Events & AwardsDec 20, 2021
See the CPAA Design Competition’s Winning JewelsEvents & AwardsDec 29, 2021
Here Are the 2021 Spectrum Award Winners
After a few years of loose stones taking top honors, the “Best Of” award went to a finished jewel this year.
These earrings from Adam Neeley won “Best of Show” honors as well as first place in the Evening Wear category in the 2021 AGTA Spectrum Awards.
Dallas—The winners of the American Gem Trade Association’s 2021 Spectrum Awards have been revealed.
The organization held the competition on Oct. 23 and 24 in Dallas, with the following judges choosing the winning designs: Judy Evans, Judy Evans Design Studio; Amber Gustafson, Amber’s Designs Fine Jewelry; Tony Logan, Jay Dean Winchester; Kelly Mitchell, Kelly Mitchell Fine Jewelry; and Matthew Trent, Matthew Trent.
The full list of winners is below.
“Best of” Awards
Best of Show: Adam Neeley (Adam Neeley Fine Art Jewelry)
Best Use of Color: Adam Neeley (Adam Neeley Fine Art Jewelry)
Best Use of Pearls: Michael Tope (Raintree LLC)
Fashion Forward: Stanislav Petrov (Stanislav Petrov Inc.)
Best of Single Entries—Cutting Edge: Misael Angel Rodriguez (Gem Arts International)
Best of Single Entries—Spectrum: Scott Keating (Somewhere In The Rainbow)
Best Use of Platinum and Color: Llyn Strelau (Somewhere In The Rainbow)
Best Use of Platinum Crown: Lindsay Jane Chatham (K. Jons Jewelry Co.)
See: The Competition’s “Best Of” Winners
The organization held the competition on Oct. 23 and 24 in Dallas, with the following judges choosing the winning designs: Judy Evans, Judy Evans Design Studio; Amber Gustafson, Amber’s Designs Fine Jewelry; Tony Logan, Jay Dean Winchester; Kelly Mitchell, Kelly Mitchell Fine Jewelry; and Matthew Trent, Matthew Trent.
The full list of winners is below.
“Best of” Awards
Best of Show: Adam Neeley (Adam Neeley Fine Art Jewelry)
Best Use of Color: Adam Neeley (Adam Neeley Fine Art Jewelry)
Best Use of Pearls: Michael Tope (Raintree LLC)
Fashion Forward: Stanislav Petrov (Stanislav Petrov Inc.)
Best of Single Entries—Cutting Edge: Misael Angel Rodriguez (Gem Arts International)
Best of Single Entries—Spectrum: Scott Keating (Somewhere In The Rainbow)
Best Use of Platinum and Color: Llyn Strelau (Somewhere In The Rainbow)
Best Use of Platinum Crown: Lindsay Jane Chatham (K. Jons Jewelry Co.)
See: The Competition’s “Best Of” Winners
Best of Show. Adam Neeley 14-karat rose and white gold “Galassia” earrings featuring specialty-cut tanzanites (24.84 total carats) accented with akoya cultured pearls and diamonds (4.04 total carats)
Best Use of Color. Adam Neeley suite of specialty cut green tourmalines, weighing 47.80 total carats, and tanzanites, weighing 12.69 total carats
Best Use of Pearls. Michael Tope 18-karat yellow gold and platinum “Kalaimaia” earrings featuring Tahitian cultured pearls, green tourmalines (6.30 total carats), yellow diamonds (0.58 total carats), white diamonds (0.40 ctw.) and turquoise
Fashion Forward. Stanislav Petrov 18-karat yellow and white gold “Violet” ring with purple nano-ceramic coating featuring amethysts (1.50 total carats), yellow sapphires (1.90 total carats) and diamonds (0.02 total carats)
Best of Single Entries—Cutting Edge. Misael Angel Rodriguez 24-piece suite of cat’s-eye emerald cabochons (37.90 total carat weight)
Best of Single Entries—Spectrum. Scott Keating 18-karat yellow gold “Hot Scarab Nights” bracelet featuring specialty-cut blue zircons (10.12 total carats) and pink tourmalines (5.66 total carats) accented with 1.50 carats of sapphire melee and 0.32 carats of diamond melee
Best Use of Platinum and Color. Llyn Strelau platinum “Dreamweaver” necklace featuring multicolored akoya cultured pearls, 0.40 total carats of diamonds, and a removable platinum pendant featuring a specialty cut beryl suite: a 5.28-carat aquamarine, a 4.56-carat heliodor and a 2.86-carat morganite
Best Use of Platinum Crown. Lindsay Jane Chatham platinum “Love You Forever, Love You for Always” ring featuring a 7.47-carat round yellow zircon accented with diamonds (1.04 total carats) and lavender sapphires (0.90 total carats)
Bridal Wear
First Place and Platinum Honors: Suna Bros. (Suna Bros.)
