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.
More on Independents
The Latest
Events & AwardsNov 18, 2025
NYC Jewelry Week 2025: 12 Must-See EventsWith more than 140 activations taking place in New York City now through Nov. 23, these 12 events are can’t-miss moments.
MajorsNov 18, 2025
Lugano Diamonds Files for Bankruptcy, Looking for BuyerThe Chapter 11 filing follows the resignation of CEO Moti Ferder, who stepped down after an investigation into the company’s finances.
Events & AwardsNov 18, 2025
A Giant, Bejeweled Moldy Berry Is on Display in LAThe artwork is part of an exhibition featuring works by Kathleen Ryan, an artist known for her gemstone-studded rotting fruit sculptures.
Brought to you by
Impacting Tomorrow TodayHow Jewelers of America’s 20 Under 40 are leading to ensure a brighter future for the jewelry industry.
SourcingNov 18, 2025
Another Diamond Company CEO Steps DownMark Wall, president and CEO of Canadian mining company Mountain Province Diamonds, will vacate his position next month.
Weekly QuizNov 13, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CrimeNov 17, 2025
Police Searching for 2 Suspects in Murder of Father, Son Jewelers Faustino Alamo Dominguez and his son, 25-year-old Luis Angel Alamo, were gunned down following an armed robbery at their jewelry store.
GradingNov 17, 2025
IGI Announces New President of North AmericaTiffany & Co. veteran Jeffrey Bennett has stepped into the role.
Brought to you by
Roseco Releases New Full-Line CatalogRoseco’s 704-page catalog showcases new lab-grown diamonds, findings, tools & more—available in print or interactive digital editions.
MajorsNov 17, 2025
Look Inside Robbins Brothers Fine Jewelers’ New Pasadena FlagshipThe showroom is located in a historic 1920s building in the Playhouse District.
Policies & IssuesNov 14, 2025
U.S., Switzerland Reach Deal That Drops Tariff to 15%The Swiss government announced the deal, which cuts the tax on Swiss imports by more than half, on social media Friday morning.
AuctionsNov 14, 2025
Napoleon’s Diamond Brooch Blows Away Auction Estimates A buyer paid $4.4 million for the piece, which Napoleon wore on his hat for special occasions and left behind when he fled Waterloo.
FinancialsNov 14, 2025
Richemont’s Q2 Jewelry Sales Up 12%Plus, how tariffs and the rising price of gold are affecting its watch and jewelry brands.
CollectionsNov 14, 2025
Piece of the Week: Silvia Furmanovich’s ‘Butterflies in Flight’ Jewelry BoxFurmanovich designed the box to hold Mellerio’s “Color Queen,” a high jewelry collection consisting of 10 rings.
Events & AwardsNov 14, 2025
JCK Names New Event DirectorJennifer Hopf, who has been with JCK since 2022, will lead the execution of the long-running jewelry trade show.
MajorsNov 13, 2025
Vahan Jewelry Founder Leon ‘Sacha’ Der Calousdian Dies at 85The third-generation jeweler is remembered as a passionate creative with a love of art, traveling and sailboat racing.
CrimeNov 12, 2025
Father, Son Jewelers in Chicago Victims in Double Homicide JSA and Cook County Crime Stoppers are both offering rewards for information leading to the arrest of the suspect or suspects involved.
AuctionsNov 12, 2025
‘Mellon Blue’ Diamond Sells for $7M Less Than It Did a Decade AgoA buyer paid $25.6 million for the diamond at Christie’s on Tuesday. In 2014, Sotheby’s sold the same stone for $32.6 million.
AuctionsNov 12, 2025
Historic Rolex Oyster Fetches $1.7M at Sotheby’sMercedes Gleitze famously wore the watch in her 1927 swim across the English Channel, a pivotal credibility moment for the watchmaker.
GradingNov 12, 2025
It’s Time: GIA’s Express Holiday Service Is Back GIA is offering next-day services for natural, colorless diamonds submitted to its labs in New York and Carlsbad.
MajorsNov 10, 2025
Jewelers Focus on Love, Joy In 2025 Holiday Campaigns Tiffany & Co., David Yurman, and Pandora have launched holiday campaigns depicting their jewelry as symbols of affection and happiness.
SurveysNov 10, 2025
5 Things Retailers Should Know About Holiday Shoppers This YearThe National Retail Federation is bullish on the holidays, forecasting retail sales to exceed $1 trillion this year.
AuctionsNov 10, 2025
300+ Colored Diamonds Up for Auction at Christie’sLate collector Eddy Elzas assembled “The Rainbow Collection,” which is offered as a single lot and estimated to fetch up to $3 million.
EditorsNov 07, 2025
Piece of the Week: An MVP’s Sapphire Tennis Necklace At the 2025 World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto sported a custom necklace made by California retailer Happy Jewelers.
IndependentsNov 07, 2025
Foundrae’s New Palm Beach Location Is a ‘Golden Solarium’The brand’s seventh location combines Foundrae’s symbolic vocabulary with motifs from Florida’s natural surroundings.
FinancialsNov 07, 2025
Watches of Switzerland’s H1 Sales Up 8%The retailer also shared an update on the impact of tariffs on watch customers.
SourcingNov 06, 2025
Pink Tourmaline Bracelet, Emerald Suite Take Top Spectrum Honors Pink and purple stones were popular in the AGTA’s design competition this year, as were cameos and ocean themes.
IndependentsNov 06, 2025
Greenwich St. Jewelers Hosts Raffle Supporting Food RescueAll proceeds from the G. St x Jewel Boxing raffle will go to City Harvest, which works to end hunger in New York City.
