2022 Spectrum & Cutting Edge Archive
Delve into our prestigious collection of past Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards. Explore the timeless beauty, innovative designs, and groundbreaking trends that have shaped the colored gemstone and cultured pearl industries over the years. Images Courtesy of AGTA, Photographer Jeff Mason, Jeff Mason Photography.
2022 Competition Judges
Best of & Fashion Forward
Only the most brilliant, breathtaking pieces are worthy of the Best of Show trophy. Winning designs must possess beauty, mastery, and imagination beyond compare. Consideration for the Best of Show award is limited to first place winners in each category.
Dalan Hargrave, GemStarz Jewelry - 210.55 ct. ballerina carving in green Beryl
Robert Galustian, Robert Guild Jewelry Corp. - 18K blonde gold QEII earrings featuring 2 cushion-cut mint green Tourmalines (21.54 ctw.) accented with matching pair keystone-cut yellow Sapphires, 2 calf-cut Kornerupines, 72 round Amethysts, 66 round Diamonds and 6 marquise-cut green Tourmalines
Laurie Reid, LFR Studios - 22K yellow gold ring featuring a 13.2 mm Cultured Golden South Sea Pearl
Mary van der Aa, Mary van der Aa - Platinum "Aria" ring featuring a 2.10 ct. demantoid Garnet accented with blue Zircons (3 ctw.) and Diamonds
Brenda Smith, Brenda Smith Jewelry - Platinum hand-fabricated ring featuring a 6.54 ct. trillion-cut Tanzanite accented with round Diamonds (1.25 ctw.)
Buddy Austin, Third Eye Assembly - 18K yellow gold, platinum, 22k rose and green gold, 24K yellow gold and 18K white gold "Underworld" ring featuring a 1.62 ct. black Opal accented with tsavorite Garnet, Sapphire and Diamond
Robert Knupfer, Knupfer International Gems, Inc. - Pair of blue/green briolette drop Tourmalines (75.57 ctw.)
Jeffrey Bilgore, Jeffrey Bilgore, LLC - 18K yellow gold and black ceramic ring featuring a 4.03 ct. natural fancy deep yellow Diamond accented with 15 tsavorite Garnets (.17 ctw.)
Ian Delucca, Khobe Delucca - 18K yellow gold and ruthenium plated art deco ring featuring a 4.84 ct. blue emerald-cut Tourmaline accented with round Tourmalines (.38 ctw.) and Diamonds (.42 ctw.)
Jaimeen Shah, Prima Gems USA - Suite of 23 multicolored, Portuguese-cut Zircons (228.64 ctw.)
Spectrum Awards
Bridal Wear
Whether gracing the bridesmaids or donning the bride herself, this category captures every look for walking down the aisle.
Gabriel Angulo, Pompos Jewelry Corporation - Platinum ring featuring a 2.55 ct. rectangular emerald-cut Colombian Emerald accented with 24 round Emeralds (.31 ctw.), 22 custom-cut baguette Diamonds (2.77 ctw.) and 62 round brilliant Diamonds (.22 ctw.)
Bella Campbell, Campbellian Collection / BHI - 18K white gold ring featuring an 11.03 ct. Moonstone accented with Sapphires (4.36 ctw.) and Diamonds (.40 ctw.)
Samuel Getz, Samuel Getz Designs - Platinum and 18K yellow gold ring featuring a 9.92 ct. natural chrome Tourmaline accented with emerald-cut Diamonds (1.88 ctw.)
Bella Campbell, Campbellian Collection / BHI - 18K white gold earrings featuring Moonstone (11.45 ctw.) accented with 24 blue Sapphires (2.88 ctw.) and Diamonds
Niveet Nagpal, Omi Privé - Platinum ring featuring a 3.11 ct. cushion-cut cobalt blue Spinel accented with round Hauyne (.24 ctw.), round Paraiba Tourmaline (.37 ctw) and round Diamonds (.22 ctw.)
Business / Day Wear
Zoltan David, Zoltan David - High polished steel, iridescent blue and purple steel, platinum, 18K and 24K gold inlay "Into the Mystic" cuff bracelet featuring round and marquise shaped Tsavorites (5.60 cw.) accented with blue Sapphires (.48 ctw.) and Diamonds (1.20 ctw.)
