Events & AwardsMar 02, 2023
Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference to Co-Locate with New Instore ShowEvents & AwardsMar 21, 2023
ASJRA’s May Conference Examines ‘Iconic’ Jewelry Companies
Jewelry historians, authors, and experts will explore the works of Tiffany & Co., Oscar Heyman, Verdura, and more.
Oscar Heyman created this “Birds in Flight” bracelet in 1927. The American jeweler will be one of several companies discussed at ASJRA’s upcoming annual conference.
Ellicott City, Md.—The Association for the Study of Jewelry & Related Arts has set the theme for its 18th annual conference.
Held virtually from May 6-7, the sessions will center around the theme of “Iconic Jewelry Firms,” delving into the likes of Tiffany & Co., Oscar Heyman and Verdura.
The speakers and sessions are as follows.
On May 6, Beth Wees, curator emerita of The American Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, alongside jewelry specialist Sheila Smithie, FGA, will host the first session of the day, “Marcus & Co.: Three Generations of New York Jewelers.”
The American jeweler was a mainstay in New York City from 1892 to 1962.
Reema Keswani, founder of Golconda Jewelry and former president of the American Society of Jewelry Historians, will present “The Jewelry Designs of Shinde.”
Ambaji Venkatesh Shinde was a well-known jewelry designer, notable for his work at Harry Winston.
Jewelry expert Elizabeth Bray will speak on “The Jewelry of Paul Flato,” highlighting the American jeweler’s work. Bray is the author of “Jeweler to the Stars: The Jewelry of Paul Flato,” published by ACC Art Books in 2010.
Costume jewelry historian Barbara Schwartz will lead a session called “Coro and Louis Rousselet: Two Costume Jewelry Makers You Need to Know More About.”
A virtual cocktail party will be held at 6 p.m. Eastern to celebrate the conference.
Related stories will be right here …
Held virtually from May 6-7, the sessions will center around the theme of “Iconic Jewelry Firms,” delving into the likes of Tiffany & Co., Oscar Heyman and Verdura.
The speakers and sessions are as follows.
On May 6, Beth Wees, curator emerita of The American Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, alongside jewelry specialist Sheila Smithie, FGA, will host the first session of the day, “Marcus & Co.: Three Generations of New York Jewelers.”
The American jeweler was a mainstay in New York City from 1892 to 1962.
Reema Keswani, founder of Golconda Jewelry and former president of the American Society of Jewelry Historians, will present “The Jewelry Designs of Shinde.”
Ambaji Venkatesh Shinde was a well-known jewelry designer, notable for his work at Harry Winston.
Jewelry expert Elizabeth Bray will speak on “The Jewelry of Paul Flato,” highlighting the American jeweler’s work. Bray is the author of “Jeweler to the Stars: The Jewelry of Paul Flato,” published by ACC Art Books in 2010.
Costume jewelry historian Barbara Schwartz will lead a session called “Coro and Louis Rousselet: Two Costume Jewelry Makers You Need to Know More About.”
A virtual cocktail party will be held at 6 p.m. Eastern to celebrate the conference.
Day two will kick off with writer Beth Hamilton presenting “Oscar Heyman, The Jeweler’s Jeweler.” She was a contributing author of the book with the same title.
Fashion and jewelry historian Ariana Bishop will give a presentation titled “ Verdura. America’s Crown Jeweler.”
Laura Mathews, great-granddaughter of 20th-century jeweler and sculptor Gustav Manz, will present a session on his work, titled “Lost & Found: The Jewelry of Gustav Manz.”
Jewelry historian Anna Rasche will host “The Drecier Company,” a prominent New York jeweler during the Gilded Age.
Jewelry expert and author Elyse Zorn Karlin will present “The Art Jewelry of Louis Comfort Tiffany.” Karlin is co-director of the event alongside Yvonne J. Markowitz.
The attendance fee is $155. ASJRA members will receive a 10 percent discount.
There is also early-bird pricing available for those who register before March 30.
For those interested in the conference but unable to attend live, a recording will be available for three weeks after the conference.
For more information or to register, visit the ASJRA website.
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
Policies & IssuesOct 07, 2026
The Plumb Club Amplifies Its Voice as Geopolitical Pressures MountThe supplier organization recently joined JA and JVC to have more input on political issues affecting the jewelry industry.
CollectionsOct 07, 2026
Blue Nile, Royal Asscher Collection Highlights Natural Diamond BeautyBlue Nile, a Signet Jewelers-owned brand, is now Royal Asscher’s exclusive licensed retailer in North America.
CollectionsOct 07, 2026
4 Standout Pieces in Audemars Piguet’s First High Jewelry Collection “Royal Oak” pays homage to the brand’s most popular watch model using 18-karat gold as well as diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires.
