Good morning, my darlings!!! I’m past excited to inform you that I not too long ago attended the 2022 AGTA Spectrum Awards Editor’s Day, aka coloured gemstone heaven. And sure, I took photos for you!
AGTA stands for the American Gemstone Trade Association, which represents the coloured stone and cultured pearl industries within the US and Canada. AGTA and its members lead the business in instructional sources, moral practices, and the best coloured gem stones and cultured pearls.
AGTA stands for the American Gemstone Trade Association, which represents the coloured stone and cultured pearl industries within the US and Canada. The Spectrum Awards is AGTA’s legendary annual jewellery design contest, which was created to acknowledge and promote each jewelers who use coloured gem stones and cultured pearls in distinctive fantastic jewellery designs and likewise lapidary artists who create extraordinary faceted gems and pearls, carvings, and objects of artwork.
I first attended the Spectrum Awards Editor’s Day in 2015 and I had the honour of internet hosting the Spectrum Awards Gala Purple Carpet throughout AGTA Gem Honest Tucson in 2017.
The Arkenstone is a magical playground for gem nerds. Any time I regarded up from the tables stuffed with completed jewellery, I used to be greeted by cabinets crammed with otherworldly mineral specimens, uncooked gem stones, and fossils. The juxtaposition between how these minerals emerge from the earth and what they’re able to when labored by human fingers made the whole expertise much more poignant.
Shout out to the stunning Mr. DitL, my wonderful husband (above), who got here alongside to assist out!
Sufficient speak. Let’s get to the jewellery!
Kicking issues off with some of the memorable items from the 2022 AGTA Spectrum Awards…that is The Underworld Ring by Third Eye Meeting. Created from 18K yellow gold, platinum, 22k rose and inexperienced gold, 24K yellow gold and 18K white gold, The Underworld Ring includes a 1.62 ct. black Opal, tsavorite Garnets, sapphires, and diamonds and is exquisitely detailed with mythological and astrological scenes.
In accordance with Third Eye Meeting’s Instagram, this exceptional piece is supposed to be an “astrological self portrait” of the artist (a Scorpio). Within the designer’s personal phrases:
“Depictions of Hades and Hecate, the female and male greek gods of the underworld, flank the east and west sides of the ring. Earth and Mars are depicted on the North and South sides of the ring together with diamonds and sapphires that align with the Scorpio star constellation.”
I didn’t see fairly as a lot pink as I’d have anticipated, given the colour’s present recognition, however the pink I did see was extraordinarily noteworthy. Take a look at the almost-neon Barbie shade of the pink sapphires in these earrings!!
These beautiful floral earrings are by Caroline Chartouni of Caroline C Jewellery and have two luscious pink sapphires totaling 10.94 carats, surrounded by 14.75 carats of diamonds and an extra 9.45 cts of pink sapphire. Are you able to think about these on a bride, or with a purple carpet robe? Sure please.
What I did see loads of was attractive sapphire engagement rings. A few pinks, one actually jaw-dropping purple, after which a sea of enchanting vibrant blue. These three sapphire engagement rings are by J.R. Dunn Jewelers, Skatell’s Manufacturing Jewelers, and Nicole Mera.
The sapphire heart stones themselves have been breathtaking, however I additionally liked the creativity evident within the design particulars of the settings. Take a look at these two, by Pompos Jewellery (left) and Robert Pelliccia of J.R. Dunn Jewelers (proper).
The Pompos Jewellery ring includes a 6.29 ct Ceylon sapphire and the J.R. Dunn ring options an 11.32 ct cushion reduce sapphire. These are critical stones.
This necklace was one other considered one of my private favorites. I’ve all the time liked the bewitching iridescence of Mom of Pearl, and I liked how this inexperienced gold Almaza Jewelers necklace consists of complimentary diamonds, rubies, tsavorite garnets, and sapphires to assist deliver out all the Mom of Pearl’s assorted hues.
One of many coolest issues about this necklace was the again, which I by some means didn’t {photograph}! Every of these Mom of Pearl ovals has a carefully wrought gold sea creature on the again. It’s attractive and so enjoyable! Hold an eye fixed out on Instagram – I’ll submit a video of this necklace and add a hyperlink to it right here
Not technically a bit of knickknack, this unbearably lovely object d’artwork was one of many first items that caught my eye. Isn’t it unbelievable? It’s an itty bitty Harley Davidson bike manufactured from 18K rose gold, lined in diamonds and a 1.59 ct. blue pure Burma sapphire as its seat.
