TrendsOct 03, 2025
Piece of the Week: Kallati’s Pink Sapphire RingCollectionsOct 10, 2025
Piece of the Week: Marla Aaron’s ‘Nymphenburg Lock’
Created in collaboration with Nymphenburg Porcelain, the lock is part of a four-piece collection that took two years to bring to fruition.
PHOTO 
PHOTO 
PHOTO Earlier this month, designer Marla Aaron debuted a capsule collection of gold and porcelain jewelry created in collaboration with Nymphenburg Porcelain, a project Aaron described as “sort of the biggest thing we’ve ever done.”
Nymphenburg is a German porcelain-maker with a history that stretches back to 1747, when it was created at the behest of Maximilian III Joseph, the duke of Bavaria, in an effort to stimulate the economy through manufacturing.
To this day, the company’s pieces are made by hand using the same techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation for 278 years.
In a post on the brand’s Instagram account, Aaron said she first learned about Nymphenburg Porcelain years before she started her jewelry company.
Around 2001 or 2002, she was invited to an event where someone from Nymphenburg was speaking and was “enchanted” by his talk.
At the end of the event, everyone received a book about Nymphenburg, which Aaron held onto. (The designer, by her own admission, doesn’t throw anything away.)
Years later, after she started her jewelry company, Aaron reached out to Nymphenburg via email to inquire about a possible collaboration, later traveling to the company’s factory outside Munich and meeting with Ingrid Harding, head of product development.
After lunch, while washing some of the company’s plates, Aaron got the idea to create jewelry in Nymphenburg’s Cumberland pattern, a colorful mix of flowers and sweet, garden-friendly insects.
The challenging project, which involved combining 18-karat gold and porcelain, took two years to bring to fruition, but the result is exquisite.
Nymphenburg is a German porcelain-maker with a history that stretches back to 1747, when it was created at the behest of Maximilian III Joseph, the duke of Bavaria, in an effort to stimulate the economy through manufacturing.
To this day, the company’s pieces are made by hand using the same techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation for 278 years.
In a post on the brand’s Instagram account, Aaron said she first learned about Nymphenburg Porcelain years before she started her jewelry company.
Around 2001 or 2002, she was invited to an event where someone from Nymphenburg was speaking and was “enchanted” by his talk.
At the end of the event, everyone received a book about Nymphenburg, which Aaron held onto. (The designer, by her own admission, doesn’t throw anything away.)
Years later, after she started her jewelry company, Aaron reached out to Nymphenburg via email to inquire about a possible collaboration, later traveling to the company’s factory outside Munich and meeting with Ingrid Harding, head of product development.
After lunch, while washing some of the company’s plates, Aaron got the idea to create jewelry in Nymphenburg’s Cumberland pattern, a colorful mix of flowers and sweet, garden-friendly insects.
The challenging project, which involved combining 18-karat gold and porcelain, took two years to bring to fruition, but the result is exquisite.
The pieces in the Marla Aaron x Nymphenburg capsule collection are, from left, the jewelry “depository,” the trundle lock bracelet, earring, and lock, seen here on a Nymphenburg plate in the Cumberland pattern.
A closeup of the “Nymphenburg Lock”
Marla Aaron x Nymphenburg is a capsule collection of four pieces: an earring, a trundle lock bracelet, a porcelain “depository” (jewelry holder), and, of course, the brand’s signature piece—its carabiner-style lock, featured here as our Piece of the Week.
“By turning the Cumberland pattern into jewelry, we are giving it a wider audience because if things are too rarified in this world, they disappear and that was one of my big motivations for this project,” Aaron said in the video.
“So, yeah, sort of the biggest thing we’ve ever done.”
The “Nymphenburg Lock” (price upon request), like the other pieces in the collection, is being sold at Bergdorf Goodman, on the Marla Aaron website, and at the designer’s New York City showroom.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Collections
The Latest
SourcingFeb 10, 2026
At Meeting in South Africa, Support for Natural Diamonds Picks Up Steam Namibia has formally signed the Luanda Accord, while two key industry organizations pledged to join the Natural Diamond Council.
TrendsFeb 10, 2026
Bad Bunny Wears Football-Shaped ‘Desert Diamond’ for Halftime PerformanceLady Gaga, Cardi B, and Karol G also went with diamond jewelry for Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show honoring Puerto Rico.
SurveysFeb 10, 2026
Shoppers to Spend Big on Jewelry This Valentine’s Day, Says NRFJewelry is expected to be the No. 1 gift this year in terms of dollars spent.
Brought to you by
The MJSA Mentor & Apprenticeship Program: Attracting & Training the Next Generation of Bench JewelersLaunched in 2023, the program will help the passing of knowledge between generations and alleviate the shortage of bench jewelers.
