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Winners were recently revealed in the 2023 AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards, which experienced a spike of 100 additional entries this year. Gems in all shades of green were abundant, and there was an influx of enameled pieces, cabochon-cut gems, and finished jewels featuring fantasy-cut gemstone centers. New this year: two winning entries took the Best of Show title, one from Spectrum’s jewelry and another from gems in Cutting Edge. Scroll through to see all the top winners in each category.

By Jennifer Heebner

SPECTRUM BEST OF SHOW & SPECTRUM EVENING WEAR – 1ST PLACE: Ring in platinum with a 15.22 ct. black opal accented with diamonds (1.56 CTW), tourmaline (0.72 CTW), and tsavorite garnets (0.40 CTW), Niveet Nagpal, Omi Privé

SPECTRUM EDITOR’S CHOICE: Pendulum/I Spy pendant necklace in 14K yellow gold with black jade and a 13.88 ct. fantasy-cut pink tourmaline with opal inlay, Ai Van Pham, Gem & Gold Creations

SPECTRUM BEST USE OF PEARL & SPECTRUM CLASSICAL – 3RD PLACE & GEM DIVA: Birds Eye View ring in 22K yellow gold with a cultured Tahitian baroque Pearl bird, Fannie Thomas, Fannie Thomas Jewelry

SPECTRUM BRIDAL WEAR – 1ST PLACE & SPECTRUM BEST USE OF PLATINUM CROWN:
Fantasia ring in platinum with a 12.24 ct. aquamarine accented with Akoya pearls and diamonds (1.0 CTW), by Adam Neeley, Adam Neeley Fine Art Jewelry, Inc.

SPECTRUM CLASSICAL – 1ST PLACE: Moi et Toi Perfection in Green & White ring in platinum featuring a 3.49 ct. unenhanced Colombian emerald and a 3.36 ct. diamond accented with diamonds (0.43 CTW), Jeffrey Bilgore, Jeffrey Bilgore, LLC

SPECTRUM BUSINESS/DAY WEAR – 1ST PLACE: Ring in 18K yellow gold featuring a 2.39 ct. Colombian emerald accented with round Emeralds (0.18 CTW) and Diamonds (1.52 CTW), Gabriel Angulo, Pompos Jewelry Corporation

SPECTRUM BEST USE OF COLOR & CLASSICAL PLATINUM INNOVATION: Ocean & Grass Wave bracelet in platinum featuring sapphires (25.02 CTW), demantoid garnets (7.87 CTW), yellow diamonds (1.14 CTW) and white diamonds (7.32 CTW), Jeffrey Bilgore, Jeffrey Bilgore, LLC.

SPECTRUM FASHION FORWARD: Greek Key Fancy Diamond Perfection bracelet in 18K yellow gold and black ceramic featuring mixed fancy vivid diamonds (14.82 CTW) accented with tsavorite Garnets (1.70 CTW), Jeffrey Bilgore, Jeffrey Bilgore, LLC

SPECTRUM BEST OF SINGLE ENTRIES:
Something Blue earrings in 18K white gold featuring blue Zircons (8.50 CTW) accented with Diamonds (0.77 CTW), Joseph Campanelli, Campanelli & Pear

SPECTRUM BEST USE OF PLATINUM AND COLOR: GARANATAS: From Rough to Cut two-piece necklace in Platinum and 18K yellow gold featuring various species of garnets (approx. 77.26 CTW), Mary van der Aa, Mary van der Aa Fine Jewels in collaboration with Tucson Todd’s Gems (cutter and supplier)

SPECTRUM BEST MEN’S WEAR: Ring in platinum featuring a 2.35 ct. oval cabochon alexandrite accented with Alexandrite (3.07 CTW), Niveet Nagpal, Omi Privé

CUTTING EDGE BEST OF SHOW, CUTTING EDGE BEST OF SINGLE ENTRIES &

CUTTING EDGE PAIRS & SUITES – 1ST PLACE: Suite of 4 oval-shape Paraíba-type tourmalines (31.01 CTW) from Mozambique, Joseph Ambalu, Amba Gem Corp.

CUTTING EDGE EDITOR’S CHOICE: A 12.85 ct. emerald-cut bi-color blue and green untreated zoisite, Bryan Lichtenstein, 3090 Gems, LLC

CUTTING EDGE ALL OTHER CUT GEMSTONES – 1ST PLACE: The Sparkle in Her Eye 9.49 ct. peach Mahenge Malaya garnet, Desmond Chan, Gem Arts International in collaboration with Joyce Wang (cutter) and Scott Laborie (gem diagram designer)

CUTTING EDGE CARVING – 1ST PLACE: The Green Jewel – Frog on 515 CT. heliodor carving, Patrick Dreher, Dreher Carvings LLC

CUTTING EDGE CLASSIC GEMSTONE – 1ST PLACE: A 20.21 ct. unheated royal blue cushion-cut sapphire, Ron Rahmanan, Sara Gem

CUTTING EDGE INNOVATIVE FACETING – 1ST PLACE: Nine of Diamonds 17.13 ct. indigo precision carved tanzanite, Bryan D. Drummond, Drummond Gems & Jewelry

CUTTING EDGE NORTH AMERICAN MINED GEMSTONES – 1ST PLACE: A 10.42 ct. oval Portuguese-cut rhodochrosite from Colorado, Ben Kho, Kho International

CUTTING EDGE OBJECTS OF ART – 1ST PLACE: Playtime fish 457-gram agate accented by 18K yellow gold, jasper, and rock crystal quartz, Patrick Dreher, Dreher Carvings LLC

CUTTING EDGE PHENOMENAL – 1ST PLACE: A 28.41 ct. oval black opal, David Nassi, 100% Natural, Ltd.

Winners Circle: See Who Nabbed the 20 Top Spots in the 2023 AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards

Winners Circle: See Who Nabbed the 20 Top Spots in the 2023 AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards

Winners were recently revealed in the 2023 AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards, which experienced a spike of 100 additional entries this year. Gems in all shades of green were abundant, and there was an influx of enameled pieces, cabochon-cut gems, and finished jewels featuring fantasy-cut gemstone centers. New this year: two winning entries took the Best of Show title, one from Spectrum’s jewelry and another from gems in Cutting Edge. Scroll through to see all the top winners in each category.

By Jennifer Heebner