SourcingMar 28, 2025
19th-Century Jade Book Now Available in EnglishIndependentsJun 30, 2025
Melanie Grant’s New Book Explores 200 Years of Jewelry
“The Jewelry Book” comes out this September.
“The Jewelry Book,” edited by Melanie Grant, highlights the artists, creative houses, collectors, and style icons who have played a role in defining jewelry.
New York—Jewelry writer and curator Melanie Grant has a new book coming out in September.
“The Jewelry Book,” is an expansive exploration of more than 300 contributors to jewelry, spanning more than 200 years, celebrating renowned and under-the-radar designers alike.
“The Jewelry Book,” is an expansive exploration of more than 300 contributors to jewelry, spanning more than 200 years, celebrating renowned and under-the-radar designers alike.
Works by Wallace Chan, Elsa Schiaparelli, Suzanne Belperron, and Bhagat appear alongside trailblazers such as Maōri jade carver Joel Marsters and Winifred Mason Chenet, a pioneering Black metalsmith and designer.
The book offers insight into the artists, creative houses, collectors, and style icons who have played a role in defining jewelry.
A Hemmerle bracelet, circa 2023, in iron and white gold set with a diamond weighing more than 16 carats. It appears on page 133 of “The Jewelry Book.” The company was established in Munich, Germany, in 1893. (Image credit: hemmerle.com)
It highlights historic houses such as Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Van Cleef & Arpels, Bulgari, Chaumet, Harry Winston, and Chopard, while also touching on Chanel pearls and Hemmerle jewels and notable pieces worn by the Notorious B.I.G. and Greta Garbo.
The book shines a light on the figures that have influenced and reimagined the pieces they wear, such as Beyoncé’s collaborative work with big players such as Tiffany & Co. and Lorraine Schwartz, while also championing independent jewelry makers like Lorraine West.
“The Jewelry Book” highlights figures that have influenced and reimagined the pieces they wear.
The book also acknowledges sustainability movements in the industry backed by millennials and Gen Z.
It explores how the new generation of jewelers “break the rules” and pay homage to jewelry traditions.
“The Jewelry Book” also highlights ways that unorthodox materials are appearing in high jewelry.
Examples include black sand at Boucheron led by Creative Director Claire Choisne, and wood, steel, and pebbles at Taffin directed by James de Givenchy, as well as John Moore’s creations of gargantuan neckpieces made out of Morphit—clay mixed with recycled paper—and Joe Sheehan’s chains made out of argillite, basalt, and graywacke.
In addition, the book showcases the work of artists like Louise Bourgeois and Salvador Dalí, as well as archival illustrations, campaigns, and editorial photos by Irving Penn, Toni Frissell, Juergen Teller, and Roxanne Lowit among others.
The book was edited by Melanie Grant, who authored the book “Coveted” in 2020.
The London-based writer has work in The Times, the Financial Times, Independent, Guardian, the BBC, the Economist, Vogue, Vanity Fair, Tatler, and The New York Times.
She has also curated for Sotheby’s as well as Kensington Palace. She served as executive director for the Responsible Jewellery Council from 2023 to 2025 where she continues to consult.
“Jewelry is perhaps the most enduring expression of freedom that exists in material culture…” Grant writes in "The Jewelry Book” introduction.
The book's contents have been curated by industry experts and writers including Sarah Royce-Greensill at The Telegraph; Anthony DeMarco and Kate Matthams at Forbes; Ranyechi Udemezue at British Vogue; Hannah Silver at Wallpaper; Coco Romack at T: New York Times Style Magazine; Felix Bischof at The Week Fashion; Tanya Dukes, regular contributor to The New York Times; and curator Emily Stoehrer at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.
Entries are accompanied by large-scale images that showcase a diverse array of jewelry, from diamond jewels by Moussaieff and Graff to an 18-karat gold ring hand-carved by Haroldo Burle Marx.
Additional texts explaining each entry’s relevance within the broader context of jewelry are also included, as well as a directory with a selected list of galleries, institutions, and other jewelry organizations and destinations.
“The Jewelry Book,” published by Phaidon, is “the most comprehensive A-to-Z guide to the glorious, yet often secret, world of jewelry today,” the publishing company said.
Its release is set for September, priced at $79.95.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Independents
The Latest
MajorsAug 18, 2025
Verragio’s Michael Barabash, a ‘Kind Soul,’ Dies at 58Barabash, Verragio’s client relations representative, was a vital member of the team and is remembered as being warm and full of life.
CollectionsAug 18, 2025
John Hardy’s New ‘Dot’ Collection Is on PointOriginally introduced in 1992, the “Dot” collection is back with a capsule featuring five archival designs and three new creations.
Events & AwardsAug 18, 2025
IJO Announces 2025 Vendor of the YearAllison-Kaufman has received the honor for the fourth year in a row.
