JA Unveils CASE Award Winners

RAPAPORT... Jewelers of America (JA) has announced the winners of its 29thannual CASE Awards for jewelry design, recognizing retail members whose piecesfeature creativity, artistry, style and excellence. A panel of judges chose the honorees from a group of 54applicants, evaluating entries' overall design, marketability, practicalityand wearability of the design, and manufacturing quality. "The CASE Awards shine a spotlight on the custom designs ofthe talented jewelers in Jewelers of America member stores across the country,"JA CEO David Bonaparte said Tuesday. Winners receive a customized CASE Award trophy, and nationaland local media coverage. The winners were as follows: Jewelry up to $2,000C3 DesignsSouth Milwaukee, WIDesigned by Chris JensenSterling silver and 14-karat yellow-gold earrings with roughselenite crystal and rough black tourmaline crystal, accented with bezel-setrainbow topaz cabochon, topaz, London blue Topaz and diamonds. Jewelry $2,001 to $5,000Ricardo Basta Fine JewelryLos Angeles, CADesigned by Ricardo BastaA 14-karat yellow-gold ring featuring a 7.05-carat heat-treatedblue zircon with round brilliant-cut diamonds. Jewelry $5,001 to $10,000Lee Ayers JewelersStevens Point, WIDesigned by Thomas DailingA Nova white-gold pendant holding an 18.97-carat concave facetedcitrine, accented with 33 round diamonds. Jewelry $10,001 and overRicardo Basta Fine JewelryLos Angeles, CADesigned by Ricardo BastaA pair of 18-karat yellow-gold earrings with two trillion-cutpink tourmalines, two round faceted aquamarines, 372 round brilliant-cut,fancy-intense-yellow diamonds, six round faceted pink sapphires and six roundfaceted aquamarines. Image: The winning design in the $10,001 and over category, by Ricardo Basta. (Jewelers of America)