FinancialsFeb 10, 2026
Kering Plans Transformation as 2025 Sales Sink 13%As star brand Gucci continues to struggle, the luxury titan plans to announce a new roadmap to return to growth.
Weekly QuizFeb 05, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SourcingFeb 10, 2026
AGTA To Debut ‘Stuller Color of the Year’ Spectrum Awards CategoryThe new category asks entrants for “exceptional” interpretations of the supplier’s 2026 color of the year, which is “Signature Red.”
Policies & IssuesFeb 09, 2026
U.S., India Trade Deal One Step Closer to Being FinalizedThe White House issued an official statement on the deal, which will eliminate tariffs on loose natural diamonds and gemstones from India.
Brought to you by
How Jewelers Can Fight Back Against Cell JammersCriminals are using cell jammers to disable alarms, but new technology like JamAlert™ can stop them.
Events & AwardsFeb 09, 2026
JA Now Accepting Entries for 2026 CASE AwardsEntries for the jewelry design competition will be accepted through March 20.
IndependentsFeb 09, 2026
James Free Jewelers Unveils Revamped FlagshipThe Ohio jeweler’s new layout features a curated collection of brand boutiques to promote storytelling and host in-store events.
TrendsFeb 09, 2026
These 14 Jewels Will Melt Your Heart This Valentine’s DayFrom heart motifs to pink pearls, Valentine’s Day is filled with jewelry imbued with love.
CrimeFeb 06, 2026
Florida Man Sentenced After Selling Fake Native American Jewelry for a Decade Prosecutors say the man attended arts and craft fairs claiming he was a third-generation jeweler who was a member of the Pueblo tribe.
FinancialsFeb 06, 2026
Pandora’s North America GM Departs Amid Executive ChangesNew CEO Berta de Pablos-Barbier shared her priorities for the Danish jewelry company this year as part of its fourth-quarter results.
TrendsFeb 06, 2026
Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi Wear Matching Cece Jewellery Signet RingsOur Piece of the Week picks are these bespoke rings the “Wuthering Heights” stars have been spotted wearing during the film’s press tour.
MajorsFeb 05, 2026
Pandora to Begin Selling Platinum-Plated JewelryThe introduction of platinum plating will reduce its reliance on silver amid volatile price swings, said Pandora.
SourcingFeb 05, 2026
De Beers Lowers Production Guidance for 2026, Anglo Mulls Another WritedownIt would be the third impairment charge in three years on De Beers Group, which continues to grapple with a “challenging” diamond market.
IndependentsFeb 05, 2026
Borsheims to Undergo Massive Renovation in the Spring The Omaha jewelry store’s multi-million-dollar renovation is scheduled to begin in mid-May and take about six months.
FinancialsFeb 05, 2026
Watches of Switzerland Reports Strong Holiday Results in Q3The retailer credited its Roberto Coin campaign, in part, for boosting its North America sales.
ColumnistsFeb 04, 2026
January Jewelry Sales: More Dollars Spent, Fewer Units Sold Sherry Smith unpacks independent retailers’ January performance and gives tips for navigating the slow-growth year ahead.
MajorsFeb 04, 2026
What Designers Should Know About Saks Global’s BankruptcyFrom how to get an invoice paid to getting merchandise returned, JVC’s Sara Yood answers some complex questions.
TrendsFeb 04, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: February Birthstone BlissAmethyst, the birthstone for February, is a gemstone to watch this year with its rich purple hue and affordable price point.
MajorsFeb 04, 2026
Marco Bicego Names New Global Marketing DirectorThe Italian jewelry company appointed Matteo Cuelli to the newly created role.
MajorsFeb 04, 2026
Frederick Goldman Updates Leadership TeamThe manufacturer said the changes are designed to improve speed, reliability, innovation, and service.
Policies & IssuesFeb 03, 2026
Tariff Relief on Horizon for India as Trump, Modi Make DealPresident Trump said he has reached a trade deal with India, which, when made official, will bring relief to the country’s diamond industry.
WatchesFeb 03, 2026
Casio America Calls Jersey City HomeThe watchmaker moved its U.S. headquarters to a space it said fosters creativity and forward-thinking solutions in Jersey City, New Jersey.
SourcingFeb 03, 2026
Nivoda Reveals Upgraded Gemstone MarketplaceThe company also announced a new partnership with GemGuide and the pending launch of an education-focused membership program.
GradingFeb 02, 2026
IGI to Acquire American Gemological Laboratories IGI is buying the colored gemstone grading laboratory through IGI USA, and AGL will continue to operate as its own brand.
