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0 Comments (PRESS RELEASE) MJSA, the U.S. trade association dedicated to professional excellence in jewelry making and design, recently honored 12 outstanding jewelry designs in its 2020 MJSA Vision Awards competition. Now in its 29th year, the annual competition recognizes achievement by both professionals and students in creating designs that meld originality, craftsmanship, and functionality. In addition to the Professional Excellence and Student categories, this year’s competition also featured Distinction categories honoring prowess in four specific areas: Laser Distinction (sponsored by LaserStar Technologies Inc.), Custom Design Distinction (sponsored by Century Casting Co. Inc.), Colored Stone Distinction (sponsored by Stuller Inc.), and Responsible Practices Distinction (sponsored by Richline Group). ADVERTISEMENT The 2020 winners are: "Blooming Cage" by Sophia Hu “Blooming Cage” by Sophia Hu of 6SHADOWS in Las Vegas. Hu created this piece by interweaving thin (24-26 gauge) 18k and Argentium wires, deftly using a laser to weld them together and achieve a sophisticated “blooming” pattern. She added diamonds and rubies for accent and depth. This piece won First Place in the Professional Excellence, 4+ Years in Business and the Laser Distinction categories. "Chrysanthemum Fold" by Karin Jacobson “Chrysanthemum Fold” by Karin Jacobson of Karin Jacobson Jewelry Design in Minneapolis. Featuring the designer’s signature “origami” style of folded metalwork, these earrings feature recycled metals (gold and oxidized sterling), Harmony recycled GI–SI diamonds (0.10 ctw), and 9 mm Tahitian black pearl drops. It won Second Place in the Professional Excellence, 4+ Years in Business category. "Van Gogh's Gladioli Necklace" by Larissa Moraes “Van Gogh’s Gladioli Necklace” by Larissa Moraes, a studio artist in Brasilia, Brazil. Inspired by the Dutch artist’s “Vase with Gladioli and Chinese Asters,” this necklace uses light citrine, ruby, and morganite gems to mimic the flowers in the painting. Moraes chose an articulated collar to aid in movement and fit. The necklace won First Place in the Professional Excellence, 1-3 Years in Business category. ADVERTISEMENT "Van Gogh's Sunflower Earrings" by Larissa Moraes “Van Gogh’s Sunflower Earrings” by Larissa Moraes. Another Van Gogh homage, this time featuring citrines (in various shades) and yellow diamonds to represent the sunflowers. These earrings earned Second Place in the Professional Excellence, 1-3 Years in Business category as well as an Honorable Mention for Colored Stone Distinction. 51 ct. "Floating" Ametrine Solitaire Ring by Frieder Lauer 51 ct. “Floating” Ametrine Solitaire Ring by Frieder Lauer, who owns a jewelry design atelier in Houston. This custom piece features a massive ametrine, to which renowned carver John Dyer applied his trademarked “Starbrite” cut. Lauer’s client instructed that the “stone . . . really needs to just ‘float.'” Through a combination of CAD/CAM, laser work, and ingenuity (the setting capitalizes on a unique pattern of grooves in the ametrine’s pavilion), the designer achieved that effect. This ring won First Place in both the Custom Design Distinction and the Colored Stone Distinctioncategories. Rough Montana Sapphire and Diamond Dangle Earrings by Karin Jacobson of Karin Jacobson Jewelry Design Rough Montana Sapphire and Diamond Dangle Earrings by Karin Jacobson of Karin Jacobson Jewelry Design in Minneapolis. These earrings were made entirely of responsibly sourced materials: recycled 18k gold, 22k gold, and oxidized sterling; recycled GI-SI diamonds (0.15 ctw); and rough Montana-sourced sapphires (10.09 ctw) that haven’t been cut. Jacobson’s responsible practices extend throughout her operation: She uses food-grade citric acid for pickle, recycles packaging for both jewelry boxes and shipping containers, and ensures her caster uses recycled casting shot. Her efforts won First Place for Responsible Practices Distinction. "Befitting" Ring by Kyra Martin “Befitting” Ring by Kyra Martin, a graduating student at George Brown University in Toronto. Martin designed this ring as part of her thesis collection, the pieces in which aim to accentuate the natural lines and curves of the body—in this case, those of the hand and fingers. Made of 18k gold wire, it features a red zircon and a Padparadscha sapphire as accents. The ring won First Placein the Future of the Industry category for student work. "Reverie" Bracelet by Ashley Pollack “Reverie” Bracelet by Ashley Pollack, who is studying at both SUNY New Paltz and the Gemological Institute of America. Pollack cut each link of this hinged bracelet from a sheet of sterling, then added decoration through keum-boo, the ancient Korean technique that fuses 24k foil to another surface (usually silver). After scoring, bending, and soldering the links, she attached them with Argentium posts. This flexible bracelet won Second Place in theFuture of the Industry category. ADVERTISEMENT The Honorable Mention winners also include: "Wreath," a brooch/pendant by Sophia Hu Sophia Hu for “Wreath,” a brooch/pendant with interwoven 18k and Argentium wires (Honorable Mention for Laser Distinction). "Moon Glow," a cuff by Adam Neeley Adam Neeley of Adam Neeley Fine Art Jewelry, Laguna Beach, California, for “Moon Glow,” a cuff featuring a 29.5 ctw suite of rainbow moonstones (Honorable Mention for Laser Distinction). 