Editors

The Best of Everything Jewelry Related in 2021

EditorsDec 30, 2021

The Best of Everything Jewelry Related in 2021

These were the top jewelry trends, celebrity engagement rings, and jewelry disses in the last year.

20211230_BestofJewelry-MaggiSimpkins.jpg
Maggi Simpkins’ “In Bloom Ring” featured at Sotheby’s “Brilliant & Black: A Jewelry Renaissance” sale, is crafted in 18-karat rose gold featuring an internally flawless, 2.43-carat, cushion-cut fancy pink diamond, 2.73 carats of custom-cut rubies, and 0.77 carats of pink sapphires.
In 2021, fine jewelry sales continued to soar, while the industry at large made a return to some of its events and in-person commerce. 
 
Here were some of the brightest jewelry moments of the year. 
 
Best Fine Jewelry Collection: Emily P. Wheeler’s “Dress Up”
Escapism is in high demand and Emily P. Wheeler delivered that in spades in her latest collection, called “Dress Up.” 
 
Bright colored gemstones paired in tonal color combinations, hearts, and pearls provided a child-like take on glamorous occasion dressing. 
 
Wheeler showed that whimsy and beauty can be antidotes to the doom and gloom of the news cycle, even if just “window shopping” on Instagram.

20211230_BestofJewelry-EmilyPWheeler.jpg
Emily P. Wheeler’s “Aurora” earrings in 18-karat gold with 26.28 total carats of palm citrine, 13.07 total carats of tourmaline, and 7.1 total carats of yellow beryl. They’re from the designer’s latest collection, “Dress Up,” launched in 2021.
 
Best Trade Show Comeback: The Couture Show 
In 2021, the show finally went on. 
 
CBG was the first to return to Las Vegas, with Couture, the antique show, and JCK Las Vegas following suit in late August. While slimmed down from pre-pandemic editions, buyers seemed enthusiastic to peruse in person. 
 
The Couture show moved to its new space at the Wynn Las Vegas, with the antique show occupying its previous ballrooms. Couture’s relocation originally was planned for 2020, but the 2021 new Designer Atelier made it worth the wait. 
 
Its new location within a large hall beneath a skylight provided welcome natural light that can feel so far away when cocooned in a Vegas casino, all the better to showcase the latest jewelry designs. 

Continuing the synergy between indoor and outdoor, the jewelry trade show’s award show was held outside in the city’s fabulous dry heat at nighttime.    
 
Best Trend: Revamped Zodiacs
Zodiacs are an element of personalization that designers explored with the most exciting results in 2021. 
 
From Aurelie Demark to Jemma Wynne, and Brent Neale to Marlo Laz, there was a zodiac for every taste. 
 

Best All-Around Year for a Designer: Lorraine Schwartz
Prior to 2021, Lorraine Schwartz had already solidified her reputation as the go-to celebrity jeweler, creating elaborate one-of-a-kind pieces that regularly grace the most prestigious red carpets. 

This year, her legacy took a different turn.
 
She partnered with the Natural Diamond Council on the Emerging Designers Diamond Initiative, granting $1 million in credit to up-and-coming BIPOC designers. She also partnered with client and friend Beyoncé, and the Gemological Institute of America to offer GIA Graduate Gemologist scholarships to three promising Black professionals. 

Her year of working toward creating a more inclusive jewelry industry couldn’t be better topped off than with the Gem Award for Jewelry Style, which she will receive at the rescheduled 2022 gala. 

Best Celebrity Engagement Ring: Kate Hudson 
Speaking of Schwartz, Kate Hudson was dripping in the designer’s jewels at this year’s Met Gala, held in September, rather than the traditional May.
 
One jewel, however, was Hudson’s own. 
 
The red-carpet event was the debut of the actress and fitness entrepreneur’s engagement ring. Like other celebrity engagement rings this year, the style was simple, but the champagne diamond center stone made it unique. 

Embed from Getty Images
 
Best Jewelry Book: Sapphire by Joanna Hardy
The tomes in Joanna Hardy’s gemstone trilogy make the ultimate jewelry aficionado coffee table books. 
 
This year, “Emerald” and “Ruby” were rounded out with “Sapphire,” published by Thames & Hudson, in association with Violette Editions in partnership with Gemfields. 
 
Hardy discusses the book and previews some of the spectacular sapphire jewels it chronicles in a video here. 
 
Best Jewelry Diss: Ben Affleck vs. Ana de Armas 
Celebrity media couldn’t get over the Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez reunion this year. 
 
I couldn’t get over Affleck gifting his romantic redux jewelry from Foundrae, a brand favored by his most recent ex, Ana de Armas. 
 
