| February 2004
Gemstones/News
Cavalcade of Color
Spectrum™ and Cutting Edge™ competitions reveal latest trends in colored gemstone jewelry and cutting
Blues and greens still dominate the colored gemstone landscape, but the horizon is warming to shades of red, yellow and orange, based on winning entries in the 2004 American Gem Trade Association’s Spectrum™ and Cutting Edge™ competitions. The warmer shades commanding the attention of jewelry designers and gem cutters come primarily from garnet, rubellite, sunstone, beryl and fancy colored diamonds.
The Spectrum Awards were judged on overall beauty and wearability, innovative design, effective use of materials, quality of gemstones, quality of workmanship, broad-base consumer appeal and potential to generate positive publicity for natural colored gemstones. Awards were presented in these categories: evening, business/ day, casual, bridal and men’s wear.
The Cutting Edge Awards honor excellence and creativity of the lapidary arts, including natural colored gems and cultured pearls, carvings, other gem material and objects of art in North America. Categories are classic gemstone, faceting, carving, combination, and pairs and suites.
The winning entries in both contests tend to foreshadow design trends, so a close examination can put you a step ahead in the quest for consumers’ attention – and dollars.
(Winners of the Platinum Honors division will be announced in the March issue of Professional Jeweler.)
Judges were Alan Friedman of Alan Friedman Co., Beverly Hills, CA; John Hatleberg of Big Gems, New York City; Michael Ridding of Silverhorn, Santa Barbara, CA; Mark Schneider of Schneider Design Studio, Long Beach, CA; and Carrie Soucy of JCK magazine, King of Prussia, PA.
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SPECTRUM
Best Use of Color
Stephen G. Wright
American Jewelry
Artworks
London,
Ontario, Canada
(519) 649-4227
fax (519) 649-2937
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18k yellow gold and platinum necklace features a 21.25-ct. aquamarine, 10.7-ct. topaz, 10.10-ct. citrine and 9.05-ct. rubellite tourmaline with diamond accents. |
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CUTTING EDGE
Best of Show
Dalan Hargrave
Gemstarz
Spring Branch, TX
(830) 438-8688
fax (830) 438-8689
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“Genesis 1:16” celestial city is a sunstone carving with diamonds and moldavite (91.0 carats t.w.). |
Spectrum / EVENING WEAR
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1st Place
George Kocsis
Spectrum Gems Inc.
New York City
(212) 813-0435
fax (212) 826-2910
Rubellite tourmaline drops totaling 53.25 carats hang from diamond and platinum caps to form these earrings.
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2nd Place
Zoltan David
Zoltan David Precious Metal Art
Austin, TX
(512) 372-8888
fax (512) 372-9333
Platinum and 24k gold ring showcases a 10.85-ct. rubellite tourmaline with 0.45 carat of diamonds.
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3rd Place
Jack Demerjian
J. Demere Designs
Livonia, MI
(734) 462-2555
fax (734) 464-4063
18k yellow and white gold pendant shows its colors with a 14.75-ct. bicolor tourmaline, 111 pink sapphires totaling 2.40 carats, 111 blue sapphires totaling 2.33 carats and 1.72 carats of diamonds.
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Manufacturing Honors
Philip H. Stone
Hyde Park Jewelers
Denver, CO
(303) 331-7760
fax (303) 331-7798
18k white and yellow gold bracelet features 8.5mm Tahitian cultured pearls, 5.56 carats of multicolor sapphires and 0.60 carat of diamonds.
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Honorable Mention
Anita Dickey
Simplisity Co.
Dallas, TX
(214) 522-7889 phone/fax
White feathers accent these 18k white gold “Snow White” earrings with South Sea cultured pearls and 6.58 carats of diamonds.
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Spectrum / MEN'S WEAR
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1st Place
David Trout
Coffin & Trout
Chandler, AZ
(480) 763-1300
fax (480) 753-4367
Platinum and 18k yellow gold ring holds an 11.4mm golden South Sea cultured pearl and 1.50 carats of diamonds.
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2nd Place
Helen Shved
New York City
(917) 974-1291
A 6.98-ct. rough diamond tops this 18k white gold ring with 0.80 carat of yellow diamonds and 0.60 carat of white diamonds.
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3rd Place
William S. Holman
William S. Holman Design Group Inc.
Dallas, TX
(972) 782-0606
18k yellow gold cuff links feature 1.25-ct. blue sapphires set in blue-dyed agate with 24k deposits on the crystals.
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Manufacturing Honors
William Richey
William Richey Designs
Portland, ME
(207) 772-5252
fax (207) 846-8006
22K and 18k yellow gold cuff links hold 0.30 carat of amethyst.
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Honorable Mention
Lee Charles Buckingham
Neiman Marcus
Dallas, TX
(214) 573-5363
fax (214) 573-5982
Citrines totaling 14.32 sit atop these 18k yellow gold cuff links with diamond accents totaling 1.08 carats.
