March 2005 Merchandise | Gemstones Traditional Value Cutting Edge winners return to more classic cutting designs that are rendered with precision and beauty By Robert Weldon, G.G. The winning entries in the American Gem Trade Association’s 2005 Cutting Edge competition celebrate gem colors and the pinnacles of lapidary expertise. The yearly lapidary competition was folded into AGTA’s annual Spectrum Awards (see Professional Jeweler, February 2005, pp. 67-74). Best of Show went to Dalan Hargrave and Stephanie Michael Young of Spring Branch, TX, for a 125-ct. Spirographic-cut mint green beryl with a concave pavilion and a flat faceted crown. The same piece also won first place in the Combination category. Hargrave has won multiple cutting awards despite being a relative newcomer to lapidary arts. Also of note is John Dyer of Eau Claire, WI (Professional Jeweler, November 2004, pp. 35-37). Dyer swept the faceting category, winning first-, second- and third-place awards and an honorable mention. Judges were Mark Gronlund of Umatilla, FL, an award-winning lapidary artist and jeweler; Alice Keller, editor in chief of Gems & Gemology, the quarterly publication of the Gemological Institute of America, Carlsbad, CA; Mark Mann of Visual Communications Inc., Corvallis, MT, jewelry bench expert and monthly contributor to Professional Jeweler; William Richey of Portland, ME, an award-winning jewelry designer; and Eric Wright of Village Goldsmith, Dallas, TX, a gem cutter and jewelry designer. All Photos by John Parrish Best of Show Dalan Hargrave and Stephanie Michael Young Spring Branch, TX; (830) 438-8688 125-ct. spirographic-cut mint green beryl with a concave pavilion and a flat faceted crown. Open Category/Classic Gemstone FIRST PLACE Allen Kleiman A. Kleiman & Co., Boulder, CO; (303) 440-7478 12.36-ct. oval unheated blue sapphire. SECOND PLACE Michael Arnstein Walter Arnstein, New York City; (212) 869-5285 24.90-ct. natural untreated yellow sapphire. THIRD PLACE Ashok Kumar Sancheti Pioneer Gems, New York City; (212) 391-4450 1.24-ct. natural fancy cut emerald. Open Category/All Other Faceted FIRST PLACE Ben Kho Ben Kho Int’l. Ltd., Decatur, GA; (770) 491-7150 11.22-ct. fancy cushion-cut rhodochrosite. SECOND PLACE Allen Kleiman A. Kleiman & Co., Boulder, CO; (303) 440-7478 6.31-ct. pear-shaped Paraìba tourmaline. THIRD PLACE James Alger James Alger & Co., Bedford, NH; (603) 625-5947 17.73-ct. octagon peridot. HONORABLE MENTION James Alger James Alger & Co., Bedford, NH; (603) 625-5947 14.47-ct. rose-cut green tourmaline. Pairs & Suites FIRST PLACE Hemant Phophaliya A.G. Color Inc., New York City; (212) 207-3905 Round drop tanzanites totaling 30.37 carats. SECOND PLACE Hemant Phophaliya A.G. Color Inc., New York City; (212) 207-3905 Cushion-cut tanzanites totaling 33.03 carats. THIRD PLACE Allen Kleiman A. Kleiman & Co., Boulder, CO; (303) 440-7478 Brilliant cushion-cut spessartite garnets totaling 76.76 carats. HONORABLE MENTION Ralph Wobito Custom Gem Cutting Ltd., Stouffville, Ontario, Canada; (905) 640-8060 10.22-ct. and 10.04-ct. cushion-cut pink tourmalines. Phenomenal Gemstones FIRST PLACE Jeffrey Bilgore Jeffrey Bilgore LLC, New York City; (212) 223-5140 16.21-ct. star ruby. Carving FIRST PLACE Glenn Lehrer Lehrer Designs, Larkspur, CA; (414) 461-2212 194.19-ct. combination-cut carved and faceted waffle-cut aquamarine. SECOND PLACE Dalan Hargrave Dust Devil Mining Co., Cloverdale, OR; (503) 559-2495 73.55-ct. “Emerging Flower” sunstone with copper feathers and green highlights. THIRD PLACE William Cox Dust Devil Mining Co., Cloverdale, OR; (503) 559-2495 84.90-ct. free-form sunstone with copper inclusions. Faceting FIRST PLACE John Dyer Precious Gemstones Co., Eau Claire, WI; (715) 830-0126 20.61-ct. opposed-bar-cut imperial topaz. SECOND PLACE John Dyer Precious Gemstones Co., Eau Claire, WI; (715) 830-0126 28.34-ct. radiant-cut, diamond-shaped Madeira citrine. THIRD PLACE John Dyer Precious Gemstones Co., Eau Claire, WI; (715) 830-0126 15.88-ct. sparkler-cut tsavorite garnet. HONORABLE MENTION John Dyer Precious Gemstones Co., Eau Claire, WI; (715) 830-0126 26.21-ct. multifaceted pear-shaped natural aquamarine. Combination FIRST PLACE (This entry also won Best of Show) Dalan Hargrave and Stephanie Michael Young Spring Branch, TX; (830) 438-8688 125-ct. spirographic-cut mint green beryl with a concave pavilion and a flat faceted crown. SECOND PLACE Christopher Wolfsberg Colored Creations, Manchester, TN; (931) 728-8723 Free-form 35.56-ct. kunzite with concave and flat-faceted surfaces. THIRD PLACE Richard P. Homer Columbia Gem House Inc., Vancouver WA; (360) 514-0567 38.69-ct. round concave tube-set, brilliant-cut mint green tourmaline. HONORABLE MENTION Michael M. Dyber Ledge Art Studio, Rumney, NH; (603) 744-2161 281.20-ct. faceted and carved “Atom” beryl. Objects of Art FIRST PLACE Philip Louer Jr. North American Gem Carvers, Riner, VA; (540) 953-7001 18k gold intarsia box featuring lapis lazuli, jasper, malachite, turquoise, sugilite and exotic woods. SECOND PLACE Susan Allen E.F. Watermelon, Old Lyme, CT; (860) 434-1600 Elephant-head quartz. THIRD PLACE William Holman William S. Holman Design Group, Dallas, TX; (972) 702-0606 18k green gold sculpture featuring a 36.16-ct. citrine accented with fancy-colored sapphires totaling 2 carats. HONORABLE MENTION Lawrence Stoller Crystal Works, Bend, OR; (541) 388-1721 3.75-pound “Insight” carved quartz on a bronze base.