Hawaii Jewelers Association winners named

Jason Dow’s Amulet.

The space limitation of print doesn’t exist online, so all the winning pieces from the Hawaii Jewelers Association’s 2010 Jewelry Design Competition are pictured here.

To recap the print story running Sept. 30, Jason Dow was named Designer of the Year during the competition’s awards ceremony Sept. 24.

Dow’s Amulet, a circular pendant featuring a suite of rainbow moonstones and diamonds in 14K rose gold, won the “Jewelry over $3,500” category and earned the most points in the competition to win him the Designer of the Year award. Dow’s Mandala ring won top honors in the “Jewelry under $3,500” challenge. The 18K gold ring was inspired by the drawings of Buddhist monks, used for contemplation. The palace-like design features a melee of diamonds on vertical supports, with a domed top and centerpiece diamond.

There were 28 designs submitted in the competition’s three categories. Here are the winners:

Jason Dow’s Mandala ring.

>> Jewelry under $3,500
First place: Mandala Ring by Jason Dow, Jason Dow, Inc.

Denny Wong’s Hawaiian Quilt earrings.

Second place: “Hawaiian Quilt” earrings by Denny Wong, Denny Wong Designs; 18K yellow and white gold with a patchwork of pink tourmaline, tanzanite, pink spinel and diamonds.

James Angel’s Dragon Sun ring.

Third place: “Dragon Sun” ring by James Angel of Royal Pacific Jewels; a carved dragon eating the sun motif man’s ring in sterling argentium silver accented with ruby eyes and diamond mouth.

Mabel Lau’s Freedom of Life pendant.

People’s Choice: “Freedom of Life” pendant by Mabel Lau of Excellent Gems; carved jadeite with a bubbly outline of diamonds that complement the carving of a fish blowing bubbles.

>> Jewelry over $3,500

First place: Amulet by Jason Dow, Jason Dow, Inc.

Second place: “Celebration” ring by Denny Wong, Denny Wong Designs; 18K yellow, white and pink gold set with seven large colorless baguette diamonds contrasted with six natural yellow diamonds.

James Angel’s Plumeria Haku pendant.

Third place: “Plumeria Haku” pendant by James Angel of Royal Pacific Jewels; plumeria flowers with diamond centers surrounding a black pearl in a 14K gold pendant.

People’s Choice: “Celebration” by Denny Wong

>> Hawaiian Theme Jewelry

First place: “Loihi” by Paul Trustman, Holiday Jewelers; a book-matched pair of picture black opals set in gold with diamonds depict Loihi, Hawaii’s sea mount volcano. It was inspired in part by thermal imagery of the birth of an island, like the image below, courtesy of Tom Wheeler.

Tom Wheeler’s Tropical Royalty ring.

Second place: “Tropical Royalty” by Tom Wheeler, Opal Fields; a boulder black opal ring set in 18K gold and diamonds with Victorian influences reminiscent of Hawaii’s royal era.

Brian Thomsen’s Queen’s Pond pendant.

Third place: “Queen’s Pond” by Brian Thomsen; an 18K gold and black opal pendant with a cascade of channel-set diamonds, inspired by Maui’s Queen’s Pond with its waterfalls and colorful reflections.

People’s Choice: “Royal Hawaiian” by Denny Wong; an 18K gold pendant holds a rough-cut amethyst depicting the shimmering ocean around the landmark Pink Palace, sculpted in pink gold with diamond windows, surrounded by gold palm trees.