Events & AwardsJun 11, 2024
The 2024 CASE Awards Are Open for EntriesEvents & AwardsJul 16, 2024
2024 AGTA Spectrum Awards Open for Entries
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the jewelry design contest and the deadline for entries has just been extended.
The deadline to enter with early bird pricing is Sept. 20, and the final deadline is Oct. 9. Pictured is last year’s “Best of Show” award winner in the Spectrum division, a platinum ring featuring a 15.22-carat black opal by Niveet Nagpal at Omi Privé.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated post-publication to reflect new submission deadlines and to include the names of the judges.
Dallas—The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) has announced it is now accepting entries for its 2024 AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge awards.
The annual contest, now in its 40th year, recognizes design excellence in the world of colored gemstones and cultured pearls.
The winners of the awards set the standard for beauty and innovation, launch trends, and earn worldwide recognition, said AGTA.
They will receive mentions in the press and on social media, along with a celebration at the Spectrum & Cutting Edge awards gala during AGTA GemFair in Tucson next February.
“Lives are changed by winning Spectrum and Cutting Edge awards,” said John W. Ford, Sr., the CEO of AGTA.
“I know mine was—my awards helped put my company name on the map in the gemstones and jewelry world. AGTA is excited to see this year’s entries and who will take the top prizes.”
The winners will be chosen by a vetted panel of five judges who are experts from different industry segments.
This year’s judges are: Jean Francois Bibet, Cartier; Peggy Grosz, Assael Inc.; Sherry Bender, The Goldsmith Ltd.; Susan Jacques, GIA; and Suza Landa, Suzy Landa Fine Jewelry.
They will judge the entries this fall in Dallas, Texas.
Entrants must choose their categories for the Spectrum and Cutting Edge awards, while judges and representatives of sponsored categories will assign pieces for the “Best Of” honors and two sponsored awards—one to highlight female designers and one recognizing the use of platinum.
The 2024 Spectrum awards for finished jewelry include categories like bridal, business/day wear, evening wear and men’s wear, as well as a “New for 2024” category.
For the Cutting Edge awards, entrants can submit loose goods and non-wearable gems to categories including pairs and suites, innovative faceting, and carvings, as well as “North American Mined Gemstones.”
There are also the “Editor’s Choice Spectrum” and “Editor’s Choice Cutting Edge” categories, for which winners are chosen on Editor’s Day at an invitation-only event later this year, and the “Buyer’s Choice Spectrum in Tucson” and “Buyer’s Choice Cutting Edge in Tucson,” for which winners will be chosen by buyers during GemFair Tucson 2025.
Related stories will be right here …
Dallas—The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) has announced it is now accepting entries for its 2024 AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge awards.
The annual contest, now in its 40th year, recognizes design excellence in the world of colored gemstones and cultured pearls.
The winners of the awards set the standard for beauty and innovation, launch trends, and earn worldwide recognition, said AGTA.
They will receive mentions in the press and on social media, along with a celebration at the Spectrum & Cutting Edge awards gala during AGTA GemFair in Tucson next February.
“Lives are changed by winning Spectrum and Cutting Edge awards,” said John W. Ford, Sr., the CEO of AGTA.
“I know mine was—my awards helped put my company name on the map in the gemstones and jewelry world. AGTA is excited to see this year’s entries and who will take the top prizes.”
The winners will be chosen by a vetted panel of five judges who are experts from different industry segments.
This year’s judges are: Jean Francois Bibet, Cartier; Peggy Grosz, Assael Inc.; Sherry Bender, The Goldsmith Ltd.; Susan Jacques, GIA; and Suza Landa, Suzy Landa Fine Jewelry.
They will judge the entries this fall in Dallas, Texas.
Entrants must choose their categories for the Spectrum and Cutting Edge awards, while judges and representatives of sponsored categories will assign pieces for the “Best Of” honors and two sponsored awards—one to highlight female designers and one recognizing the use of platinum.
The 2024 Spectrum awards for finished jewelry include categories like bridal, business/day wear, evening wear and men’s wear, as well as a “New for 2024” category.
For the Cutting Edge awards, entrants can submit loose goods and non-wearable gems to categories including pairs and suites, innovative faceting, and carvings, as well as “North American Mined Gemstones.”
There are also the “Editor’s Choice Spectrum” and “Editor’s Choice Cutting Edge” categories, for which winners are chosen on Editor’s Day at an invitation-only event later this year, and the “Buyer’s Choice Spectrum in Tucson” and “Buyer’s Choice Cutting Edge in Tucson,” for which winners will be chosen by buyers during GemFair Tucson 2025.
The deadline to qualify for early bird pricing is Sept. 20, extended from the original early bird deadline of Sept. 6, with all entries paid for and received by AGTA before this date.
The first entry is $265, and all additional entries are $205 each.
The deadline to enter the AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge awards is now Oct. 9, extended from the original deadline of Sept. 20.
It is $295 for the first entry and $225 for every additional entry.
The awards are open to all companies and individuals in the United States and Canada. AGTA membership is not required to enter.
For the full list of eligibility requirements and judging criteria, visit AGTA’s website.
To submit an entry to the awards, visit this page of AGTA’s website.
