A 101-carat Medusa: Illuminated Paraíba pendant wins the Spectrum Award
A Paraíba tourmaline carved as Medusa, with a built-in LED light, is the top jewel of the AGTA Spectrum Awards. Judges also honoured a suite of eleven rainbow moonstones.
Symbolic image · Photo: Parent Géry / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped and resized)
The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) has announced the winners of its Spectrum and Cutting Edge Awards. The top jewellery prize went to “Can't Look Away” by Lezlie Slavens of Luxe Fine Jewelry, JCK reported: a 101.34-carat Paraíba tourmaline carved as the head of Medusa. According to National Jeweler, it hangs from a platinum necklace with 27.21 carats of diamonds and is lit by a magnet-activated LED.
In the cutting division, Allen Kleiman of A. Kleiman & Co. won with eleven rainbow cabochon moonstones totalling 90.12 carats, according to Rapaport. National Jeweler said around 400 entries were submitted, 21 percent more than the previous year.
AGTA names blue stones such as spinel, sapphire and Paraíba tourmaline, a return of cabochons, plenty of red and pink, and pearls in leading roles as the trends. The awards will be presented at a gala in Tucson on 3 February 2027.