Supplier BulletinNov 21, 2024
Tasha R Releases 2025 Labbelle Lab Diamond Jewelry CatalogSponsored by Tasha R
TrendsJan 24, 2018
Rio Tinto Partners with Ana Khouri, Indie Designers
The miner enlisted a talented group of jewelry designers to create signature pieces with Australian diamonds.
Six designers, including Ana Khouri (pictured), created some of their signature pieces with Australian diamonds from Rio Tinto’s Argyle mine.
New York--To promote Australian diamonds, miner Rio Tinto enlisted a group of talented independent designers to create some of their signature pieces with the stones.
Ana Khouri, Eva Fehren’s Eva Zuckerman, Ileana Makri, Anita Ko, Alison Lou’s Alison Chemla and Arpana Rayamajhi all participated in the “Diamonds with a Story Featuring Australian Diamonds” project.
Launched last week, the capsule collection consists of an array of the aforementioned designers’ signature pieces, updated with natural color diamonds in shades of champagne, pink and yellow from Western Australia’s Argyle mine, which is fully owned and operated by Rio Tinto.
Rio Tinto employs a chain of custody program that offers proof of a diamond’s provenance from mine to market and many of the “Diamonds with a Story” designers remarked on the importance of transparent and ethical sourcing.
“We do our best to research and ensure all of our materials are responsibly sourced,” said Chemla. “My customers expect that. Australian diamonds are tracked, so they’re an easy choice.”
The designers and friends feted the collection last week at Mailroom in downtown Manhattan, with a performance by French actress and singer Josephine de la Baume with her band Film Noir, and DJ sets by Ruby Aldridge, Alix Brown and Chloe Caillet.
A coffee table book by celebrity and fashion photography duo Herring & Herring commemorating the collection and designers was on hand at the event. The book features interviews with jewelry tastemakers wearing pieces from the capsule collection, including celebrity stylist Jeanann Williams, Barneys New York Fashion Director Marina Larroude and Claire Distenfeld, owner of New York boutique Fivestory.
An eternity band by Alison Lou
A signature piece from Ana Khouri takes on new life with a variety of shades of Australian diamonds
Anita Ko
The collection featured works by artist Arpana Rayamajhi, marking her first fore into fine jewelry.
Here, the full range of pieces Eva Fehren produced, with a close-up of a dramatic pair of earrings
This is the full range that Ileana Makri created for the "Diamonds with a Story" collaboration.
Commenting on the collection, Distenfeld said, “I think it’s important to know where everything in our life comes from—food, clothing, and especially diamonds. Diamonds are millions of years old, and I believe they carry the memories of the earth within them. Australian diamonds are carefully mined and tracked with great concern for the environment and, to me, that’s showing respect for these memories.”
Pieces from the capsule collection are available now on each of the six designer’s respective websites. Retail prices start at $1,000.
This is the not the first time the mining company has brought in independent jewelry designers to create pieces around its colored diamonds. Through its “Diamonds with a Story” campaign, Rio Tinto has previously collaborated with designers
More on Trends
The Latest
AuctionsNov 21, 2024
Gold Watch Gifted to Titanic Rescue Ship Captain Sells for $2MThree Titanic survivors presented him with the personalized Tiffany & Co. timepiece about a year after the tragedy.
MajorsNov 21, 2024
Harris Jewelry Ordered to Reopen Claims Portal for Refund RequestsA federal court found that the jewelry store chain violated terms of the settlement reached after it was accused of defrauding customers.
Brought to you by
Navigating Cybersecurity: Essential Guidance for JewelersFrom protecting customer data to safeguarding inventory records, it's crucial to learn how to tackle cybersecurity challenges.
CollectionsNov 21, 2024
Channel Elphaba in Muse’s ‘Have a Heart x Cynthia Erivo’ CollectionCynthia Erivo chose Dreams of Hope, an organization dedicated to empowering LGBTQA+ youth, as the charity for this year’s collection.
Weekly QuizNov 21, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
MajorsNov 21, 2024
Rocksbox Opens Pop-Up Store in San FranciscoThe new space was designed to evoke a warm, inviting vibe.
IndependentsNov 21, 2024
Mary Moses Kinney Is Now Part of The Edge’s Team Kinney, who spent nearly 30 years at IJO, has been hired to head Abbott Jewelry Systems’ new virtual marketplace.
