CollectionsMay 03, 2024
Piece of the Week: A “Bit of LUV” for the DerbyCollectionsMay 10, 2024
Piece of the Week: Carina Hardy’s ‘Birth of Venus’ Necklace
As a token of womanhood, this necklace depicts when Venus was born from the sea.
Carina Hardy’s “Birth of Venus” necklace sculpted in 18-karat yellow gold with three diamonds ($11,475)
With Mother’s Day around the corner, womanhood is at the forefront of many people’s minds.
The “Birth of Venus” necklace combines the strength and softness of women in this depiction of the 15th-century Sandro Botticelli painting.
The brand’s founder and namesake, Carina Hardy, transformed Botticelli’s artwork into a necklace for her “Venus” collection.
It portrays the moment when Venus was born from sea foam in a scallop shell, which some art historians recognize as a symbolization of the birth of beauty and love.
Hardy was inspired by the resilience and grace of women when designing this piece, said the brand.
Using 18-karat yellow gold as her medium, she created a piece that is at the intersection of artwork and jewelry.
She sculpted the scene into a water drop-shaped pendant, resembling a womb, with the goddess of love at its center, accented by three diamonds.
“We were working off the idea of water and its organic sculptural essence as well as exploring very figurative, literal artistic representations of Venus, the goddess of love and fertility that show up in many different cultures throughout the world, across time,” said Hardy.
“When we started working on Botticelli’s Venus, we had one of those wonderfully joyous and pleasurable, but elusive ‘ah ha!’ moments. Venus rises from the water; water carries her to shore in a seashell. So, we decided to place the figurative Venus in organic sculptural water drops, as women are very connected to the rhythms of water around us and within us.”
Related stories will be right here …
The “Birth of Venus” necklace combines the strength and softness of women in this depiction of the 15th-century Sandro Botticelli painting.
The brand’s founder and namesake, Carina Hardy, transformed Botticelli’s artwork into a necklace for her “Venus” collection.
It portrays the moment when Venus was born from sea foam in a scallop shell, which some art historians recognize as a symbolization of the birth of beauty and love.
Hardy was inspired by the resilience and grace of women when designing this piece, said the brand.
Using 18-karat yellow gold as her medium, she created a piece that is at the intersection of artwork and jewelry.
She sculpted the scene into a water drop-shaped pendant, resembling a womb, with the goddess of love at its center, accented by three diamonds.
“We were working off the idea of water and its organic sculptural essence as well as exploring very figurative, literal artistic representations of Venus, the goddess of love and fertility that show up in many different cultures throughout the world, across time,” said Hardy.
“When we started working on Botticelli’s Venus, we had one of those wonderfully joyous and pleasurable, but elusive ‘ah ha!’ moments. Venus rises from the water; water carries her to shore in a seashell. So, we decided to place the figurative Venus in organic sculptural water drops, as women are very connected to the rhythms of water around us and within us.”
Carina Hardy is the daughter of designer John Hardy.
She launched her first brand, Elppin, in 2018 before establishing Carina Hardy with her partner Tavish earlier this year.
The “Birth of Venus” necklace retails for $11,475 and is available on the Carina Hardy website.
More on Collections
The Latest
WatchesJun 30, 2026
Pokémon Fans Will Want to Catch This New G-Shock WatchThe new watch commemorates Pokémon’s 30th anniversary.
MajorsJun 30, 2026
Saks Global Emerges From Bankruptcy With New NameThe luxury retailer is now called Exemplar Luxury Group.
SourcingJun 30, 2026
Blue Nile Introduces Montana Sapphire CollectionThe new line is included in the e-tailer’s curation of jewelry celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
GradingJun 30, 2026
AGS Opens 2026 Recertification ExamAll active members who earned their credential or designation before Dec. 1, 2025, are required to recertify.
Weekly QuizJun 25, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
IndependentsJun 29, 2026
Look Inside Lee Michaels’ Revamped Mississippi FlagshipLee Michaels Fine Jewelry is celebrating 30 years in the Ridgeland, Mississippi community.
