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Stuller Crowns Battle of the Benches Winner
Austin, Texas, jeweler Patrick Dobbs won the third annual competition held during the supplier’s Bench Jeweler Workshop.
Here, Patrick Dobbs, overall winner of Stuller’s Battle of the Benches competition, participates in one of its three challenges.
Lafayette, La.--Stuller has announced the winner of its third annual Battle of the Benches competition, held during the manufacturer’s Bench Jeweler Workshop from March 23 to 25.
Austin, Texas, jeweler Patrick Dobbs, representing the Texas Institute of Jewelry Technology, was the overall winner, and the winner in two of the three challenges: Parts and Pieces, and CAD and Render.
Craig Farley of FCF Jewelry Designs won the third challenge, Polishing and Finishing.
Dobbs and Farley were two of five jewelers selected to compete.
“It’s a huge honor,” Dobbs said. “The jewelers that I competed against, they are all very talented. It could have been any of them too.” 
Judge Angela Busby commented, “It was a tough decision because they were all amazing. The competitors gave their all, and it definitely showed in the final product.”
Stuller’s Bench Jeweler Workshop hosted 200 jewelers at its Lafayette, Louisiana, headquarters for three days of classes and product demonstrations.
“Having 200 talented bench jewelers from across the country all under one roof for an entire weekend definitely makes for a one-of-a-kind event,” said Tammy Lail, Stuller’s vice president of tools, metals and packaging. “Everyone leaves with something, whether it’s innovative ideas to implement in their shop, tools and equipment to improve efficiency, or new connections that will last a lifetime.”
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