Saratoga Springs-based jeweler Dennis deJonghe receives awards for creativity, artistry, style and excellence in jewelry design

New York, NY – Jewelers of America (JA), the national trade association for businesses serving the fine jewelry retail marketplace, has awarded Dennis deJonghe, owner of Saratoga Springs-based deJonghe original jewelry, with two Buyers’ Choice awards in the 2012 CASE Awards, the association’s annual jewelry design competition. deJonghe competed among more than 25 jewelers in the competition. The CASE Awards recognize the creativity, artistry, style and excellence in jewelry design from top jewelers across the nation. It was held at the JA New York trade show, January 22-24, 2012, in New York City.

“Jewelers of America is honored to recognize the exceptional talents of jewelers, like Dennis deJonghe, whose design demonstrates the remarkable jewelry available from JA member stores nationwide,” says JA COO Robert Headley.

deJonghe won a Buyers’ Choice CASE award in the Alternative Materials Jewelry category for a jewelers’ loupe used by jewelers to magnify and view gemstones and jewelry elements – that features handmade copper and brass mokumé gane. The piece is accented with 16 yellow and white diamonds and a ruby.

He received another Buyers’ Choice CASE Award in the Palladium Jewelry category for a Tahitian pearl pendant set in palladium with a round diamond. The Buyers’ Choice winners are determined by the popular vote of JA New York Show attendees.

This isn’t the first time deJonghe brought home a Buyers’ Choice CASE award in the Alternative Materials Jewelry category. Last year, he won the 2011 award for his Mokume Gane earrings.

deJonghe original jewelry is located at 470 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. For more information, call 518-587-6422 or email info@djoriginals.com.

Jewelry designer Dennis deJonghe of deJonghe Original Jewelry located at 470 Broadway, Saratoga Springs won two prestigious awards at the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) Spectrum Awards. The Spectrum Awards is “considered the most respected and prestigious creative award for the design industry” and recognizes artists who creatively incorporate colored gemstones and pearls in their fine jewelry. Winners are decided among hundreds of international submissions by a panel of judges, which changes every year. The judges, experts in different disciplines across the jewelry industry, look for craftsmanship, use of color, wearability, innovativeness, and overall appeal of the pieces.

The 28th annual AGTA Spectrum Awards awarded Mr. deJonghe with the Best use of Palladium and Color and Classical – Palladium Prestige Award recognizing his impressive Aquamarine Pendant and Palladium Pearl Ring, respectively. The Palladium pendant, featuring a 16.39ct Aquamarine accented with a 2.09ct Moonstone, Diamonds, and Pearls, shows deJonghe’s ability to incorporate together metal, different shapes, and color into one beautiful design. In describing his creation, Mr. deJonghe stated, “my initial inspiration was the main gem – a fine quality Aquamarine by lapidary artist Michael Dyber. The aqua is a unique free-form shape that is polished with concave circles from the reverse. I created an angular design in the pendant to counterbalance the soft elements.”

The Pearl Ring is equally extraordinary, featuring a 16.5mm white South Sea Pearl accented with 0.71ctw of round diamonds. The ring is a perfect example of deJonghe’s talent in handcarving a classical design while incorporating the finest materials. Although the vision of the ring was strong, Dennis admits that the completion of the piece was difficult, saying, “using a large 16.5mm round south sea pearl in a ring was a challenge. I carved the diamond settings to encircle the pearl and form the movement of my design. The concave arc along the sides creates a soft and functional ring.”

The two pieces will be presented among the other winners during the 2012 GemFair in Tucson, AZ at the end of January. They can also be viewed in the gallery at deJonghe Original Jewelry or on their website: http://www.djoriginals.com.

http://www.agta.org/awards/index.html

The Saratoga Hospital Foundation Summer Benefit Auction

We donated a $5,000 one-of-a-kind pearl necklace to their “Under the Sea” gala – it only seemed appropriate! This piece features an incredible mother of pearl with 22ky gold accented with a diamond and pearl hanging on a strand of Keishi Pearls. Hospital Auction Website

The Hyde Collection Gala

This year for the Hyde Collection Gala, we donated a beautiful one-of-a-kind 14ky gold drusy pendant. Hyde Collection Special Events

The Saratoga Bridges Gala

For the Saratoga Bridges Gala this summer we donated a women’s palladium ring featuring pave set diamonds. Saratoga Bridges

Equine Advocates

Our last summer donation of a 14ky gold horse profile pendant with a hand forged chain was donated to the Equine Advocates.

For any more information on the charities we support or the pieces we donate feel free to email us at info@djoriginals.com or call us at 518-587-6422! You can also visit our charities page.

The Temple

Earlier this summer the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, located in the Kerala Province in Southern India, was explored by a 7 person group of investigators ordered by the Indian Government. Dated back to the 16th century, the Temple has been passed down for generations through the royal family for whom it was built and who have donated their riches to the secret chambers. They believed that it was the deity of the temple that ruled their land.

Temple in Kerala, India

The Treasure

Currently five of the six chambers have been opened and the treasures inside have an estimated value of $22 billion. The final vault has yet to be opened and it is believed that this room contains even more lavish jewelry, gems and treasure. Among the current items that have been found are multiple bags of diamonds, an 18 foot long gold necklace, 42 pounds of gold coins and statues of Hindu Gods. I can only imagine what the site looked like upon discovering these items deep within the Temple – I picture it like a Disney movie – piles of shiny gold and silver surrounded by sparkles from diamonds and rubies!

Gold Treasure found in Kerala, India

A find like this is remarkable in today’s world. It is still being discussed whom the treasures belong to and how the riches will be used. I can hope that the items will be preserved and accessible through a museum, while any money made from the riches goes towards the development of the country.

sources:
Bloomberg
The Washington Post
The Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple