The American Gem Trade Association has announced the winners of the 2023 AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards.
The competition was again held in Dallas on October 24-25 at the Omni Frisco Hotel. The hotel sponsored the event along with Platinum Guild International, and the Women's Jewelry Association.
“This year's awards are among the best we have ever received,” said AGTA CEO John W. Ford Sr.
“We had 100 more entries this year than last year and many of them had amazing green and blue-green gems. So the Omni Hotels is the new home of the awards for years to come. But we hope to move the competition nationally to other Omni venues.”.
The judges this year were: Allan Koo, A. Koo & Co; Brent Malgarin, Elegant Gems Ltd; Christina Gandia Gambale, Greenwich St. Jewelers; Lika Behar, Lika Behar Jewelry; and Clayton Bromberg, Underwood's Jewelers in Jacksonville, Florida.
“The AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards 2023 has a new home and a new atmosphere.” As Kimberly Collins, owner of Kimberly Collins Colored Gems and chair of the AGTA board of directors, said.
“Our judges were amazing and worked so well together. So it seemed like they were extremely in tune with the choices they made. As always, the integrity of the judging competition is paramount. I felt the winners had a classic, timeless aesthetic this year. I am very proud to be part of a judging competition that adheres to the most rigorous standards.”.
Entries for the Spectrum Awards are judged on the basis of overall beauty and usability, innovative design. Also effective use of materials, quality of gemstones, quality of workmanship. Furthermore, broad consumer appeal and the ability to create favorable publicity for natural colored gemstones.
The Cutting Edge Awards honour excellence and creativity in stone carving. Including natural colored gemstones and cultured pearls, carvings and other precious materials.
Many of the award-winning works will be on display at the 2024 AGTA GemFair Tucson, scheduled for January 30 to February 4 in Tucson, Arizona.
Winners will be recognized at the Spectrum Gala on February 3, 2024 at the newly built annex of the Tucson Convention Center.
Source: nationaljeweler.com
