Prix Golay 2006: Winner’s Circle

Prix Golay 2006

The "cultured" pearl served as this year's theme for the Prix Golay, as participants used a South Sea pearl to interpret a culture of their choice in their jewelry creations. The contest featured original pieces created by professional goldsmiths in their last year of vocational training, with entries being evaluated on originality, conformity with the given theme, the comfort of wear or use, the technical quality of craftsmanship, and the judges' own sense of the piece.

The winners are:

Grand Prize: Aurélie Ledesma for Pearl and Digital Culture, a necklace made of gold, silver, and silicon, combined with a South Sea pearl and a USB key to symbolize digital culture (top). When the USB key is removed, its cap tilts to join the second silicon cord and shows a small, brilliant-cut diamond.

Conceptual Prize: Charlotte Cochet for Harmoniously Kitsch, a ring that combines two inches of aluminum, colored by anodic oxidation, with a South Sea pearl in a gold mounting, a Plexiglas painting, and synthetic grass (left). The image of a flower is created when the Plexiglas disc is placed on top of the ring, and also serves as a protective case for the pearl. When the disc is inserted into the bottom of the ring, the pearl and synthetic grass are pushed upward to replace the two-dimensional flower with a three-dimensional one. In both positions, the disc is held in place by small magnets.

Special Prize of the Jury: Nicole Grüninger for Movement and Dance, a hair ornament made of white gold with a South Sea pearl located in the middle of its stem (right). The placement of the pearl encourages observers to move and dance in a sometimes immobile society.

Technical Prize: Renaud Monnier for Egg Machine, a sterling silver, egg-shaped pendant that opens up to reveal a South Sea pearl, symbolizing the natural growth of living beings (left).

The annual contest is sponsored by the Golay Group, with the objective of promoting creations by young, up-and-coming talent. For more information on the Prix Golay, visit www.golay.com.

MJSA American Vision Awards

The Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America (MJSA) honored the winners of its annual American Vision Awards (AVA) Design Competition on March 11 at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. Entries were evaluated on originality, creativity, presentation quality, effective use of materials, wearability, and perceived manufacturing and marketing potential. All first and second place winners received cash awards up to $1,000.

The winners are:

Professional Category

First Place: Todd Reed of Todd Reed Inc. for his patinaed silver speculum with flush-set brilliant diamonds, topped by a cluster of raw diamonds set in 18K gold.

Second Place: Thomas Dailing of Thomas Dailing Designs for his yellow and white reflective pendant with a Madeira citrine, accented with hessonite garnets, colored sapphires, and brilliant-cut diamonds (left).

Student Category

First Place: Jung Hyun Ra of the Fashion Institute of Technology for Drooping Earrings, made of 14K gold and jade.

Second Place: Hae Jin Park of the Fashion Institute of Technology for a necklace inspired by a woman's scarf.

Platinum Distinction

First Place: James Kaya of Solair Jewelers for Golden Bridge, a platinum and 18K white gold ring with yellow sapphires.

Second Place: Adam Shirley of Adam Shirley Designs for Taper Eternity Band, a platinum and 18K yellow gold ring with diamonds.

Silver Distinction

First Place: Todd Reed of Todd Reed Inc. for his patinaed silver speculum with flush-set brilliant diamonds, topped by a cluster of raw diamonds set in 18K gold.

Second Place: Nina Basharova of New York City for her platinum silver bangles with a variety of colored stones (left).

Crystal Distinction

First Place: Caito Amorose of MoonWater Designs for The Queens Jewels, a collar with clear crystal rondelles that wind and twist around the wearer's neck.

Second Place: Chow Hartanti of Irlenna's Art for a double-sided crystal necklace.

Mokume-gane Distinction

First Place: Steve Midgett of Earthshine Mokume Inc. for Orbit, a brooch made of titanium and tantalum, accented with 22K gold and a diamond.

Second Place: Lisa Krikawa of Krikawa Jewelry Design for Life Drops, a necklace made of palladium white gold and sterling mokume-gane, diamonds, and stainless steel cable.

Reactive Metals Distinction

First Place: Steve Midgett of Earthshine Mokume Inc. for Orbit, a brooch made of titanium and tantalum, accented with 22K gold and a diamond.

Second Place: Jackie Goetz of Jewelers Workshop for her necklace with a pierced tree design in 18K red and royal gold and 14K green gold, riveted to a colored sheet of titanium set with diamonds (above). The necklace is accented with gold flowers set with purple sapphires.

CAD/CAM Distinction

First Place: Charles P. Bahringer of illumine i titanium for his titanium ring with purple anodized inner grooves and diamonds.

Second Place: Lee Krombholz of Krombholz Jewelers for Starry Night Band, with various-sized diamonds in a star-themed ring.

The AVA competition is designed to recognize the talent and innovation of designers whose work influences future trends in the jewelry industry. For more information, visit www.mjsainc.com.