Platinum Honors at the 2012 AGTA Spectrum Awards™

PGI-USA Awards Eight Jewelry Designers with ‘Platinum Honors’ for Outstanding Work in Platinum at the 2012 AGTA Spectrum Awards™

Platinum once again took center stage at the 28^th annual AGTA Spectrum Awards, a competition hosted by the American Gem TradeAssociation that celebrates outstanding design using colored gemstones. An impressive array of platinum entries were submitted in this year’s competition, nine of which were recognized in the Platinum Honors™ category sponsored by Platinum Guild International USA (PGI-USA). The Platinum Honors™ winners were chosen from each of the five Spectrum Awards categories as well as Best Use of Color and Platinum, and new entry price-pointed categories Entry Platinum Honors in Bridal Wear and Platinum Innovation in Classical and Day Wear designs.

PGI-USA Senior Vice President, Jenny Luker notes, “We were thrilled to see so many stunning platinum submissions at this year’s awards, especially because platinum’s natural white color makes it an ideal setting for showcasing gemstones. Designers truly outdid themselves by creating breath-taking platinum designs that ranged from dainty and elegant to bold and innovative.”

PGI-USA’s participation in the AGTA Spectrum Awards™ is an integral part of their continued effort to support up and coming, as well as established designers and manufacturers and inspire them to work in platinum.

Winners of the Platinum Honors™ category are awarded with a generous prize package valued at more than $15,000 including several high profile publicity opportunities, professional photography of the winning piece featured on PGI-USA’s consumer website PreciousPlatinum.com and a customized poster of the winning piece featured in a trade advertisement – all of which aims to generate national brand awareness and desire for the winning designer.

The 2012 AGTA Spectrum Awards™ competition was held in New York City on October 22-23.

Platinum Honors™ 2012 Winners:

Best Use of Platinum and Color

Michael Endlich, Pave Fine Jewelry: Platinum ring featuring a 19.05 ct. cushion-cut Aquamarine with pave-set Diamonds (.41 ctw.).

Bridal Wear

James W. Currens, J.W. Currens Inc.: Platinum ring featuring a 16.80 ct. sugarloaf Ruby accented with Diamaonds (4.54 ctw.).

Bridal Wear – Entry Platinum Innovation

Mark Schneider, Mark Schneider Design: Platinum ring featuring a 1.81 ct. round blue Sapphire accented with white Diamonds (.14 ctw.).

Day Wear

Leon Mege, Leon Mege, Inc.: Platinum Ring featuring a 16.76 ct. Paraiba Tourmaline cabachon accented with antique cushion-cut Diamonds and Diamond melee (3.10 ctw.).

Day Wear – Entry Platinum Innovation

Susan Drake, Spectrum Art & Jewelry: Platinum and yellow gold ring featuring a 1.08 ct. emerald-cut red Spinel accented with Diamonds (.18 ctw.).

Evening Wear

Evelyn Clothier, Evelyn Clothier Jewelry: Platinum butterfly brooch featuring brown diamond slices (104.42 ctw.) accented with a 5.06 ct. brown Diamond and white Diamonds )3.04 ctw.).

Classical

Erica Courtney, Erica Courtney: Platinum ring featuring an 11.19 ct. Imperial pink Topaz accentedwith Diamonds.

Men’s Wear

Mark Schneider, Mark Schneider Deisgn: Platinum ring featuring a 15.0 ct. shield-cut rubellite Tourmaline accented with white Diamonds (.90 ctw.) and yellow Diamonds (.22ctw.).

In addition to the Platinum Honors™ winners, The American Gem Trade Association recognized the following platinum designs:

Best Use of Color

Deirdre Featherstone, Featherstone Design: Platinum earrings featuring removable Opal enhancers (15.64 ctw.) accented with blue Zircons (3.27 ctw.), Tanzanites (3.53 ctw.), Paraiba Tourmalines (.40 ctw.) and Diamonds (5.79 ctw.).

Bridal Wear – 1st Place

Maria Canale, Richard Krementz Gemstones – Platinum “Lace” ring featuring a 4.10 ct. blue Sapphire accented with Diamonds (.77 ctw.).

Bridal Wear – 3rd Place

Craig Slavens, AuRTWORK Jewelry – Platinum and 18K yellow gold pendant featuring a 3.92 ct. rose-cut black Diamond accented with black and white Diamond melee (.52 ctw.) on an 18K white gold chain set with black and white Diamonds (.71 ctw.).

Bridal Wear – Manufacturing Honors

Mark Schneider, Mark Schneider Design – Platinum earrings featuring 12mm black Tahitian Pearls and 8mm cultured freshwater Pearls accented with white Diamonds (.99 ctw.) and black Diamonds (.53 ctw.).

Bridal Wear – Honorable Mention

Leonard McCue, L.A.M. Goldsmiths – Platinum “Hearts and Arrows” ring featuring a 19.0 ct. pear-shaped Moonstone accented with Diamonds (2.37 ctw.).

Classical – 1st Place

James Currens, J.W. Currens, Inc. – Platinum ring featuring a 14.25 ct. unheated Ruby cabochon accented with Diamonds (7.97 ctw.).

Classical – 2nd Place

Ashok Sancheti, Pioneer Gems – Platinum earrings featuring Emerald cabochon drops (18.45 ctw.) accented with Emeralds (18.21 ctw.) and Diamonds (4.81 ctw.).

Classical – 3rd Place

Jeffrey Bilgore, Jeffrey Bilgore, LLC – Platinum pendant featuring an 11.80 ct. pear-shaped Morganite accented with fancy-colored and white Diamonds (7.09 ctw.).

Classical – Honorable Mention

Christo Kiffer, Sissy’s Log Cabin – Platinum art-deco ring featuring a 4.84 ct. oval black Opal cabochon accented with Emeralds (1.0 ctw.), blue Sapphire melee (.88 ctw.) and Diamonds (.93 ctw.).

Men’s Wear – 1st Place (pictured above)

Mark Schneider, Mark Schneider Design – Platinum engraved ring featuring channel-set Ruby melee (.59 ctw.) and yellow Diamonds (.115 ctw.).