GradingJun 29, 2026
National Rarities Announces New Gemology ManagerSean Milliner has joined the company.
Brought to you by
Building the Future of Jewelry Retail: DCA Expands Education, Leadership Development, and Workforce SolutionsDCA is preparing the next generation of professionals by supporting workforce development, leadership growth, and career advancement.
GradingJun 29, 2026
GIA to Open New London CampusClasses will begin in August at GIA’s new Canary Wharf location.
AuctionsJun 26, 2026
‘Hogback’ Diamond Ring Finds a New Home A ring set with “hogback” diamonds, an early stone cut dating to around the 16th century, sold for more than $20,000 at a U.K. auction.
CollectionsJun 26, 2026
Strength Is Sharpened Into Beauty in Kris Averi’s ‘Prism Thorn’ RingThe rainbow version of the ring, our Piece of the Week, features angel-cut, octahedral lab-grown sapphires designed to be worn as armor.
MajorsJun 26, 2026
Rembrandt Charms Debuts ‘Charms That Give Back’The new initiative donates a portion of the proceeds from select charms to charitable causes.
TrendsJun 26, 2026
Bernard James Celebrates Knicks’ Win with RingThe Brooklyn-based jeweler created a limited-edition version of its “Aura” eternity band, set with gemstones in the team’s colors.
SourcingJun 25, 2026
ICA Names Brandee Dallow as CEODallow will lead the International Colored Gemstone Association, effective July 6.
EditorsJun 25, 2026
Out & About: How Jewelers Mutual, SCAD Are Tackling the Bench Jeweler ShortageSenior Editor Lenore Fedow headed to Savannah to learn more about the 10-year, $10 million partnership between JM and the art school.
CollectionsJun 25, 2026
Mejuri Experiments With SteelIts new capsule jewelry collection features gold-finished stainless steel pieces designed for a maximalist look without a luxury price tag.
Events & AwardsJun 25, 2026
Watches & Wonders Announces 2027 DatesThe week-long event in Geneva is slated for April 2027.
SourcingJun 25, 2026
Annie Doresca, Mark Smelzer, Sara Yood Join Gem Legacy BoardThe three industry leaders bring financial, communications, and legal expertise to the nonprofit’s board of directors.
ColumnistsJun 24, 2026
The Revenue Hiding Between Your Counter and Your Online CartJewelers are missing out by not offering this one key add-on at the online point of sale, Emmanuel Raheb writes.
CollectionsJun 24, 2026
Greenwich St. Jewelers, Jewel Boxing’s Latest Drop Is On-TrendThe fourth collaborative collection from the retailer and jewelry content creator focuses on gemstone charms and strands of colorful beads.
Events & AwardsJun 24, 2026
AGTA Accepting Entries for Spectrum 2026This year’s AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards will feature two new categories.
SourcingJun 24, 2026
Columbia Gem House To Offer Alexandrite Melee OnlineThe collection features traceable alexandrite from Brazil in calibrated sizes that is sorted by grade.
MajorsJun 24, 2026
CaratLane Names New Chief Sales OfficerDhaval Raja has been appointed to the role.
CollectionsJun 23, 2026
Francesca Villa Goes ‘On the Road’The capsule collection looks to vintage trunk pins that echo the spirit of speed, freedom, and the mythology of the American road trip.
SourcingJun 23, 2026
New Paraíba Tourmaline Source Reportedly Discovered in EthiopiaSSEF issued a notice about the potential new source of the sought-after gemstone, citing “credible reports” from trade sources.
MajorsJun 23, 2026
Etsy Says ‘Shop Other Jeffs’ This Prime DayAs Amazon Prime Day kicks off, Etsy is encouraging shoppers to support small businesses.
Events & AwardsJun 23, 2026
AGA Announces 2026 Scholarship WinnerCole Winward is the recipient of 2026 AGA Gemological Scholarship.
