Events & AwardsSep 29, 2026
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Pattons Fine Jewelry Sweeps Local Design Contest
Ara Chanakian, a jeweler at Pattons, took home top honors in every category at Jewelers of Louisiana’s annual jewelry design competition.
This pendant, made by designer Ara Chanakian, features a rutilated quartz accented by sapphire, peridot, and citrine. At Jewelers of Louisiana’s jewelry design contest, it won in the Level 3 category, which is for jewelry that retails at $6,001 or more, as well as the overall design award.
Baton Rouge, La.—At Jewelers of Louisiana’s recent jewelry design contest, Pattons Fine Jewelry took home wins in every category.
The awards, presented by Jewelers of Louisiana Executive Director Caroline Bleakley, recognize top jewelry design and exceptional business performance by the retailer, the organization said.
Ara Chanakian, a bench jeweler and custom designer at Pattons, was named the overall design winner for the fourth year in a row.
This award is voted on by the Jewelers of Louisiana membership.
The piece to receive the overall design award, pictured at the top of the article, is a 14-karat yellow and white gold pendant featuring a 43-carat rutilated quartz accented by sapphire, peridot, and citrine.
“It’s a tremendous honor to have my work acclaimed by my own peers,” Chanakian said.
“I think the only thing more satisfying is the joy I see on the faces of my clients, when something I made just for them is presented to them for the first time.”
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The awards, presented by Jewelers of Louisiana Executive Director Caroline Bleakley, recognize top jewelry design and exceptional business performance by the retailer, the organization said.
Ara Chanakian, a bench jeweler and custom designer at Pattons, was named the overall design winner for the fourth year in a row.
This award is voted on by the Jewelers of Louisiana membership.
The piece to receive the overall design award, pictured at the top of the article, is a 14-karat yellow and white gold pendant featuring a 43-carat rutilated quartz accented by sapphire, peridot, and citrine.
“It’s a tremendous honor to have my work acclaimed by my own peers,” Chanakian said.
“I think the only thing more satisfying is the joy I see on the faces of my clients, when something I made just for them is presented to them for the first time.”
Chanakian also won first place awards for his work in all three design categories, which are organized by price.
In Level 1, which is for jewelry priced at up to $2,000 retail, Chanakian’s 18-karat rose and white gold drop earrings with diamonds won first place.
Anthony Lucia Jr. of Roussel’s Fine Jewelry & Gifts in Boutte, Louisiana, took home second place for his 14-karat white gold ring set with a 2.06-carat lab-grown marquise diamond and a leaf design on the band.
Kristy Segura of Melancon Jewelers in Abbeville, Louisiana, won third place.
She entered a 14-karat two-tone gold freeform ring set with 13 graduated round diamonds totaling 0.25 carats and a trillion-cut peridot accented with an angel wing on a half open shank.
Level 2 is for jewelry priced at $2,001 to $6,000 retail.
The winning piece for the Level 2 category is this 14-karat yellow and white gold ring featuring three diamonds in the center totaling 0.40 carats and 1.17 carats of diamond melee. It was made by Ara Chanakian.
LaNell Melancon of Melancon Jewelers’ pearl necklace won second place in Level 2.
Chanakian’s winning piece was a 14-karat yellow and white gold ring with three diamonds set vertically in the center and diamond melee accents.
LaNell Melancon of Melancon Jewelers won second place for a necklace with one strand of graduated black Akoya pearls featuring a 14-karat yellow gold freeform open center pendant and another strand made with smaller white Akoya pearls accented by 14-karat yellow gold bars.
For Level 3, which is for jewelry priced at $6,001 or more, Chanakian’s quartz pendant with colored gemstones accents, pictured at the top of the article, won.
Richard Melancon of Melancon Jewelers, took home second place for his engagement ring centering a 2.01-carat round diamond flanked by two pear-shaped diamonds totaling 0.30 carats and accented by 42 round diamonds totaling 0.60 carats.
“It’s exciting to have a run like this but it’s also not surprising. Ara’s talent and skills are obviously next level and we are thrilled to have him on our team,” said Kevin Patton, president of Pattons.
Patton noted on the organization’s Facebook post that Chanakian’s custom designs from 2026, as well as four of his previous award-winning designs, will be available to view at the store’s Baton Rouge location for an indefinite period.
He also highlighted Chanakian’s contributions to the company.
“We prefer to make a friend and client, rather than making a one-time sale. We prefer to satisfy needs, rather than push products,” Patton said.
“That approach coupled with Ara’s talent, we believe, is a combination that serves people at the highest level, and simply can’t be matched elsewhere.”
Pattons Fine Jewelry has a history of more than 80 years in Louisiana. It currently operates two locations, one in Alexandria and another in Baton Rouge.
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