I feel like a winner even though I’m not one! My designs didn’t place in this year’s JCK Jeweler’s Choice Awards, but my two-finger ring for ANZA Gems still made it into JCK’s “Best of the Best” awards supplement. I found out from Monica Stephenson, who is the editor of jewelry blog iDazzle, as well as the founder of ANZA Gems.
Here’s a closer look at the page.
This is the second time the ring ended up in print after missing out on an award! Last year, after it got a lot of attention during the editorial presentation for the American Gem Trade Association’s Spectrum Awards, the piece made it to the cover of AGTA’s Prism magazine.
Awards are funny things. Creative people should never invest too much emotionally in awards and contests because, while it’s definitely great to win, not winning doesn’t necessarily mean you’re losing. Keep entering, though! That’s always the advice given by the people running the contests.
You can browse the complete “Best of the Best” issue here. You can also see which jewelry designs of mine were recognized by the Jewelers’ Choice Awards in previous years: my 50th anniversary, engagement-ring redesign in 2016, and my Empress Wu dragon earrings in 2013.