Samantha Freeman and Amy Roper Lyons were recent winners in the prestigious 2016 Saul Bell Design Awards. Samantha won second place for her Peacock Pin and Amy won second place for her Orbit #2 Pin/Pendant. Samantha was inspired by the beautiful peacock as well as Faberge and pieces that unfold to reveal hidden depths and multiple facets. Amy drew inspiration from ancient mosaics and astronomy images. Samantha’s award was in the gold/platinum category and Amy’s award was in the enamel category.

The Saul Bell Design Awards challenges jewelry designers to unleash their imaginations and create innovative designs. Established to memorialize the life of Saul Bell, experienced bench jeweler and lifetime advocate for the industry, the first contest was held by Rio Grande in 2001. The remarkable pieces submitted by Samantha and Amy are excellent examples of the career defining designs encouraged by the competition.