The winners were announced on 5 February at the Spectrum Awards Gala. The gala was held at the Tucson Convention Center during the AGTA GemFair Tucson.
Mimi So's «Cotton Candy» necklace in 18-karat rose gold with kunzite, spinels and imperial topaz won the «Buyer's Choice» award in the Spectrum category. While Ben Kho won the award in the Cutting Edge category with his 35.25-carat octagonal kunzite in rose-purple.
The winners of the awards were selected by the trade fair participants. They voted for their favorite pieces from the list of winners announced in November. The pieces were displayed in showcases throughout the fairgrounds.
Mimi So, CEO and creative director of her eponymous brand, won the «Buyer's Choice» award from Spectrum.
The «Cotton Candy» necklace in 18-carat rose gold also won an Honorable Mention in Spectrum's Evening Wear category. It features a 16.71-carat pear-shaped kunzite. Another 4.05 carat spinel in bright pink and a 5.65 carat imperial topaz. It is accented with sapphires weighing a total of 18.71 carats and spinels weighing a total of 14.99 carats. Also tourmalines totaling 41.70 carats and diamonds totaling 8.71 carats.
Ben Kho of Kho International Ltd. won the award in the Cutting Edge category for the second consecutive year.
His entry for 2025, a 35.25-carat pink-purple octagonal kunzite. It also won first place in the “All Other Cut Gemstones” category.
Michael O'Connor, jewelry industry personality, trend watcher and television personality, was the gala's emcee.
«AGTA buyers are known for their excellent taste. So their decisions on these two beautiful pieces - Mimi So's necklace and Ben Kho's Kunzite - were a delight.» As John W. Ford Sr., CEO of AGTA, said.
«It's never an easy decision because there are so many great projects in the competition. So we're always grateful when entrants take time out of their schedules to choose the winners.».
The next edition of the Spectrum and Cutting Edge Awards will open for entries at the end of June 2026. It will include the premiere of a brand new category.
Questions about the prizes can be sent to marketing@agta.org.
Source: nationaljeweler.com
