Mark Schneider
Mark Schneider Design, Long Beach, California
First Place, Professional Excellence (4 or More Years in Business)
By John Shanahan
“Contrast excites the eye,” says Long Beach, California, jeweler Mark Schneider. “That’s my goal in a competition—to make something that draws the judges’ attention.” And his men’s ring design that won first place in the Professional Excellence (4 or More Years in Business) division does exactly that. With its organic, paint-splatter layout of black pavé diamonds set in a satin-finished platinum ring, and topped with a rich green tsavorite garnet, it’s hard to look away. An 18k yellow gold bezel around the garnet and inner sleeve set with canary diamonds further enhance the contrast in this artistic jewelry piece.