Once again, in the elegant setting of the Omni Frisco Hotel at the Star in Dallas, the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) has officially announced the winners of the 2025 AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards. This year’s edition felt particularly alive: an impressive wave of more than thirty new entrants joined the competition.
As seen in previous editions, certain artistic themes maintained their momentum. Vivid chromatic contrasts, sculptural silhouettes, and expressive carved motifs continued to play a central role. Ocean-inspired aesthetics resurfaced as well, enriching the overall narrative diversity of the event. But the most remarkable statistical jump came from the Cutting Edge Carving category — which saw three times more entries than in 2024 edition — proof that lapidary artists are increasingly pushing their craft into conceptual territory.
A defining feature of the 2025 competition was the success of first-time participants: six newcomers captured seven awards in total. Their presence injected fresh energy and underscored the Spectrum Awards’ long-standing reputation as a platform that both honours established masters and welcomes emerging creatives. The blend between experienced designers and emerging talent fostered an atmosphere of mentorship, curiosity, and experimentation.
One of the gems most discussed by the judges came from Oren and Yaron Nhaissi (EMCO Gem), whose suite of Colombian emerald-cut, no oil Emeralds earned both Best of Show Cutting Edge and 1st place in Pairs & Suites. Their stones were celebrated not for flamboyance, but for architectural discipline: flawlessly aligned step facets, mirrored proportions, and a quiet sophistication that allowed the natural light performance of the stones to speak for itself.
The All Other Cut Gemstones category brought a different type of excitement. Ben Kho (Kho International Ltd.) presented a large pink-purple octagonal-cut Kunzite that quickly became a reference point for the elegance of broad, open facets. Its soft, even flashes created a serene internal glow, giving the stone a nearly hypnotic power. Ben Kho also stood out in another category: he won 2nd place in the North American Mined Gemstones with a 12.07-carat fancy trillion-cut Fluorite.
The Carving division underwent its biggest transformation in a decade. Submissions tripled, and with that growth came an explosion of creativity. Somewhere in the Rainbow, in collaboration with Gabi Klein, stood out and won the 1st place with “Sunny Boy”, a characterful dark grey Obsidian elephant standing 11.8 cm tall. The sculpture’s exceptionally textured, wrinkled surfaces — meticulously carved from a notoriously unforgiving material — gave the animal both presence and personality. The elephant’s gentle smile reveals a Rhodonite tongue and two white Cacholong tusks, while polished black Onyx eyes bring the figure to life.
If carving represented artistic freedom, the Classic Gemstones category reminded everyone the enduring magic of traditional lapidary. Ron Rahmanan (Sara Gem), winner of 1st place, delivered a 2.09-carat pigeon-blood red Ruby from Mozambique, whose intense saturation, clarity and internal brightness set a new benchmark for the category. Its proportions and facet precision demonstrated the timeless appeal of expert cutting applied to an exceptional rough.
Innovation took tangible form in the Innovative Faceting category. Ian Loska (Ian Loska Gems) won 1st place with an oval, concave-cut, colour-zoned Tsavorite Garnet entitled “Grassbright and Gilded Light”. The concave facets manipulated brightness into gentle rippling waves, creating a captivating optical play of movement.
The North American Mined Gemstones category offered moments of geological pride. Somewhere in the Rainbow Gem & Jewerly Collection, in collaboration with Brad Payne and Jay Medici, won 1st place with a Rhodochrosite titled “Rocky Mountain Jolly Rancher”. Its emerald-cut geometry enhanced the stone’s purity and emphasized the colour that characterizes the finest Rhodochrosite from the region.
The Objects of Art category once again served as the bridge between mineral and imagination. Desmond Chan (Gem Arts International) and Yan Ge created a compelling clear blue topaz sculpture titled “Mastermind on the Rocks”. The piece depicts a realistic octopus perched on a rock, the contrast between the figure’s soft opacity and the luminous, crystalline base creating a powerful visual tension. Viewers often required a moment to decipher the forms — a reveal that only heightened the sculpture’s impact.
The Phenomenal Gems category celebrated gems that provided a kinetic visual effect. Bryan Lichtenstein (3090 Gems) impressed judges with a greenish-to-blue colour-changing cushion-cut Zircon. Meanwhile, Allen Kleiman’s suite of expertly matched pear-shaped faceted Rainbow Moonstones, each one showcasing luminous movement across their surfaces, earned both admiration and the Editors’ Choice Award.
Many of the winning pieces will be showcased at the 2026 AGTA GemFair in Tucson, running from February 2nd to 6th. The highlight of the week, the AGTA Spectrum Gala, will take place on Thursday, February 5th, at the newly expanded Tucson Convention Center.