Brought to you by
Rallying Call for the Jewelry Industry on Tariffs and Other Key IssuesJewelers of America is leading the charge to protect the industry amidst rising economic threats.
FinancialsAug 15, 2025
In Q2 Results, Pandora Talks Tariffs, Q4 Plans The company had a solid second quarter, with sales of non-charm jewelry outpacing sales of pieces in its core collections.
Weekly QuizAug 15, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
EditorsAug 15, 2025
Piece of the Week: Etho Maria’s Showgirl-Approved Ruby Drop Earrings Taylor Swift dons the vibrant pair in new promotional imagery for her upcoming album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” set to release in October.
WatchesAug 15, 2025
Audemars Piguet Acquires Majority Stake in ManufacturerIts investment in micromechanics expert Inhotec will preserve skills essential to the watchmaking industry as a whole, said the company.
Brought to you by
Taking the Moment Head On: How Rio Grande Champions the Present & Future of Fine JewelryAs a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.
MajorsAug 15, 2025
Rio Grande Names New Marketing DirectorNicolette Bianchi joins the wholesale provider with more than 15 years of cross-industry experience in marketing and product development.
CollectionsAug 14, 2025
In Midst of ‘Sardine Girl Summer,’ Pippa Small Looks to ‘Flounder Fall’Her new “Ocean” collection was inspired by Myanmar’s traditional articulated fish jewelry, with depictions of flounder, catfish, and more.
MajorsAug 14, 2025
Casio America Names New CEOLongtime Casio executive Yusuke Suzuki is the new president and CEO of Casio’s U.S. subsidiary.
SourcingAug 14, 2025
West Coast Orgs to Host Trading Event, Mixer in LAThe full-day sourcing and networking event, slated for Aug. 18, will be followed by the fifth annual Mega Mixer Summer Soirée.
TrendsAug 13, 2025
Cristiano Ronaldo Proposes With Gigantic Oval-Cut DiamondModel Georgina Rodríguez received a rock of an engagement ring, with her diamond estimated to be 35 carats, experts say.
SourcingAug 13, 2025
ICA Names 2025 Board of DirectorsThe board elected 9 new directors at its recent ICA Congress in Brazil.
TrendsAug 13, 2025
Colorado Jeweler, Whiskey Maker Collab on Ring GiveawayThree winners will receive a custom ring from Honest Hands Ring Co. inlaid with a piece of history from Denver-based distillery Stranahan’s.
SurveysAug 13, 2025
These Are The 25 Hottest Retailers, Says NRFJD Sports and Wawa were among the fastest-growing retail companies in the U.S. last year.
SourcingAug 13, 2025
Columbia Gem House Launches Winza Sapphires, RubiesThe new inventory, all untreated, features vibrant hues and unique bicolor combinations.
SourcingAug 12, 2025
Gemfields Sells Fabergé for $50MAcquired by a tech investor, the historic brand will continue to focus on jewelry, accessories, and timepieces.
Policies & IssuesAug 12, 2025
Higher Tariff on Chinese Imports Paused for 90 Days, Trump SaysPresident Donald Trump issued an executive order extending the pause on higher tariffs to November as negotiations with China continue.
CollectionsAug 12, 2025
Jacquie Aiche’s New Collection Harnesses the Energy of the ThunderbirdThe “Thunderbird Slab” collection features a thunderbird motif as a symbol of power, protection, and boundless possibility.
ColumnistsAug 12, 2025
Creative Connecting: How to Take a Better HeadshotColumnists Jen Cullen Williams and Duvall O’Steen share tips on how to elevate your professional image.
CrimeAug 11, 2025
Man Convicted of First-Degree Murder in Death of Colorado JewelerPeter Damian Arguello, a jeweler in the Denver suburb of Wheat Ridge, was found dead inside his store in November 2023.
Events & AwardsAug 11, 2025
Bethenny Frankel to Give Keynote at CBG’s Experience ShowThe Continental Buying Group’s 2025 Tampa Experience Show is slated for Sept. 8-10.
EditorsAug 11, 2025
The Colors Expected to Be On-Trend in a Couple YearsAssociate Editor Lauren McLemore recently attended a fabrics trade show where a trend forecaster shared her predictions for summer 2027.
FinancialsAug 08, 2025
Brilliant Earth’s Q2 Sales Up 3% as Engagement Ring Sales RiseThe company raised its full-year sales guidance while noting it has not yet assessed the potential impact of the latest tariff news.
Events & AwardsAug 08, 2025
GJEPC’s Jewellers for Hope Celebrates 10 Years of FundraisingThe organization has raised more than $1.3 million for charity since its inception.
TrendsAug 08, 2025
Piece of the Week: Rahaminov Diamonds’ Bezel BangleThe brand’s latest iteration of a bezel-set diamond bangle features clean lines and a timeless design for a new modern silhouette.
