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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.
The irregular-shaped emerald drop earrings and irregular-shaped emerald tennis necklace from Gemfields’ collaboration with New York jewelry designer Kimberly McDonald
New York—Emeralds have long been associated with luxury and extravagance, historically used to symbolize wealth and status.
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.
Related stories will be right here …
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.
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