Collections

Will’s Notebook Opens a New Chapter and It’s Vintage

CollectionsJun 28, 2023

Will’s Notebook Opens a New Chapter and It’s Vintage

Will Kahn, creator of Will’s Notebook, and jewelry designer Jenna Blake have launched an e-commerce platform focused on vintage jewelry.

The Vintage Notebook homepage screenshot
Jenna Blake Grosfeld, a jewelry designer known for her vintage-inspired pieces, and Will Kahn, a jewelry stylist, consultant and contributing editor at Town & Country, collaborated to create The Vintage Notebook. Launched in late May, the e-commerce platform features and sells hand-selected drops of vintage jewelry.
New York—It’s Will’s Notebook, but with a vintage feel.

In late May, longtime editor Will Kahn and designer Jenna Blake Grosfeld, creator of Jenna Blake Jewelry, announced the launch of a new e-commerce platform, The Vintage Notebook

The project was born out of the pair’s shared passion for jewelry from the past, and their desire to educate a new generation about jewelry history so that, “the most amazing periods in jewelry design don’t become lost arts of bygone eras,” said Grosfeld. 

“There is so much great jewelry out there, but the average shopper doesn’t know where to start and doesn’t want to dig,” Kahn said. 

“Jenna and I have hand-selected and curated pieces that we would tell our friends to buy.” 

 Related stories will be right here … 

The Vintage Notebook takes inspiration from Kahn’s popular Instagram @willsnotebook in which he uses an old medium—pencil and paper—to describe and share an even older art form—jewelry—in a modern way.

The site went live in late May with its first drop, 21 pieces of vintage jewelry Blake and Kahn selected and sourced from Blake’s network of antique jewelry dealers worldwide, whom she’s worked with for years.

Sorted by lot number, à la an auction house, the pieces on offer in the first drop range from $1,200 for a necklace of coral beads with an 18-karat gold and coral clasp, to $28,000 for an 18-karat gold bangle bracelet set with 17 carats of diamonds.

Pictures on the site show how each piece can be styled, and some of the lots include commentary from Grosfeld and Kahn.

20230628_vintage collar necklace.jpg
Lot #9 in the first selection of pieces for sale on The Vintage Notebook is this 18-karat yellow gold and oxidized black gold necklace, which retails for $7,800. “This collar screams boss lady, à la Jackie Collins,” Jenna Blake Grosfeld says on site.


Kahn, for example, describes Lot #7, an 18-karat gold lapis lazuli and diamond cuff bracelet, as his “favorite piece in the drop because it is bold and graphic,” while Grosfeld writes that Lot #1, an 18-karat gold and diamond cocktail ring, “begs for an ice-chilled martini glass.”

New drops are scheduled to take place monthly.

The pieces Kahn and Grosfeld curate are sold exclusively on The Vintage Notebook website, though no take on Will’s Notebook would be complete without an Instagram component.

The Vintage Notebook can be found and followed on Instagram at @the.vintagenotebook, which is intended to be the main source of traffic to the website. 

The Latest

Rough emerald mined by Gemfields
SourcingFeb 21, 2025
Zambia Lifts 15% Export Duty on Gemstones, Metals

The reversal comes less than two months after the Zambian government reinstated the tax in an effort to bring in more money.

Jeffrey Cohen, Steven Lagos, Michael Benavente, Monica Elias
MajorsFeb 21, 2025
24 Karat Club of New York Names New President

The organization also announced its newly elected officers and directors.

A polished diamond in tweezers
SourcingFeb 20, 2025
Anglo Writes Down Value of De Beers by $2.9B

As anticipated, Anglo took another impairment charge on the diamond miner and marketer, which saw revenue sink 23 percent in 2024.

Header Image.jpg
Brought to you by
Get Ready for the JA New York Spring Show

This year will feature a new MJSA Showcase and partnership with Piazza Italia.

The 2.33-carat fancy red “Winston Red” diamond
SourcingFeb 20, 2025
Harry Winston’s Son Donates Fancy Red Diamond to the Smithsonian

Ronald Winston is giving the 2.33-carat “Winston Red” to the Smithsonian, 67 years after his father donated the Hope Diamond.

Weekly QuizFeb 21, 2025
This Week’s Quiz
Test your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Take the Quiz
Kirit Bhansali
SourcingFeb 20, 2025
GJEPC Names New Chairman, Vice Chairman

Kirit Bhansali, a partner in Smital Gems and chairman of India Jewellery Park, will take on the role of chairman.

Alisha Cornett, Nic Faini, Eric Stevens, Seth Shipley
IndependentsFeb 20, 2025
IJO Elects 4 New Board Members

Alisha Cornett, Nic Faini, Eric Stevens, and Seth Shipley have joined the organization’s board of directors for a three-year term.

