August 2003 Precious Metals/News Saul Bell Contest Honors Innovation Winning entries demonstrate originality Rio Grande named nine category winners and one Grand Prize winner in the third annual Saul Bell Design Award competition at the JCK Show-Las Vegas in June. The annual competition is named for Rio Grande’s founder. This year’s event rewarded original, innovative pieces in four jewelry categories, plus a special hollowware category for an original vessel sponsored by 3M. Designers chose one of the design categories as their predominant material and could integrate any additional material into an original, wearable jewelry design in these categories: Gold/Platinum. Precious Metal Clay.® Beads. Silver. Renderings and photographs from more than 250 designers were accepted through September 2002. From these, 25 finalists were invited to create and submit their finished pieces by Feb. 14. These winners received more than $30,000 in prizes and awards. Winning pieces were on display at the Rio Grande booth at the show and online at www.saulbellaward.com. The deadline for entries in the 2004 competition is September 22, 2003. For details, contact the company at (800) 545-6566, margo.mestas@tbg.riogrande.com or www.saulbellaward.com. Gold/Platinum Grand Prize Winner Apichart Warrachart isra Catskill, NY 18k brooch with mother-of-pearl, pearls and diamond melee. Second Place Ruben Zhitnik Ruben’s Jewelry Mayfield Heights, OH 18k ring featuring a shank inset featuring a mosaic of diamond baguettes and a three-dimensional spiral mounting with a large diamond solitaire. 3M Special Award Winner – Hollowware Jeffrey Clancy San Diego, CA The “Tea for One” sculptural teapot is constructed of a hexagonal .925 fine silver container pierced by a fabricated silver and mahogany non-firing handgun. Silver First Place Marie Scarpa Marie Scarpa Designs Petaluma, CA “Tri-Angle” pendant has a centrifugally cast sterling silver frame inset with a weaving of 14k 24-gauge wire around a tourmaline. Second Place Chihiro Makio 314 Studio Jamaica Plain, MA “Bubble Necklace” is made of sterling silver sheet with silver bezels and wire. Glass lenses over each partitioned bezel magnify encased loose beads. Precious Metal Clay® First Place Barbro Eriksdotter Gendel Eriksdotter Design Springfield, VA Pendant is constructed of a pierced and domed silver disc with silver PMC+® applied in layers around set stones. 24k gold accents the piece in the Kum Boo technique. Second Place Candice Wakumot Candice Wakumoto Mililani, HI “‘Ano ‘Ano x 7” necklace is made of hand-formed PMC+ with gold PMC applied to the surface to create an organic piece featuring 18k, sterling wire and garnets. Beads First Place Heidi Kummli Free Spirit Nederland, CO “Nature’s Jewels” bead embroidery bib necklace features fringe of multiple-color beads and cabochon and fancy-cut gemstones on an Ultrasuede® backing. Second Place Patricia Madeja Patricia Madeja Studio Jewelry West Islip, NY The “Spinning Citrine Bracelet” consists of German-cut Brazilian citrine beads that spin inside frames of 18k gold. Fabricated 18k hinges feature beaded hinge pins.