A selection of colored gemstones from B & B Fine Gems that won third place in the Cutting Edge category "Pairs & Suites"
The holidays are officially in full swing, and as a textbook type A personality who loves the challenge of selecting the perfect gifts, this is my Super Bowl.
My shopping is done, every present has been meticulously wrapped, and I’m counting down the minutes until Christmas morning.
Though one might expect that I’d have my own color-coded wish list, when it comes to receiving gifts, those that know me would be quick to tell you that I am not so easy to shop for.
As a jewelry editor, I’m constantly surrounded by beautiful things, and there’s only one way to put it—I like what I like.
I attended my first Editor’s Day for AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards earlier this year, and for someone like me that thrives on a unique find, any of the incredible 300+ entries would make a real treat of a gift.
Santa, if you’re reading this, I’ll make it easy. Here are the five pieces from that day I would love to find under the tree on Christmas morning.
Omi Gems’ “Moonglade” Ring Though this was my first time seeing the Spectrum and Cutting Edge entries in person, I’ve covered the results in the past, and the Bridal Wear category is always a favorite of mine.
I’ve been loving the idea of non-diamond “white” stones in bridal jewelry, specifically moonstone, so when I saw this “Moonglade” ring from Omi Gems’ Niveet Nagpal, I was smitten.
The “Moonglade” ring won the Honorable Mention award for the Bridal Wear category.
The piece centers a 10.33-carat faceted moonstone with a mesmerizing iridescence, and it features a romantic, sunset-esque palette of accent stones including Paraíba tourmaline and unheated orange sapphires from Malawi.
Yael Designs’ Fire Agate Earrings I could not stop going back to these brilliant freeform fire opal earrings from Yael Designs founder Yehouda Saketkhou in collaboration with designer Randy Gonzalez.
The diamond accents bring a tasteful tact to this fiery gemstone’s dynamic character and standout color.
It’s equal parts elevated and playful—a dream jewel for a big personality.
The piece is also versatile, featuring removable dangles that turn these statement earrings to a pair of vivid studs.
Erica Courtney’s “Riviera Blue Zircon” Necklace This necklace by Erica Courtney featuring more than 100 carats of mix-cut, bezel-set blue zircons is iconic.
If an “It Girl” could be a piece of jewelry, this is her.
Erica Courtney’s “Riviera Blue Zircon” necklace
I’ve been loving a bezel setting lately, and I think it’s safe to say the rest of the industry has too.
When a design features an already exceptional gemstone, a bezel setting brings the emphasis to the stone and just takes it to another level—see above.
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Brilliant Stars’ Coral Crocodile If you know the National Jeweler team, you know we love animals.
While they appear in jewelry quite regularly, animal motifs also pop up in Cutting Edge’s “Objects of Art” category, which is open to things like bowls and sculptures and other things made of gem materials but not intended for wear.
I immediately fell in love with this 117-gram hand-carved coral statue from Rodney Rahmani of Brilliant Stars.
The hand-carved coral crocodile won third place in the “Objects of Art” category.
I imagined where I would put him on display in my own home, and it reminded me how much I loved crocodiles as a child. I would beg to go see them at our local zoo, and at one point, I had a sizable collection of stuffed animals and various wood-carved objects around my room depicting the reptile.
We all say it all the time, but the most special thing about jewelry is what it means to the owner.
While this little guy wasn’t the most expensive or luxurious submission, he brought back a meaningful memory and unexpectedly brought me the most joy.
B & B Fine Gems’ “Rainbow Dream Suite” Last, but certainly not least, I thoroughly enjoyed this suite of colored gemstones from Ruben Bindra of B & B Fine Gems.
The “Rainbow Dream Suite” features sapphires, spinels, tourmalines, garnets, chrysoberyls, morganites, and aquamarines, totaling over 113 carats, in various colors and cuts.
This imagining of a yet-to-be-created necklace is a sophisticated whimsical take on the ultra-popular rainbow and gradient sapphire tennis bracelets and necklaces, and it would quickly become a staple in my jewelry box.
There’s no end in sight to my dreaming of the day I get to be the lucky owner of any of these incredible pieces, but in the meantime, the holidays will continue to inspire a spirit of gratitude for me.
It is a gift in itself to have the opportunity to enjoy up close the works of innovative minds and creative designers, and I’m looking forward to seeing even more beautiful things in the new year.
