Piece of the Week: Gemfields x Kimberly McDonald Jewelry Suite
The two collaborated on a necklace and a pair of earrings that praise the beauty of Zambian emeralds.

While the rare gem certainly inspires awe, it’s a treat when designers bring a playful and organic approach to working with emeralds.
New York-based designer Kimberly McDonald, who is known for her asymmetrical gem-set jewelry, has partnered with Gemfields to create a necklace and a pair of earrings using emeralds from the miner’s Kagem mine in Zambia.
Following a career working as a fine jewelry curator for private clients, McDonald launched her eponymous brand in 2007, focusing on the use of natural materials with an ethos of “creation without destruction.”
“I hope that when people experience one of my pieces, not only are they transfixed by the beautiful gems and craftsmanship; I hope that they are also inspired to be more mindful and protective of the planet that provides these magnificent little treasures that we wear as talismanic symbols of beauty and transducers of energy,” said McDonald.
While emeralds can range in color from bright and grassy greens to yellow-tinted hues, those mined in Zambia often have more of a bluish tint, giving this mini collection a deep, moody vibe that feels perfectly suited to the arrival of cooler months.
The irregular-shaped emerald drop earrings contain more than 26 carats of emeralds. Pear-shaped stones dangle from a chain of smaller emeralds set in a scattered design.
McDonald’s irregular-shaped emerald tennis necklace has a total of 34 carats. The pendant-style necklace uses emeralds in the same scatter design on a chain that culminates in a pear-shaped gemstone drop.
The stones for the pieces were all color-matched, a meticulous process that can take some designers months, years, or even decades.
Gemfields said its proprietary grading system, which sorts colored gemstones into over 200 grades based on their color, size, and clarity, helps to simplify the matching process for designers like McDonald.
“In marveling at Kimberly McDonald’s designs, we are able to appreciate the impact of color. The fresh, verdant green is a calming oasis for the eye, while the playful asymmetrical settings allow light to dance through each gem, heightening the impact of these beautifully color-matched pieces,” said Emily Dungey, Gemfields’ marketing and communications director.
“It is a delight to celebrate the emerald in this manner, truly letting the gemstones tell their story.”
The Kimberly McDonald x Gemfields collaboration is available to purchase at Bergdorf Goodman in New York.
The Latest

Charles Robinson Shay was sentenced to life in prison plus 120 years while his accomplice, Michael James McCormack, got 75 years.

The Museum of Arts and Design's new exhibition features 75 pieces by the designer, best known for her work in the “Black Panther” films.

Timepieces at Luxury will take place at The Venetian and, like Luxury, will be invitation-only for the first two days.

You deserve to know what you are selling–to protect your customers as well as your business and your reputation.

The auction house named a new global head of jewelry, as well as a new head of the jewelry department for the Americas.


Corey rescued New England chain Day’s Jewelers, preserving its legacy with strong people skills, pragmatism, and a “get-it-done” attitude.

As chairman of Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers, Tom Dixon has been tasked with honoring the past and shaping the future of the family-run store.

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

Katty Villapando Lyte and Mica Rencher received a $10,000 grant for their business, Shimmer Culture LLC.

The parents of the Dallas Mavericks rookie bought their engagement ring at a Day’s store in Bangor, Maine, in 1997.

The UK-based brand sourced the gemstones, which are fully traceable, from an artisanal mining community in Tanzania.

Jewelry industry veteran Alisa Bunger has taken on the role.

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.