MJSA Announces Vision-Award Winners

RAPAPORT... Nine jewelry designers have received the ManufacturingJewelers & Suppliers of America (MJSA) Vision Award, which honorsoutstanding creativity, craftsmanship and technological prowess in the field. Prizes include cash and gift certificates for tools andsupplies, as well as scholarships for students, the trade body said Tuesday. Winnerswill also be profiled in the MJSA Journal, and receive promotion throughads in industry media forums. The winning entries will go on display at theannual MJSA Expo in New York. This year's judges were Alan Revere, founder and director ofthe Academy of Jewelry Arts; Klaus Kutter, jewelry designer and founder of AJour Jewelry; Michelle Graff, editor-in-chief of National Jewelermagazine; Jim Grahl, owner of J. Grahl Design; and Michael Coan, chair emeritusof the jewelry-design department at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). The 2018 winners of the Vision Awards are: First Place, Professional Excellence, 4+ Years inBusiness:Adam Neeley of Adam Neeley Fine Art Jewelry in Laguna Beach,California, for his Ombr?(C) pendant featuring a rare, 25.39-carat, blue-greentourmaline.Second Place, Professional Excellence, 4+ Years inBusiness:Rachael Mitchell of Stuller in Lafayette, Louisiana, for herFire Teardrop pendant necklace featuring a pear-shaped, 20.77-carat topaz withyellow, burnt-orange and garnet-red diamonds set in 18-karat yellow gold (pictured).First Place, Professional Excellence, 1 to 3 Years inBusiness: Xuehui Liu of Grace Hui Jewelry Studios in San Jose,California, for her Eternity of the Plant Kingdom set which symbolizes "a flowerthat was never discovered by humans." Second Place, Professional Excellence, 1 to 3 Years inBusiness: Julie Lamb of Julie Lamb New York in Hastings on Hudson, NewYork, for her statement ring The Entrepreneur. CAD/CAM Distinction: Andrew Bugher of Andrew Bugher Design in St. Paul,Minnesota, for his 14-karat yellow- and white-gold Peridot Scroll ring withdiamond accents. Laser Distinction: Adam Neeley, for his Ombr?(C) pendant. Custom Design Distinction: Victor Hararuk of V. Hararuk JDS in Kylv, Ukraine, for hisAtmosphere cocktail ring. Responsible Practices Distinction: Wolfgang Vaatz of Earth Terra Erde in Rio Rico, Arizona, forhis hand-fabricated and oxidized At the Creek pendant featuring placer goldparticles and nuggets, as well as Argentium silver. First Place, Future of the Industry Award (for students):Angely Martinez of the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) inNew York, for her La Inspiraci??n de una Mariposa necklace in sterling silver,featuring synthetic rubies. Second Place, Future of the Industry Award: Hsinyu Chu of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in Carlsbad,California, for her CAD-rendered Interlock ring.