John Hardy, Athena Calderone Partner on Art Deco Decor-Inspired Collection
Interior designer Athena Calderone looked to decor from the 1920s and 1930s when crafting her first fine jewelry collection.

The “Athena Calderone x John Hardy” (AC x JH) collection transforms Calderone’s interior design style into fine jewelry. She worked alongside John Hardy’s designer and creative chairman Reed Krakoff to create each piece.
For Calderone’s jewelry debut, she chose to highlight the interplay of contrasting volumes. The pieces strike a balance between their bold, sculptural shapes and accenting delicate lines of diamonds.
She looked to 1930s decor—which was often practical and simplistic rather than ornamental—as inspiration, pulling forms, finishes, and materials from the Art Deco period.
The textured surfaces seen on the interior of the “AC x JH” cuffs, collar, and ring are a nod to French artists Jean Després and Jean Dunand’s hammered metalwork from the 1930s.
Their size is a callback to the voluminous forms of the 1970s, and the joinery and chain patterns seen throughout the collection are a nod to Art Deco designs.
“If there is one constant source of inspiration in my work, it is the home. It may seem counterintuitive to credit home as the foundation for a jewelry collection, but for me, it is the most natural springboard for ideas—what I know best and where I feel most creative,” said Calderone.
“Designing timeless pieces that make a visual statement while employing discretion was an intentional goal … Across fashion, jewelry, and interiors, my eye is usually drawn to pieces that are subtly bold and under-the-radar all at once. I find that juxtaposition will always leave you engaged.”
AC x JH is comprised of 17 pieces, from drop earrings and collar necklaces to lariats and cuffs.
Many pieces use sterling silver as a reference to framed pewter mirrors from the 1920s, while select pieces are in 14-karat yellow gold.
Reclaimed temple stone is also seen throughout the collection, adding a touch from John Hardy as the material is native to Bali, which is where the brand was founded.
The “AC x JH” chokers feature the brand’s signature black silk rope, rather than metal chains, holding rock crystal quartz, as a nod to the late 1980s.
Krakoff said he chose to work with Calderone for this capsule because of her reach to consumers who are greatly interested in style, fashion, travel, and everything in between.
Aside from founding her lifestyle blog Eyeswoon, Calderone has designed an interior decor collection for Crate & Barrel and rug collections for Beni Rugs.
However, what Calderone is most known for is the interior design of her many homes. She flipped houses in Brooklyn, New York, until landing in her current home in the Tribeca neighborhood of New York City in 2023, according to a New York Times profile on the designer.
Calderone also made an appearance at this year’s Gem Awards. She presented the Gem Award for High Jewelry Excellence to Chanel at the annual event last month.
On working with Calderone, Krakoff said, “The process was fluid and highly collaborative, taking our passion for design to the next level to create a collection that is a modern reflection of John Hardy and the brand’s next chapter.”
Krakoff continued that the two both gravitated towards the 1920s and 1930s “in our collaborative efforts to design a collection that would be definitive in the brand’s evolution going forward.”
The Athena Calderone x John Hardy capsule collection retails for $995 to $6,200.
It debuted on April 15 and is available exclusively on the John Hardy website.
The Latest

Mildred Marcano Abrams and Yael Reinhold join the podcast to talk community connections, holiday plans, and preserving Reinhold’s legacy.

The higher tax is set to go into effect in August and will apply to loose polished diamonds as well as precious and base metals jewelry.

It’s located in Tysons Galleria, an upscale shopping center in the Washington, D.C., metro area.

Colored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.

The show, recently acquired by Rockview Management Group, will be held at New York City’s Javits Center from Aug. 2-4.


Smith offers retailers guidance on creating an environment where natural and lab-grown diamonds can both thrive.

Former Emerald President and CEO Hervé Sedky has transitioned to the role of senior advisor.

DCA is preparing the next generation of professionals by supporting workforce development, leadership growth, and career advancement.

A Botswana government official told lawmakers Anglo has selected The Global Diamond Consortium, an entity chaired by Penny, to buy De Beers.

The new tariff, imposed after a Trump administration study, is 25 percent and will stack on top of existing tariffs.

The collection from 2014 has been reinterpreted into high jewelry with its signature triangular-shaped elements.

She will also take on the role of vice president of jewelry for SmartWork Media, a newly created position.

Organizers are looking for presentations on topics like manufacturing, technology and research, bench work, gemstones, and sustainability.

Woodley is seen in the campaign wearing our Piece of the Week, the “Frida” collar featuring 13 pieces of hand-carved Venetian glass.

A WeBuyVintage jewelry expert uncovered how much the flea market find was actually worth.

The founder of natural colored diamond wholesaler Pancis Gems shares stories from his five decades in the industry.

Submissions for the milestone 25th annual Gem Awards will be accepted across three categories from now through July 31.

Valeriya Guzema and Mariana Lenha look back on the last decade and discuss the Ukrainian brand’s first U.S. store.

The diamond mine, which opened nearly 30 years ago in Canada’s Northwest Territories, is expected to shut down by mid-August.

Jewelry sales for the company, which owns Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Vhernier, and Buccellati, rose 21 percent in the first quarter.

The graduate, Grace Barden, credited the program with helping her secure a job as a bench jeweler.

The event, scheduled for next month in New Orleans, will include dinner, a custom jewelry design contest, and education sessions.

The yet-to-be named stone is the 10th diamond weighing more than 1,000 carats to come out of Lucara’s Karowe mine.

The founder of Fords Jewelers, Berman is remembered for his love of connecting with his community.

The watch and jewelry retailer had a strong fiscal year despite what its CEO described as a “complex operating backdrop.”

The open-to-the-public luxury jewelry and timepiece show, in its second year, is slated for July 23-26.

Bold color, expressive gem-setting, and sculptural form define the three chapters that make up “Stile Libero.”


























