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| July 2003
Precious Metals/News Professional Jeweler Archive: GIA Students Excel in Contest The two winning student entries in MJSA's American Vision Awards are by diploma candidates When the Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America announced the six winners of its 12th Annual American Vision awards (“2003 American Vision Awards,” Professional Jeweler, April 2003, pp. 42-43), there must have been glee on the Carlsbad, CA, campus of the Gemological Institute of America, especially for students Denise Ruiz and Rayoung Kim, winners of the two student prizes. What weren’t available, until now, were photos of the two students’ renderings. Ruiz’s first-place winner is a rendering titled “The Interchangeable Ring,” a four-part ring held together with interchangeable posts. Tanzanites and rubies are mounted in a bezel setting on each post. Each ring section contains different features. A platinum section has oval flush-set rubies, a yellow gold section features black-and-white diamond pavé, another gold ring contains channel-set sapphires and the final layer has a simple rose gold overlay. Ruiz is a self-taught silversmith who has operated her own studio in Atlanta, GA, since 1997 and is completing studies for a graduate jeweler diploma. After that, she plans to pursue the graduate gemologist diploma. Kim’s second-place design is a brooch and earring rendering titled “Winter Wonderland,” It’s a mixture of Art Deco and Art Nouveau styles and features an outer frame of 18k white gold, with the inside frame a tree branch. The tree features a bright finish with round cabochon opals in bezel settings. Enameling completes the design near the bottom of the piece. Kim majored in fine arts in South Korea and has won awards in art competitions. She has already earned a G.G. and is completing studies for a jewelry manufacturing arts diploma. The student winners received a $500 scholarship for first place, a $250 scholarship for second place and a subscription to AJM magazine. – by Peggy Jo Donahue Photos ©2003 Gemological Institute of America.
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