(PRESS RELEASE) DALLAS – The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards. This year’s entries contained an impressive number of new entrants—more than 30—due in part to the wide number of opportunities available to all contest participants (not just winners). Spectrum entrants have a long history of garnering press mentions and one-off collection and sales opportunities that are not dependent on placement in the Awards.
The competition took place Oct. 30–Nov. 1, 2025, at the Omni Frisco Hotel at the Star in Dallas. The hotel once again served as a sponsor.
Total number of entries were comparable to last year, with well over 300 pieces comprising the final sum.
AGTA CEO John W. Ford Sr. was particularly happy with the number of new entrants — 32 — and first-time winners, which numbered six individuals who earned seven total awards.
“We tell participants that the Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards offer a ‘Lifetime of Opportunity’ and they truly do!” he said upon the completion of judging. “We are thrilled to welcome all these talents into the esteemed circle of Spectrum Award winners and can’t wait to see how they reap the many benefits and opportunities that Spectrum creates.”
Entry trends this year included some returning favorites like Tourmaline, including rubellite, and pink and purple gems, as well as a strong showing of Sapphires and Garnets, cameo faces, top-quality Rainbow Moonstones, ocean themes, and some exceptional Emeralds. There were also three times the number of entries to the Carving category in Cutting Edge this year over last.
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Standouts are plentiful and include many in loose goods and finished jewelry. Both Best of Show Cutting Edge winner and 1st Place winner in Pairs & Suites was Oren Nhaissi of EMCO Gem, Inc., in collaboration with Yaron Nhaissi, for a suite of emerald-cut, no-oil Colombian Emeralds (12.91 ctw.). The Best of Show Spectrum winner and 1st Place winner in Business Day/Wear was Somewhere in the Rainbow Gem and Jewelry Collection in collaboration with Mark Höllmüller for an 18K yellow gold, platinum, and cocobolo wood “Elements” bracelet featuring a 14.16 ct. pink Tourmaline accented with Peridot (12.77 ctw.), Spinel (1.134 ctw.), demantoid Garnet (1.115 ctw.), and Diamonds (4.80 ctw.)
Plus, some top titles were taken home by some of the new entrants and newly crowned winners. Among them: Cindy Zhang of Cindy Lu Jewelry, who took 1st Place in the Evening Wear category for her 18K white gold “Fuchsia Bloom” necklace featuring a 5.5 ct. rubellite Tourmaline accented by tsavorite Garnets, (1.28 ctw.), Rubies (0.705 ctw.), pink Sapphires (2.29 ctw.), Diamonds (1.88 ctw.), and Pearls. Also in the Evening Wear category, Valaree Wahler of Elyzian took the Alfie Norville Women in Excellence title for her 18K yellow gold “Parure d’Aurore” necklace featuring a 62.79 ct. pink Tourmaline, a 32.41 ct. Peridot, a 25.35 ct. Aquamarine, and a 26.18 ct. Heliodor accented by Diamonds (8.36 ctw.).
This year marks the second time that winners were named in the new Alfie Norville Women in Excellence Awards (ANW), sponsored by Allan Norville and the Norville family. This year, Patti Spector Norville, Billie Norville, and Cher Norville all served as judges. ANW honors were given to one female entrant in each of the six Spectrum categories, and all women who entered the AGTA Spectrum Awards were eligible. Click here for more information about the Alfie Norville Women in Excellence Awards.
Judges this year included Craig Underwood of Underwood’s Jewelers, Donald Janson of Walters & Hogsett Jewelers, Blaine Lewis of the New Approach School for Jewelers, Clay Zava of Zava Mastercuts, and Erica Courtney of Erica Courtney, LLC. Jerry Raine of Turgeon Raine Jewelers had to withdraw just prior to the competition. Click here for more information about the judges.
Finally, Kevin Reilly of Platinum Guild International served as the judge for the Platinum Honors Awards, given to one winner in each of the six Spectrum categories as well as Best Use of Platinum Crown and Best Use of Platinum and Color.