Top Image.png
Brought to you by
3 Ways to Capitalize on America’s Newfound Love of Colored Gems

Colored stones are stepping into a jewelry spotlight typically reserved for diamonds—are you ready to sell color?

Brink’s Truck
CrimeFeb 19, 2025
Brink’s to Pay $42M After Admitting to Illegally Transporting Money

The company has to pay the Justice Department and FinCEN for violating the Bank Secrecy Act, the U.S.’s main anti-money laundering law.

The Finsch diamond mine in South Africa
SourcingFeb 19, 2025
Diamond Mining Company CEO Steps Down Amid Sales Slump, Layoffs

Petra Diamonds Ltd. CEO Richard Duffy resigned as the diamond miner reported a 30 percent drop in sales to start its fiscal year.

Emmanuel Raheb
ColumnistsFeb 19, 2025
The Smart Lab: Maximizing Your Jewelry Brand on Pinterest

Pinterest is a potential gold mine for jewelry brands, Emmanuel Raheb writes, provided they follow these five tips.

Cartier LAX Storefront
MajorsFeb 19, 2025
Cartier Opens New Store Inside LAX

The boutique is the French luxury brand’s first airport store on the West Coast.

Stock image of loose polished diamonds
Policies & IssuesFeb 18, 2025
New Customs Requirements for Diamond Imports: What We Know

Beginning in April, companies importing diamonds into the United States will have to list the country in which the diamonds were mined.

 Fabergé Animals
AuctionsFeb 18, 2025
A Menagerie of Fabergé Coming to Sotheby’s

Around 30 whimsical Fabergé animal carvings will go up for auction at Sotheby’s Geneva in May.

Celine Assimon, departing CEO of De Beers Jewellers
SourcingFeb 18, 2025
Celine Assimon Stepping Down as CEO of De Beers Jewellers

Assimon will be leaving at the end of February after nearly five years with De Beers.

Tabayer Men’s Oera Collection Selections
CollectionsFeb 18, 2025
Tabayer Debuts Its First Men’s Jewelry Selections

Designs from the brand’s “Oera” collection have been reimagined with modern masculinity in mind.

Navneet montana sapphire
SourcingFeb 14, 2025
Navneet Gems Now Offering Unheated Montana Sapphires

The wholesale collection features material from the Rock Creek mine in a variety of colors.

Theresa Caputo &LIVY jewelry
CollectionsFeb 14, 2025
Carolyn Rafaelian Partners with ‘Long Island Medium’ Star

The “Divinely Guided” collection, created in collaboration with Theresa Caputo, features symbols that celebrate the power of connection.

Lorraine West Diamond Open Heart Ring
CollectionsFeb 14, 2025
Piece of the Week: Lorraine West’s Diamond ‘Open Heart’ Ring

Show some love on Valentine’s Day with this 14-karat yellow gold ring that features pavé diamonds.

Surveillance image of Macy’s jewelry thief
CrimeFeb 13, 2025
Macy’s Employee Foils $1.5M Jewelry Theft

The employee confronted the thief, causing the suspect to flee and leave behind the suitcases full of jewelry.

Namdia rough diamonds
SourcingFeb 13, 2025
Namibian Diamond Co. Suspends CEO, COO After Deadly Heist

Namib Desert Diamonds also put its security manager on leave following last month’s robbery that left one employee dead.

Spectrum and Cutting Edge Buyer’s Choice awards
Events & AwardsFeb 13, 2025
AGTA Announces Buyer’s Choice Award Winners for Spectrum, Cutting Edge

AGTA recently concluded its 2025 GemFair event in Tucson and is already gearing up for next year’s show, set for Feb. 2-6, 2026.

Royal Chain models in 14-karat gold fashion links
CollectionsFeb 13, 2025
Royal Chain Releases Its Spring 2025 Catalog

More than 400 new pieces are featured in the supplier’s latest catalog.

Azra Mehdi pink sapphire ombré heart dog tag necklace in 14-karat rose gold
TrendsFeb 13, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Hearts for Valentine’s Day

This curation celebrates love with heart-shaped jewelry of all shapes and sizes.

Jewelers Relief Fund logo
Policies & IssuesFeb 13, 2025
Jewelers Relief Fund Reopened to Aid Victims of LA Fires

The fund is collecting money for jewelry businesses damaged by the wildfires in Los Angeles County.

3 natural diamond engagement rings by Marrow Fine, Stephanie Gottlieb, Single Stone, and Sylvie Jewelry
TrendsFeb 12, 2025
5 Engagement Ring Trends Expected to Rule 2025

From chunky bands to vintage diamond cuts and bezel settings, these are the trends experts are seeing take over the bridal market.

Jean Prounis cushion-cut diamond engagement ring
EditorsFeb 12, 2025
Q&A: Marion Fasel on the History of Diamond Engagement Rings

Fasel discusses researching her new book, the most enduring engagement ring styles, and the diamond shape Taylor Swift will pick.

×

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