Brought to you by
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionExperience gemstones with greater precision and comfort than ever before.
MajorsOct 07, 2026
Empire Safe & Vault Promotes Juan Morales to CEOAs part of the transition, Joseph Nicosia has stepped into the role of COO.
Weekly QuizOct 01, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SourcingOct 07, 2026
AGTA Extends Deadline for 2026 Spectrum Awards EntriesParticipants now have until Oct. 14 to complete their submissions.
Policies & IssuesOct 06, 2026
6 Charged in Connection to String of New Jersey Smash-and-GrabsThe alleged thieves used crow bars and sledgehammers to smash into jewelry stores across the state.
Brought to you by
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSubmit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.
ColumnistsOct 06, 2026
Sherry Smith: Is the Consumer Really Trading Up?Ahead of the holidays, Smith urges jewelers to take a hard look at who’s buying jewelry, what they’re purchasing, and who’s stopped buying.
SourcingOct 06, 2026
DDG Taps Influencers for ‘My Diamond Does Good’ CampaignIn the new consumer-facing campaign, four fashion and lifestyle creators share the stories behind their natural diamond pieces.
MajorsOct 06, 2026
Frederick Goldman Names COO, CMOFGI President John Orrico is also leaving the company after more than 13 years.
SourcingOct 05, 2026
De Beers to Take Full Ownership of Gahcho KuéIt is the last fully operational diamond mine in Canada following the recent closures of Ekati and Diavik.
AuctionsOct 05, 2026
The Star Cats of the Sandy Lerner AuctionThese jewels stood out at Bonhams’ sale of the cat-loving tech entrepreneur’s collection of objects depicting the feline form.
CollectionsOct 05, 2026
Sorellina Writes Another Love Letter for ‘Postscript’ CollectionThe fine jewelry brand has expanded the collection that debuted at Couture with four new designs based on its most popular styles.
SourcingOct 05, 2026
Bruce Bridges Joins CIBJO BoardThe AGTA president was elected for a two-year term on the board of directors.
SourcingOct 02, 2026
De Beers, National Geographic Society Renew Okavango Eternal Partnership The partnership, a pledge to protect Africa’s Okavango River Basin, has been extended for an additional five years.
MajorsOct 02, 2026
Pandora Opens New $150M Manufacturing Facility in VietnamThe new facility, its first outside of Thailand, will boost its manufacturing capacity by 50 percent.
TrendsOct 02, 2026
Hearts On Fire Celebrates 30th Anniversary With Heart PendantThe special-edition “Dream” pendant, our Piece of the Week, was created to mark Hearts On Fire’s 30-year milestone with 30 diamonds.
CrimeOct 01, 2026
Police Looking for 4 Suspects in $600K Smash-and-Grab RobberyDubai Jewelers in Springfield, Virginia, was once again the target of an armed robbery.
SurveysOct 01, 2026
Rolex Ranks Among Most Recommended Brands in US, Survey Says YouGov’s 2026 U.S. Most Recommended Brands report’s out, and a fast-fashion giant is sitting at No. 1 while Rolex is just shy of the top 5.
SourcingOct 01, 2026
Columbia Gem House Opens ‘Cutting Toward Change’ FundraiserProceeds from its jewelry raffle will benefit an organization working in India to combat silicosis, a lung disease affecting stone cutters.
TrendsOct 01, 2026
Carolina Hurricanes’ Championship Ring Reveals Hidden Hockey Puck PendantThe rings, crafted by Jason of Beverly Hills, celebrate the hockey team’s Stanley Cup win with design elements that honor its traditions.
TrendsOct 01, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: October’s Color Range This roundup of birthstone jewelry for October features vibrant tourmalines and opals with personality.
SourcingSep 30, 2026
Botswana’s President, De Beers CEO Say Diamond Demand Is RecoveringPresident Duma Boko spoke at back-to-back events in the city last week, touting Botswana’s stability and the diamond “bounceback.”
CollectionsSep 30, 2026
Oscar Heyman’s Holiday Book Is ‘A Living Archive’ The catalog showcases 112 new, one-of-a-kind pieces amid highlights from the jeweler’s historic archive.
SourcingSep 30, 2026
Gemfields Posts $98.5M Loss, Writes Down Value of Ruby MineIts Montepuez Ruby Mining operation in Mozambique, which is not yielding enough high-quality rubies, has taken a $125 million hit.
SurveysSep 30, 2026
Consumer Confidence Falls to 12-Year Low in SeptemberThose surveyed were worried about the present and the future, with write-in responses mentioning high oil and gas prices.