“The American Gem Trade Association extends its heartfelt gratitude to all participants, the AGTA team, our distinguished panel of judges, and this year’s award winners for their exceptional dedication, artistry and commitment to excellence,” said Bruce Bridges, President of the AGTA Board of Directors and President of Bridges Tsavorite. “We are immensely proud of the extraordinary quality, innovation, and craftsmanship reflected in the winning pieces—creations that exemplify the very best of our industry and will take their place among the finest examples of modern jewelry excellence.”
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Jonathan J. Gad, Chairman of the AGTA Spectrum committee and CEO of Gad Enterprises, expressed his admiration to entrants and winners.
“This year’s AGTA Spectrum Awards marked an extraordinary celebration of innovation and artistry,” said Gad. “I extend my warmest congratulations to all our winners, and a special acknowledgment to the record number of first-time honorees who joined the ranks of Spectrum awardees this year. Your creativity and dedication continue to inspire and elevate the standards of excellence in our industry.”
Many of the winning pieces will be on display during the 2025 AGTA GemFair Tucson, Feb. 2–Feb. 6. The AGTA Spectrum Gala is the highlight of 2025 Gem Week festivities and will take place on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2025, in the recent addition to the Tucson Convention Center. For more information or tickets, log onto agta.org.
Professional images of all winners will be available soon. Reach Alex Canas, Marketing Manager, at [email protected], or Jennifer Heebner, Editor in Chief, at [email protected], for assistance.
Images shot by Jeff Mason Photography
Winners of the 2025 AGTA Spectrum Awards are:
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Best of Show
Best of Show – Spectrum Somewhere in the Rainbow Gem and Jewelry Collection, in collaboration with Mark Höllmüller – 18K yellow gold, platinum, and cocobolo wood “Elements” bracelet featuring a 14.16 ct. pink Tourmaline accented with Peridot (12.77 ctw.), Spinel (1.134 ctw.), demantoid Garnet (1.115 ctw.), and Diamonds (4.80 ctw.)
Best of Show – Cutting Edge Oren Nhaissi, EMCO Gem, Inc., in collaboration with Yaron Nhaissi – Suite of emerald-cut, no-oil Colombian Emeralds (12.91 ctw.)
Best Use of Color Niveet Nagpal, Omi Gems, Inc. – 18K yellow gold ring featuring an 8.48 ct. Opal accented with trapezoid tsavorite Garnets (1.50 ctw.), round tsavorite Garnets (0.58 ctw.), and round Hauyne (0.22 ctw.)
Best Use of Pearl Richard B. Berberian, Elyse Fine Jewelers – Gemologist, in collaboration with Anna Maria Cammilli (manufacturing) – 18K white gold “Midnight Aurora” pendant featuring a 14 mm black South Sea Pearl accented by Sapphires (20.18 ctw.) and Diamonds (2.36 ctw.)
Fashion Forward Mark Loren, Mark Loren Designs, in collaboration with Jesus Marquez, Andrea Canzanella – 18K & 14K yellow, white, and ombré gradient gold “I’ll Always Be Attracted to You” earrings featuring black Tahitian Pearls and golden South Sea Pearls accented by marquise purple Sapphires (0.80 ctw.), mixed Sapphires (3.69 ctw.), and Diamonds
Best of Single Entries – Spectrum Heath London, Heath London Jewelry – 18K yellow gold “My Point of View” earrings featuring fancy-cut London blue Topaz (54.67 ctw.) accented by shield-cut Tanzanites (5.40 ctw.) and cushion-cut tsavorite Garnets (1.45 ctw.)
Best of Single Entries – Cutting Edge Philip Louer, North American Gem Carvers, LLC, in collaboration with Michael Christie and Susan Allen – 18K yellow gold essence bottle featuring a 190.0 ct. Aquamarine, a 103.0 ct. Tahitian Pearl, a 470.0 ct. Chrysoprase, and Diamonds (0.62 ctw.) titled “Love at First Sight”
Best Use of Platinum & Color Lauryn Volovar, Earth’s Treasury, Inc., in collaboration with Caroline Patterson, Colleen Schwarz, and Jeffrey Hapeman – Platinum “Garnet Supernova” necklace featuring a 4.43 ct. tsavorite Garnet accented by tsavorite Garnets (5.46 ctw.), Diamonds (7.31 ctw.), and color-change Garnets (12.40 ctw.)
