Art Jewelers Diamonds & Design

Designing Talents
Hidden Gems Found at Local Schools

By Marsha Cornelius

Art Jewelers in Woodstock held a contest last year where they invited high school students from Cherokee and other surrounding counties to participate in a jewelry design competition. Public, private, and homeschooled students were invited to compete.

At a value of $1,500, the winning design was produced in precious metals and stones and awarded to the winner at no cost. The winner also received a $500 cash award and will spend three days as an intern at Art Jewelers, learning what it takes to design a piece of jewelry from conception to finished product. This includes an introduction to CAD (computer-aided design) for Jewelry, Casting and Finishing 101, and more.

The winner is also featured in a cover story for Woodstock Family Life magazine. And dont forget the bragging rights while flashing that fabulous bling to friends and family.

And the Winner Is . . .

Anna Martin, a high school senior at The Kings Academy, won the grand prize. Her submission, (shown left) was a 14 karat yellow-gold ring with milgrain detail. The halo-style ring featured diamonds around an oval-shaped opal. Anna put a twist on the antique look with whimsical crescent moons and stars.

The contest was a great opportunity for me to really branch out into art a little more and gain more experience. I thought that, if I won, it would be awesome to put the prize money toward college, says Martin.

Why Hold a Contest?

Third generation jewelry designer and owner of Art Jewelers David Meadows says, Were always looking for ways to be involved with the community. What better way than to invest in kids? We love uncovering that hidden talent and sparking an interest in a student who may not have considered jewelry design as a possible career.

One-third of the students who entered the contest were male. Were they designing masculine rings and necklaces?

No, says Angelica McDeermond, jewelry artisan and David Meadows daughter. They submitted designs for womens jewelry, too.

They were probably designing jewelry for girlfriends, or girls they hoped might be their girlfriends, son Jonathan Meadows, also a jewelry artisan, adds with a smile.

Who Can Enter Next Year?

The complete rules for submission can be found at ArtJewelersDesignContest.com. The website is ready for 2020 submissions.

This is an annual competition, so interested students can begin pondering what piece of jewelry theyd like to design and still have plenty of time to draw up the plans before the March 31 deadline.

Who Is Art Jewelers?

Art Jewelers is a family-owned-and-operated business in Woodstock that specializes in unique and trendy jewelry, custom jewelry, and repairs.

Weve been in the area since 1985, says David. We raised our kids here; they were educated here. This is our home, and we intend to stay put.

Five of the Meadows familys nine children are award-winning artists on staff at the store. They even enjoy a little family competition to win awards for unique and outstanding designs. David was awarded Best in Show for two years in a row by the Georgia Jewelers Association.

The backbone of our business is design, says David. With computer-assisted design, we can give our customers the full perspective of what their piece will look like before we even start production.

One-of-a-Kind Options

For example, an heirloom diamond ring handed down from grandmother to grandson can be recreated into an engagement ring for his fiancee. Silverware from the 19th century can be reimagined as a necklace or ring. Earrings can be made from a precious stone that has been in the family for years. A skull pendant or ring can be designed for that hard-to-please son or daughter.

Complete In-House Artistry From Start to Finish

Art Jewelers is one of the few full-service businesses in the area that does all work in-house from the first drawings using CAD, to a mock-up of the finished product using a 3-D printer, to the finished piece in gold, sterling silver, platinum, and more.

Along with hand-crafted jewelry, they also do ring sizing, watch repair, insurance appraisals, laser soldering, and stone identification.

When the occasion calls for a truly unique gift, think Art Jewelers.

Art Jewelers
Diamonds and Design

136 Woodstock Square Avenue
Suite 400
(next to Target on Highway 92)
Woodstock, Georgia

ArtJewelers.com