January 2003 Gemstones & Pearls/News AGTA Spectrum™ Awards 2003 Phenomenal gems, fantasy cuts and pearls in jewelry are featured among this year's winners The American Gem Trade Association’s annual Spectrum™ competition awarded its Best of Show to a necklace and earring suite by Alan Friedman Co., Beverly Hills, CA. It features luminescent moonstones with diamond accents and constitutes a defining moment in the history of moonstones and phenomenal gems. Judges for the Spectrum awards were Glen Engelbrecht of G.J. Designs, Sarasota, FL; William Holman of Holman Designs, Dallas, TX; Alfredo Molina of Molina Fine Jewelers, Mesa, AZ; Tania Riddell of Modern Bride, New York, NY; and Thomas Trozzo of Trozzo, Culpepper, VA. The Spectrum Awards are judged on overall beauty and wearability, innovative design, effective use of materials, quality of gemstones, quality of workmanship, broad-based consumer appeal and potential to generate positive publicity for natural colored gemstones. Spectrum Award categories include Evening, Business/Day, Casual, Bridal and Men’s Wear. All designs that qualified for the Spectrum Awards competition were considered for Manufacturing Honors. This award celebrates outstanding use of colored gemstones and cultured pearls in jewelry appropriate to be manufactured in production quantities. Winners of the competition will be honored at the AGTA Dinner Dance and Awards Gala on Feb. 8 at the Marriott University Park Hotel during AGTA GemFair in Tucson, AZ. AGTA also sponsors a Cutting Edge™ contest, and those winners will be featured in February in Professional Jeweler. A Platinum Honors division, jointly sponsored by AGTA and the Platinum Guild International, also picked winners, who will be featured in an upcoming issue. For information on the 2004 competitions, contact AGTA, Dallas, TX; (800) 972-1162 or (214) 742-4367, fax (214) 742-7334. – by Robert Weldon, G.G All photos by John Parrish, courtesy of AGTA BEST OF SHOW ALAN FRIEDMAN Alan Friedman Co. Beverly Hills, CA (310) 278-4944 Moonstone and diamond necklace is set with 38 cabochon moonstones totaling 106.9 carats, surrounded by 9.2 carats of diamonds and accented by a pierced back with ebony inlay. Earrings feature 15.03 carats of moonstones and 1.09 carats of diamonds. BEST USE OF COLOR (also Third Place, Bridal Division) JEFFREY KRASNER Ballerina Gem Co. New York City (212) 391-8007 Fancy colored sapphires are arranged in a rainbow set in a platinum anniversary band. Princess-cut sapphires total 5.18 carats, round sapphires 1.97 carats and diamonds 2.09 carats. Bridal Division First Place ALAN FRIEDMAN Alan Friedman Co. Beverly Hills, CA (310) 278-4944 18k and platinum ring is set with a 6.15-ct. blue sapphire and diamonds. Second Place ZIAD H. NOSHIE Almaza Jewelers Houston, TX (713) 521-0071 Platinum and 18k gold necklace features a 17mm South Sea cultured pearl surrounded by 1.45 carats of full-cut diamonds. Honorable Mention BURDETT A. MILKINS BAM Designs by Burdett Monroe, MI (734) 242-1023 Platinum and 18k gold tiara features natural 0.97-ct. Paraíba tourmaline, rainbow sapphires and diamonds. Third Place (see Best Use of Color, above) JEFFREY KRASNER Ballerina Gem Co. New York City (212) 391-8007 Manufacturing Honors PAUL DERRICKSON Jewelers Touch Placentia, CA (714) 579-1616 Split shank platinum and 18k yellow gold ring is set with a 3.93-ct. spessartite garnet accented with 0.30 carat of diamonds. Business Division First Place ROBERT ACKERMANN