The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) has officially announced the winners of the 2024 AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards, hosted at the Omni Frisco Hotel at the Star in Dallas. This year’s event was particularly special as it marked the 40th anniversary of the prestigious competition.
As for the AGTA Awards 2023 edition, this year’s awards showcased vibrant trends and creativity in the jewelry world. Tourmalines, especially Paraíba and rubellite varieties, stood out as clear favorites, joined by gems in striking hues of pink, violet, and orange.
Many pieces highlighted fantasy-cut or intricately carved gemstones, with oval shapes proving particularly popular. Moonstones also made a strong impression, appearing both as loose gemstones in the Cutting Edge category and as centerpieces in Spectrum jewelry designs.
Among the standout creations, some pieces were celebrated for their innovation and artistry. Joseph Ambalu of Amba Gem Corp., who won Best of Show Cutting Edge in 2023 with an oval-shaped Paraíba tourmaline suite, continued his winning streak. He secured first place in the All Other Cut Gemstones category with a 27.42-carat cushion-cut Paraíba tourmaline and second place in Pairs & Suites with a matched pair of Paraíba tourmalines weighing a combined 31.36 carats. Another notable entry was an 8.33-carat emerald-cut, no-oil Brazilian emerald by A. Kleiman & Co., which earned first place in the Classic Gemstones category.
A major highlight of this year’s awards was the debut of the Alfie Norville Women in Excellence Awards, established by the Norville family to celebrate female talent. One woman from each of the six Spectrum categories was honored, showcasing the exceptional artistry and innovation of women in the jewelry industry.
Judging the entries was an esteemed panel, including Jean Francois Bibet, Sherry Bender (The Goldsmith Ltd., Chicago), Susan Jacques (GIA), and Suzy Landa (Suzy Landa Fine Jewelry).
«We have returned to Texas for a fourth time, and this may be our best year yet!» said Kimberly Collins, owner of Kimberly Collins Colored Gems and president of the AGTA Board of Directors. «The caliber of the entries continues to increase annually, and the expertise of the judges wows us».
Many of the winning pieces will be showcased at the AGTA GemFair Tucson 2025, running from February 3 to 9, 2025. The highlight of the week, the AGTA Spectrum Gala, will take place on Saturday, February 8, at the newly expanded Tucson Convention Center.