Best use of Platinum Crown Michael Endlich, Pavé Fine Jewelry Design – Platinum “Blue Ice” ring featuring a 5.95 ct. oval pale bluish white Sapphire accented by epaulette Diamonds (0.77 ctw.)
Spectrum Awards
Bridal Wear
Bridal Wear – 1st Place Gabriel Angulo, Pompos Jewelry Corporation – Platinum ring featuring an 8.83 ct. oval cabochon Australian Lightning Ridge black Opal accented by Emeralds (0.62 ctw.), Diamonds (1.53 ctw.), Sapphires (0.80 ctw.), and Tourmalines (0.44 ctw.)
Bridal Wear – 2nd Place and Bridal Wear – Fashion Forward Mark Loren, Mark Loren Designs, in collaboration with Jesus Marquez, Andrea Canzanella – 18K & 14K yellow, white, and ombré gradient gold “I’ll Always be Attracted to You” earrings featuring black Tahitian Pearls and golden South Sea Pearls accented by marquise purple Sapphires (0.80 ctw.), mixed Sapphires (3.69 ctw.), and Diamonds
Bridal Wear – 3rd Place and Bridal Wear – Platinum Honors Adam Neeley, Adam Neeley Fine Art Jewelry, Inc. – Platinum “Regina” pendant featuring a 68.14 ct. blue/green Aquamarine accented by Diamonds (0.90 ctw.) and white akoya Pearls
Bridal Wear – Alfie Norville Women in Excellence Ellinor Stenroos, E.V. Stenroos – 18K yellow gold “Ivory Bloom” earrings featuring pear-shape white Topaz accented by Diamonds
Bridal Wear – Honorable Mention Niveet Nagpal, Omi Gems, Inc. – Platinum pendant featuring a 9.20 ct. heart-shape rainbow Moonstone accented with a 1.01 ct. Tourmaline, Tourmalines (0.79 ctw.), and Diamonds (0.49 ctw.)
Business/Day Wear
Business/Day Wear – 1st Place and Best of Show Somewhere in the Rainbow Gem and Jewelry Collection, in collaboration with Mark Höllmüller – 18K yellow gold, platinum, and cocobolo wood “Elements” bracelet featuring a 14.16 ct. pink Tourmaline accented with Peridot (12.77 ctw.), Spinel (1.134 ctw.), demantoid Garnet (1.115 ctw.), and Diamonds (4.80 ctw.)
Business/Day Wear – 2nd Place Adam Neeley, Adam Neeley Fine Art Jewelry, Inc. – 18K/14K yellow and white SpectraGold™ “Amaris” earrings featuring tsavorite Garnets (16.0 ctw.) and Diamonds (3.64 ctw.)
Business/Day Wear – 3rd Place Somewhere in the Rainbow Gem and Jewelry Collection, in collaboration with Jutta Munsteiner (designer) and Phillip Munsteiner (gem cutter) – 18K yellow gold “Rise of the Phoenix” ring featuring a 27.34 ct. custom-cut fire Opal
Business/Day Wear – Platinum Honors Jeffrey Bilgore, Jeffrey Bilgore, LLC – Platinum “Spinel Perfection” bracelet featuring 33 Spinels (40.85 ctw.)
Business/Day Wear – Alfie Norville Women in Excellence Susan Eisen, Susan Eisen, Inc. – 18K yellow gold ring featuring a 12.0 ct. fantasy-cut blue Topaz accented by Diamonds (0.25 ctw.)
Business/Day Wear – Honorable Mention Wolfgang Vaatz, Wolfgang Vaatz – 22K yellow gold, 14K white gold, and 18K yellow gold sheet fused to sterling silver “Expanding” cuff featuring a 4.85 ct. Opal accented by Diamonds (0.614 ctw.)