Robert Ackermann Inc. Westmount, Quebec, Canada (514) 939-5651 Yellow and white gold ear clips feature 6.13-ct. double-mirror-cut rose quartz and 24 diamonds totaling 0.78 carat. Second Place CATHLEEN BUNT Cathleen Bunt Fine Art Jewelry Kihei, HI (808) 874-8855 18k and 20k yellow gold pendant features four green Tahitian cultured pearls, a 1.80-ct. tanzanite, a 0.54-ct. emerald and 0.08 carat of natural fancy yellow diamonds. Third Place RITA HYAMS Designs by Rita Hyams San Anselmo, CA (415) 948-3573 22k yellow gold ring has a bezel-set 3.52-ct. malaya garnet accented with 54 yellow-to-orange sapphires totaling 2.59 carats. Honorable Mention BETH NEUFELD-SHUTT Neufelds Glendora Promenade Glendora, CA (626) 963-1633 14k yellow gold “Bookworm” pin features a 21x8.8mm freshwater pearl and a 0.12-ct. ruby. Manufacturing Honors AARON H. FURLONG Aaron Henry Designs Los Angeles, CA (213) 623-4228 18k yellow gold and platinum earclips feature 22.44 carats of spessartite garnets accented with 0.36 carat of diamonds and 1.92 carats of rubies and warm-colored sapphires. Casual Division First Place MARK SCHNEIDER Schneider Design Studio Long Beach, CA (562) 437-0591 Platinum ring showcases a 12.16-ct. blue-green tourmaline and 0.92 carat of diamonds. Second Place GARO DEMIRJIAN Demirjian Jewelry Design Scottsdale, AZ (480) 538-8789 18k white and yellow gold ring holds a 7.67-ct. tourmaline and diamonds totaling 1.37 carats. Third Place CLAUDIA ENDLER Claudia Endler Designs Los Angeles, CA (310) 559-7347 Platinum fluted earrings each hold a 5-ct. red carnelian drop offset with four orange/brown round diamonds totaling 0.25 carat. Manufacturing Honors MELANIE WILLIAMSON Gemesis Jewelers Las Vegas, NV (702) 240-4367 14k yellow gold ring features a 2.65-ct. rubellite tourmaline in a bezel with 0.15 carat of diamonds. Men's Division First Place RAY ZAJICEK Equatorian Imports Inc. Dallas, TX (972) 250-2055 Platinum and 18k ring has a 7.54-ct. chrysoberyl cat’s eye and two trilliant diamonds. Second Place and Manufacturing Honors KHAI LE Charles Koll Jewellers San Diego, CA (858) 558-7838 Platinum wedding band is set with round Mozambique garnets. Third Place CHRISTO KIFFER Christo Kiffer Designs Parker, CO (720) 851-8853 18k belt buckle features a 4.74-ct. gray tourmaline and 0.96 carat of small diamonds. Honorable Mention MARK SCHNEIDER Schneider Design Studio Long Beach, CA (562) 437-0591 Platinum and 18k cuff links hold rutilated quartz totaling 19.12 carats, 0.22 carat of tsavorite garnets, 0.22 carat of yellow diamonds and 1.95 carats of white diamonds. Evening Division First Place WILFRIED KOWOLLICK Silverhorn Santa Barbara, CA (805) 969-0442 18k red gold and platinum ring features a 4.98-ct. Paraíba tourmaline, 0.38 carat of white diamonds and 0.96 carat of brown diamonds. second Place MARK SCHNEIDER Schneider Design Studio Long Beach, CA (562) 437-0591 Platinum ring holds a 9.43-ct. trillion tanzanite and 1.0 carat of diamonds. Third Place HOLLY CROFT Lily Beverly Hills, CA (310) 435-7227 15mm South Sea golden cultured pearl earrings are complemented with yellow diamond accents set in platinum. Honorable Mention ERNESTO MOREIRA Ernesto Moreira Inc. Houston, TX (713) 523-2899 18k rose gold earrings feature 1.82 carats of cascading rubies and two 9.5mm cultured akoya pearls. Manufacturing Honors JACK DEMERJIAN J. Demere Designs Livonia, MI (734) 462-2555 Platinum bracelet features six 11mm black Tahitian cultured pearls and 4.80 carats of diamonds.