A crowd of over 300 filled the Ramscale Gallery last night in New York City's trendy West Village to attend a gala cocktail party benefiting Project Renewal, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending homelessness. The event, sponsored by the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA), was the venue to officially announce the winners of this year's AGTA Spectrum Awards.

 

Created in 1984, the competition celebrates the industry's designers and cutters, in the realm of gemstone jewelry.

 

The competition, which was held over a three-day period at a studio space in New York's Greenwich Village, culminated with the announcement of winners at last evening's cocktail benefit. The party was well attended by members of the trade and press, including a fair number of New York's top fashion editors and jewelry designers.

 

Big, bold and brash are the adjectives which most capture the essence of this year's AGTA Spectrum Awards submissions. Chunky bold necklaces, large rings and unique creations utilizing a stunning combination of color and metals not typically seen in today's market, as well as the extensive use of multiple metal combinations, all seem to shout out a visual innovative optimism from these talented artists and their entries.

 

Celebrating innovative designs utilizing colored gemstones and cultured pearls, as well as displaying lapidary excellence in the cutter's art, this year's submissions were a feast for the eyes. As pearl expert Betty Sue King of King's Ransom Pearls put it, "This year's submissions were excitingly bold, yet quite eloquent at the same time."

 

Entries were judged on the basis of 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. Spectrum Award entries fall into one of five categories: Bridal Wear, Business/Day Wear, Classical, Evening and Men's Wear.

 

And the winners are...

 

Best of Show

Samuel Getz of Samuel Getz Private Jewelers, Coral Gables, FL, for his platinum "Gaia" ring featuring a 19.16 carat natural cushion-cut Sapphire, a 2.54 carat trilliant-cut Chrome Tourmaline and a 2.04 carat trilliant-cut Tsavorite Garnet.

 

Best Use of Color

Robert Wander of Winc Creations, Honolulu, HI, for his 18K white and yellow gold necklace featuring a 24.91 carat purple Tourmaline, a 22.82 carat pink Tourmaline, a 22.10 carat yellow Tourmaline, two green Tourmalines (29.17 carats), Garnets (1.85 carats), multi-colored Sapphires 3.34 carats) and Diamonds (4.40 carats).

 

Fashion Forward Honors

Gregore Morin of Gregore Joailliers, Santa Barbara, CA, for his 18K white gold "Hummingbird" brooch featuring pink Sapphires (.85 carats), Paraiba Tourmalines (.42 carats), brown and yellow Diamonds (.50 carats) and Boulder Opal (.04 carats ).

 

Top prize winners, first-place in the...

 

Bridal Wear Division

Brandy Hurt of AVA Goldworks, Hannibal, MO, for her cultured pearl necklace featuring a 3.10 carat Opal drop set in 18K white and rose gold accented with Diamonds (3.37 carats).

 

Business/Day Wear Division

Gregore Morin of Gregore Joailliers, Santa Barbara, CA, for his 18K white gold "Hummingbird" brooch featuring pink Sapphires (.85  carats), Paraiba Tourmalines (.42  carats), brown and yellow Diamonds (.50  carats) and Boulder Opal (.04  carats ).

 

Classical Division

Zoltan David of Zoltan David Precious Metal Art, Austin, TX, for his platinum and 22K and 18K yellow gold ring featuring a 20.85 carat Spessartite Garnet accented with Tsavorite Garnets (6.40 carats).

 

Evening Wear Division

Jennifer Rabe Morin of Jennifer Robe Morin Jewelers, Santa Barbara, CA, for her 18K white and yellow gold butterfly brooch featuring Ocean Jasper inlay accented with Spessartite Garnets (1.24 carats) and Diamonds (.47 carats).

 

Men's Wear Division

Alan Friedman of Alan Friedman, Beverly Hills, CA for his 18K red and white gold ring featuring a 9.93 carat Spinel.

 

Judges for this year's competition included designers Christopher Walling, Ron Anderson, David Rees and Stuart Moore, as well as noted lapidary Ralph Wobito.

 

The AGTA Spectrum Awards will be officially presented during the 2007 AGTA Gemfair Tucson to be held January 31 - February 5 at the Tucson Convention Center in Tucson, AZ. Spectrum Award recipients will be recognized and honored on Saturday night, February 3, during the annual AGTA Dinner Dance and Awards Gala.