NATIONAL JEWELER 35 N ow in their 28th year, the CASE awards recognize exceptional designs created by JA retail members based on creativity, artistry, style and overall excellence.  Retail jewelers submitted their finished pieces to be judged by a panel of in- dustry experts across four price categories: pieces that retail for under $2,000; from $2,001 to $5,000; $5,001 to $10,000; and for $10,001 and above. A fifth category, the People’s Choice award, was judged by the public. Here are the designs that captivated competition judges and the public. —Compiled byAshley Davis C3 DESIGNS SOUTH MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN DESIGNED BY CHRIS JENSEN A sterling silver and 14-karat yellow gold pendant with a hand-carved raw selenite crystal accented by a 0.66-carat pear- shaped grossular garnet, a 0.50-carat oval green tourmaline, a 0.66-carat round andalusite, a 0.27-carat andalusite and six round assorted green tourmalines (1.65 total carat weight) $1,875 WINNER UP TO $2,000 JEWELERS OF AMERICA’S ANNUAL COMPETITION SHINES A SPOTLIGHT ON THE DESIGN ABILITIES OF RETAIL JEWELERS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES RICARDO BASTA FINE JEWELRY LOS ANGELES DESIGNED BY RICARDO BASTA An 18-karat yellow gold hand-carved ring featuring a natural golden rutilated quartz cabochon (21.18 carats) and 92 round brilliant-cut diamonds weighing 0.28 carats. The diamonds are highlighted with rhodium plating. $5,000 WINNER $2,001 TO $5,000 2018