(PRESS RELEASE) LOS ANGELES – Stuller hosted its 19th annual Bench Jeweler Workshop March March 22 and 23, with more than 160 jewelers from across the world visiting its global headquarters in Lafayette, LA.
“Workshop is always a great time for our customers,” said Tammy Lail, vice president of tools, metals and packaging. “It’s an action-packed event where they get to learn, network, and enjoy a little of the Louisiana culture.”
The fourth annual Battle of the Benches competition also occurred during the two-day event. It consisted of two different challenges – the Parts and Pieces Challenge, where contestants fabricated a custom piece on the spot from an assortment of components, metals, and gemstones. And the Ready, Set Challenge, where they prepped, polished, assembled, and set their original entry piece.
The jewelers selected for this year’s competition were: 2018 defending champion, Patrick Dobbs of Hammerman Forge, Evgenii Fedko of Fedko Jewelry, Aleksey Saburov of Saburov Art Studio, and Joe Kremer of Joseph Kremer Inc. The winners were as follows:
• Day 1: Parts and Pieces Winner – Aleksey Saburov
• Day 2: Ready, Set Winner – Evgenii Fedko
• Overall Winner: Evgenii Fedko
“It’s incredible to watch the determination, passion and talent that the contestants put forth over the two days,” said Battle of the Benches judge Emily Graffagnino. “I have so much respect for the work that was created by all four of these bench jewelers.”
“What an honor to win the Battle of the Benches,” said Fedko, who is a native of Sochi, Russia. “Everyone’s pieces were beautiful, I’m sure the judges had a hard time.”
Battle of the Benches contestants gather.