The competition was judged October 19-20 in New York, NY. Judges for the 2014 competition were retailer, Jennifer McCurry from Marissa Collections, fashion and beauty editor, Jennie Ma from The Knot, jewelry designer Barbara Heinrich from Barbara Heinrich Studio, lapidarist John Hatleberg, and manufacturer Jose Hess.
AGTA Cutting Edge Awards™ honor excellence and creativity in lapidary arts, including natural colored gemstones and cultured pearls, carvings, and other gem materials.
Classic Cut Gemstones
Classic Gemstone – 1st Place
Sailesh Lakhi, Sparkles and Colors USA, Inc. – 20.98 ct. octagonal, step-cut unheated yellow Sapphire.
Classic Gemstone – 2nd Place
Classic Gemstone – 3rd Place
Classic Gemstone – Honorable Mention
All Other Faceted
All Other Faceted – 1st Place
Mikola Kukharuk, Nomad’s – 20.42 ct. square, cushion-cut natural tsavorite Garnet.
All Other Faceted – 2nd Place
John Dyer, John Dyer & Co. – 14.44 ct. regal radiant-cut “Lilac” pink Topaz.
All Other Faceted – 3rd Place
Ben Kho, Kho International, Inc. – 7.63 ct. starburst-cut Sphalerite.
All Other Faceted – Honorable Mention
David Nassi, 100% Natural, Ltd. – 21.97 ct. cushion cut red Spinel.
Phenomenal Gemstones
Robyn Dufty, DuftyWeis Opals, Inc. – 36.10 cabochon-cut Opal titled “Aurora Borealis in the Night Sky”.
Phenomenal – 2nd Place
Ralph Wobito, The Courtney Collection – 88.49 ct. color-change Czarite.
Phenomenal – 3rd Place
Jean-Noel Soni, Top Notch Faceting – 24.12 ct. color-change Garnet.
Pairs and Suites
Ai Van Pham, Gem & Gold Creations – Bi-color Amethyst suite titled “Purple Champagne” (114.15 ctw.).
Pairs and Suites – 2nd Place
Nandu Nichani, Temple Trading Co. – Graduated blue Moonstone cabochon suite (124.15 ctw.).
Pairs and Suites – 3rd Place
Ben Kho, Kho International, Inc. – Suite of multi-colored princess-cut Beryl (122.39 ctw.).
Pairs and Suites – Honorable Mention
Mikola Kukharuk, Nomad’s – 16-piece suite of Aquamarines (106.35 ctw.).
Innovative Faceting
Innovative Faceting – 2nd Place
John Dyer, John Dyer & Co. – 10.22 ct. custom-cut, with an “inverse” pavilion Tanzanite, titled “Tanzanian Royal.”
Innovative Faceting – 3rd Place
John Dyer, Somewhere in the Rainbow – 86.53 ct. “SunKissed2” star-brite cut Citrine.
Carving
Naomi Sarna, Naomi Sarna Designs – Amethyst carving with silver base.
Carving – 2nd Place
Darryl Alexander, Nirinjan – 61.00 ct. “Loves Flame” carved Sunstone.
Carving – 3rd Place
Darryl Alexander, Sunstone Butte Mining Co. – 93.5 ct. “Candy Twist” carved Sunstone.
Objects of Art
AGTA Cutting Edge Awards™ honor excellence and creativity in lapidary arts, including natural colored gemstones and cultured pearls, carvings, and other gem materials.