Dallas – The deadline to submit an entry for the 2023 AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards has been extended to 10 October.
The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) organises the annual competition, which recognises and celebrates excellence in coloured gemstone jewellery design and gemstone cutting and carving.
The competition has a number of categories including bridal, business/day wear, classic, evening wear and menswear.
Winners will receive recognition from industry leaders, media coverage and exposure to potential clients and customers, AGTA said.
The organisation invites jewellery designers, lapidaries and jewellers who work with coloured gemstones or cultured pearls to enter.
The first entry is $295 and each additional entry is $225. Postal address, insurance requirements and other details can be found on the AGTA website.
Entries will be judged in Dallas at the end of October.
Entries will be judged on overall beauty and wearability, innovative design, effective use of materials, quality of gemstones, quality of workmanship, consumer appeal and potential to generate positive publicity for natural coloured gemstones.
The judges examine each entry by hand, assessing the craftsmanship and quality of the materials used.
This year’s judges are: Allan Koo, A. Koo & Co; Brent Malgarin, Elegant Gems Ltd; Christina Gandia Gambale, Greenwich St. Jewelers; C. Clayton Bromberg, Underwood Jewelers; and Lika Behar, Lika Behar Collection.
Once judging is complete, the collection of entries, including a first look at the winning pieces, will be presented at an exclusive event for media, including trade writers, editors, consumer press, bloggers, influencers, stylists and social media ambassadors.
Winners will be recognised and receive their trophies at the AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards Gala at the 2024 AGTA GemFair Tucson.
Among the winning pieces in 2022 was a carved gemstone, which took the competition’s top prize for only the third time since 2003, according to AGTA’s archives.
