Platinum Jewellery Designs Win 2026 AGTA Spectrum Awards

Platinum Guild International (PGI), in partnership with the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA), has announced the Platinum Honors winners of the 2026 AGTA Spectrum Awards. The awards recognise outstanding platinum jewellery designs featuring coloured gemstones, natural pearls and cultured pearls.

More than 60 platinum jewellery entries competed in the Platinum Honors category. The awards cover several styles, from evening wear to engagement rings. PGI also presents a special award for Best Use of Platinum and Color.

The competition took place at the Omni Frisco Hotel at The Star in Dallas. Jenny Luker, President, PGI USA, judged the Platinum Honors category.

“The AGTA Spectrum Awards bring together an extraordinary range of platinum jewelry, and the level of design innovation, technical execution, and artistry is exceptional,” said Luker. “It’s exciting to see so many talented designers exploring the material in different ways, creating intricate, distinctive pieces that showcase the versatility of platinum.”

AGTA CEO John W. Ford Sr. thanked PGI for sponsoring the awards and congratulated the winners.

“Receiving a Platinum Honors distinction from PGI is one of the industry’s highest achievements,” he said. “We were happy to see Platinum so well represented among the AGTA Spectrum entries, which increased by 21% this year.”

Highlights from the 2026 AGTA Spectrum Awards

Several winning designs showcased the creative possibilities of platinum jewellery.

The Best of Show award and first place in Classical Wear went to “Can’t Look Away”, a necklace by Lezlie Slavens of Luxe Fine Jewelry and collaborators. The design features a carved Paraiba tourmaline backed in platinum. It hangs from a diamond-accented platinum chain and uses a magnet-activated LED light source.

Another major winner was Joseph Dardashti’s “Horus Egyptian Revival” bracelet. It won first place in Evening Wear and also received a Platinum Honors distinction. The Art Deco-inspired design combines platinum and 18K yellow gold with rubies, blue sapphires, emeralds, diamonds and onyx.

Jeffrey Bilgore’s “Neuvelle Moi et Toi Forever” platinum ring, featuring Mahenge spinel and diamonds, received the Stuller Color of the Year Award. This new category celebrates creative interpretations of Stuller’s “Signature Red”. The ring also won second place in the Classical category.

In Bridal, Niveet Nagpal of Omi Gems, Inc. won first place. His platinum ring features a 5.32-carat Paraiba tourmaline, accented by tourmalines weighing 1.05 carats in total and diamonds weighing 0.69 carats.

Meanwhile, new entrant Shelby Lichtenstein won first place in Engagement Rings. Her platinum ring, “Something New, Something Blue”, features a 4.50-carat blue emerald-cut zircon and diamonds weighing 0.26 carats in total.

PGI Platinum Honors Winners

PGI recognised the following designs across the Platinum Honors categories:

• Best Use of Platinum & Color: Roland Krainz of Krainz Creations for the platinum “Ambrosia” necklace. It features opals, diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and tsavorite garnets, with a total gemstone weight of 140.80 carats.

• Best Use of Platinum Crown: Ricardo Basta of E. Eichberg, Inc. for the platinum “Everest” ring. The design features a 9.70-carat cushion-cut tanzanite and diamonds weighing 1.67 carats in total.

• Bridal Wear: Jeffrey Bilgore of Jeffrey Bilgore, LLC for the platinum “JuneStones for June Brides” necklace. It features a 27.02-carat blue-sheen oval moonstone, a 7.95-carat natural conch pearl, alexandrites weighing 3.23 carats in total and diamonds weighing 10.36 carats in total.

• Business/Day Wear: Gabriel Angulo of Pompos Jewelry Corporation for a platinum stretchable ring with titanium springs. It features a 5.42-carat natural oval cabochon black opal, diamonds weighing 5.15 carats in total and sapphires weighing 3.28 carats in total.

• Classical: Eve Streicker of Original Eve Designs, in collaboration with Rohan Agrawal, for the platinum “Zellige” brooch. It features marquise-shaped aquamarines weighing 8.40 carats in total and diamonds weighing 0.28 carats in total.

• Engagement Rings: Underwood Design Team of Underwood’s Fine Jewelers for a platinum ring featuring a 3.66-carat cushion-shaped sapphire and diamonds weighing 1.22 carats in total.

• Evening Wear: Joseph Dardashti of Joseph Dardashti, Ltd. for the platinum and 18K yellow gold “Horus Egyptian Revival” bracelet. It features rubies, blue sapphires, emeralds, diamonds and onyx.

• Innovative Design: Cari Goldman of Pieces by Cari, LLC, in collaboration with Alexsey Yarnikh, for the platinum “Love Spun” ring. It features marquise crystal opals weighing 2.24 carats in total and diamonds weighing 1.0 carat in total.

• Men’s Wear: Ricardo Basta of E. Eichberg, Inc. for the platinum “Siren’s Relic” ring, featuring a 5.35-carat emerald-cut zoisite.

Platinum Supports Jewellery Design Innovation

Jenny Luker also highlighted the strength and durability of platinum. These qualities give designers greater flexibility when working with detailed settings and delicate structures.

“Because of platinum’s durability, strength, and tensile properties, designers can achieve things that might not be possible with other metals,” said Luker. “Whether it’s intricate micro pavé work or delicate prongs, platinum allows for exceptional precision while ensuring that gemstones remain secure.”

The competition also revealed several notable jewellery trends. Bezel settings featured strongly in engagement rings. Designers also paired platinum with moonstones to create a soft, white-on-white look. In addition, brooches for both men and women featured a mix of gemstones in different cuts and sizes.

“The level of design this year was incredible,” said Luker. “I was particularly impressed by the innovation and execution. Platinum plays such a wonderful supporting role to gemstones, and that relationship has endured—and will endure—forever.”

The complete collection of winning entries from the 2026 AGTA Spectrum and Cutting Edge Awards is available on the AGTA website. Moreover, visitors can see many of the winning designs at AGTA GemFair Tucson from 31 January to 4 February 2027, at the Tucson Convention Center. The event will give jewellery professionals and AGTA members an opportunity to view the craftsmanship up close and connect with the designers and industry community.