Classical
Classical – 1st Place Randy Coffin, Coffin & Trout Fine Jewellers – 18K yellow gold and platinum “Face in the Mirror” pendant with a removable bail featuring a hand-carved banded Agate cameo accented with a custom-cut “mirror” Quartz, Diamonds (4.15 ctw.), spessartite Garnets (1.69 ctw.), and orange Spinel (1.27 ctw.)
Classical – 2nd Place Jackson Krisky, Youthful Peoples – 18K green gold “Bell’s Orchard Earwig” pin/brooch featuring Emeralds, fancy brown Diamonds, and Moonstones with removable earwig
Classical – 3rd Place Jeremy Dunn, Dunn & Co. – Platinum “Autumn Deco” ring featuring a 9.63 ct. color change from orange-brown to pink-orange Pyrope-Spessartine Garnet accented with Diamonds (0.62 ctw.)
Classical – Platinum Honors Jeffrey Bilgore, Jeffrey Bilgore, LLC – Platinum “Drop Dead Ruby Earrings” featuring two oval Mozambique Rubies (6.16 ctw.) accented with Diamonds (2.42 ctw.)
Classical – Alfie Norville Women in Excellence Robin Callahan, Robin Callahan Designs, LLC, in collaboration with Palm Beach Gems by Nicole (commissioned for them and is for sale through them) – 18K white gold “Exuma” ring featuring a 25.85 ct. blue-green color-shift Tourmaline accented with Diamonds and blue-green Sapphires
Classical – Honorable Mention Roland Krainz, Krainz Creations – Platinum bracelet featuring green to white tsavorite Garnets (18.30 ctw)
Classical – Honorable Mention Niveet Nagpal, Omi Gems, Inc. – Platinum ring featuring a 6.02 ct. pink Sapphire accented with epaulette-cut Diamonds (0.60 ctw.), pink Sapphires (0.46 ctw.), and Diamonds (0.74 ctw.)
Engagement Rings
Engagement Rings – 1st Place Nikki Swift, Nicole Mera – Platinum “Love Struck” ring featuring a 1.74 ct. unheated Mozambique heart-shaped Ruby accented with baguette Diamonds (0.78 ctw.), round Diamonds (0.80 ctw), and Rubies (1.22 ctw.)
Engagement Rings – 2nd Place Craig Slavens, Luxe Fine Jewelry, in collaboration with Nancy Rice and David Palazyan (stone setting) – Platinum “A STAR is Born” ring featuring a 9.64 ct. cabochon Burmese star Ruby accented with white Diamonds (0.69 ctw.) and pink Diamonds (0.08 ctw.)
Engagement Rings – 3rd Place Raja Mehta, AG Gems & Jewelry – Platinum “Twilight – Whisper” ring featuring a 5.38 ct. oval Zoisite accented by bullet-cut Diamonds (0.41 ctw.) and carré-cut Diamonds (0.36 ctw.)
Engagement Rings – Platinum Honors and Best Use of Platinum Crown Michael Endlich, Pavé Fine Jewelry Design – Platinum “Blue Ice” ring featuring a 5.95 ct. oval pale bluish white Sapphire accented by epaulette Diamonds (0.77 ctw.)
Engagement Rings – Alfie Norville Women in Excellence Lindsay Jane Chatham, K. Jons Jewelry Co. – 18K white gold “Tropical Honeymoon” ring featuring a 5.22 ct. teal Sapphire accented with French-cut Diamonds (1.42 ctw.)
Evening Wear
Evening Wear – 1st Place Cindy Zhang, Cindy Lu Jewelry – 18K white gold “Fuchsia Bloom” necklace featuring a 5.50 ct. rubellite Tourmaline accented by tsavorite Garnets (1.28 ctw.), Rubies (0.705 ctw.), pink Sapphires (2.29 ctw.), Diamonds (1.88 ctw.), and Pearls
Evening Wear – 2nd Place Richard B. Berberian, Elyse Fine Jewelers – Gemologist, in collaboration with Anna Maria Cammilli (manufacturing) – 18K white gold “Midnight Aurora” pendant featuring a 14 mm black South Sea Pearl accented by Sapphires (20.18 ctw.) and Diamonds (2.36 ctw.)
