CollectionsJul 25, 2025
Piece of the Week: Jemma Wynne’s ‘Forme’ NecklaceCollectionsAug 01, 2025
Piece of the Week: Hernsdorf’s ‘Tears of Aphrodite’ Necklace
The necklace uses spinel drops to immortalize the moment Aphrodite’s tears mixed with her lover Adonis’ blood after he was fatally wounded.
The story behind this week’s Piece of the Week begins on the day that Aphrodite, the goddess of love, had a terrible premonition.
According to Greek mythology, Aphrodite had warned her lover Adonis to not go hunting, but he ignored her and was fatally wounded by an enraged boar.
As Aphrodite held his body, her tears fell, mixing with his blood and causing red anemones to appear. Aphrodite pleaded with Zeus to let Adonis live, which he answered by allowing Adonis to spend half of each year with her and half in the underworld.
In the end, the myth represents the spirit of vegetation, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica, as nature decays every winter and comes back to life in the spring.
The “Tears of Aphrodite” necklace by Hernsdorf looks to this myth, immortalizing the moment when Aphrodite’s tears mixed with Adonis’ blood through 175.74 carats of Burmese spinel drops.
The one-of-a-kind necklace, and third variation of this theme, features the spinel drops alongside 22-karat yellow gold tubular beads and a barrel pendant with 2.21 carats of brilliant-cut, flush-set diamonds.
“My work almost always begins with a choice of the gemstone or gemstones involved in the design. From there it evolves, and once I see the ultimate finished piece in my mind’s eye, various connections to any number of inspirations become clear,” said Dale Hernsdorf, founder of her namesake brand who crafts every piece in her downtown Los Angeles studio.
“When creating the ‘Tears of Aphrodite’ [necklace], I began with a group of spinel drops the color of pigeon blood rubies. As I worked with the spinels, I started to think of them as being shaped like teardrops, which brought to mind the myth of Aphrodite and Adonis. Hence, the necklace aptly became named as the ‘Tears of Aphrodite.’”
Related stories will be right here …
According to Greek mythology, Aphrodite had warned her lover Adonis to not go hunting, but he ignored her and was fatally wounded by an enraged boar.
As Aphrodite held his body, her tears fell, mixing with his blood and causing red anemones to appear. Aphrodite pleaded with Zeus to let Adonis live, which he answered by allowing Adonis to spend half of each year with her and half in the underworld.
In the end, the myth represents the spirit of vegetation, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica, as nature decays every winter and comes back to life in the spring.
The “Tears of Aphrodite” necklace by Hernsdorf looks to this myth, immortalizing the moment when Aphrodite’s tears mixed with Adonis’ blood through 175.74 carats of Burmese spinel drops.
The one-of-a-kind necklace, and third variation of this theme, features the spinel drops alongside 22-karat yellow gold tubular beads and a barrel pendant with 2.21 carats of brilliant-cut, flush-set diamonds.
“My work almost always begins with a choice of the gemstone or gemstones involved in the design. From there it evolves, and once I see the ultimate finished piece in my mind’s eye, various connections to any number of inspirations become clear,” said Dale Hernsdorf, founder of her namesake brand who crafts every piece in her downtown Los Angeles studio.
“When creating the ‘Tears of Aphrodite’ [necklace], I began with a group of spinel drops the color of pigeon blood rubies. As I worked with the spinels, I started to think of them as being shaped like teardrops, which brought to mind the myth of Aphrodite and Adonis. Hence, the necklace aptly became named as the ‘Tears of Aphrodite.’”
Hernsdorf began looking to Greek mythology when naming her pieces after working with ancient coins in pieces that were later named after various gods and goddesses.
“I often wondered what these objects would say if they could talk. How much history, how many hands, has a 2,000-year-old coin touched?” said Hernsdorf.
The Tears of Aphrodite necklace is price upon request.
It is available on the Hernsdorf website, along with the second variation on this theme which uses Russian emerald drops.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Collections
The Latest
CrimeNov 12, 2026
1 of 7 Men Charged in $100M Brinks Heist to Plead GuiltyThree of the other alleged perpetrators will stand trial next March, while two remain on the lam and one was deported late last year.
AuctionsNov 12, 2026
24-Carat ‘Bulgari Pink’ Diamond Sells for $14.8MUnseen for more than seven decades, the fancy intense pink diamond was the star of Christie’s Geneva jewelry auction.
WatchesNov 12, 2026
Zadok Jewelers Now Offers Certified Pre-Owned Rolex WatchesThe curated selection is available online and at its showroom in Austin, Texas.
Brought to you by
DSF Antique Jewelry: Fine Jewelry, Signed Designers, and a World of Rare DiscoveriesWith over 50 years experience in the trade, DSF Antique Jewelry offers quality, craftsmanship, condition, and remarkable variety.
IndependentsNov 12, 2026
Greenberg’s Jewelers Welcomes New Fourth-Generation MembersThe next generation understands what makes the 126-year-old retailer special, said CEO and Co-President Elise Greenberg.
