AGTA Reveals Spectrum, Cutting Edge Award Winners for 2024
This year’s AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards included a new category for engagement rings and a new award highlighting female designers.
Judging for the contest, now in its 40th year, took place Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at the Omni Frisco Hotel at the Star in Dallas.
There were more than 375 entries, which AGTA CEO John W. Ford Sr. said was similar to the previous year and included a “substantial number” of first-time entrants.
Category distribution also was comparable to 2023.
“Every year the quality of our entries continues to get better and better,” said Ford.
The Evening Wear category had the most entries at 75, while Men’s Wear had 27 entries, a slight increase from last year.
A new category was introduced this year for engagement rings.
It had 21 entries, which Ford described as “an explosion of vibrant color” that “far outweighed my expectations.”
“We are thrilled to see artists’ colorful takes in an area that has traditionally been reserved for diamonds,” he said of the new category.
A new award also was introduced this year.
The Alfie Norville Women in Excellence Awards, sponsored by Allan Norville and the Norville family, were created to highlight female designers. The designation was given to one female entrant in each of the six Spectrum categories.
The 2024 AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards judges included Jean Francois Bibet, Cartier; Sherry Bender, The Goldsmith Ltd., Chicago; Susan Jacques, Gemological Institute of America; and Suzy Landa, Suzy Landa Fine Jewelry.
An additional judge, Peggy Grosz, formerly of Assael, withdrew due to a conflict.
“We have returned to Texas for a fourth time, and this may be our best year yet,” said Kimberly Collins, owner of Kimberly Collins Colored Gems and president of the AGTA board of directors.
“The caliber of the entries continues to increase annually, and the expertise of the judges wows us. I think everyone loved seeing the submissions in the new engagement ring category, as colored gems in bridal are a growing segment of the market.”
Spectrum award entries are judged on overall beauty and wearability, innovative design, effective use of materials, quality of gemstones, quality of workmanship, broad‐based consumer appeal and potential to generate positive publicity for natural colored gemstones, natural pearls and cultured pearls.
Cutting Edge awards honor excellence and creativity in the lapidary arts, including natural colored gemstones and cultured pearls, carvings, and other gem materials.
Many of the winning pieces will be on display during AGTA GemFair Tucson, slated for Feb. 3–9 in Tucson, Arizona.
Winners will be recognized at the AGTA Spectrum Gala, scheduled to take place Feb. 8 in the recent addition to the Tucson Convention Center.
Here they are.
“Best of” Awards
Best of Show–Spectrum: Joseph Dardashti, Joseph Dardashti Ltd. and Sophia D.
Best of Show–Cutting Edge: John Dyer, John Dyer Gems
Best Use of Color: Niveet Nagpal, Omi Gems Inc.
Best Use of Pearl: Robin Callahan, Robin Callahan Designs LLC
Fashion Forward: Adam Neeley, Adam Neeley Fine Art Jewelry Inc.
Best of Single Entries–Cutting Edge: Philip Louer, North American Gem Carvers LLC, with contributors Nicolai Medvedev (designer and fabricator), and Susan Helmich (gold work)
Best of Single Entries–Spectrum: Matthew Tuggle, Tuggle Designs, with contributors Lauren Tuggle (co-designer and hand engraver), Ryan Anderson (lapidary artist), and Kyle Forgey (supporting jeweler)
Best Use of Platinum and Color: Craig Slavens, Luxe Fine Jewelry
Best Use of Platinum Crown: Marie Fellhauer, Holly Hawks Curations LLC, with contributor Southern Diamond Jewelers (bench jeweler)
See: The “Best Of” Winners
Bridal Wear
First Place: Christina Penuel, Mark Loren Designs
Second Place: Craig Slavens, Luxe Fine Jewelry (commissioned by Larry Rice)
Third Place: Adam Neeley, Adam Neeley Fine Art Jewelry, Inc.
Alfie Norville Women in Excellence Award: Janine Castro, Janine Castro Jewelry, with contributors Steven DeLaVega (center stone source) and Juan Negron (jeweler)
Honorable Mention and Platinum Honors: Niveet Nagpal, Omi Gems Inc.
Business/Day Wear
First Place and Platinum Honors: Maia Carlson, Weber Goldsmith Gallery, with contributor Brad Weber
Second Place: Wolfgang Vaatz, Wolfgang Vaatz
Third Place: Niveet Nagpal, Omi Gems Inc.
Alfie Norville Women in Excellence Award: Jutta Munsteiner, Somewhere In The Rainbow, with contributor Tom Munsteiner (cutter)
Honorable Mention: Jeffrey Bilgore, Jeffrey Bilgore LLC
Honorable Mention: Dallas Prince, Dallas Prince Designs
Honorable Mention: Robin Callahan, Robin Callahan Designs LLC
Classical
First Place: Beatrix Laura Jessner, B & W Jewels LLC
Second Place: Yehouda Saketkhou, Yael Designs
Third Place: Niveet Nagpal, Omi Gems Inc.
