Winners of the 2006
Gemstones in Jewellery Design Awards

Presented by the
GEMMOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA
SYDNEY May 2006

The winners of the forth “Australian Gemstones in Jewellery Design Awards” were announced at a special cocktail party held as part of the Gemmological Association of Australia’s annual Federal Conference held in Sydney last May.

This design competition was instigated by the Association to promote the use of Australian gemstone materials. The main criteria being the innovative and effective use of Australian gemstones. There were six categories, one each for pieces containing either opal, diamond, sapphire, pearl or other Australian gemstone as the major stone and one for a lapidary piece.  Each with a prize of $750.00, plus an additional prize of $1000 for an overall winner.

The judging panel consisted of John and Kristi Koivula from the American Gem Traders Association and our guests of honour at the conference, Mr. Bruce Tully a designer and marketer of Australian gemstone jewellery and June Mackenzie representing the GAA.

The venue for the award presentations was the National Opal collection premises in Pitt Street Mall for which we thank Andrew Cody and his wonderful Sydney staff.

		The winner of the J W Clements Australian Coloured Diamond Award and the Gemmological Association Award for the best overall entry went to Nicholas Theochari for his piece titled “Three Wise Men” featuring pink, cognac and colourless Argyle diamonds.
		The winner of the Coolamon Mining Australian Sapphire Award went to Britt Fazey for a piece titled “Party Starter” featuring a parti sapphire from the Queensland gem fields.
		The winner of the Facets Australia Award for a piece containing “other” Australian gemstone went to Jenni Singleton for a piece titled “Old Growth” featuring a unique piece of fossil wood from Tasmania.
		The winner of the Devino Pearl Award was Brett Stewart for his piece title “Orb” interesting use of an Australian pearl and diamonds in a neck piece.
		The winner of The House of Jewellery Award for a lapidary piece using Australian gem materials went to Daniela L’Abbate for her beautiful sculptured opal titled “The Gilded Cyprus”
		The winner of the Cody Opal Award was Diana Thompson for a piece titled “When Lightning Strikes Twice”.

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