Brought to you by
Enhance Your Expertise with IGI’s In-Person Courses in NYCThis fall, sharpen your skills in jewelry grading, quality control and diamond assessment.
CrimeNov 20, 2024
Sotheby’s to Pay $6.25M Settlement to NY State for Alleged Tax FraudThe auction house was accused of helping clients avoid paying taxes on millions of dollars’ worth of art purchased from 2010 to 2020.
Events & AwardsNov 20, 2024
Kering Debuts New Jewelry Award With Sustainability FocusThe four finalists will present their pieces at the 2025 JCK Las Vegas show.
CollectionsNov 20, 2024
Pamela Love Channels Surrealist Artists in New CollectionThe “Camera Oscura” collection showcases earring designs celebrating female Surrealist artists Claude Cahun and Leonor Fini.
Policies & IssuesNov 20, 2024
Columbia Gem House Raises $10K for Reforestation EffortsThe money will fund the planting of 10,000 trees in critical areas across Oregon, Arizona, Montana, and other regions.
Events & AwardsNov 20, 2024
The Jewelry Symposium Opens Registration, Scholarship ApplicationsThe event centered on advancing jewelry manufacturing technology will return to Detroit in May 2025.
CrimeNov 19, 2024
Woman Killed in Armed Robbery of Sacramento Jewelry StoreLocal reports identified the woman as the wife of the jewelry store owner.
AuctionsNov 19, 2024
‘A Tsar’s Treasure’ Fetches $2.9M at Sotheby’s Jewelry SaleA collection of pieces owned by Ferdinand I, the first king of modern Bulgaria, and his family, blew away estimates in Geneva last week.
MajorsNov 19, 2024
Trove Opens First US Flagship in NYCThe Australian jewelry box brand’s new West Village store will showcase new jewelers each month through its Designer in Residence program.
CollectionsNov 19, 2024
Snoop Dogg’s New Jewelry Collection Is All About Love“Lovechild” was created in partnership with Carolyn Rafaelian’s Metal Alchemist brand.
EditorsNov 18, 2024
Q&A: Helzberg CEO Brad Hampton on the Jeweler’s RebrandHampton discussed how Helzberg is improving the customer experience and why it was inspired by the company formerly known as Dunkin’ Donuts.
Policies & IssuesNov 18, 2024
Reciprocity Jewels Returns to NYC Jewelry WeekThe group will host several curated events and an exhibition of designer jewelry made with Peruvian gold traceable to the miners’ names.
CollectionsNov 18, 2024
Dolly Parton Shines in Collaboration with Kendra ScottThe collection honors the 50th anniversary of Dolly Parton’s “Love is Like a Butterfly” song, which shares a birth year with Kendra Scott.
Events & AwardsNov 18, 2024
IGI Jewelry Design Competition ReturnsThis year’s theme asks designers to take inspiration from classic fairy tales.
EditorsNov 15, 2024
Why Fine Jewelry Belongs at New York Comic ConSenior Editor Lenore Fedow makes the case for why more jewelers should be appealing to nerds at the annual event.
CollectionsNov 15, 2024
Marie Lichtenberg Battles Counterfeits with New ‘Raiz’in Scapular’ DesignsThe latest “Raiz’in” drop showcases a newly designed “Scapular” necklace and donates a portion of the proceeds to Make-A-Wish France.
WatchesNov 15, 2024
Piece of the Week: Citizen’s Commemorative Pocket WatchNo. 1 out of 100, the timepiece was created to mark Citizen’s 100th anniversary and will be auctioned off at Sotheby’s next month.
Recorded WebinarsNov 15, 2024
Watch: 10 Tips to Keep Your Jewelry Store Secure On the latest episode of “My Next Question,” two experts share best practices for store security during the holidays and year-round.
AuctionsNov 14, 2024
18th-Century Diamond Necklace Sells for Nearly $5M Sotheby’s sold the necklace, which potentially has ties to Marie-Antoinette, for $4.8 million to a woman bidding via phone.
MajorsNov 14, 2024
Saks Fifth Avenue Cancels Holiday Light DisplayInstead of its usual elaborate display, the store will illuminate its façade and frame the windows to highlight its flagship’s architecture.