Second Place: Susan Helmich (Somewhere In The Rainbow)
Third Place and Manufacturing Honors: Nikki Swift (Nicole Mera LLC)
Honorable Mention: Niveet Nagpal (Omi Prive)
Honorable Mention: Benjamin Javaheri (Uneek Jewelry)
Platinum Innovation: Michael Endlich (Pave Fine Jewelry)
WJA Gem Diva: Sherry Bender (The Goldsmith Ltd. of Chicago)
Business/Day Wear
First Place: Niveet Nagpal (Omi Prive)
Second Place: Stanislav Petrov (Stanislav Petrov Inc.)
Third Place: Llyn Strelau (Somewhere In The Rainbow)
Honorable Mention: Robin Callahan (Robin Callahan Designs LLC)
Manufacturing Honors: Timothy Foster (T. Foster & Company)
Platinum Honors and Platinum Innovation: Michael Endlich (Pave Fine Jewelry)
WJA Gem Diva: Rosa Van Parys (Rosa Van Parys Jewelry)
Classical
First Place: Llyn Strelau (Jewels by Design)
Second Place: Raja Mehta (A G Gems & Jewelry Inc.)
Third Place: Niveet Nagpal (Omi Prive)
Honorable Mention: Joseph Murawski (Joden World Resources LLC)
Platinum Honors: Craig Slavens (Luxe Fine Jewelry)
WJA Gem Diva: Beatrix Laura Jessner (B & W Jewels LLC)
See: The Spectrum First Place Winners
Bridal Wear, First Place and Platinum Honors. Suna Bros platinum ring featuring a 9.18-carat oval moonstone cabochon accented with lavender sapphires (1.36 total carats) and diamonds (0.56 total carats)
Business/Day Wear, First Place. Niveet Nagpal platinum pendant featuring an 8.12-carat pear-shaped moonstone cabochon accented with Paraiba-type tourmalines (0.86 total carats) and diamonds (0.96 total carats)
Classical, First Place. Llyn L. Strelau 18-karat yellow gold “Luxuriant” sautoir necklace featuring 18 x 16 mm black and white South Sea cultured pearls and 12 mm black and white South Sea cultured pearls, accented with diamonds (3.50 total carats) on strands of Japanese baroque keshi cultured pearls
Evening Wear, First Place. Adam Neeley 14-karat rose and white gold “Galassia” earrings featuring specialty-cut tanzanites (24.84 total carats) accented with akoya cultured pearls and diamonds (4.04 total carats)
Men’s Wear, First Place. Rodney Rahmani 18-karat yellow gold and platinum ring featuring a 12.86-carat cat’s-eye chrysoberyl cabochon accented with diamonds
Evening Wear
First Place: Adam Neeley (Adam Neeley Fine Art Jewelry)
Second Place: Leon Mege (Leon Mege Inc.)
Third Place: Scott Keating (Somewhere In The Rainbow)
Honorable Mention: Paula Crevoshay (Mellika Inc.)
Honorable Mention: Tariq Riaz (Tariq Riaz LLC)
Manufacturing Honors: Tariq Riaz (Tariq Riaz LLC)
Platinum Honors: Robert Glenn (Geogem-USA)
WJA Gem Diva: Caroline Chartouni (Caroline C)
Men’s Wear
First Place: Rodney Rahmani (Brilliant Stars)
Second Place: Michael Endlich (Pave Fine Jewelry)
Third Place: Gaston Rives (Gaston Jewelry Studio Inc.)
Honorable Mention: Robert Pelliccia (J.R. Dunn Jewelers)
Manufacturing Honors: Llyn Strelau (Jewels by Design)
Platinum Honors: Lindsay Jane Chatham (K. Jons Jewelry Co.)
The winners of the AGTA Cutting Edge Awards, which recognize excellence in lapidary arts, are as follows.
