The trio of Advent calendars include a version with 18-karat gold and lab-grown diamond jewelry in a red lacquer jewelry box.
Store Designer Ruth Mellergaard Dies
A longtime member of IJO, she’s remembered for her passion for design, learning, and environmentalism.
Her sister Sarah Yates-Howorth said she died peacefully.
The Independent Jewelers Organization (IJO), where Mellergaard was a member for many years, shared news of her passing on its private member Facebook page.
IJO said Yates-Howorth notified the organization on Monday, July 8, that Mellergaard had been hospitalized and was in serious condition.
She died five days later.
“Many of you know she was scheduled to be in Chicago and had many appointments set up, as well as dinner plans,” IJO’s post said.
“Ruth was so excited to be coming to the show, and this has been very difficult to process. Rest in peace, Ruth.”
Mellergaard, the oldest of seven sisters, was born in London, England. In the early 1950s, she and her family moved to Canada.
She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in interior design from University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada.
She is remembered for her lifelong career in design and her world travels, which she began in the 1960s.
Mellergaard spent time in Denmark, where Yates-Howorth said she further committed herself to her love and knowledge of design.
Later, while living in Toronto, she joined a design firm where she met designer Keith Kovar, her life partner of 45 years who died in November 2023.
They moved to New York and in 1982, established Grid/3 International. With the firm for 40 years, they designed stores in Australia, South Africa, Mexico, Panama, England, Canada, and throughout the U.S.
In addition to her love for design, Mellergaard was also a passionate environmentalist and advocate for the preservation and life of bees.
In her downtown Manhattan residence, she kept a garden, attracting butterflies, bees, and other wildlife.
Yates-Howorth writes, “anyone lucky enough to visit and smell the flowers found refuge from the city’s bustle in a place of color and profusely scented nature.”
In 2019, the pair moved the business to Detroit, Michigan, according to a post on Grid/3 International’s Facebook page.
Mellergaard joined IJO shortly after moving to the Empire State.
She had many friends in the organization and often presented workshops at IJO meetings across the country.
Mellergaard enjoyed learning, specializing in store planning for retail jewelry design.
While lighting, color, materials, and accessible design and jewelry were key interests, Yates-Howorth said Mellergaard loved people and often remarked that her clients and industry contracts were her greatest resource.
She was committed to the values of hard work, honesty, and integrity, and she passionately defended her beliefs.
“Thank you, Ruth, for making our lives richer,” wrote Yates-Howorth for IJO’s post. “We miss you already.”
The Latest

Created in collaboration with Nymphenburg Porcelain, the lock is part of a four-piece collection that took two years to bring to fruition.

Jewelry industry veteran Alisa Bunger has taken on the role.

The upcoming show provides savvy retailers with the opportunity to stock their cases with best sellers in advance of the holiday season.

The company and industry leader’s two-decade tenure with De Beers will come to a close at the end of the month.


“The Winter Egg” set the world auction record for a Fabergé piece twice at previous Christie’s sales.

The company will pay 1.5x silver’s current spot price for each pound of silver oxide batteries submitted.

The line includes a “Shadow” series crafted exclusively for the new men’s offering and reimagined styles from the brand’s core collections.

The rough on offer was recovered from a newer area at the Montepuez mine.

The retailer’s new collection of engagement rings and fashion jewelry is set with natural diamonds that are traceable via blockchain.

The champagne colorway in her newest “Ombré” collection combines white and trendy brown diamonds, a departure from her usual vibrant hues.

Kosann partnered with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, to create a set of necklaces inspired by the artwork on samurai sword handguards.

Carlos Jose Hernandez and Joshua Zuazo face life in prison for the October 2024 murder of 72-year-old Detroit-area jeweler Hussein Murray.

The brand’s first high jewelry collection, “Tempest” plays with movement while calling to mind the folklore of the sea.

Proceeds from its jewelry raffle will go to a volunteer-run fire and rescue group in the Lightning Ridge area of New South Wales, Australia.

Stuller said the recipients embody the company’s core values, which include community participation and personal and professional growth.

Citizen’s new “Rainell” women’s watch has a raindrop-shaped case and is available with a silver-, gold-, purple-, or green-colored dial.

The “Mercedes Gleitze Rolex Oyster,” named for the British endurance swimmer who made it famous, will go up for sale next month.

Amit Pratihari was previously the managing director of De Beers India and Forevermark India.

Members of the Jewelers 24 Karat Club of Southern California will gain access to expanded services, resources, and connections, DCWC said.

Gomez’s jewelry included Tiffany & Co. drop-style earrings while Blanco stacked diamonds from Jacob & Co. on his wrist.

Diamond industry banking veteran Paul De Wachter will take on the role in January 2026.

Taylor Swift flaunts an Elizabeth Taylor-esque gemstone in promo for her new album, “The Life of a Showgirl.”

Its “Quantre Sand” capsule was made using a 3D sand printing technique borrowed from the automotive and aeronautics industries.

Four individuals have been charged in the “takeover-style” robbery of Heller Jewelers last month, and additional charges are expected.

“Radiance and Reverie” will showcase more than 150 jewels from Lane’s personal collection by Tiffany & Co., Cartier, and more.