2023 Spectrum Awards Entry Deadline Extended
The contest is now open for submissions until Oct. 10.
The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) organizes the annual contest, which recognizes and celebrates excellence in jewelry design using colored gemstones and in gemstone cutting and carving.
The contest has a range of categories, including bridal, business/day wear, classical, evening wear, and men’s wear.
Winners will receive recognition from industry leaders, media coverage, and exposure to potential clients and customers, AGTA said.
The organization invites jewelry designers, lapidaries, and jewelers who work with colored gemstones or cultured pearls to apply.
The first entry is $295 and each subsequent entry is $225. Mailing address, insurance requirements and other details can be found on AGTA’s website.
Entries will be judged in Dallas in late October.
The pieces are judged on criterion including 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 colored gemstones.
Judges examine each entry by hand, assessing 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.
When judging concludes, the collection of submissions, including a first look at the winning pieces, are presented in an exclusive event to media outlets including trade writers, editors, consumer press, bloggers, influencers, stylists, and social media ambassadors.
Winners will be recognized and receive their trophies at the 2024 AGTA GemFair Tucson during the AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards Gala.
The 2022 winning pieces included a carved gemstone, which took the competition’s top award for only the third time since 2003, according to AGTA’s archives.
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