Weekly QuizNov 12, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Lab-GrownNov 10, 2026
GIA Examines Pink Lab-Grown Diamond Made to Look NaturalThe 6-carat CVD-grown pink diamond was “deliberately modified” to mimic the appearance of a natural rough diamond, the lab said.
SourcingNov 10, 2026
Botswana in Line to Take Controlling Stake in De Beers, President Says If the Global Diamond Consortium emerges as the top bidder for De Beers, Botswana’s stake will double to 30 percent, Duma Boko said Monday.
Brought to you by
How Overnight Mountings’ Bridal Builder Makes Custom Engagement Ring Design Easier to SellWith customization becoming more expected in engagement ring shopping, the Bridal Builder makes the process tangible.
ColumnistsNov 10, 2026
Who Checks the Facts When AI Writes Your Jewelry Copy?An incorrect AI-generated ad or product description can cost your store valuable consumer trust.
Events & AwardsNov 09, 2026
Here Are the 2027 Gem Award NomineesThese nine individuals and brands are up for a Gem Award in the Jewelry Design, Media Excellence, and Retail Innovation categories.
CrimeNov 09, 2026
Jeweler Pistol-Whipped, $900K in Jewelry Stolen During Home Invasion The incident, which happened in Miami-Dade County, serves as a reminder to jewelers of the dangers of selling and storing jewelry at home.
GradingNov 09, 2026
GIA Acquires Thousands of Gem Specimens With ‘Extraordinary’ InclusionsGIA Analytical Microscopist John Koivula curated the collection of 2,665 crystals, gems, and minerals over a 60-year span.
EditorsNov 06, 2026
The Spectrum Pieces I Can’t Stop Thinking AboutFrom a Betta fish brooch to a “dragon’s trove” of zircon eggs, here are seven pieces that’ve stuck with Associate Editor Lauren McLemore.
TrendsNov 06, 2026
Pat Pruitt’s DragonFly Earrings Take Flight on Election NightGroundbreaking New Mexico Governor-elect Deb Haaland wore the earrings, our Piece of the Week, when she declared victory on Tuesday.
MajorsNov 06, 2026
SNL’s Colin Jost Finds the Perfect Gift in Kay Jewelers’ Holiday AdJost goes on an epic journey, traversing rough seas and encountering a cyclops, to discover the perfect holiday gift.
Supplier BulletinNov 05, 2026
Winning With GCAL 8X®: What’s Working at the CounterSponsored by GCAL by Sarine
SurveysNov 05, 2026
What Retailers Should Know About Holiday Shoppers This YearFrom shrinking budgets to AI elves, here are five takeaways from holiday reports by Bain, Adobe, Mastercard, NRF, and insights from YouGov.
FinancialsNov 05, 2026
Brilliant Earth Continued to Resonate With High-Income Shoppers in Q3Its non-bridal fine jewelry remains the star of the show, recently launching new collections inspired by Elizabeth Taylor and Jane Goodall.
MajorsNov 05, 2026
Ariana Grande Stars In Swarovski’s Holiday Campaign“Joy: The Swarovski Musical” features Ariana Grande as the leading lady in scenes inspired by classic musical montages.
GradingNov 05, 2026
GIA to Offer Next-Day Holiday ServicesThe lab will bring back its complimentary next-day service for some reports starting next week.
CrimeNov 04, 2026
$250K+ in Undeclared Cartier Jewelry Seized at Philadelphia AirportA Pennsylvania woman failed to declare a ring and a bracelet, discarding the boxes and receipts to conceal the purchases, officials said.
FinancialsNov 04, 2026
Pandora’s Q3 Sales Up 7% Amid Focus on DesignNew collections and relevant marketing pushed the company forward, while Pandora’s lab-grown diamond sales continue to lag.
Events & AwardsNov 04, 2026
NYC Jewelry Week 2026 Is the Largest Edition YetThe citywide celebration, slated for Nov. 16-22, is set to host more than 175 events, including live jewelry-making demos.
MajorsNov 04, 2026
Bergdorf Goodman Names New PresidentLanessa Elrod, former president and CEO of Louis Vuitton Americas, has stepped into the role as the retailer celebrates 125 years.
AuctionsNov 03, 2026
Infinity Gauntlet Set With 170+ Carats of Colored Gemstones Up for AuctionA replica of one of the most powerful objects in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the glove is heading to auction next month in Abu Dhabi.
IndependentsNov 03, 2026
Longtime Jewelry Marketer Arthur Klein Dies at 89Klein, who had his own marketing agency and worked for Gabriel & Co. and Trans American Diamond, is remembered as a kind man.
IndependentsNov 03, 2026
Zadok Jewelers Toasts To 50 Years With Diamond Bracelet GiveawayTo enter the giveaway, locals can purchase a featured beverage from one of eight participating restaurants in Houston and Austin, Texas.
