The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) is expanding its prestigious annual Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards for 2026, introducing two brand-new categories designed to broaden the competition’s reach and celebrate emerging creative talent across the colored gemstone industry.
A New Award for Accessible, Innovative Design
AGTA’s first new addition is the Innovative Design Award, created to recognise exceptional creativity, originality, and craftsmanship in jewelry that is also accessible to a wider commercial market. Unlike traditional Spectrum categories, which skew toward high-end one-of-a-kind pieces, this award specifically targets entries with a wholesale cost under $10,000.
The goal, according to AGTA, is to honour designs that demonstrate innovation and artistry without sacrificing commercial viability, opening the door to a broader pool of designers who might otherwise feel the Spectrum Awards are out of reach.
“The Innovative Design Award reflects our commitment to celebrating forward-thinking artistry that’s not only beautiful and masterfully crafted, but also attainable for a broader segment of the market. By recognizing exceptional pieces with a wholesale value under $10,000, we’re opening the door for more designers to showcase bold ideas, fresh perspectives, and commercial viability — without sacrificing the excellence the Spectrum Awards are known for.” — Bruce Bridges, AGTA Board President
The Stuller Color of the Year Award: Celebrating Signature Red
The second new category arrives through a partnership between AGTA and Lafayette, Louisiana–based jewelry manufacturer and supplier Stuller, Inc. The “Stuller Color of the Year” category will be a sponsored award honoring exceptional interpretations of Stuller’s annually chosen color, with the 2026 debut centered on the company’s pick: Signature Red.
Stuller describes Signature Red as “daring yet classic,” a shade that embodies passion, elegance, and strength. Gemstones falling within the Signature Red palette include rubies, garnets, tourmaline, and more.
Uniquely, this category will produce two winners rather than one. A judge from Stuller will select a winner from the Spectrum jewelry entries and a separate winner from the Cutting Edge (loose stone) entries, recognising both the artistry of a finished piece and the beauty of a gemstone in its own right.
About the AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards
The AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards are among the most respected competitions in the colored gemstone industry. The awards recognize excellence in:
- Colored gemstone jewelry design
- Pearl jewelry
- Innovative lapidary artistry
- Creative gemstone usage
- Craftsmanship and market appeal
With the 2026 edition, AGTA is adding fresh momentum to the program by encouraging both innovation and accessibility.Interested in other jewelry design awards worth entering? Explore our full guide to jewelry design awards.
By launching the Innovative Design Award and the Stuller Color of the Year category, AGTA is reaffirming its role as a trendsetter in the colored gemstone industry.
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