Timothy W Foster, T. Foster & Company - Platinum ring featuring a 7.78 ct. blue star Sapphire accented with Diamonds (1.14 ctw.) and Sapphires (1.15 ctw.)
Michael Endlich, Pave Fine Jewelry - 22K yellow gold "Star Dome" ring featuring a 24.64 ct. cabochon Dumortierite accented with Diamonds (.19 ctw.)
Joseph DeBella, DeBella Collectibles - 18K rose gold and platinum "Hot Kisses Forever" ring featuring a 2.46 ct. emerald-cut natural Burma Ruby accented with Diamonds (2.21 ctw.)
Lika Behar, Lika Behar Collection - 24K yellow gold pendant featuring a freshwater baroque Pearl accented with Diamonds (0.46 ctw.)
Classical
Gabriel Angulo, Pompos Jewelry Corporation - Platinum ring featuring a 6.29 ct. blue Ceylon Sapphire accented with 14 custom-cut baguette Diamonds (2.27 ctw.), 10 princess cut Sapphires (1.79 ctw.), 30 round Sapphires (.44 ctw.) and 58 round brilliant Diamonds (.29 ctw.)
Michael Tope, Raintree, LLC - 18K yellow and rose gold handmade earrings featuring round brilliant-cut Garnets (4.75 ctw.) accented with round brilliant-cut Sapphires (2.39 ctw.), round brilliant-cut Diamonds (0.50 ctw.), purple Chalcedony & Turquoise inlay
Ian Delucca, Khobe Delucca - 18K yellow gold and ruthenium plated art deco ring featuring a 4.84 ct. blue emerald-cut Tourmaline accented with round Tourmalines (.38 ctw.) and Diamonds (.42 ctw.)
Jeremy Dunn, Dunn & Co. - Platinum hand-fabricated drop earrings featuring Malaya Garnets (6.86 ctw.) accented with blue Sapphires (1.50 ctw.)
Beatrix Laura Jessner, B & W Jewels, LLC - Platinum earrings featuring Aquamarines (25.32 ctw.) accented with Diamonds (1.28 ctw.)
Evening Wear
Jeffrey Bilgore, Jeffrey Bilgore, LLC - 18K yellow gold and black ceramic ring featuring a 4.03 ct. natural fancy deep yellow Diamond accented with 15 tsavorite Garnets (.17 ctw.)
Laurie Reid, LFR Studios - 22K yellow gold ring featuring a 13.2 mm Cultured Golden South Sea Pearl
Michael Tope, Raintree, LLC - 18K yellow gold, rose gold and platinum "The Imperial Luchrupan Ring" featuring a 21.70 ct. bicolor emerald-cut Tourmaline accented with Diamonds (2.30 ctw.), Sapphires (1.69 ctw.), purple Jade and Turquoise inlay
Niveet Nagpal, Omi Privé - Platinum and black rhodium ring featuring a 4.85 ct. oval purple Spinel accented with trillion-cut violet Spinels (2.37 ctw.), round Alexandrites (.85 ctw.) and round Diamonds (1.02 ctw)
Robert Pelliccia, J.R. Dunn Jewelers - Platinum "Blue Ocean Dream" ring featuring a11.32 ct. cushion-cut blue Sapphire accented with an epaulet pair of Diamonds (1.18 ctw.), Sapphires and Diamonds
Men’s Wear
Fine jewelry is the quintessence of the modern man. Entries in this category, ranging from rings to bracelets, cufflinks to belt buckles, express the myriad ways a gentleman can express himself.
Zoltan David, Somewhere In The Rainbow - Knight steel and 24K yellow gold "The Kings Ring" featuring a 29.09 ct. purple-red cabochon Tourmaline accented with 10 red Spinels (.15 ctw.) and Diamonds (.02 ctw.). Patent inlay bead gold
Adam Neeley, Adam Neeley Fine Art Jewelry - Platinum "Pharaoh" ring featuring a 12.08 ct. "Compass Rode" Tanzanite accented with Diamonds (.41 ctw.)
Buddy Austin, Third Eye Assembly - 18K yellow gold, platinum, 22k rose and green gold, 24K yellow gold and 18K white gold "Underworld" ring featuring a 1.62 ct. black Opal accented with tsavorite Garnet, Sapphire and Diamond
Matthew Tuggle, Tuggle Designs - Platinum and 18K yellow gold ring featuring a 6.02 ct. star Sapphire accented with demantoid Garnets (.04 ctw.)
