Rutland
posted
Feb 14, 2013
Waldron and Rhodes Fine Jewelers of Rutland, Vt. recently
received the news that their design submission to the Palladium
Alliance International (PAI) Design Contest by the firm's
Designer/Master Jeweler, Jay Harris, was a finalist in the
"industry's largest jewelry design contest" to date.
Harris competed against over 300 of the finest jewelry designers
in the world, designing a palladium diamond and green tourmaline
ring. Unlike most designers, he personally hand set and hand
finished his design. Finalists shared over $1 million in
prizes.
Harris was one of three designers in New England honored as a
finalist and the only one in Vermont. Judging was done from
concepts and renderings that were submitted to PAI in October,
2012. Finalists then had until December 2012 to produce the
finished design for final judging in 2013.
As a finalist, Harris's ring will be retained by the PAI
throughout 2013 for inclusion in Hollywood celebrity dressings
during the awards season, including the Golden Globes, Emmy Awards
and Oscars. This specialty jewelry collection will also travel to
celebrity events and advertising shoots around the country.
A Vermont designer ring could be strolling the red carpet at the
Oscar's on the finger of Ann Hathaway or Jennifer Aniston!
Waldron and Rhodes Jewelers, considered one of New England's
most high tech design and custom jewelers, uses a Computer Assisted
Design (CAD) program that allows a customer to see a 3-dimensional
design at the conception stage. A state of the art laser welding
station at the showroom, uses light instead of heat to assist in
their design and repair work.
Palladium, a precious metal from the platinum family, is a rare
naturally silver-white metal with a high shine, that has been
describes as "tough, sexy and sensitive." It is durable,
lightweight and hypoallergenic.
As of January 15, 2013, platinum sold higher than an ounce of
gold for the first time; gold selling at $1,683 per ounce and
platinum at $1,688 per ounce.
