Jason Dow was named Designer of the Year in the Hawaii Jewelers Association’s 2010 Jewelry Design Competition. Winners were announced Friday night.

Dow’s Amulet, a circular pendant featuring a suite of rainbow moonstones and diamonds in 14K rose gold, won the "Jewelry over $3,500" category and earned the most points in the competition to win him the Designer of the Year award. Dow’s Mandala ring won top honors in the "Jewelry under $3,500" challenge. The 18K gold ring was inspired by the drawings of Buddhist monks, used for contemplation. The palacelike design features a melee of diamonds on vertical supports, with a domed top and centerpiece diamond.

There were 28 designs submitted in the competition’s three categories. All winning pieces are at http://bit.ly/97gYoT. Here are the winners:

Jewelry under $3,500

First place: Mandala Ring by Jason Dow, Jason Dow Inc.

Second place: "Hawaiian Quilt" earrings by Denny Wong, Denny Wong Designs; 18K yellow and white gold with a patchwork of pink tourmaline, tanzanite, pink spinel and diamonds.

Third place: "Dragon Sun" ring by James Angel of Royal Pacific Jewels; a carved dragon-eating-the-sun-motif man’s ring in sterling argentium silver accented with ruby eyes and diamond mouth.

People’s Choice: "Freedom of Life" pendant by Mabel Lau of Excellent Gems; carved jadeite with a bubbly outline of diamonds that complement the carving of a fish blowing bubbles.

Jewelry over $3,500

First place: Amulet by Jason Dow, Jason Dow Inc.

Second place: "Celebration" ring by Denny Wong, Denny Wong Designs; 18K yellow, white and pink gold set with seven large colorless baguette diamonds contrasted with six natural yellow diamonds.

Third place: "Plumeria Haku" pendant by James Angel of Royal Pacific Jewels; plumeria flowers with diamond centers surrounding a black pearl in a 14K gold pendant.

People’s Choice: "Celebration" by Denny Wong

Hawaiian Theme Jewelry

First place: "Loihi" by Paul Trustman, Holiday Jewelers; a book-matched pair of picture black opals set in gold with diamonds depict Loihi, Hawaii’s sea mount volcano.

Second place: "Tropical Royalty" by Tom Wheeler, Opal Fields; a boulder black opal ring set in 18K gold and diamonds with Victorian influences reminiscent of Hawaii’s royal era.

Third place: "Queen’s Pond" by Brian Thomsen; an 18K gold and black opal pendant with a cascade of channel-set diamonds, inspired by Maui’s Queen’s Pond with its waterfalls and colorful reflections.

People’s Choice: "Royal Hawaiian" by Denny Wong; an 18K gold pendant holds a rough-cut amethyst depicting the shimmering ocean around the landmark Pink Palace, sculpted in pink gold with diamond windows, surrounded by gold palm trees.