The announcement coincided with its full-year results, with growth driven by its jewelry brands.
Saul Bell Award Winners for 2016 Announced
Rio Grande revealed the winners of its annual jewelry design contest during a gala dinner at its recent Santa Fe Symposium.
Albuquerque, N.M.--Jewelry supply company Rio Grande announced the winners of the annual Saul Bell Awards earlier this month during a gala dinner at its Santa Fe Symposium.
First and second places winners were celebrated in seven categories: Gold/Platinum, Silver/Argentium Silver, Metal Clay, Enamel, Hollowware/Art Objects, Alternative Metals/Materials and Emerging Jewelry Artists, which highlights designers ages 21 or younger.
Award applicants submit imagery of a design for their chosen category; finalists are required to submit a physical piece for judging. Winners receive Rio Grande gift certificates.
The design competition, created to commemorate the life of New Mexican jeweler Saul Bell, is in its 16th year.
See below for a full list of winners.
2016 Gold/Platinum Category
First Place
“The Queen”
Garen Garibian
Los Angeles
Second Place
“Peacock Pin”
Samantha Freeman
Philadelphia
2016 Silver/Argentium Silver Category
First Place
“Unity”
Seung Jeon Paik
Savannah, Ga.
Second Place
“Untitled”
Wolfgang Vaatz
Rio Rico, Ariz.
2016 Metal Clay Category
First Place
“Adore”
Rodica Frunze
Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
Second Place
“Memory Interrupted”
Patrik Kusek
Fairfield, Calif.
2016 Enamel Category
First Place
“On the Wing”
Debbie Sheezel
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Second Place
“Orbit #2 Pin/Pendant”
Amy Roper Lyons
Summit, N.J.
2016 Hollowware/Art Objects Category
First Place
"Mace”
Tom FerreroWindsor, Conn.
Second Place
“Symbiotic Relationship”
Sungyeoul Lee
Seoul, Republic of Korea
2016 Alternative Metals/Materials Category
First Place
“Moonshine”
Zoltan David
Bee Cave, Texas
Second Place
“Secret Garden Necklace”
Kathleen Nowak Tucci
Atmore, Ala.
2016 Emerging Jewelry Artist Category
First Place
“L'Oiseau de la Nuit”
Justine Quintal
Carignan, Quebec, Canada
Second Place
“Monsieur”
Justine B. Gagnon
Repentigny, Quebec, Canada
Third Place
“A Gothic Melody”
Jason Baide
Bozeman, Mont.
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