The deadline to qualify for early bird pricing for the AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge awards is Sept. 26, and the final deadline is Oct. 10. Pictured is the 33-carat “The Montana Sun Sapphire” from John Dyer of John Dyer Gems that won Best of Show in the Cutting Edge division of last year’s contest.
Dallas—The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) announced it is accepting entries for the 2025 AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge awards.
The annual contest, created in 1984, 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 and be recognized at the Spectrum & Cutting Edge awards gala during AGTA GemFair in Tucson next February.
Categories for the Spectrum awards for finished jewelry include bridal, business/day wear, evening wear, and men’s wear.
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.”
A vetted panel of judges, comprising experts from various facets of the industry, will choose the winners in each category.
This year’s retailer judges are Jerry Raine of Turgeon Raine in Seattle and Craig Underwood of Underwood’s Jewelers in Arkansas. Designer Erica Courtney is the designer judge. Blaine Lewis, owner and lead instructor of the New Approach School For Jewelers in Tennessee, is the manufacturing judge. Expert gemstone cutter Clay Zava is the lapidary judge.
At top (left to right) Blaine Lewis, Clay Zava, and Jerry Raine. At bottom, Craig Underwood (left) and Erica Courtney (right)
Four additional judges will select winners for the two sponsored awards:
At top, Billie Norville (left) and Cher Norville (right), and at bottom, Patti Norville Spector (left) and Jenny Luker (right).
The Alfie Norville Women in Excellence Award, sponsored by Allan Norville and family, highlights female designers and is open to women entering any of the Spectrum categories. One of these awards will be given in each Spectrum category. These entries will be judged separately.
The award was introduced last year to honor the late Alfie Norville, who helped to establish the annual Gem & Jewelry Exchange jewelry trade show in Tucson, Arizona.
The second designation, a Platinum Honors award sponsored by Platinum Guild International, highlights the use of platinum. One award will be given in each Spectrum category. The organization will also select one “Best Use of Platinum and Color” and one “Best Use of a Platinum Crown.”
The judges for these awards are Jenny Luker, president of Platinum Guild International USA, along with Patti Norville Spector, Cher Norville, and Billie Norville—members of the Norville family.
“Once again, AGTA is fortunate to have an incredible group of judges with vast industry experience for this year’s awards,” said John W. Ford, Sr., CEO of AGTA.
“I encourage every designer and gem dealer, whether a seasoned veteran or someone waiting to be discovered, to send in your best. The media exposure you receive both by competing or winning a Spectrum or Cutting Edge Award can equally propel you and your business to new heights.”
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Judging will take place in October.
There are also the “Editor’s Choice Spectrum” and “Editor’s Choice Cutting Edge” categories, for which winners are chosen at an invitation-only event for media that will take place in the fall.
Next year, at GemFair Tucson 2026, buyers will vote on pieces for the “Buyer’s Choice” awards. One winner will be chosen in the Spectrum division and one in Cutting Edge.
“The AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards have represented the highest standard of excellence in gemstones and jewelry design for over four decades,” said Bruce Bridges, AGTA board president and president of Bridges Tsavorite.
“The judging process is incredibly thorough, with each juror selected for their unique expertise and insight. Multiple safeguards have also been put into effect to ensure that any chance for favoritism is completely negated. The level of media attention from respected industry publications, bloggers, and influencers makes participation alone a valuable opportunity. In terms of long-term recognition and visibility, no other jewelry competition compares.”
The mail-in deadline to qualify for early bird pricing is Sept. 26. The first entry is $285, and all additional entries are $225 each.
The final deadline is Oct. 10. After the early bird pricing offer expires, it is $315 for the first entry and $245 for every additional entry.
All entries must be paid for and received by the AGTA office before this date.
The full list of eligibility requirements and judging criteria is available on AGTA’s website.
