brilliant checkerboard cushion aquamarine from Brazil

Third Place

David Brackna
Germantown, MD; (301) 972-2201

Entered by Mark Herschede of Turmali & Herschede,
Sanibel, FL; (941) 472-6030

83.33-ct. brilliant cushion peridot from Pakistan

Honorable Mention

Thomas A. Trozzo
Culpeper, VA; (540) 829-8494

9.58-ct. triangular reflection-cut tourmaline from Nigeria

Carving

see Best of Show

First Place (also Best of Show)

Thomas Harth Ames
Arvada, CO; (303) 424-3772

Sponsor: Dale Huett,
West Coast Mining
College Place, WA; (509) 522-4851

131-ct. rectangular opal carving from Opal Butte, OR, titled “Aurora Borealis”

Second Place

Dalan Jay Hargrave
San Antonio, TX; (210) 344-8580

Entered by Dust Devil Mining Co.
Beaver, OR; (503) 965-7707

14.77-ct. sunstone “blossom” carving from Oregon

Honorable Mention

Susan Allen
Pagosa Springs, CO; (970) 731-4836

Entered by Philip E. Louer Jr.
Riner, VA; (540) 381-9712

“The Nursery” is a free-form internal carving in Brazilian quartz

New/Innovative/Combination

First Place

Thomas A. Trozzo
Culpeper, VA; (540) 829-8494

42.98-ct. concave fancy-cut ametrine from Bolivia

“This is the first time I’ve won in this category and it’s a thrill. The Nigerian tourmaline that won an honorable mention in faceting (see p. 55) is also inspiring: If you look at the bottom of the stone, it has rays of color that seem to go on forever.”

Second Place

Larry C. Winn
Grand Junction, CO; (970) 523-0815

35.28-ct. cushion “pentskelion-cut” citrine from Brazil

Third Place (tie)

Thomas A. Trozzo
Culpeper, VA; (540) 829-8494

38.56-ct. “dimple work” ametrine from Bolivia (two views of same stone)

Third Place (tie)

Michael M. Dyber
Rumney, NH; (603) 744-2161

96.85-ct. “Luminaires” aquamarine from Brazil

Pairs & Suites

First Place

Stephen M. Avery
Lakewood, CO; (303) 985-4005

9.25-tcw. “trishield” spessartite garnet pair from Nigeria

“Nigerian spessartite garnet is such beautiful material it hardly needs a good cutter. I was lucky to get the material. The Afghanistan tourmaline suite (see p. 59) that won a second-place tie was also very special to me. It’s so difficult to get all of those color variations to match up; you have to go into it knowing you’re composing a suite.”