Cutting Edge Awards
All Other Cut Gemstones
Ben Kho, Kho International, Ltd. - 32.50 ct. sunburst-cut Kunzite
Ben Kho, Kho International, Ltd. - 14.70 ct. diamond-shape Apatite
Ben Kho, Kho International, Ltd. - 34.98 ct. fancy trillion-cut Kunzite
Ben Kho, Kho International, Ltd. - 28.61 ct. pink Tourmaline
Carving
Open to any natural gem material carved in any style.
Dalan Hargrave, GemStarz Jewelry - 210.55 ct. ballerina carving in green Beryl
Dalan Hargrave, Geogem-USA - 87.77 ct. bicolor Scapolite iguana on a limb carving titled "Out There" with blue Tiger's Eye eyes
Meg Berry, Megagem - 394.20 ct. hand-carved light blue Topaz
Meg Berry, 3090 Gems, LLC - 31.17 ct. "Grandzilla" carved green-blue Grandidierite
Classic Gemstones
Open to outstanding examples of Rubies, Emeralds, and Sapphires featuring traditional gemstone cutting techniques.
Joseph Ambalu, Amba Gem Corp. - 4.43 ct. no oil emerald-cut Colombian Emerald
Jeffrey Bilgore, Jeffrey Bilgore, LLC - 28.45 ct. natural emerald-cut blue Ceylon Sapphire
John Bachman, John M. Bachman, Inc. - 25.28 ct. cushion-cut natural yellow Sapphire
Innovative Faceting
John Dyer, Somewhere in the Rainbow - 147.96 ct. orange golden Citrine titled "Crescendo"
Jeffrey Bilgore, Jeffrey Bilgore, LLC - 85.55 ct. natural oval fantasy-cut yellow Sapphire
Desmond Chan, Gem Arts International - 18.79 ct. traditional and concave shield-cut Malaya Garnet titled "The Lightbender's Shield"
Mark Gronlund, Mark Gronlund - 68.14 ct. "Ma'ia, Star of the Universe" specialty-cut Aquamarine
Lee Haynes, LWHGems - 138.10 ct. concave diamond pattern crown with twisted pavilion Citrine titled "Autumn Opus"
North American Mined Gemstones
Ben Kho, Kho International, Ltd. - 11.46 ct. antique cushion-cut Rhodochrosite from Colorado, USA
Jeffrey R. Hapeman, Earth's Treasury - 7.79 ct. custom precision square cushion-cut, unheated blue Montana Sapphire from Rock Creek, Montana
Jeff Hapeman, Somewhere In The Rainbow - 12.18 ct. unheated pure yellow champagne Montana Sapphire titled "Champagne Toast"
Nick Alexander, Somewhere In The Rainbow - 123.96 ct. Oregon Sunstone carved and faceted titled "Riptides"
Objects of Art
Dalan Hargrave, GemStarz Jewelry - 900 ct. Ametrine accented with Citrine and Chrome Diopside “The Tomb of Osiris” essence bottle
Llyn L. Strelau, Jewels by Design - Carved Labradorite chameleon "Life in the Jungle". Petrified wood, Quartz, Agate, Labradorite, Spinel, Pearls, tsavorite Garnets, Sapphires, Rubies and Diamonds. Bronze and 18K green, red and white gold
Rodney Rahmani, Brilliant Stars - 18K rose gold handmade Harley Davidson featuring a 1.59 ct. blue natural Burma Sapphire accented with a round Sapphire (0.13 ct.) and round white Diamonds (1.14 ctw.)
Ziad H. Noshie, Almaza Jewelers - "Shimmering Rascal Boy" chameleon made of sterling silver, 18K green gold, 233 black Diamonds (3.45 ctw.), 446 tsavorite Garnets (7.03 ctw), 429 orange Sapphires (6.98 ctw.), and an enamel ladybug on 40 year old driftwood
Pairs and Suites
Robert Knupfer, Knupfer International Gems, Inc. - Pair of blue/green briolette drop Tourmalines (75.57 ctw.)
Brenda Smith, Brenda Smith Jewelry - Pair of traditional facet with bubble-cut bicolor Amethysts (35.20 ctw.)