Classic Gemstones
First Place: Allen Kleiman (A. Kleiman & Co.)
Second Place: Joseph Ambalu (Amba Gem Corp.)
Third Place: Allen Kleiman (A. Kleiman & Co.)
All Other Cut Gemstones
First Place: Sailesh Lakhi (Sparkles and Colors USA Inc.)
Second Place: David Nassi (100% Natural Ltd.)
Third Place: Joseph Ambalu (Amba Gem Corp.)
Honorable Mention: Kenneth Blount (100% Natural Ltd.)
Carving
First Place: Larry Woods (Gem Arts International)
Second Place: Desmond Chan (Gem Arts International)
Third Place: Meg Berry (Megagem)
Honorable Mention: Yanqing Zhang Asdurian (Yanqing Asdurian)
Innovative Faceting
First Place: Larry Woods (Gem Arts International)
Second Place: Brett Kosnar (Dudley Blauwet Gems)
Third Place: Dalan Hargrave (Robin Callahan Designs LLC)
Honorable Mention: John Burleyson (GemRite)
See: The Cutting Edge First Place Winners
Classic Gemstones, First Place. Allen Kleiman 4.35-carat round Mozambique ruby
All Other Cut Gemstones, First Place. Sailesh Lakhi 30.50-carat oval brilliant-cut untreated mandarin garnet
Carving, First Place. Larry Woods 67.75-carat “Eye of the Dragon” bicolored Oregon sunstone carving
Innovative Faceting, First Place. Larry Woods 43.80-carat “Celestial Compass Rose” specialty cut green tourmaline
North American Mined Gemstones, First Place. Brad Payne 12.86-carat “Colorado Candy Crush” modified pear-cut rhodochrosite from the Sweet Home Mine, Colorado
Objects of Art, First Place. Yanqing Zhang Asdurian jadeite carving of a boot
Pairs & Suites, First Place. Hemant Phophaliya pair of almond-shaped tanzanite drops (59.54 total carats)
Phenomenal, First Place. Misael Angel Rodriguez 24-piece suite of cat’s eye emerald cabochons (37.90 total carats)
North American Mined Gemstones
First Place: Brad Payne (Somewhere In The Rainbow)
Second Place: Derek Katzenbach (Katzenbach Designs)
Third Place: Joyce Wang (Obsessed Over Gems)
Honorable Mention: Dalan Hargrave (Robin Callahan Designs LLC)
Objects of Art
First Place: Yanqing Zhang Asdurian (Yanqing Asdurian)
Second Place: Christopher Wolfsberg (Christopher Wolfsberg)
Third Place: Sharon Khazzam (Sharon Khazzam Studio)
Honorable Mention: Dalan Hargrave (GemStarz Jewelry)
Pairs and Suites
First Place: Hemant Phophaliya (A G Color Inc.)
Second Place: Bryan Lichtenstein (3090 Gems LLC)
Third Place: Adam Neeley (Adam Neeley Fine Art Jewelry)
Honorable Mention: Joseph Ambalu (Amba Gem Corp.)
Honorable Mention: Hemant Phophaliya (A G Color Inc.)
Phenomenal
First Place: Misael Angel Rodriguez (Gem Arts International)
Second Place: David Nassi (100% Natural Ltd.)
Third Place: Brett Kosnar (Dudley Blauwet Gems)
The winning pieces will be showcased at the 2022 AGTA GemFair Tucson event, scheduled for Feb. 1-6 at the Tucson Convention Center.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
SourcingJul 15, 2026
1,305-Carat Diamond Recovered from Mine in BotswanaThe yet-to-be named stone is the 10th diamond weighing more than 1,000 carats to come out of Lucara’s Karowe mine.
IndependentsJul 15, 2026
New Jersey Jeweler Barry Berman Dies at 81The founder of Fords Jewelers, Berman is remembered for his love of connecting with his community.
FinancialsJul 15, 2026
Watches of Switzerland’s US Sales Jump 18%, Declines to Comment on Sale Report The watch and jewelry retailer had a strong fiscal year despite what its CEO described as a “complex operating backdrop.”
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
CollectionsJul 15, 2026
Pomellato’s New High Jewelry Is LiberatingBold color, expressive gem-setting, and sculptural form define the three chapters that make up “Stile Libero.”