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1st Place
Safdie Basta
E. Eichberg Inc.
Beverly Hills,CA
(310) 271-4796
fax (310) 271-7909
Platinum ring features a 12.65-ct. orange garnet accented with diamonds totaling 1.20 carats.
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2nd Place
Barbara M. Berk
Barbara Berk Designs
Foster City, CA
(650) 349-4137
fax (650) 349-4042
“Streamers” platinum pendant features three South Sea cultured pearls suspended from a white silk ribbon.
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3rd Place
Lee Charles Buckingham
Neiman Marcus
Dallas, TX
(214) 573-5363, fax (214) 573-5982
Platinum and 18k earrings hold two white and two yellow South Sea cultured pearls accented with 0.20 carat of diamonds.
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Manufacturing Honors
Yaroslav Shukel
Aurora Studio
Boston, MA
(617) 448-2099
A 1.64-ct. peach diamond tops this platinum and 18k rose gold ring. The matching wedding band is platinum also.
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Spectrum / BUSINESS/DAY WEAR
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1st Place
Jack Demerjian
J. Demere Designs
Livonia, MI
(734) 462-2555
fax (734) 464-4063
18k yellow and white gold pendant features a 12.52-ct. bicolor citrine, 67 yellow diamonds totaling 1.40 carats and 67 white diamonds totaling 1.43 carats.
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2nd Place
Llyn Strelau
Jewels by Design
Calgary, AB, Canada
(403) 228-0644
fax (403) 228-0633
Platinum and 18k yellow and white gold and stainless steel necklace has 6.42 carats of indicolite tourmalines, a black South Sea cultured pearl and a 0.10-ct. diamond.
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3rd Place
Yaroslav Shukel
Aurora Studio
Boston, MA
(617) 448-2099
Platinum and 18k rose gold earrings hold 3.54 carats of purple sapphires and pink 0.18 carat of pink sapphires.
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Manufacturing Honors
Scott Keating
Scott Keating Design
Aspen, CO
(970) 927-4347, fax (970) 927-1329
18k white gold hoop earrings cradle two white South Sea cultured pearls accented with eight diamonds totaling 0.20 carat.
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1st Place
Lisa Nolta
Gabrielle Ferrar
Chico, CA
(530) 345-1500
fax (530) 345-1599
18k yellow gold and platinum necklace features a 13.5mm yellow South Sea cultured pearl and 114 Ceylon yellow sapphires.
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2nd Place
Garo Demirjian
Demirjian Jewelry Design
Scottsdale, AZ
(480) 538-8789
fax (480) 538-8788
A 13mm Tahitian cultured pearl tops this 18k white and rose gold bangle accented with 3.57 carats of sapphires and 0.84 carat of diamonds.
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3rd Place
Marya Dabrowski
Marya Dabrowski Inc.
Providence, RI
(401) 726-4848
fax (401) 383-0633
18k yellow gold earrings sparkle with amethyst, pink tourmaline, peridot, tanzanite and apatite.
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Manufacturing Honors
Jane Wullbrandt
Jane Wullbrandt Designs Inc.
Atlanta, GA
(770) 395-9034 phone/fax
18k white and rose gold ring holds a 1.68-ct. aquamarine, 0.13 carat of yellow sapphires and 0.31 carat of pink sapphires.
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Honorable Mention
Safdie Basta
E. Eichberg Inc.
Beverly Hills, CA
(310) 271-4796
fax (310) 271-7909
18k yellow gold and platinum ring features a 15.61-ct. emerald cabochon accented with 0.93 carat of blue sapphires, 0.33 carat of rubies and 1.26 carats of yellow and white diamonds.
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Honorable Mention
Mark Loren
Mark Loren Designs Inc.
Fort Myers, FL
(239) 482-4664
fax (239) 482-3308
14k yellow gold earrings hold 6.98 carats of matched bicolor tourmalines.
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Cutting Edge / CLASSIC GEMSTONE
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1st Place
Allen Kleiman
A. Kleiman & Co.
Boulder, CO
(303) 440-7478
fax (303) 440-7486
11.91-ct. cushion-cut natural pink sapphire.
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2nd Place
Michael Arnstein
Walter Arnstein Inc.
New York City
(212) 869-5285
fax (212) 869-5286
43.79-ct. unheated yellow sapphire.
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3rd Place
Joseph Ambalu
Amba Gem Corp.
New York City
(212) 840-6860
fax (212) 944-0360
7.15-ct. cushion-cut natural blue sapphire.
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Honorable Mention
Joseph Ambalu
Amba Gem Corp.
New York City
(212) 840-6860
fax (212) 944-0360
5.38-ct. emerald-cut pink sapphire.
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Cutting Edge / PAIRS & SUITES
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1st Place
Matt Casteen
Raleigh, NC
(919) 754-9231
Suite features a 4.30-ct. pink tourmaline, 7.92-ct. blue-green tourmaline and 4.49-ct. pink tourmaline.