Evening Wear – 3rd Place Niveet Nagpal, Omi Gems, Inc. – 18K yellow gold ring featuring an 8.48 ct. Opal accented with trapezoid tsavorite Garnets (1.50 ctw.), round tsavorite Garnets (0.58 ctw.), and round Hauyne (0.22 ctw.)
Evening Wear – Alfie Norville Women in Excellence Valaree Wahler, Elyzian – 18K yellow gold “Parure d’Aurore” necklace featuring a 62.79 ct. pink Tourmaline, 32.41 ct. Peridot, 25.35 ct. Aquamarine, and a 26.18 ct. Heliodor accented by Diamonds (8.36 ctw.)
Evening Wear – Platinum Honors and Best Use of Platinum and Color Lauryn Volovar, Earth’s Treasury, Inc., in collaboration with Caroline Patterson, Colleen Schwarz, and Jeffrey Hapeman – Platinum “Garnet Supernova” necklace featuring a 4.43 ct. tsavorite Garnet accented by tsavorite Garnets (5.46 ctw.), Diamonds (7.31 ctw.), and color-change Garnets (12.40 ctw.)
Evening Wear – Honorable Mention Mimi So, Mimi So – 18K rose gold “Cotton Candy” necklace featuring a 16.71 ct. pear-shape Kunzite, a 4.05 ct. vivid pink Spinel, and a 5.65 ct. Imperial Topaz accented with Sapphires (18.71 ctw.), Spinels (14.99 ctw.), Tourmalines (41.70 ctw.), and Diamonds (8.71 ctw.)
Evening Wear – Honorable Mention and Best of Single Entries Spectrum Heath London, Heath London Jewelry – 18K yellow gold “My Point of View” earrings featuring fancy-cut London blue Topaz (54.67 ctw.) accented by shield-cut Tanzanites (5.40 ctw.) and cushion-cut tsavorite Garnets (1.45 ctw.)
Men’s Wear
Men’s Wear – 1st Place Craig Slavens, Luxe Fine Jewelry, in collaboration with Larry Rice – Platinum “Rock Star” ring featuring a 24.62 ct. bezel-set cabochon unheated star Ruby from Sri Lanka accented with Diamonds (2.50 ctw.)
Men’s Wear – 2nd Place and Men’s Wear – Alfie Norville Women in Excellence Brenda Smith, Brenda Smith Jewelry, in collaboration with Darryl Alexander – Platinum “Aqua Celeste” brooch featuring a carved cameo made of Agate accented by an 8mm cultured Tahitian Pearl and Sapphires (0.38 ctw.)
Men’s Wear – 3rd Place Cindy Zhang, Cindy Lu Jewelry – 18K white gold “Lagoon Shieldfire” ring featuring a 6.10 ct. green-blue cushion-cut Tourmaline accented by yellow shield-shape Sapphires (2.30 ctw.) and Diamonds (2.42 ctw.)
Men’s Wear – Platinum Honors Mary van der Aa, Mary van der Aa Iconic Jewels, in collaboration with Tucson Todd’s Gems (gemstone cutter) – Platinum “Solaris Sunset” pendant featuring a 15.08 ct. Portuguese-cut, pyrope-spessartine Garnet on a platinum diamond-cut cable chain
Men’s Wear – Honorable Mention Robin Callahan, Robin Callahan Designs, LLC – 14K yellow gold “Twisted” cufflinks featuring faceted white South Sea Pearls accented with black Diamonds (2.74 ctw.) and white Diamonds (0.44 ctw.)
