The World’s Finest Jewelry, Gemstone, and Pearl Competition.
The pinnacle of design excellence in natural colored gemstones, natural Pearls, and cultured Pearls. AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards winners annually define beauty, innovation, and global trends, garnering international acclaim.
AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards
Enter the Competition
Early Bird Deadline – September 26, 2025
Entry Fee:
1st entry $285, all subsequent entries $225 each.
Final Deadline – October 10, 2025
Entry Fee:
1st Entry $315, all subsequent entries $245 each.
All entries must be paid for and received by the Early Bird Deadline to qualify for Early Bird pricing. Entries that do not meet this deadline will be charged/invoiced the difference in price for the regular fee.
For questions, contact us at spectrum@agta.org.
Editors’ Event
Awards Gala
-
Where the Acclaim of Winning Truly Begins
At the conclusion of judging, the entire collection is exclusively previewed by the most respected trade writers, editors, consumer press, bloggers, influencers, stylists, and social media ambassadors. These media outlets converge at the event to get the first look at all of the entries, including the winning pieces. Social media then explodes with videos and photos, and trends are set for the coming year in color and fashion.
-
An Evening of Glamor, Celebration, and Prestige
The AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards Gala at AGTA GemFair® Tucson is the culmination for the winners. At the Gala, winners are recognized during the awards ceremony and receive their coveted handcrafted trophy.
Categories
The competition has two divisions, Spectrum and Cutting Edge. Spectrum is geared toward wearable jewelry including rings, pendants, and earrings. Cutting Edge is suited for nonwearable items such as cut gemstones, carvings, and more.
The three highest-scoring entries in each category are honored with a first-, second-, or a third-place trophy, respectively. Up to two Honorable Mentions may be awarded in each category and honored with a certificate.
Spectrum Awards
The AGTA Spectrum Awards categories honor design excellence for all occasions. Entrants must utilize natural colored gemstones, natural Pearls, or cultured Pearls.
Bridal Wear
Whether gracing the bridesmaids or donning the bride herself, this category captures every look for walking down the aisle.
Business Wear
Stylish, practical jewelry perfectly suited for work and for play. Entries should possess simple elegance for a woman on the move.
Classical
This category represents timeless style. Classical entries strike the balance of traditional feel with a modern twist.
Engagement Rings
Whether an engagement ring or a wedding set, this category symbolizes commitment.
Evening Wear
Pieces in this category fall nothing short of spectacular. Entries can range from red carpet fabulous to stunningly chic—and all must have exceptional color.
Men’s Wear
Men’s fashion is heightened by the savvy style of the modern man who sports jewelry.
Cutting Edge Awards
All Other Cut Gemstones
Open to any extraordinary cut gemstone featuring traditional gemstone cutting techniques.
Carving
Open to any natural gem material carved in any style.
Classic Gemstones
Open to outstanding examples of Rubies, Emeralds, and Sapphires featuring traditional gemstone cutting techniques.
Innovative Faceting
Open to any gemstone featuring innovative faceting and lapidary techniques.
Pairs & Suites
Open to any two or more gemstones to be judged as a set.
North American Mined Gemstones
To celebrate the gemstones mined right here in North America, this category will feature gemstones that are mined in North America (United States and Canada).
Phenomenal Gemstones
Open to any phenomenal gemstone featuring an optical gemological effect, such as asterism, chatoyance, play of color, adularescence, aventurescence, or color change.
Objects of Art
Open to carvings, bowls, sculptures, intarsia, etc., of gem materials not intended to be worn. Objects may incorporate metal, wood, or other non-gem materials as base, frame, or decorative components.
Awards and Honors
Best of Show
The Best of Show is the jewelry piece or loose colored gemstone that possesses the superior characteristics of quality, innovation, design, beauty, and promotional appeal.
Best of Single Entries
The Best of Single Entries Award will be selected from among those who submit only one entry into the competition. This award will be presented in both the AGTA Spectrum Awards and the AGTA Cutting Edge Awards.
Best Use of Color
The Best Use of Color award is given to the design that employs a bold, innovative, and inspiring use of colored gemstones in an extraordinary way. All entries accepted into the AGTA Spectrum Awards automatically qualify for Best Use of Color consideration.
Best Use of Pearls
Sophistication, luxury, and timeless beauty converge in the Best Use of Pearls award winner. All the AGTA Spectrum Awards entries incorporating Pearls are automatically entered for Best Use of Pearls consideration.
Alfie Norville Women in Excellence Awards
Sponsored by Allan Norville and family, the Alfie Norville Women in Excellence Awards honor women designers in the Bridal Wear, Business/Day Wear, Classical, Engagement Rings, Evening Wear, and Men’s Wear categories. The Alfie Norville Women in Excellence Awards are open to all women entering these categories who indicate eligibility on their Entry Form.
Platinum Honors
Sponsored by Platinum Guild International, Platinum Honors recognizes the outstanding use of platinum in colored gemstone and/or Pearl jewelry in the six AGTA Spectrum Awards categories and for Best Use of Platinum and Color and Best Use of Platinum Crown.
Editor’s Choice Award
The collective consensus of fashion industry professionals including editors, writers, bloggers, and stylists, this award is chosen by the press who attend the Editors’ Day event at the conclusion of the AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards.
Fashion Forward Honors
Entries that demonstrate an outstanding use of colored gemstones or cultured Pearls in provocative, trend-setting jewelry designs are distinguished by the Fashion Forward Honors award. All entries accepted into the AGTA Spectrum Awards automatically qualify for Fashion Forward Honors consideration.
Buyer’s Choice Awards
The final awards of the competition, these awards are voted on by the buyers at AGTA GemFair® Tucson, and the winners are revealed at the AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards Gala.