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2nd Place
Larry Woods
Jewels From The Woods
Blanco, TX
(830) 833-2091 phone/fax
11-piece suite comprises 32.25 carats of spessartite garnets.
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3rd Place
John Dyer
Precious Gemstones Co.
Eau Claire, WI
(715) 830-0126
“Dreamscapes” suite of pink and green tourmalines totals 12.48 carats.
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Honorable Mention
Andrew Gulij
Gemfix
Big Bear City, CA
(909) 584-8505 phone/fax
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“Timeless” pair features citrine bonded to mother of pearl, black onyx and Australian opal (103.57 carats t.w.). |
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1st Place
John Dyer
Precious Gemstones Co.
Eau Claire, WI
(715) 830-0126
31.66-ct. modified super trillion-cut natural aquamarine.
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2nd Place
Arthur Lee Anderson
Arthur Lee Anderson/GemArts
Fredericksburg, VA
(540) 370-0937
20.92-ct. “Vin Cut” citrine.
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3rd Place
David Brackna
David A. Brackna, Gemcutter
Germantown, MD
(301) 972-2201 phone/fax
30.38-ct. striated horizon-cut amethyst.
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Honorable Mention
Bobbie Lorett
Originals by Bobbie
Pine, CO
(303) 838-4292
fax (303) 838-7180
7.40-ct. checker fan cut tanzanite.
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Cutting Edge / ALL OTHER FACETED
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1st Place
Ben Kho
Kho Int’l. Ltd.
Decatur, GA
(770) 491-7150
fax (770) 491-7146
13.96-ct. trillion-cut natural rhodochrosite.
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2nd Place
Darrell Jang
San Rafael, CA
(415) 459-3324
13.21 ct. cushion-cut neon green Afghani tourmaline.
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3rd Place
Hemant Phophaliya
A.G. Color Inc.
New York City
(212) 207-3905
fax (212) 207-4877
23.58-ct. oval tanzanite cabochon.
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Cutting Edge / PHENOMENAL STONES
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1st Place
Jeffrey Bilgore
Jeffrey Bilgore LLC
New York City
(212) 398-2785
fax (212) 398-2788
15.29-ct. natural cat’s-eye chrysoberyl.
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2nd Place
David Cohen
Rafco Int’l. Gem Corp.
New York City
(212) 221-3435
fax (212) 398-0609
2.26-ct. Burmese star ruby.
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3rd Place
Allen Kleiman
A. Kleiman & Co.
Boulder, CO
(303) 440-7478
fax (303) 440-7486
5.04-ct. oval Brazilian alexandrite shown in different lighting (greenish in daylight, reddish in incandescent.
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1st Place
Dalan Hargrave
Gemstarz
Spring Branch,TX
(830) 438-8688
fax (830) 438-8689
“Genesis 1:16” celestial city sunstone carving with diamonds and moldavite (91.0 carats t.w.). Also won Best of Show, p. 41.
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2nd Place
Michael M. Dyber
Ledge Art Studio
Rumney, NH
(603) 744-2161
fax (603) 744-8612
142.88-ct. ametrine with polished and frosted areas that play light and images against each other.
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3rd Place
Dalan Hargrave
Dust Devil Mining
Spring Branch, TX
(830) 438-8688
fax (830) 438-8689
7.0-ct. spirographic-cut bicolor sunstone.
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Cutting Edge / COMBINATION
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1st Place
Andrew Gulij
Gemfix
Big Bear City, CA
(909) 584-8505
phone/fax
“Aquarium” features a 59.63-ct. aquamarine with lapis, sugilite, coral, tiger-eye, turquoise and malachite inserted using gem intrusion.
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2nd Place
Larry Woods
Jewels From The Woods
Blanco, TX
(830) 833-2091 phone/fax
32.25-ct. spessartite garnet medicine wheel.
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3rd Place
Larry C. Winn
AJS Enterprises Inc.
Grand Junction, CO
(970) 523-0815
53.52-ct. combination-cut green Mozambique aquamarine.
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Honorable Mention
Dalan Hargrave
Gemstarz
Spring Branch, TX
(830) 438-8688
fax (830) 438-8689
75.0-ct. ametrine.
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Honorable Mention
Michael Edwards
Sunstones & Such
Ramona, CA
(760) 789-5471
Mixed-cut orange/red sunstone.
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Cutting Edge / OBJECTS OF ART
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1st Place
Ralph Wobito
Wobito Gems Ltd.
Stouffville, Ontario, Canada
(905) 642-8777
fax (905) 642-7032
18k yellow gold perfume bottle carved from yellow beryl.
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2nd Place
Philip E. Louer Jr.
North American Gem Carvers
Blacksburg, VA
(540) 953-7001 fax (540) 953-7003
Intarsia box features gold and quartz malachite, azurite, sugilite, rhodochrosite, turquoise, opal, lapis and fossilized wood.
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