14k Art Deco ring by David Dorian David Dorian of Dorian Jewelers, Watertown, Massachusetts, for a repurposed 14k Art Deco ring featuring a 2 ct. radiant-cut diamond center stone and two pear-shaped sapphires (Honorable Mention for Custom Design Distinction). "Ode to Notre Dame," an 18k green gold necklace by Brenda Smith Brenda Smith 0 Comments (PRESS RELEASE) MJSA, the U.S. trade association dedicated to professional excellence in jewelry making and design, recently honored 12 outstanding jewelry designs in its 2020 MJSA Vision Awards competition. Now in its 29th year, the annual competition recognizes achievement by both professionals and students in creating designs that meld originality, craftsmanship, and functionality. In addition to the Professional Excellence and Student categories, this year’s competition also featured Distinction categories honoring prowess in four specific areas: Laser Distinction (sponsored by LaserStar Technologies Inc.), Custom Design Distinction (sponsored by Century Casting Co. Inc.), Colored Stone Distinction (sponsored by Stuller Inc.), and Responsible Practices Distinction (sponsored by Richline Group). ADVERTISEMENT The 2020 winners are: "Blooming Cage" by Sophia Hu “Blooming Cage” by Sophia Hu of 6SHADOWS in Las Vegas. Hu created this piece by interweaving thin (24-26 gauge) 18k and Argentium wires, deftly using a laser to weld them together and achieve a sophisticated “blooming” pattern. She added diamonds and rubies for accent and depth. This piece won First Place in the Professional Excellence, 4+ Years in Business and the Laser Distinction categories. "Chrysanthemum Fold" by Karin Jacobson “Chrysanthemum Fold” by Karin Jacobson of Karin Jacobson Jewelry Design in Minneapolis. Featuring the designer’s signature “origami” style of folded metalwork, these earrings feature recycled metals (gold and oxidized sterling), Harmony recycled GI–SI diamonds (0.10 ctw), and 9 mm Tahitian black pearl drops. It won Second Place in the Professional Excellence, 4+ Years in Business category. "Van Gogh's Gladioli Necklace" by Larissa Moraes “Van Gogh’s Gladioli Necklace” by Larissa Moraes, a studio artist in Brasilia, Brazil. Inspired by the Dutch artist’s “Vase with Gladioli and Chinese Asters,” this necklace uses light citrine, ruby, and morganite gems to mimic the flowers in the painting. Moraes chose an articulated collar to aid in movement and fit. The necklace won First Place in the Professional Excellence, 1-3 Years in Business category. ADVERTISEMENT "Van Gogh's Sunflower Earrings" by Larissa Moraes “Van Gogh’s Sunflower Earrings” by Larissa Moraes. Another Van Gogh homage, this time featuring citrines (in various shades) and yellow diamonds to represent the sunflowers. These earrings earned Second Place in the Professional Excellence, 1-3 Years in Business category as well as an Honorable Mention for Colored Stone Distinction. 51 ct. "Floating" Ametrine Solitaire Ring by Frieder Lauer 51 ct. “Floating” Ametrine Solitaire Ring by Frieder Lauer, who owns a jewelry design atelier in Houston. This custom piece features a massive ametrine, to which renowned carver John Dyer applied his trademarked “Starbrite” cut. Lauer’s client instructed that the “stone . . . really needs to just ‘float.'” Through a combination of CAD/CAM, laser work, and ingenuity (the setting capitalizes on a unique pattern of grooves in the ametrine’s pavilion), the designer achieved that effect. This ring won First Place in both the Custom Design Distinction and the Colored Stone Distinctioncategories. Rough Montana Sapphire and Diamond Dangle Earrings by Karin Jacobson of Karin Jacobson Jewelry Design Rough Montana Sapphire and Diamond Dangle Earrings by Karin Jacobson of Karin Jacobson Jewelry Design in Minneapolis. These earrings were made entirely of responsibly sourced materials: recycled 18k gold, 22k gold, and oxidized sterling; recycled GI-SI diamonds (0.15 ctw); and rough Montana-sourced sapphires (10.09 ctw) that haven’t been cut. Jacobson’s responsible practices extend throughout her operation: She uses food-grade citric acid for pickle, recycles packaging for both jewelry boxes and shipping containers, and ensures her caster uses recycled casting shot. Her efforts won First Place for Responsible Practices Distinction. "Befitting" Ring by Kyra Martin “Befitting” Ring by Kyra Martin, a graduating student at George Brown University in Toronto. Martin designed this ring as part of her thesis collection, the pieces in which aim to accentuate the natural lines and curves of the body—in this case, those of the hand and fingers. Made of 18k gold wire, it features a red zircon and a Padparadscha sapphire as accents. The ring won First Placein the Future of the Industry category for student work. "Reverie" Bracelet by Ashley Pollack “Reverie” Bracelet by Ashley Pollack, who is studying at both SUNY New Paltz and the Gemological Institute of America. Pollack cut each link of this hinged bracelet from a sheet of sterling, then added decoration through keum-boo, the ancient Korean technique that fuses 24k foil to another surface (usually silver). After scoring, bending, and soldering the links, she attached them with Argentium posts. This flexible bracelet won Second Place in theFuture of the Industry category. ADVERTISEMENT The Honorable Mention winners also include: "Wreath," a brooch/pendant by Sophia Hu Sophia Hu for “Wreath,” a brooch/pendant with interwoven 18k and Argentium wires (Honorable Mention for Laser Distinction). "Moon Glow," a cuff by Adam Neeley Adam Neeley of Adam Neeley Fine Art Jewelry, Laguna Beach, California, for “Moon Glow,” a cuff featuring a 29.5 ctw suite of rainbow moonstones (Honorable Mention for Laser Distinction). 14k Art Deco ring by David Dorian David Dorian of Dorian Jewelers, Watertown, Massachusetts, for a repurposed 14k Art Deco ring featuring a 2 ct. radiant-cut diamond center stone and two pear-shaped sapphires (Honorable Mention for Custom Design Distinction). "Ode to Notre Dame," an 18k green gold necklace by Brenda Smith Brenda Smith
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