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EditorsOct 23, 2007
Rocks that rock
On a sunny afternoon in New York City's Greenwich Village, a penthouse photography studio on Bethune Street displayed hundreds of gemstones. I'm not Blackbeard, but this certainly felt like finding a treasure alcove—but possibly better—since I only had to travel...
On a sunny afternoon in New York City's Greenwich Village, a penthouse photography studio on Bethune Street displayed hundreds of gemstones.
I'm not Blackbeard, but this certainly felt like finding a treasure alcove—but possibly better—since I only had to travel crosstown to get there, didn't have to pillage anyone and, most of all, because it was a room full of jewelry with designs that impressed. And they should have. After all, these pieces are the entries to the 2008 American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) Spectrum and Cutting Edge Awards.
Monster cocktail rings and statement-making necklaces came in full force, as did two-fingered rings, a gemstone-studded dog collar and pieces displaying colorful gems on the outside as well as underneath. Too much is clearly never too much; Mae West would have been proud.
True to Vogue's September declaration that the brooch is back, a decent showing of pins was on display, ranging in design from a martini to even a zebra.
The wedding category showed many more gemstones than tried-and-true pearls, incorporating aquamarines, pink sapphires, multi-colored topaz and spessartite garnets, to name a few.
For the person who has it all but still wants more, there was even a "honeycomb box" entitled "The American Queen" by James Currens of J.W. Currens Inc. It features orange and blue sapphires, citrines, rubies, tsavorite garnets as well as yellow and white diamonds, and won both First Place and Best of Show. Even better—the wings of the "bee" that rests on top of the box flutter.
Lesson learned from AGTA's display is what real color means. I don't think I've ever seen brighter pinks, blues, purples or any hue for that matter—not even on Barbie or Rainbow Brite.
To view photos of some of the pieces entered in the AGTA Spectrum and Cutting Edge Awards, click here. Photos courtesy of National Jeweler Associate Art Director Thomas Rosinski.
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