Good morning, my darlings!!! I’m past excited to let you know 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 Commerce Affiliation, which represents the coloured stone and cultured pearl industries within the US and Canada. AGTA and its members lead the trade in instructional sources, moral practices, and the best coloured gems and cultured pearls.
AGTA stands for the American Gemstone Commerce Affiliation, 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 gems and cultured pearls in distinctive superb 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 respect of internet hosting the Spectrum Awards Gala Pink Carpet throughout AGTA Gem Truthful Tucson in 2017.
The Arkenstone is a magical playground for gem nerds. Any time I seemed up from the tables filled with completed jewellery, I used to be greeted by cabinets full of otherworldly mineral specimens, uncooked gems, and fossils. The juxtaposition between how these minerals emerge from the earth and what they’re able to when labored by human fingers made your entire expertise much more poignant.
Shout out to the beautiful Mr. DitL, my wonderful husband (above), who got here alongside to assist out!
Sufficient discuss. Let’s get to the jewellery!
Kicking issues off with one of the crucial 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 encompasses 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 outstanding 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 reputation, 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 pretty 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 additional 9.45 cts of pink sapphire. Are you able to think about these on a bride, or with a pink carpet robe? Sure please.
What I did see quite a lot 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 middle 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 encompasses 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 one among my private favorites. I’ve at all times 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 someway didn’t {photograph}! Every of these Mom of Pearl ovals has a gently wrought gold sea creature on the again. It’s attractive and so enjoyable! Hold a watch out on Instagram – I’ll put up 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 motorbike fabricated 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 received the 2022 AGTA Spectrum Awards Editor’s Alternative 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 unfavorable area, and the minimalist however eye-catching silhouette.
The ring is constituted of ruthenium-plated 18K yellow gold and encompasses 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 encompasses a 33 ct. bicolor Tourmaline, a pear-shape Tourmaline, and Tsavorite Garnets.
Are you prepared for an additional pair of earrings? We’ve acquired extra attractive blue right here on this entry from Pamela Froman Superb Jewellery. That texture on the 18K gold is the designer’s signature look. These earrings characteristic 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 good with my gown! It’s by Eddie Sakamoto for Someplace within the Rainbow and it’s known as the ‘A Rose by Any Different Identify’ 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 precise play of shade in every middle stone. You possibly can inform how a lot thought went into these.
Llyn Robust really had one among my favourite items within the first AGTA Spectrum Awards I ever attended, a beautiful opal insect brooch I noticed in 2015. I at all times get pleasure from seeing her inventive designs.
This Uneek Jewellery ring was one among my favourite design moments on the 2022 Spectrum Awards. Take a look at its polka-dot shank! Positive, that 2.62 ct oval emerald within the middle is gorgeous, however it’s the Tsavorite garnet accents among the many pave diamonds on the facet that actually get me. So inventive and enjoyable!
How about this glamorous peacock brooch/pendant?
This magnificence is by Jeffrey Bilgore and encompasses a Padparadscha sapphire, bi-color Tourmaline, spinels, peridot, and diamonds. One in every of two very pretty 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’ll have glimpsed on the desk within the high photograph! Isn’t it great? And so acceptable for a Texas-based AGTA Spectrum Awards.
The hat encompasses a fantastically detailed 14K yellow gold and turquoise hat band, crafted by Eric E. Wright of Village Goldsmith and Antiques. Yeehaw!
Probably the most outstanding gemstone pattern of the 2022 AGTA Spectrum Awards was jaw-droppingly gorgous spinels. Like many individuals, I spent a few years not realizing the phrase “spinel” in any respect, however they’ve turn into one among my very favourite stones lately. That is one among a number of spinels that took my breath away. Take a look at that coronary heart! It’s incendiary.
This platinum coronary heart necklace encompasses 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 believe this put up has gotten lengthy sufficient…so it’s going to must 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 is 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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