This little magnificence is the work of Rodney Rahmani of Good Stars. The wheels actually flip, the handlebar actually steers, and sure, I did drive it up and down my arm whereas making “vroom vroom” noises.
This tourmaline ring by Ian Delucca of Khobe Delucca gained the 2022 AGTA Spectrum Awards Editor’s Selection Award, which that the members of the press (together with yours actually) thought this piece deserved recognition. Isn’t it nice? I like the colours, the adverse area, and the minimalist however eye-catching silhouette.
The ring is produced from ruthenium-plated 18K yellow gold and includes a 4.84 ct tourmaline accented with additional tourmaline and diamonds.
I’ve adopted Gary Roe Jewellery on Instagram for a while, however this necklace was the primary piece of the jeweler’s work I’ve seen in particular person. Isn’t it simply beautiful? It makes me need to frolic in a forest with a captivating elf prince.
This attractive piece is 22K yellow gold and includes a 33 ct. bicolor Tourmaline, a pear-shape Tourmaline, and Tsavorite Garnets.
Are you prepared for one more pair of earrings? We’ve acquired extra attractive blue right here on this entry from Pamela Froman High quality Jewellery. That texture on the 18K gold is the designer’s signature look. These earrings function two beautiful cushion-cut blue Zircons (10.8 ctw) and a pair of carved turquoise drops accented with diamonds.
Pamela Froman had two pairs of earrings within the 2022 AGTA Spectrum Awards, however these have been my favorites.
I used to be so excited to be round jewellery once more that I weirdly forgot to attempt on very many items? I used to be so targeted on touching it and photographing it that I didn’t mannequin a lot of it!
I did keep in mind attempt on this necklace – and thank goodness I did, as a result of it’s so excellent with my costume! It’s by Eddie Sakamoto for Someplace within the Rainbow and it’s known as the ‘A Rose by Any Different Title’ necklace. It options 18K gold and platinum with a 21.83 ct rose-colored step-cut Tourmaline and diamonds.
How about two items in a single photograph? These two opal stunners are by the identical designer, Llyn Robust. The opal necklace options Paraiba tourmaline, alexandrite, and spinel accents, whereas the ring is a black opal accented with blue and yellow diamonds. I like how the accent stones of each items decide up the particular play of shade in every heart stone. You’ll be able to inform how a lot thought went into these.
Llyn Robust really had considered one of my favourite items within the first AGTA Spectrum Awards I ever attended, a stunning opal insect brooch I noticed in 2015. I all the time get pleasure from seeing her artistic designs.
This Uneek Jewellery ring was considered one of my favourite design moments on the 2022 Spectrum Awards. Take a look at its polka-dot shank! Certain, that 2.62 ct oval emerald within the heart is gorgeous, but it surely’s the Tsavorite garnet accents among the many pave diamonds on the facet that actually get me. So artistic and enjoyable!
How about this glamorous peacock brooch/pendant?
This magnificence is by Jeffrey Bilgore and includes a Padparadscha sapphire, bi-color Tourmaline, spinels, peridot, and diamonds. One in all two very beautiful bird-themed items I noticed on the 2022 AGTA Spectrum Awards.
Right here’s a more in-depth take a look at the cowboy hat you will have glimpsed on the desk within the prime photograph! Isn’t it fantastic? And so acceptable for a Texas-based AGTA Spectrum Awards.
The hat includes a superbly detailed 14K yellow gold and turquoise hat band, crafted by Eric E. Wright of Village Goldsmith and Antiques. Yeehaw!
Essentially the most distinguished gemstone development of the 2022 AGTA Spectrum Awards was jaw-droppingly gorgous spinels. Like many individuals, I spent a few years not understanding the phrase “spinel” in any respect, however they’ve change into considered one of my very favourite stones in recent times. That is considered one of a number of spinels that took my breath away. Take a look at that coronary heart! It’s incendiary.
This platinum coronary heart necklace includes a 2.74 ct pure purplish-red Tanzanian Spinel accented with rubies and diamonds, and is by Nicole Mera.
For a direct distinction: right here’s one other beautiful spinel!
That is the platinum ‘Stadium’ ring by Benny Hayoun of B&V Diamonds. It featires a 6.66 ct pure Spinel with graduated rows of platinum lined in diamonds (3.77 ctw.) and sapphires (.72 ct) alongside the facet.
I feel this submit has gotten lengthy sufficient…so it’s going to should be a two-parter! Click on right here for Half 2, which is now reside!
For those who like what you see right here, it’s best to try my AGTA Archive to see treasures from different AGTA occasions I’ve attended.
AGTA generously took care of my journey bills for this journey, however my opinions stay my very own.
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