What the AGTA Spectrum Awards Are ?
The AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards are widely regarded as the highest international honor in colored gemstone and pearl jewelry design. Established in 1984, this annual competition is hosted by the American Gem Trade Association, the dominant nonprofit promoting ethical trade, education, and excellence in natural colored gemstones and pearls. Spectrum focuses on wearable jewelry—including rings, pendants, and earrings—while Cutting Edge honors excellence among loose stones and carvings. Winning pieces are celebrated for exceptional beauty, craftsmanship, innovative design, and excellence in materials. AGTA
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Scale and Prestige
Each year the competition draws hundreds of entries from jewelry designers and makers across North America and beyond; the number of submissions typically exceeds several hundred, with entrants competing in diverse categories like Bridal, Classical, Business/Day Wear, and Evening Wear. A panel of esteemed industry judges evaluates each entry by hand on criteria such as wearability, innovative design, quality of gemstones, workmanship, and broad consumer appeal. Up to three top entries in each category receive trophies, with additional honors including Honorable Mentions, Platinum Honors, and special awards like Best Use of Color or Best Use of Pearls. AGTA
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Significance of Winning
Spectrum Awards are highly respected within the jewelry community because they influence industry trends, generate international press exposure, and bring visibility to designers and makers who are recognized among their peers. Winning entries are often featured in trade and consumer press, displayed at AGTA GemFair Tucson (a premier colored gemstone trade event), and celebrated during a gala attended by top editors, influencers, stylists, and buyers. Many designers cite Spectrum recognition as a career milestone that elevates their profile, expands clientele, and opens opportunities for collaboration and exhibition.
​AGTA Spectrum Awards 2019– 3rd Place, Classical & Platinum Honors Award
AGTA Spectrum Awards 2020– 1st Place, Menswear
In 2019, Jeremy Dunn of Dunn & Co. received Third Place in the Classical category, along with a Platinum Honors Award, at the AGTA Spectrum Awards for a refined platinum ring featuring an indicolite tourmaline accented with diamond melee. This recognition marked an early milestone in his career, highlighting his disciplined approach to classical design, proportion, and gemstone-driven composition.
Jeremy’s range and technical versatility were recognized in 2020 when he earned First Place in the Menswear category at the AGTA Spectrum Awards for an exceptional pair of hand-fabricated cufflinks. The award underscored his ability to translate fine craftsmanship and design integrity into men’s jewelry, a category demanding both strength and refinement.
AGTA Spectrum Awards –2022 Classical Division, Honorable Mention
AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards 2025 – 3rd Place, Classical
In 2022, Jeremy Dunn received an Honorable Mention in the Classical Division for his Pink Mahenge Garnet Earrings. Hand-fabricated in 950 platinum ruthenium, the earrings feature vivid pink pyrope-spessartine garnets from Mahenge, Tanzania, accented with blue sapphire melee. The piece reflects refined classical craftsmanship, balanced proportion, and a restrained elegance that allows the gemstones to remain the focus.
At the 2025 AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards, Jeremy Dunn was awarded Third Place in the Classical category for his “Autumn Deco” ring. Crafted in platinum and centered on a richly colored pyrope-spessartine garnet, the piece reflects a mature evolution of his design language, balancing architectural structure with expressive use of colored gemstones.