The kaleidoscope of Spectrum

Entries in the AGTA Spectrum Awards were especially diverse this year, with numerous examples of Windex-blue Paraiba tourmalines (one of my all-time favorite stones), baroque pearls, sapphires in every hue (of course) and even color-change garnets.

We’ve named the Spectrum winners in this story, but here I am featuring some personal favorites spotted at the press preview of the awards, held last week in New York City. The preview was held in a beautiful penthouse in Greenwich Village, where sunlight helped play up the colors of the gemstones. These were all photographed by Thomas Rosinski, National Jeweler's art director.

Above is a pair of jade earrings, entered in the Evening Wear category, by Liora Berdugo of Oshawa Jewellery, rendered in 18-karat white gold and featuring jade accented with 2.85 carats of diamonds and onyx. So delicate and vibrant!

Jorge Adeler of Adeler Jewelers submitted this 30.5-millimeter freshwater baroque pearl ring, above, in 14-karat yellow gold and accented with white diamonds totaling 0.34 carats in the Business/Day Wear category. I like the way the diamond pavé is used only halfway around the pearl, adding to the "imperfect" look that makes baroques so popular. What a great power ring to wear to work!

The "Orbit" ring, below, by James Currens of J.W. Currens in New York, is aptly named, with colors that are really out of this world. It features a 5.37-carat pink spinel, 15.83 carats of spessartite garnets and 1.16 carats of diamonds and was the winner in the Platinum Honors category for Business/Day Wear. The pink and orange combination is unusual and striking.

This 18-karat white gold and black-rhodium ring, right, entered in the Evening Wear category is by David Hakimian of Parviz Designs, and features a 9.65-carat aquamarine accented with 0.99 carats of pavé diamonds.

It is an example of how the darkened metal look can work extremely well with colored stones. 

 

How festive are these18-karat white gold drop earrings, left, entered in the Evening Wear category by Samuel Getz of Samuel Getz Designs? These feature 24.82 carats of antique square cushion-shaped rhodolite garnets, 91.25 carats of cushion-shaped red spinels, a pair of 13-millimeter black Tahitian pearls and 2.04 carats round-brilliant diamonds.

Another Business/Day Wear category entry that drew my eye is Frederick Sage’s pink and green gold “Enigma” pendant, below, featuring a 161.81-carat natural quartz with various crystal and mineral formations. The quartz is accented with brown and white diamonds and hangs on a hand-made chain. It's difficult to tell from the photograph, but the quartz has a really great 3D effect, and the earth tones make it a great  piece for accessorizing.