Cutting Edge Awards
All Other Cut Gemstones
All Other Cut Gemstones – 1st Place Ben Kho, Kho International Ltd. – 35.25 ct. pink-purple octagonal-cut Kunzite
All Other Cut Gemstones – 2nd Place Joseph Ambalu, Amba Gem Corp. – 32.61 ct. Paraíba Tourmaline
All Other Cut Gemstones – 3rd Place Mikola Kukharuk, Nomad’s – 7.44 ct. modified brilliant kite-cut Tourmaline
All Other Cut Gemstones – Honorable Mention Jeffrey R. Hapeman, Earth’s Treasury, Inc. – 40.58 ct. “Stella” square cushion-cut Tanzanite
Carving
Carving 1st Place Somewhere in the Rainbow Gem and Jewelry Collection in collaboration with Gabi Klein – 11.8 cm “Sunny Boy” dark gray Obsidian from base to top of trunk, Rhodonite tongue, Cacholong tusks, black Onyx eyes
Carving – 2nd Place Robin Callahan, Robin Callahan Designs, LLC, in collaboration with Dalan Hargrave (lapidary) – 120.05 ct. zoned yellow fantasy carving Citrine titled “Lion Family”
Carving – 3rd Place Meg Berry, Megagem, in collaboration with Meline Gianini (owner) – 88.0 ct. “Grandi Corsage” hand carved Grandidierite
Classic Gemstones
Classic Gemstone – 1st Place Ron Rahmanan, Sara Gem – 2.09 ct. pigeon blood red Ruby from Mozambique
Classic Gemstone – 2nd Place Oren Nhaissi, EMCO Gem, Inc., in collaboration with Yaron Nhaissi – 25.5 ct. emerald-cut Colombian Emerald
Classic Gemstone – 3rd Place Ron Rahmanan, Sara Gem – 6.09 ct. pigeon blood red Ruby from Mozambique
Classic Gemstone – Honorable Mention Ron Rahmanan, Sara Gem – 9.33 ct. royal blue cushion-cut Sapphire
Classic Gemstone – Honorable Mention Robert Knupfer, Knupfer International Gems, Inc. – 12.33 ct. yellow emerald-cut unheated Sri Lankan Sapphire
Innovative Faceting
Innovative Faceting – 1st Place Ian Loska, Ian Loska Gems, 3.67 ct. “Grassbright and Gilded Light” oval concave-cut, color-zoned tsavorite Garnet
Innovative Faceting – 2nd Place John Dyer, John Dyer & Co. – 34.43 ct. StarBrite®-cut blue-green Tourmaline
Innovative Faceting – 3rd Place John Dyer, John Dyer & Co. – 63.67 ct. kite-shape Morganite
Innovative Faceting – Honorable Mention Rodney Rahmani, Brilliant Stars – 145.79 ct. round Amethyst
Innovative Faceting – Honorable Mention Dalan Hargrave, Geogem-USA, in collaboration with Robert Glenn and Connie Dixon – 79.75 ct. Ametrine
North American Mined Gemstones
North American Mined Gemstones – 1st Place Somewhere in the Rainbow Gem & Jewelry Collection in collaboration with Brad Payne and Jay Medici (lapidarist) – 19.34 ct. Rhodochrosite titled “Rocky Mountain Jolly Rancher”
North American Mined Gemstones – 2nd Place Ben Kho, Kho International Ltd. – 12.07 ct. fancy trillion-cut Fluorite
North American Mined Gemstones – 3rd Place Anthony Ritchie, Anthony P. Ritchie Gemworks – 1.70 ct. “The Heart of El Dorado” square radiant-cut unheated Montana Ruby
North American Mined Gemstones – Honorable Mention Jeffrey R. Hapeman, Earth’s Treasury, Inc. – 3.54 ct. peachy-pink unheated Montana Sapphire
Objects of Art
Objects of Art – 1st Place Desmond Chan, Gem Arts International, in collaboration with Yan Ge (carver) – 1,423 grams “Mastermind on the Rocks” clear/blue Topaz
Objects of Art – 2nd Place and Best of Single Entries Cutting Edge Philip Louer, North American Gem Carvers, LLC, in collaboration with Michael Christie and Susan Allen – 18K yellow gold essence bottle featuring a 190.0 ct. Aquamarine, a 103.0 ct. Tahitian Pearl, a 470.0 ct. Chrysoprase, and Diamonds (0.62 ctw.) titled “Love at First Sight”
Objects of Art – 3rd Place Patrick Dreher, Dreher Carvings, LLC – 3.05 kg “His Majesty” silver sheen Obsidian with eyes made of Agate
Pairs & Suites
Pairs & Suites – 1st Place Oren Nhaissi, EMCO Gem, Inc., in collaboration with Yaron Nhaissi – Suite of emerald-cut no oil Colombian Emeralds (12.91 ctw.)
