Tenisha Jason-Moore, Melinda Wallace, and Ara Chanakian, all of Pattons Fine Jewelry, received awards from the Jewelers of Louisiana at the association’s recent convention.
New Orleans—Three team members from Pattons Fine Jewelry notched awards at the recent Jewelers of Louisiana convention.
The association named Tenisha Jason-Moore its “Jeweler of Louisiana,” one of its top honors. The award is given to an individual in the jewelry business in Louisiana who exemplifies excellence in their store and demonstrated a passion for jewelry.
Jason-Moore is the third Pattons employee to take home the honor, joining Kevin “Duane” Dunehew in 2015 and Kevin Patton in 2002.
Jewelry designer Melinda Wallace, who is also the manager of the Pattons Alexandria store, took first place in the category of designs retailing for $6,000 or more in the 2021 Jewelers of Louisiana Design Competition.
Her winning piece was a freeform boulder opal with 14-karat gold overlay and marquise emerald “leaves.”
At left, the winning piece from Melinda Wallace. At right, “Jeweler of Louisiana” winner Tenisha Jason-Moore
Additionally, Patton jeweler Ara Chanakian entered three pieces into the design competition and earned two third-place awards, one in the category of retailing up to $2,000 and one in the retailing for $2,000 to $6,000 category.
The pieces entered were judged on overall design, marketability, practicality, wearability, and craftmanship.
Each first-place winner and the overall winner’s entries will be sent to Jewelers of America in New York to be entered into the association’s CASE Awards competition next year.
Pattons Fine Jewelry has been around since 1944, with locations in Alexandria and Baton Rouge.
Sandra Patton was the inaugural recipient of Jewelers of Louisiana’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017, given to an individual who has been involved in the jewelry industry for over 20 years and who possesses qualities of professionalism, community involvement, exemplary customer service, and excellence.