While an innocent version of this scenario exists, wherein Affleck gifts Foundrae to many people in his life or was the one to introduce the brand to his former paramour, this isn’t an innocent world, and those explanations are unlikely. 
 
Read my far more sinister take, involving Affleck’s deliberate and very public snub to his ex, here. 
 
Best Royal Jewel: Marie Antoinette Diamond Bracelets
Who doesn’t love a jewel with royal provenance landing on the auction block? 
 
The provenance doesn’t get much more intriguing than French Queen Marie Antoinette herself. Interest was piqued when two diamond bracelets in almost original condition were expected to earn between $2 million and $4 million at Christie’s Geneva. 
 
Ultimately, a buyer snapped them up for a cool $8 million. 

Best Diamond: The Sakura Diamond
Also offered at Christie’s, the Sakura diamond didn’t surpass its $38 million high estimate, but still fell within its pre-sale range when it earned $29 million. 

The 15.81-carat purple-pink diamond is a lesson in diamond rarity.

20211230_BestofJewelry-Sakura.jpg
The Sakura Diamond
 
Less than 10 percent of pink diamonds weigh more than 0.2 carats, while only 4 percent of pink diamonds receive the GIA “fancy vivid” color grade like the Sakura. 
 
Best Jewelry Sale: Brilliant & Black: A Jewelry Renaissance 
Among auction houses’ record-setting diamonds and jewels with fascinating backstories, contemporary designer jewelry sales keep institutions, well, current. 
 
The sale I would have most liked to hop on a plane back to New York for was Sotheby’s “Brilliant & Black: A Jewelry Renaissance.” Curated in partnership with Melanie Grant, it featured an array of artistically diverse jewels from Black designers working today or in the last century. 

Art Smith and Winifred Mason Chenet were featured alongside Harwell Godfrey, Castro NYC, Rashid Johnson, and Maggi Simpkins, who created a $1 million dollar ring for the occasion. 

Most Surprising New Brand: Homer
When you’re Frank Ocean, you can break every rule. 
 
At launch, the musician’s new sterling silver and gold jewelry collection with lab-grown diamonds eschewed ecommerce for a New York City Chinatown storefront and rejected social media for a printed catalogue. (Today, the brand’s ecommerce is up and running and a week ago it flooded its Instagram account with not just one inaugural post but 90 posts in a single day.)

20211230_BestofJewelry-FrankOcean.jpg
Designs from the Homer catalogue

But it’s not rule-breaking or marketing trappings that make Homer interesting. It’s the Japanese cartoon-like characters and vibrant enamel colors that showcase a legitimate design voice. 
 
I’ll be keeping my eye on the brand in 2022. 
 
 Related stories will be right here … 

The Latest

Ivette Nersesyan-Stephanopoulos
MajorsJun 16, 2025
Ivette Nersesyan-Stephanopoulos Joins Tiffany & Co.

The former De Beers executive is the jewelry house’s new director of high jewelry for the Americas.

Robinson Pelham Fruits of Love Pear Earrings
CollectionsJun 13, 2025
Piece of the Week: Robinson Pelham’s Pear Earrings

Take a bite out of the 14-karat yellow gold “Fruits of Love Pear” earrings featuring peridots, diamond stems, and tsavorite leaves.

Three diamonds with diagrams
Events & AwardsJun 13, 2025
AGA to Host ‘Diamonds From Mine to Market’ Education Conference

The one-day virtual event will feature speakers from De Beers, GIA, and Gemworld International.

an instructor and a student in a bench jewelry classroom
Brought to you by
Investing in the Next Generation of Bench Jewelers

The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.

A pink gold Patek Philippe perpetual calendar chronograph Ref. 2499
AuctionsJun 12, 2025
Vintage Patek Philippe From the ‘50s Sells for $4M at Sotheby’s

Al Capone’s pocket watch also found a buyer, though it went for less than half of what it did at auction four years ago.

Weekly QuizJun 12, 2025
This Week’s Quiz
Test your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Take the Quiz
Gabriel Love Foundation Logo
Events & AwardsJun 12, 2025
Gabriel Love Foundation Introduces Scholarship Honoring Elias Gabriel

The foundation has also expanded its “Stronger Together” initiative with Jewelers for Children.

Celine Assimon
AuctionsJun 12, 2025
Former De Beers Exec Celine Assimon Joins Bonhams

Assimon is the auction house’s new chief commercial officer.

Jewelers of America logo with meetup, State of the Majors, giveaway and massages
Brought to you by
Jewelers of America is Headed to Las Vegas for JCK 2025

The countdown is on for the JCK Las Vegas Show and JA is pulling out all the stops.