Jaimeen Shah, Prima Gems USA - Suite of 23 multicolored, Portuguese-cut Zircons (228.64 ctw.)
Davey Thomas, Gem Arts International - Suite of 26 tile-shaped cabochon Emeralds and Matrix titled "Emeralds of Envy" (112.25 ctw.)
Phenomenal Gemstones
Open to any phenomenal gemstone featuring an optical gemological effect, such as asterism, chatoyance, play of color, adularescence, aventurescence or color change.
Desmond Chan, Gem Arts International - 14.90 ct. hot pink to purple color change modified round brilliant pyrope Garnet titled "Cosmic Kaleidoscope"
Bryan Lichtenstein, 3090 Gems, LLC - 20.20 ct. octagonal step-cut color changing Zircon
David Nassi, 100% Natural, Ltd. - 17.70 ct. oval black Opal from Lightning Ridge, Australia
David Nassi, 100% Natural, Ltd. - 25.29 ct. round blue star Sapphire from Burma
Other Awards & Honors
Platinum Honors™
Sponsored by Platinum Guild International, Platinum Honors™ recognizes the outstanding use of platinum in colored gemstone and/or pearl jewelry in the five AGTA Spectrum Awards™ categories, three Platinum Innovation categories and for the Best Use of Color and Platinum.
Mary van der Aa, Mary van der Aa - Platinum "Atomic Love" ring set featuring demantoid Garnets (1.55 ctw.) accented with Paraiba Tourmalines (.17 ctw.) and Diamonds
Michael Endlich, Pave Fine Jewelry - Platinum "Lunar Bloom" ring featuring a 1.85 ct. cabochon Moonstone accented with Diamonds (.06 ctw.)
Niveet Nagpal, Omi Privé - Platinum pendant featuring a 5.44 ct. cushion-cut cabochon Paraiba Tourmaline accented with a .36 ct. round cabochon Paraiba Tourmaline, round cabochon Paraiba Tourmalines (3.15 ctw.) and round Diamonds (2.10 ctw.)
Dennis deJonghe, deJonghe Original Jewelry - Platinum ring featuring a 3.53 ct. hard carved Sunstone and a 3.48 ct. high-cut dome Moonstone accented with Diamonds (.26 ctw.)
Mary van der Aa, Mary van der Aa - Platinum necklace featuring a custom faceted 20.20 ct. Aquamarine accented with Paraiba Tourmaline and Diamonds
Jeffrey Bilgore, Jeffrey Bilgore, LLC - Platinum "Light of Earendil" pendant featuring a 16.30 ct. natural white briolette Sapphire accented with 204 round Diamonds (.96 ctw.) and 4 pear-shape Diamonds (.47 ctw.)
Adam Neeley, Adam Neeley Fine Art Jewelry - Platinum "Pharaoh" ring featuring a 12.08 ct. "Compass Rode" Tanzanite accented with Diamonds (.41 ctw.)
Gem DIVA Award
Sonsored by the Women’s Jewelry Association, The Gem DIVA awards honor women designers in the Bridal Wear, Classic, Evening Wear, and Business/Day Wear categories. The Gem DIVA awards are open to all women entering these categories who indicate interest on their Entry Form.
Bella Campbell, Campbellian Collection / BHI - 18K white gold ring featuring an 11.03 ct. Moonstone accented with Sapphires (4.36 ctw.) and Diamonds (.40 ctw.)
Dallas Prince, Dallas Prince Designs - 14K rose gold "Twilight Garden" ring featuring a 4.47 ct. modified oval peach Imperial Topaz accented with golden Imperial Topaz (4.0 ctw.) and Diamonds (.60 ctw.)
Dallas Prince, Dallas Prince Designs - 18K yellow gold "Inferno" ring featuring a 6.35 ct. oval Mandarin Spessartite Garnet accented with round Diamonds (2.03 ctw.)
llyn Strong, Llyn Strong Fine Art Jewelry - 18K rose gold ring featuring a 13.34 ct. black Opal accented with yellow Diamonds (.33 ctw.) and blue Diamonds (.97 ctw.)
Lindsay Jane Chatham, K. Jons Jewelry Co. - Platinum and 18K rose gold "North Star" cufflinks set with Trapiche Sapphires (25.10 ctw.) orange Spinels (.50 ctw.), blue Sapphires (2.43 ctw.) and Diamonds (2.72 ctw.)