Pairs & Suites – 2nd Place Stephen M. Avery, Stephen M. Avery – “Viridi Ad Caeruleum” suite of Peridot (13.09 ctw.), Aquamarine (33.05 ctw.), and Tanzanite (7.81 ctw.)
Pairs & Suites – 3rd Place Joseph Ambalu, Amba Gem Corp. – Pair of Paraíba Tourmalines (31.89 ctw.)
Pairs & Suites – Honorable Mention Ron Rahmanan, Sara Gem – Suite of royal blue Sapphires (10.60 ctw.) from Sri Lanka
Pairs & Suites – Honorable Mention Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co. – Suite of round blue Sri Lankan Sapphires (46.77 ctw.)
Phenomenal Gems
Phenomenal – 1st Place Bryan Lichtenstein, 3090 Gems – 12.91 ct. cushion-cut color-change greenish-to-blue Zircon
Phenomenal – 2nd Place Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co. – Suite of pear-shape rainbow Moonstones (116.40 ctw.)
Phenomenal – 3rd Place Niveet Nagpal, Omi Gems, Inc. – 9.09 ct. no heat color-change cushion-cut Sapphire from Sri Lanka
Phenomenal – Honorable Mention Jeffrey Bilgore, Jeffrey Bilgore, LLC – 15.32 ct. oval cat’s eye Chrysoberyl
Phenomenal – Honorable Mention Niveet Nagpal, Omi Gems, Inc. – 12.8 ct. pinkish-purple star Sapphire
Editor’s Choice
Editor’s Choice – Spectrum Joseph Dardashti, Joseph Dardashti Ltd. / Sophia D, in collaboration with Sophia D. Karmel – Platinum and 18K yellow gold “Japanese Motif” bracelet featuring Coral (5.41 ctw.), Onyx (9.49 ctw.), and Diamonds (11.61 ctw.)
Editor’s Choice – Cutting Edge Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co. – Suite of pear-shape rainbow Moonstones (116.40 ctw.)
AGTA is grateful to its sponsors this year, including the Omni Hotels, Platinum Guild International, and Allan Norville and the Norville family.
AGTA Spectrum Awards entries are judged on overall beauty and wearability, innovative design, effective use of materials, quality of gemstones, quality of workmanship, broad-based consumer appeal, and potential to generate positive publicity for natural-colored gemstones and natural Pearls and cultured Pearls.
AGTA Cutting Edge Awards honor excellence and creativity in lapidary arts, including natural-colored gemstones and natural and cultured Pearls, carvings, and other gem materials.
Platinum Honors, sponsored by Platinum Guild International (PGI), recognizes the outstanding use of platinum in colored gemstone and/or natural and cultured Pearl jewelry in six Spectrum Awards categories and for the Platinum Honors Awards in Bridal Wear, Business/Day Wear, Evening Wear, Classical, and Men’s. PGI also awards two “Best of” awards – Best Use of Platinum and Color and Best Use of Platinum Crown.
The newly unveiled Alfie Norville Women in Excellence Award, sponsored by Allan Norville and the Norville family, grants awards to female entrants in the Bridal Wear, Evening Wear, Classical, Men’s Wear, Engagement Rings, and Business/Day Wear categories. All women who enter the AGTA Spectrum Awards competition are eligible for this category.
Fashion Forward Honors recognizes the outstanding use of colored gemstone and/or cultured Pearl in artful, trend-setting jewelry. All designs that qualify for judging in the AGTA Spectrum Awards competition are eligible for Fashion Forward Honors judging.
For more information regarding the AGTA Spectrum Awards competition, please contact Kimmie Petersen at 800-972-1162 or [email protected]. For further information regarding the 2025 AGTA GemFair Tucson or the AGTA Spectrum Awards Gala, please call 800-972-1162 or visit our website at www.agta.org.