Pandora Las Vegas ribbon cutting ceremony
MajorsJun 11, 2025
Pandora Bets on Las Vegas for First North American Flagship

The Danish jewelry giant hosted its grand opening last weekend, complete with a Pandora pink roulette wheel.

Tiffany Stevens
GradingJun 11, 2025
Tiffany Stevens Exits IGI, Lab Appoints New Board Leader

Industry veteran Anoop Mehta is the new chairman and independent director of the IGI board.

Lee Min Seo and Ianyan Jewelry
Events & AwardsJun 11, 2025
Kering Announces Winners of Sustainability-Focused Award

The winners of the inaugural “Kering Generation Award x Jewelry” are student Lee Min Seo and China-based startup Ianyan.

De Beers desert diamonds
SourcingJun 10, 2025
De Beers Turns to Brown, Yellow Diamonds for New ‘Beacon’

“Ombré Desert Diamonds” will emphasize cream-, champagne-, and brown-colored diamonds, shades that set natural stones apart from lab grown.

Gresham grasshopper ring
AuctionsJun 10, 2025
Noonans to Auction 16th-Century Signet Ring

It's one of the “Gresham grasshopper” rings English financier Sir Thomas Gresham was known to gift to acquaintances or business associates.

Mary Chiam
CollectionsJun 10, 2025
Tabayer Names Mary Chiam as CEO

The brand also debuted its new “Zorae” collection featuring a talisman of protection and harmony inspired by a sheaf of wheat.

Lauren Johansen
MajorsJun 10, 2025
Lauren Johansen Joins Loudr

As Loudr’s new account manager, Johansen will partner with clients to craft and execute marketing strategies.

Lunar Rain cat locket
Events & AwardsJun 09, 2025
And the Winners of the 2025 Couture Design Awards Are …

Designers were recognized in 12 categories, from platinum to pearls, before the evening ended with a new, retail-focused award.

Nancy Astor tiara
AuctionsJun 09, 2025
Nancy Astor’s Cartier Tiara Sells for $1.2M

The rare turquoise and diamond jewel was the top lot at Bonhams’ June jewelry sale.

2025 National Jeweler Retailer Hall of Fame inductees
IndependentsJun 09, 2025
Here Are the 2025 Retailer Hall of Fame Inductees

This year’s honorees include a Midwest retailer and two multi-store independents, one in New York and the other in New England.

2025 CASE Award Submission Graphic
Events & AwardsJun 09, 2025
CASE Awards Now Accepting Entries For 2025

The deadline to submit is June 16.

RDI Diamonds and Lavalier Personal Jewelry Insurance Logos
MajorsJun 09, 2025
RDI Diamonds Partners With Lavalier

The diamond wholesaler is working with the insurance provider to seamlessly offer personal jewelry insurance to RDI retailers’ clients.

Harwell Godfrey Granny Square Eleanor Necklace
CollectionsJun 06, 2025
Piece of the Week: Harwell Godfrey’s ‘Granny Squares Eleanor’ Necklace

As an homage to iconic crochet blankets, the necklace features the nostalgic motif through a kaleidoscope of cabochon-cut stones.

 Laura Gallon Joaillerie “Dynasty” ring, Bijules “Compass” bolo tie, Löf “The Orbitalis” ring
Events & AwardsJun 05, 2025
The 12 Fresh Faces in Couture’s Design Atelier

Discover the dozen up-and-coming brands exhibiting in the Design Atelier for the first time.

Jack Abraham The Royal Ruby Collection
SourcingJun 05, 2025
A Rare Suite of Rubies Has Arrived in Las Vegas

The “Royal Ruby” Collection is a quintet of untreated rubies curated by collector Jack Abraham.

Daymond John
Events & AwardsJun 05, 2025
Daymond John to Give Keynote at JCK Las Vegas

The entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” star will share his top tips for success.

Vaishali Banerjee and Pallavi Sharma
MajorsJun 05, 2025
Platinum Guild International Updates Leadership Team

Two existing executives have been given new roles.

Meredith Tiderington
Events & AwardsJun 05, 2025
Zillion Announces 'Women in STEM' Scholarship Recipient

Meredith Tiderington, an electrical engineering student, was selected for the award.

The Gemological Institute of America’s logo
Lab-GrownJun 04, 2025
GIA Reverting to More General Terminology for Lab-Grown Diamonds

It will quit assigning the stones specific color and clarity grades in favor of applying “new descriptive terminology.”

×

This site uses cookies to give you the best online experience. By continuing to use & browse this site, we assume you agree to our Privacy Policy