Awards/Recognition
U of A Museum Planetarium (SITR Project): At age 15, Nick was invited by Somewhere in the Rainbow to take part in a special project that they began in 2016. Nick and nine other world-class artists were asked to cut a synthetic sapphire in commemoration of Buddha Blue, the first known concave faceted gem in history.
For the first time in Nick's career, he was asked to participate with the country's best. Even though this wasn't a competition, Nick felt pressure to not look out of place when his stone was featured with the other artists.
These stones were featured at Las Vegas JCK, JTV Gemlovers, and the Tucson U of A Planetarium Museum.
Nick's stone turned out phenomenal, further building his confidence that he could possibly win a Spectrum Award within the next couple of years.
2019 AGTA Spectrum Awards: The AGTA Spectrum Awards is the world's finest jewelry and colored gemstone competition. Every gemstone cutter in the United States strives to win this award one day. This competition has a lot of very talented artists entering every year, and it is always challenging to place.
With a goal to win this competition by eighteen, 2019 was the last year he could try to win and meet his goal. If he won by eighteen, it would make him the youngest winner in the country.
Nick received a letter two weeks before turning 18 letting him know that he placed at the 2019 AGTA Spectrum Awards and was invited to a special showcase dinner they have in Tucson every year for the winners.
This massive event in Nick's career allowed him to think even bigger about what his future could hold.
AGTA Booth: In 2019, Nick Alexander showcased his work for the first time on the AGTA floor.
GIA Interview: At the Tucson Gem Show in 2019, after Nick had won his award, GIA approached him and asked to do an interview discussing his career.
Invitation to the Smithsonian: A few months after receiving the 2019 AGTA Spectrum Awards, Nick and his father, Darryl Alexander, were in Washington D.C. for a jewelry show. While they were in D.C. a contact at the Smithsonian Museum heard they were in town and invited Nick and his father to the Smithsonian Museum for VIP access to the back. The back of the museum is where they keep all their vaults with gemstones/jewelry that are not on display and may never be on display.
Nick and his Father had a blast, and at the end of the tour, they asked Nick to cut a display of Pink Opal from Oregon for their collection.
Alfie Norville Museum: In 2021, Nick Alexander was asked to display some of his work at a Nationally renowned museum in Tucson, Arizona
2022 AGTA Spectrum Awards: For the second time, Nick Alexander wins the AGTA Spectrum Awards with another Oregon Sunstone. By this time, Nick Alexander was twenty-one years old.
Magazine Features: Nick has been featured in JCK, Rock n' Gem, GIA and other notable magazines around the world.
Other Notable Accomplishments: Nick Alexander also started a successful lapidary/jewelry equipment company when he turned 18 that has grown into an international distribution company servicing lapidary artists and jewelers worldwide.