‘Symphony’ pendant wins design award

The Hawaii Jewelers Association has named its 2011 Jewelry Design Competition winners, with Mana Gunderson of Le Mana Perles taking Designer of the Year for “Symphony,” an 18-karat white gold pendant with a black pearl surrounded by diamonds. “Symphony” also placed first in the “Jewelry under $3,500” category. Here are the winners:

Jewelry under $3,500

First place: “Symphony,” by Mana Gunderson, Le Mana Perles (pictured)

Second place: “Orchid,” by Eli Saban, JES Jewelry — a slide pendant sculpted in green, pink and white gold and a half-carat diamond

Third Place: “Treasure Island,” by Denny Wong, Denny Wong Designs — quartz, turquoise and 18-karat gold dangle earrings

People’s Choice: “Tattoo Ring,” by Jason Dow, Jason Dow Inc. — an 18-karat gold filigree, pink sapphire, diamond and blue moonstone ring inspired by Hawaiian tattoos

Jewelry over $3,500

First place: “I Can Hear You,” by Kimberley Wheeler, Opal Fields — clip earrings of 18-karat white and yellow gold, black opals and diamonds (pictured)

Second place: “Paradise Whirlwind,” by Jane Chen, Opal Fields — a pendant of white and yellow gold with a double-sided Lightning Ridge black opal

Third Place: “Perfect Ten,” by Bruce Bucky, Hildgund Jewelers — an 18-karat white gold engagement ring with a five-carat diamond surrounded by five carats of princess and round diamonds

People’s Choice: “Perfect Ten”

Hawaiian theme jewelry

First place: “Man in Polynesia,” by James Escibido, Royal Pacific Jewels — a sculpted silver fishhook pendant set with a black pearl (pictured)

Second place: “Fiery Cauldron,” by Jane Chen, Opal Fields — an 18-karat gold men’s ring with a black opal rimmed with diamonds

Third Place: “Hokule‘a,” by Bruce Bucky, Hildgund Jewelers — an 18-karat gold brooch/pendant with carved drusy onyx and a solitaire diamond

People’s Choice: “Hokule‘a”

For more photos, see Nadine Kam’s Fashion Tribe blog