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
GradingMar 06, 2026
Tom Moses Leaving GIA After Nearly 50 YearsMoses, who started at GIA’s Santa Monica lab in 1976, will leave the Gemological Institute of America in May.
Lab-GrownMar 06, 2026
Charles & Colvard Files for Bankruptcy, Citing Price PressuresIncreased competition, falling lab-grown diamond and moissanite prices, and the rising cost of gold took a toll on the moissanite maker.
CollectionsMar 06, 2026
Zome’s ‘Solara’ Earrings Embody Celestial BeautyThe earrings, our Piece of the Week, feature pink tourmalines as planets orbiting around an aquamarine center set in 18-karat rose gold.
Brought to you by
Is This You? Every Jeweler Has This Problem; We Have the Solution.Every jeweler faces the same challenge: helping customers protect what they love. Here’s the solution designed for today’s jewelry business.
MajorsMar 06, 2026
Pomellato’s 2026 IWD Campaign Spotlights Economic Abuse“The Price of Freedom” campaign video for International Women’s Day confronts the quiet violence of financial control.
Weekly QuizMar 05, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Policies & IssuesMar 05, 2026
Tariffs to Increase to 15% This Week, Treasury Secretary Says Also, a federal judge has ordered that companies that paid tariffs implemented under the IEEPA are entitled to refunds.
CollectionsMar 05, 2026
Common Era Honors ‘Difficult Women’ in CollectionThe ever-growing collection, which just expanded with the addition of Olga of Kyiv, features cameos of 12 women from history.
Brought to you by
DCA Enters a New Chapter in Jewelry EducationWith refreshed branding, a new website, updated courses, and a pathway for growth, DCA is dedicated to supporting retail staff development.
TrendsMar 05, 2026
Engagement Ring Trends 2026: What’s In, and WhyWe asked a jewelry historian, designer, bridal director, and wedding expert what’s trending in engagement rings. Here’s what they said.
TrendsMar 05, 2026
Caitríona Balfe Fronts Only Natural Diamonds CoverThe “Outlander” star modeled for the digital cover of the magazine’s spring issue, which features a story on her relationship with jewelry.
MajorsMar 05, 2026
Registration Opens for CIBJO Centenary CongressThis year’s annual congress, which will mark the confederation’s 100th anniversary, will take place this fall in Italy.
MajorsMar 04, 2026
Michael M Opens First StoreBeverly Hills was chosen as the location for the brand’s first store, designed as a “private residence for modern monarchs.”
Policies & IssuesMar 04, 2026
Luxury Brands Temporarily Shutter Middle East StoresKering, Apple, and other retailers have reportedly temporarily closed stores in the Middle East region in light of the recent conflicts.
EditorsMar 04, 2026
Q&A: Brilliant Earth’s CEO on the New Beverly Hills StoreBeth Gerstein discusses the vibe of the new store, what customers want when fine jewelry shopping today, and the details of “Date Night.”
TrendsMar 04, 2026
Spinelli Kilcollin Rides Free In Year of the Horse CampaignThe “Live Now. Polish Later.” campaign features equestrians wearing the brand’s jewels while galloping across the icy plains of Kazakhstan.
MajorsMar 04, 2026
LeachGarner Names New Brand DirectorThe precious metals provider has promoted Jennifer Ashworth to the role.
Events & AwardsMar 03, 2026
Johnny Nelson Wins David Yurman Gem Awards GrantNelson will be honored as the inaugural grant winner at the Gem Awards gala on March 13.
SourcingMar 03, 2026
7 Trends That Could Define the Diamond Industry’s FutureExperts from India weigh in the politics, policies, and market dynamics for diamantaires to monitor in 2026 and beyond.
MajorsMar 03, 2026
Swiss Refiner Completes Acquisition of Gannon & ScottThe American precious metals refiner’s day-to-day operations remain the same post-acquisition.
TrendsMar 03, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: AquatopiaThese aquamarine jewels channel the calming energy of the March birthstone.
Events & AwardsMar 03, 2026
AGTA Adds Another New Category for SpectrumThe “Innovative Design” category and award will debut in the Spectrum division of this year’s AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards.
EditorsMar 02, 2026
Jewelry at the Actor Awards: Reimagining Hollywood GlamourDiamond jewelry was the star of the event formerly known as the SAG Awards.
SurveysMar 02, 2026
Consumer Confidence Edges Up in FebruaryConsumers were somewhat less worried about the future, though concerns about rising prices and politics remained.
Events & AwardsMar 02, 2026
JVC to Honor Rebecca Foerster at Annual LuncheonFoerster is this year’s Stanley Schechter Award recipient.
Events & AwardsMar 02, 2026
JFC Names 2026 ‘Facets’ Honorees Sponsorships and tickets to the annual fundraising event, set for May 31, are available now.
CrimeFeb 27, 2026
Man Charged in Murders of Father, Son Jewelers in ChicagoChicago police and members of the U.S. Marshals Service tracked down the 35-year-old suspect earlier this week in St. Louis.
SourcingFeb 27, 2026
South African Diamond Mine Closes Amid Search for Missing WorkersOwners of the Ekapa Mine reportedly filed for liquidation about a week after a mudslide trapped five workers who have yet to be found.
