Some designers find inspiration in the night sky, others in the natural world, and some in flowing architectural lines. This year’s winners of the MJSA Vision Award competition reflected all of that and more. On the following pages you’ll find the 10 designs that took honors this year; they exhibit not only inspired creativity, but also exquisite attention to detail and a mastery of materials (as well as, in some cases, technologies).
Now in its 26th year, the MJSA Vision Awards annually celebrate outstanding jewelry design. You’ll learn more about them in the August MJSA Journal, which will present the back stories of the first-place winners. In the meantime, you can read about the mat MJSA.org—where you can also learn how you can enter your own inspired creations in the 2018 competition.
First Place, Professional Excellence, 4+ Years in Business The Garden Ring by Orsolya Ráski Nagy and Daniel Nagy Splendor-Jewellery, Budakeszi, Hungary
Second Place, Professional Excellence, 4+ Years in Business Night Sky Necklace by Patrick Nelson and Mary Kay Mohs Patrick Mohs Jewelry, Wayzata, Minnesota
First Place, Professional Excellence, 1-3 Years in Business Supernova Earring Set by Zoe Zong ZoeZong LLC, McKinney, Texas
Second Place, Professional Excellence, 1-3 Years in Business Contrast Brooch by Zoe Zong ZoeZong LLC, McKinney, Texas
CAD/CAM Distinction (sponsored by Stuller/Gemvision) Bat Ring, Ricardo Basta Ricardo Basta Fine Jewelry, Los Angeles
Laser Distinction (sponsored by LaserStar Technologies) Rouge Moderne Earrings, Adam Neeley Adam Neeley Fine Art Jewelry, Laguna Beach, California
Custom Design Distinction (sponsored by Century Casting Co. Inc.) In the Garden Necklace, Brenda Smith Brenda Smith Jewelry LLC, Woodstock, Georgia
Responsible Practices Distinction (sponsored by The Richline Group) Tanzanite and diamond white gold ring Blue Heron Jewelry Co., Poulbo, Washington
First Place, Future of the Industry Award (sponsored by the MJSA Education Foundation) Sun and Moon Earrings, Kwan Cheuk Ying Hong Kong Design Institute, Hong Kong
Ganoksin is sponsored by
First Place, Future of the Industry Award (sponsored by the MJSA Education Foundation) Sun and Moon Earrings, Kwan Cheuk Ying Hong Kong Design Institute, Hong Kong
Second Place, Future of the Industry Award (sponsored by the MJSA EducationFoundation) Sweet Spell Necklace, Maneli Sarmadi Savannah College of Art & Design, Savannah, Georgia
In addition to the Distinction Sponsors listed, MJSA also thanks Rio Grande (General Sponsor),as well as Instore, Metalsmith, and The Retail Jeweler magazines (Media Sponsors).
In association with
The award-winning Journal is published monthly by MJSA, the trade association for professional jewelry makers, designers, and related suppliers. It offers design ideas, fabrication and production techniques, bench tips, business and marketing insights, and trend and technology updates—the information crucial for business success. “More than other publications, MJSA Journal is oriented toward people like me: those trying to earn a living by designing and making jewelry,” says Jim Binnion of James Binnion Metal Arts.