AGTA Spectrum 2018 Ricardo Basta Winning Pieces

Every summer, AGTA (American Gem Trade Association) holds the AGTA Spectrum Awards, a competition for jewelers who work with natural colored gemstones. Considered the finest jewelry and gemstone competition in the world, any win is an immense honor (see our winning pieces from 2017).

This year we are honored to announce that Ricardo Basta Fine Jewelry won two awards! Our “Phoenix Rising” necklace took The Best Use of Color award, featuring Mandarin garnets (28.04 ctw) accented with Paraiba tourmalines (1.55 ctw), sapphires (4.68 ctw), rubies (3.17 ctw), fire opals (1.35 ctw), tsavorite garnets (0.02 ctw), and a 0.77-carat turquoise, set in 18K yellow gold (see the making of the Phoenix Rising necklace here). 

Our ‘Take the Plunge’ ring took 2nd place in the Bridal Wear category, featuring a 21.86-carat oval tanzanite cabochon accented with diamonds (2.13 ctw), set in platinum. 

The hugest congratulations and thank you to our team of skilled artisans, craftsmen and craftswomen who tirelessly worked to create these winning pieces, and all of the incredible pieces that didn't win!

Thank you to Rapaport, Business Insider, and Jewellery Business for reporting, and a special thank you to JCK for including us in their 13 Favorite Jewelry Designs from AGTA Spectrum Awards along with these sweet words about one of our pieces that didn't win: 

Ricardo Basta, winner of the Best Use of Color Award, had exquisite submissions in nearly every category, but I’ve chosen to spotlight a design done in steely neutrals. The ring has an otherworldly quality, alternately reminding me of Star Wars spacecraft and something a costume designer might pull for Hecate in a futuristic staging of Macbeth.

Want more AGTA Spectrum gemporn?

Winning pieces from 2017   |   Winning pieces from 2016