JB Insights
AGTA Spectrum Awards 2023
The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) announced the winners of the 2023 AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards.This year’s competition took place Oct. 24–25 in Dallas, at the Omni Frisco Hotel at the Star.
There were two Best of Show winners at the 2023 AGTA Spectrum Awards. One was a spectacular 15.22 ct. black opal ring by Niveet Nagpal of Omi Privé; the other, representing the Cutting Edge category of loose gems and carvings, was a suite of four oval paraiba tourmalines totaling 31 cts. from Joseph Ambalu of Amba Gem Corp.


Entries to this year’s competition are 24% greater than last year, with a 28% increase in the Business/Day Wear category and a 26% increase in the Evening Wear category.
While there were—not surprisingly—many Sapphires and Sapphire jewels entered in the competition, other trends included Tourmaline, Garnet (including many tsavorite Garnet-accented pieces), enameled jewels, cabochon-cut gems, natural Pearls, and finished jewels with fantasy-cut or carved gems as focal points.


In the Spectrum division, extraordinary entries included an exceptional 5.34 ct. kite-shape Mahenge Spinel in the Business/Day Wear division and a massive two-piece platinum and 18K gold necklace with nearly 73 carats of Garnet in the Men’s division. In Cutting Edge, meanwhile, loose gems ranged from a 9.49 ct. peach Mahenge Malaya Garnet to a 10.42 ct. oval Portuguese-cut Rhodochrosite. There were also a number of green gems entered into both divisions of the competition this year.
One of the most talked-about pieces in the AGTA Spectrum competition was a necklace featuring various species of garnet that won the Best Use of Platinum and Color award.

“This year’s Awards are one of our best ever,” says CEO John W. Ford Sr., who has now been at the helm of AGTA for over a year. “We had an additional 100 entries this year over last, and many of them had stunning green and blue-green gems.”
Many of the winning pieces will be on display during the 2024 AGTA GemFair Tucson, Jan. 30–Feb. 4. 2024
JB Insights
Gifting That Lasts – How Gold and Silver Coins Bridge Heritage and Modern Life
Ketan Kothari , Director of Augmont
Most people think of gifting gold and silver as a nod to nostalgia. In reality, it’s one of the few traditions that has outperformed every modern “smart” gift you can name. Long before fintech apps and inflation charts, Indian households treated these metals as portable wealth, a hedge against uncertainty, and a quiet transfer of wisdom from one generation to the next. That logic has not aged a day; rather, it remains even more relevant in a world where assets can be compromised with a password reset.

What has changed is the way these coins look and live in our lives. Classic Lakshmi – Ganesh motifs now share space with clean, contemporary designs that feel at home in a digital world. The modern take on it makes each piece both timeless and current. Every coin carries its own story, turning family milestones into tangible memories while steadily gaining value as gold and silver prices continue to climb year after year. It is beauty and intrinsic value in one small disc. It is a heritage you can hold, and an investment built to last across generations.
Augmont brings this legacy to life with coins that pair high purity with artistry that honors tradition while embracing today’s aesthetic, offering a gift as enduring as the heritage it represents.


Why Choose Augmont Coins?
1. A Range That Resonates
From divine Lakshmi–Ganesh motifs to limited editions and unique designs in 24K and 22K gold and silver, Augmont offers a variety that suits every occasion. Each coin is crafted to celebrate moments that matter, whether personal milestones or festive rituals.
2. Stories Encased in Metal
These coins carry meaning at multiple levels. Many are tied to festivals, family traditions, or commemorative events, reimagining each piece as a memory that endures alongside its value.
3. Quality That Lasts Generations
Augmont coins are designed with precision and aim to withstand time. Their enduring craftsmanship ensures they remain beautiful keepsakes, ready to be passed down as family heirlooms while preserving their shine and value.
4. Trust You Can Hold
Every coin comes with 999 purity, BIS-certified refinery credentials, and secure packaging. Rigorous minting checks and transparent authenticity measures make each coin a reliable investment as well as a meaningful gift.
5. Versatility Across Life and Legacy
Whether it’s for a festival, a milestone, a special reward, or just a smart personal investment, Augmont coins fit naturally into the moment, carrying both meaning and value without ever feeling out of place.
6. A Legacy of Trust
Trusted by thousands of jewellers and millions of users across the country, Augmont coins have become a choice people rely on, not just for their value, but for the assurance they carry.
How Tradition Meets Technology
1. Timed for Auspicious Moments
Gold and silver coins remain the benchmark for occasions like Diwali, Akshaya Tritiya, and other auspicious events. With digital and quick-commerce platforms, these timeless gifts can now be bought and gifted instantly, without compromising the ritual.
2. Convenience Of Payment
UPI-enabled transactions bring efficiency without losing the emotional value of gifting.
3. A Platform Built for Today
Platforms like Augmont make it easy to combine tradition with today’s convenience, whether it’s setting up Gold/Silver SIPs, picking Gold/Silver coins online, storing them securely, or redeeming as per convenience. The old and the new come together without missing a beat.
Gold and silver coins have a way of staying with us long after the festival. They become part of the stories families live and share. A coin given at Diwali, added to a wedding trousseau, or exchanged to mark a milestone, holds memories, celebrates relationships, and marks achievements. Over the years, these coins carry the weight of tradition, the joy of moments lived, and the reassurance of foresight. By bringing the past into the present, they turn every gift into something personal, lasting, and truly memorable.
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