Weekly QuizJul 09, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
IndependentsJul 14, 2026
Foundrae Opens First Standalone Store Outside USThe New York-based jewelry brand has expanded overseas, opening a store in London’s Mayfair district.
ColumnistsJul 14, 2026
Sherry Smith: What Today’s Jewelry Consumer Is Telling Us Rising revenue does not automatically mean a healthy business, particularly in the current economic landscape, Smith writes.
Brought to you by
Building the Future of Jewelry Retail: DCA Expands Education, Leadership Development, and Workforce SolutionsDCA is preparing the next generation of professionals by supporting workforce development, leadership growth, and career advancement.
TrendsJul 14, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: Shoulder Dusters These long, fluid drop earrings are sure to catch the eye.
CrimeJul 14, 2026
Man Charged in $1M Jewelry Store Heist Lands on FBI Most Wanted ListAlberto Perez-Elias is one of four men charged with robbing a Cape Coral, Florida, jewelry store and is the only one still at large.
Lab-GrownJul 13, 2026
Stephanie Gottlieb Changes Her Mind on Lab-Grown DiamondsThe designer, who once said she’d never sell lab-grown diamonds, debuted two capsule collections designed to be fun and easy to wear.
SourcingJul 13, 2026
De Beers Announces Potential Layoffs, 2-Year Production Pause at VenetiaThe diamond miner and marketer is undergoing another round of cost-cutting measures ahead of its sale by Anglo American.
Events & AwardsJul 13, 2026
Registration Opens for JIS Fall 2026 ShowThe annual trade-only buying event is slated for Oct. 16-19 in Miami Beach, Florida.
Events & AwardsJul 13, 2026
AGTA Accepting Entries for Spectrum 2026AGTA also has announced the lineup of judges for the colored gemstone cutting and jewelry design contest’s various categories.
TechnologyJul 10, 2026
There’s a New Blind Box for Luxury Watches Collectibles platform Arena Club’s new Time Boxes could contain a Rolex or Patek Philippe watch.
TrendsJul 10, 2026
Jade Trau Creates a Constellation of DiamondsThe “Constellation Plié” collar, our Piece of the Week, features diamonds arranged in a constellation of shining stars.
SourcingJul 10, 2026
CFO of De Beers’ Consumer-Facing Division Leaves Company Shaun Wills joined the company in 2024 and was chief financial officer of the De Beers Brands and Consumer Markets division.
WatchesJul 10, 2026
Brilliant Earth Expands Into WatchesIn honor of its 20th anniversary, the jewelry brand has released a limited-edition collection of Swiss-made timepieces.
CollectionsJul 09, 2026
Boucheron’s New High Jewelry Collection Is an Ode to the Human Touch“Human Being” highlights the similarities and differences between us through five sets of jewelry that celebrate fine craftsmanship.
WatchesJul 09, 2026
Damiani Group Finalizes Acquisition of Baume & MercierRichemont will continue to provide operational services for the watch brand for a period while the group prepares to integrate it.
AuctionsJul 09, 2026
Pharrell Williams’ Joopiter Hires Former Bonhams Exec to Head New Watch DivisionNate Borgelt will lead the digital auction house and content platform’s new division as head of watches.
Events & AwardsJul 09, 2026
Halstead Names 2026 Grant WinnerEnoch Platero, founder and designer behind Enoch Michael, is the first Native American jeweler to win the award.
Events & AwardsJul 09, 2026
AGS, GIA Name 2026 Beatrice Shipley Scholarship WinnerAGS also announced the recipient of its “Women in Leadership” scholarship.
MajorsJul 08, 2026
Kendra Scott Joins ‘Shark Tank’ As Permanent Investor The founder of the billion-dollar jewelry and lifestyle brand will debut as a full-time “Shark” on the upcoming season of the show.
SurveysJul 08, 2026
Signet Jewelers Falls 5 Spots on NRF’s ‘Top 100’ Retailers ListPlus, why retailers should be ready to adjust as the U.S. population may decline this year for the first time since the Great Depression.
CrimeJul 08, 2026
Here’s What Thieves Stole From the Lalique Museum René Lalique’s “Woman Dragonfly With Open Wings” pendant, the first piece the museum acquired, was one of the jewels taken.
MajorsJul 08, 2026
Richline Group Promotes 2 ExecsArien Gessner and Moss Makhoulian have been elevated into newly created roles.