Alfie Norville Women in Excellence Award: Mary van der Aa, Mary van der Aa Fine Jewels, with contributor Tucson Todd’s Gems (gemstone supplier)
Honorable Mention: Jutta Munsteiner, Munsteiner USA LLC
Platinum Honors: Jeffrey Bilgore, Jeffrey Bilgore LLC, with contributor Cuprian & Co. (supplier)
See: The Spectrum First-Place Winners
Engagement Rings
First Place: Niveet Nagpal, Omi Gems Inc.
Second Place: Nikki Swift, Nicole Mera LLC
Third Place: Jeffrey Bilgore, Jeffrey Bilgore LLC
Alfie Norville Women in Excellence Award: Robin Callahan, Robin Callahan Designs LLC with contributor Color Source Gems (sapphire supplier)
Honorable Mention: Yehouda Saketkhou, Yael Designs
Platinum Honors: Underwoods Design Team, Underwoods Fine Jewelers
Evening Wear
First Place: Joseph Dardashti, Joseph Dardashti Ltd. and Sophia D.
Second Place: Adam Neeley, Adam Neeley Fine Art Jewelry Inc.
Third Place: Phillip Dismuke, Jewelsmith Inc.
Alfie Norville Women in Excellence Award and Honorable Mention: Sonya Konstantinovsky, Sonya K.
Honorable Mention: Raja Mehta, AG Gems
Platinum Honors: Marie Fellhauer, Holly Hawks Curations LLC, with contributor Southern Diamond Jewelers (bench jeweler)
Men’s Wear
First Place and Platinum Honors: Craig Slavens, Luxe Fine Jewelry
Second Place: Matthew Tuggle, Tuggle Designs, with contributors Lauren Tuggle (co-designer and hand engraver), Ryan Anderson (lapidary artist), and Kyle Forgey (supporting jeweler)
Third Place: Zoltan David, Somewhere In The Rainbow, with contributor Bruce Bridges (supplier and cutting)
Alfie Norville Women in Excellence Award: Robin Callahan, Robin Callahan Designs LLC and Tom Munsteiner (lapidary artist)
Honorable Mention: Rodney Rahmani, Brilliant Stars
Honorable Mention: Dallas Prince, Dallas Prince Designs
Editors’ Choice Awards
Spectrum: Adam Neeley, Adam Neeley Fine Art Jewelry Inc.
Cutting Edge: Christopher Wolfsberg in collaboration with Nirinjan Kalsa
Here are the winners of the 2024 Cutting Edge Awards.
All Other Cut Gemstones
First Place: Joseph Ambalu, Amba Gem Corp.
Second Place: Mikola Kukharuk, Nomad’s
Third Place: Nancy Attaway, High Country Gems
Honorable Mention: Ben Kho, Kho International
Honorable Mention: Mikola Kukharuk, Nomad’s
Carving
First Place: Patrick Dreher, Dreher Carvings LLC
Second Place: Dalan Hargrave, GemStarz Jewelry, with contributor Don Buford (owner)
Third Place: Don Johnson, Obsessed Over Gems, with contributor Meg Berry
Honorable Mention: Robert Procop, Robert Procop Exceptional Jewels, with contributor Meg Berry (faceter)
Classic Gemstones
First Place: Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co.
Second Place: Ron Rahmanan, Sara Gem
Third Place: William Hakimi, A. Hakimi & Sons
Honorable Mention: Ron Rahmanan, Sara Gem
Innovative Faceting
First Place: Lee Haynes, LWH Gems
Second Place: Rodney Rahmani, Brilliant Stars
Third Place: Justin Cruz, Red Deer’s Customs & Throwing Stones, with contributors Derek Katzenbach (cutter) and Rusty James (co-owner)
Honorable Mention: Steven Manchini, Steven Tyler the Designer
Honorable Mention: Steven Manchini, Steven Tyler the Designer, with contributor Doug Malby
See: The Cutting Edge First-Place Winners
North American Mined Gemstones
First Place: John Dyer, John Dyer Gems
Second Place: Ben Kho, Kho International
Third Place: Ben Kho, Kho International
Objects of Art
First Place: Philip Louer, North American Gem Carvers LLC
Second Place: Desmond Chan, Gem Arts International, with contributor Yan Ge (carver)
Third Place: Rodney Rahmani, Brilliant Stars
Pairs & Suites
First Place: Niveet Nagpal, Omi Gems Inc.
Second Place: Joseph Ambalu, Amba Gem Corp.
Third Place: Ruben Bindra, B & B Fine Gems
Honorable Mention: David Nassi, 100% Natural Ltd., with contributor Kenneth Blount
Honorable Mention: Bruce Bridges, Somewhere In The Rainbow
Phenomenal
First Place: Ruben Bindra, B & B Fine Gems
Second Place: Jaimeen Shah, Prima Gems USA LLC
Third Place: Adam Gil, Jerry Gil & Company
Honorable Mention: Itamar Pimenta, Pentagon Gem
Sponsor Platinum Guild International gives out the “Best Use of Platinum and Color” and “Best Use of Platinum Crown” awards.
It also sponsors “Platinum Honors,” which recognizes the outstanding use of platinum in colored gemstone and/or cultured pearl jewelry in six Spectrum Awards categories.
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