2012 JA announces CASE Awards winners
By www.nationaljeweler.com
Jewelers of America (JA) has announced the winners of the CASE Awards, the annual national retailer design competition that recognizes JA retail members who exhibit creativity, artistry, style and excellence in jewelry design.
Raffi Kendirjian of Giraux Fine Jewelry in San Francisco won the Women's Jewelry over $5,000 category with this ring featuring three tanzanite stones set in 14-karat rose gold and surrounded by 54 round-brilliant diamonds. There were 61 entries for this year’s CASE Awards, the highest level of participation in the contest’s history.
“Jewelers of America’s retail design competition is the only national platform that showcases the craft and creativity of independent jewelers,” Robert Headley, chief operating officer at JA, said. “The 61 jewelry pieces entered reflected the remarkable jewelry available from JA member stores nationwide.”
The competition featured eight categories: women’s jewelry under $2,000; women’s jewelry $2,000-$5,000; women’s jewelry over $5,000; men’s jewelry; silver jewelry; alternative metals jewelry; and the newly introduced entry platinum and palladium jewelry categories, sponsored by the Platinum Guild International (PGI) and Palladium Alliance International (PAI), respectively.
Women’s Jewelry Under $2,000 – First Place
Thomas Dailing, Lee Ayers Jewelry, Stevens Point, Wis.
Dailing’s multi-colored sapphire ring is set in 14-karat white gold.
Women’s Jewelry $2,000-$5,000 – First Place
Daniel Allen, C. Kirk Root Designs, Austin, Texas
Allen’s 14-karat white and rose gold ring features a boulder opal stone surrounded by pavé diamonds. The ring is crafted s that the center rotates and reverses.
Women’s Jewelry Over $5,000 – First Place
Raffi Kendirjian, Giraux Fine Jewelry, San Francisco
Kendirjian’s ring features three tanzanite stones set in 14-karat rose gold and surrounded by 54 round-brilliant diamonds.
Men’s Jewelry – First Place
Ziad Noshie, Almaza Jewelers, Houston
Noshie’s “The Bermuda Rectangle” cufflinks are made from 18-karat yellow and white gold with chrysoprase and 40 hand-set diamonds.
Alternative Metals Jewelry – First Place
Karin Burg, Corner Studio Jewelers, Sheboygan Falls, Wis.
Burg’s ring is made from Argentium silver and steel with diamond melee.
Entry Platinum – First Place
Don Fernandes, Vail Creek Jewelry Designs, Turlock, Calif.
Fernandes’ 12-gram platinum engagement ring has a channel-set center diamond and 16 peek-a-boo diamonds.
Palladium Jewelry – First Place
Brandy Hurt, AVA Goldworks, Hannibal, Mo.
Hurt’s palladium and 14-karat green-gold necklace is set with a 13.5-carat triangle-cut citrine.
And Stephen Spicer of Spicer & Company, Cookeville, Tenn., won first place in the silver jewelry category.
Winners were determined by a judging panel of JA’s in-house experts and six additional industry experts who evaluated entries in a specific area of concentration. Michelle Orman, owner of Last Word Communications, judged marketability; Joel McFadden, owner of Joel McFadden Designs, judged manufacture; Cindy Edelstein, owner of the Jewelers Resource Bureau, judged practicality/wear-ability; and Malak Atut, owner and designer of Zaiken Jewelry, judged overall design.
Attendees of the JA New York Winter Show, which took place from Jan. 22-24 in New York, had the opportunity to view entries and vote for the Buyer’s Choice Award, the winners of which received a trophy.
The CASE Awards is only open to JA members and their employees. More information about the CASE Awards can be found on JA’s website here.
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