Events & AwardsMar 31, 2021
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Here Are the 2021 CASE Award Winners
Jewelers of America’s national competition recognizes members who exhibit creativity, artistry, style, and excellence in jewelry design.
Jewelers of America has announced the winners of its 2021 CASE Awards. Among them is this pair of blue sapphire and 18-karat blue rhodium gold earrings from Graziela Gems.
New York—The judges have spoken, and the winners of the 31st annual CASE Awards have been announced.
Jewelers of America’s CASE Awards, a national design competition, recognizes members who exhibit creativity, artistry, style, and excellence in jewelry design.
This year brought a record number of entries, nearly 200 in total, JA said.
The association also expanded the competition to include 14 different categories based on jewelry style and price.
The judges named a total of 15 winners, one per category except for “Necklaces $5,001 and Up,” in which there were two winners.
All winners will receive a customized CASE Award trophy, and national and local media coverage.
A panel of design experts chose the winners, evaluating entries on overall design, marketability, originality, and quality of manufacture.
Judges were: Terry Chandler, Diamond Council of America; Deirdre Featherstone, Featherstone Design; Amanda Gizzi, JA; Brecken Branstrator, National Jeweler; JB Jones, NYC Jewelry Week; Adrianne Sanogo, Black in Jewelry Coalition and GIA Graduate Gemologist; and Iveta N. Stephanopoulos, GIA.
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Jewelers of America’s CASE Awards, a national design competition, recognizes members who exhibit creativity, artistry, style, and excellence in jewelry design.
This year brought a record number of entries, nearly 200 in total, JA said.
The association also expanded the competition to include 14 different categories based on jewelry style and price.
The judges named a total of 15 winners, one per category except for “Necklaces $5,001 and Up,” in which there were two winners.
All winners will receive a customized CASE Award trophy, and national and local media coverage.
A panel of design experts chose the winners, evaluating entries on overall design, marketability, originality, and quality of manufacture.
Judges were: Terry Chandler, Diamond Council of America; Deirdre Featherstone, Featherstone Design; Amanda Gizzi, JA; Brecken Branstrator, National Jeweler; JB Jones, NYC Jewelry Week; Adrianne Sanogo, Black in Jewelry Coalition and GIA Graduate Gemologist; and Iveta N. Stephanopoulos, GIA.
The competition was open only to employees of JA member companies.
“Jewelers of America’s CASE Awards design competition showcases the fine craftsmanship and talent of JA Members across the country,” said Gizzi.
“Judging was incredibly difficult this year, as we had a wide variety of immensely talented jewelry designers enter in every category. The judges had to carefully consider the judging criteria, and it had to come down to the finest details to determine winners.”
See the winners in the slideshow below.
Category: Engagement Rings up to $5,000. Designed by: Angela Hope of Ben Bridge Jeweler in Seattle. Entry information: Diamond engagement ring inspired by a sunrise, made of 14-karat palladium alloyed recycled white gold with 0.42 carats of baguette diamonds ($2,399 for semi-mount)
Category: Engagement Rings $5,001 and Up. Designed by Niveet Nagpal of Omi Privé in West Covina, California. Entry information: Platinum ring featuring an 8.86-carat oval blue moonstone accented by pear-shape Paraíba-type tourmalines (1.10 total carats), round Paraíba tourmalines (0.34 total carats) and round diamonds (0.96 total carats) ($34,000)
Category: Earrings up to $5,000. Designed by: Eddie LeVian of Le Vian in Great Neck, New York. Entry information: 14-karat yellow gold earrings with natural pink and white freshwater pearls and natural carved prehnite leaves ($4,999)
Category: Earrings $5,001 and Up. Designed by Graziela Kaufman of Graziela Gems in Highwood, Illinois. Entry information: Blue sapphire earrings (5.79 total carats) set in 18-karat blue rhodium gold ($7,800)
Category: Necklaces up to $5,000. Designed by Lynn Gambino of Lilly Street in Old Brookville, New York. Entry information: Mini Capulet necklace in 18-karat pink gold with natural herkimer crystals and a ruby center ($2,320)
Category: Necklaces $5,001 and Up. Designed by Mike Anderson of Brody Designs in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Entry information: 57-carat carved untreated Colorado blue topaz necklace in 14-karat white gold ($16,000)
Category: Necklaces $5,001 and Up. Designed by: Hans Schullin of Schullin in Graz, Austria. Entry information: Necklace made of red Mediterranean coral branches, silver sheen obsidian cabochons (227.96 total carats) and 1.09 carats of brilliant-cut diamonds set in 18-karat rose gold ($22,500)
Category: Bracelets up to $5,000. Designed by Hans Schullin of Schullin in Graz, Austria. Entry information: Green galuchat cuff with a branch of green oval cut tourmalines (5.36 total carats) and white brilliant-cut diamonds (0.05 total carats) in 18-karat fair trade rose gold ($2,900)
Category: Bracelets $5,001 and Up. Designed by Heena Shah of Valani in New York, New York. Entry information: Bracelet in 18-karat white gold set with 14 brilliant-cut rubies (14.90 total carats), 30 trillion-cut rubies (4.52 total carats), 56 marquise-cut diamonds (7.99 total carats), 14 pear-shaped diamonds (2.77 total carats), and 490 brilliant-cut diamonds (4.76 total carats) ($345,000)
Category: Rings up to $5,000. Designed by Steven Kistner of Steven Paul Designs in Delafield, Wisconsin. Entry information: Prosthetic eye set in sterling silver with mechanism to open and close eye ($4,800)
Category: Rings $5,001 and Up. Designed by Alexandra Mor of Alexandra Mor in New York City. Entry information: Eternity band set with 15.27 carats of one-of-a-kind hexagon-cut Muzo Columbian emeralds and diamonds wide-set in platinum on an 18-karat yellow gold Alexandra Mor logo gallery ($55,000)
Category: Pins/Brooches/Cufflinks (any price). Designed by Sharon Curtiss-Gal and William Brewer of The Gem Vault in Flemington, New Jersey. Entry information: Fine Oregon sunstones from the Dust Devil mine in Plush, Oregon (14.96 total carats) surrounded by pink spinels (3.70 total carats) and accented by tsavorites (.91 total carats) and round diamonds (.56 total carats) in 18-karat yellow gold ($13,000)
Category: Wedding Bands up to $5,000. Designed by Gabriel & Co. of New York City. Entry information: 14-karat white gold wide anniversary band with round and baguette diamonds (1.37 total carats) ($2,265)
Category: Wedding Bands $5,001 and Up. Designed by Eddie LeVian of Le Vian in Great Neck, New York. Entry information: Platinum and 18-karat yellow gold accent ring with 6.80 carats of yellow diamonds and 0.48 carats of white diamonds ($42,400)
Category: Other (non-jewelry items made of precious metals or stones, any price). Designed by Samuel Behnam and Neda Behnam of Samuel B. Collection in Great Neck, New York. Entry information: Oxidized sterling silver ballpoint pen with faceted black spinel endcap ($417)
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