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
CrimeAug 31, 2026
$4M Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond Necklace Snatched From Vienna Museum Once the property of an Egyptian queen, the necklace was part of a larger exhibition of VCA jewelry at the Museum of Applied Arts (MAK).
GradingAug 31, 2026
GIA, Gübelin Gem Lab Confirm New Paraíba Tourmaline Deposit in EthiopiaThe labs’ separate investigations each determined that the East African country is producing copper-bearing tourmaline.
Events & AwardsAug 31, 2026
Wisconsin Museum to Host Jewelry Exhibition“Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective” at the Oshkosh Public Museum will feature works by Fabergé, Lalique, and Louis Comfort Tiffany.
Brought to you by
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSubmit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.
SourcingAug 28, 2026
Gareth Penny to Give Opening Speech at CIBJO Centenary CongressThe former De Beers CEO, and perhaps its next owner, will be a featured speaker at the event, slated for Sept. 4-7 in Italy.
Weekly QuizAug 27, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
IndependentsAug 28, 2026
Day’s Jewelers Honored With 3 Workplace AwardsThe employee-owned jeweler was named a “Best Place to Work” in Maine, New Hampshire, and for women.
CollectionsAug 27, 2026
Pandora Expands ‘Talisman’ Collection as Lawsuit Continues The second iteration of the jewelry collection was inspired by the zodiac and the four elements: earth, water, air and fire.
Brought to you by
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsRetailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.
SourcingAug 27, 2026
OFAC Renews License Allowing Import of ‘Grandfathered’ Russian Diamonds General License 104B supersedes General License 104A, which was set to expire on Sept. 1.
CrimeAug 27, 2026
Customs Seizes Nearly 900 Pieces of Counterfeit JewelryThe package, intercepted in Indianapolis, contained fake Cartier, Tiffany & Co., and Van Cleef and Arpels jewelry.
IndependentsAug 27, 2026
Jessica McCormack to Open First West Coast StoreThe new location in Costa Mesa, California, marks the brand’s second store in the United States and fourth standalone location worldwide.
FinancialsAug 27, 2026
Movado’s Q2 Sales Up As Younger Consumers Take Interest in WatchesThe fashion watch category was once threatened by the Apple Watch, but consumers are now opting for new wearables, said Movado’s CEO.
SurveysAug 26, 2026
5 Jewelry Insights From The RealReal’s Resale ReportThe report delves into trending styles, the most popular jewelry brands by city, and why Belle Époque jewelry could be the next big thing.
Lab-GrownAug 26, 2026
AGTA Now Requiring Members to Call Lab-Grown Gems ‘Synthetic’The association added the requirement to its revised "Code of Ethics" and released the 17th edition of its “Gemstone Information Manual.”
SurveysAug 26, 2026
Consumer Confidence Dips in August Amid Anticipatory Anxieties Respondents were concerned about the future of the labor market and their income as well as the rising prices of gas and groceries.
TrendsAug 26, 2026
Boucheron’s New Campaign Celebrates Its ‘Question Mark’ NecklacesThe campaign highlights the asymmetrical high jewelry necklace style that the jeweler first created in 1879.
Events & AwardsAug 26, 2026
Harry Winston Exhibition to Open in ShanghaiIt will explore the life of “The King of Diamonds” and showcase more than 165 creations from the brand.
CrimeAug 25, 2026
Florida Woman Scammed Out of $1.5M in Jewelry, Precious MetalsTwo suspects have been arrested in connection with the complex phone scam.
ColumnistsAug 25, 2026
Proof Before Purchase: The Gen Z Way to BuyIn her first column for National Jeweler, Jennifer Shaheen asks jewelers if they know how to connect with the next generation of consumers.
Events & AwardsAug 25, 2026
SSEF Opens 2026 Applications for Gemology Education ScholarshipsThe annual awards cover tuition for an on-site educational course at the Swiss lab, as well as flights and lodging.
TrendsAug 25, 2026
Brent Neale Celebrates Blackberry Farm’s Anniversary With JewelryThe jeweler partnered with the Tennessee resort to honor its 50th anniversary with limited-edition blackberry pendants and earrings.
EditorsAug 24, 2026
Q&A: Reeds Jewelers VP Genna Zimmer on 80 Years in BusinessThe third-generation jeweler shared how the North Carolina retailer is celebrating this milestone and the love story that started it all.
Events & AwardsAug 24, 2026
Rio Grande, MetalWerx Host Argentium Silver WorkshopThe class, led by renowned metalsmith Cynthia Eid, highlighted Argentium silver as an alternative to gold amid high prices.
Events & AwardsAug 24, 2026
JIS Miami Opens Fall 2026 RegistrationThe show is slated for Oct. 16-19 at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
CollectionsAug 24, 2026
Francesca Villa Honors Napoleon, His Empresses In New CapsuleThe “Empresses” capsule uses 19th-century medals depicting Napoleon, Joséphine, and Marie-Louise across five one-of-a-kind pieces.
SurveysAug 21, 2026
These Are 2026’s Hottest Retailers, Says NRFThe retailers at the top of the list offer affordable products and fun, discovery-fueled experiences.
WatchesAug 21, 2026
Bremont Names Former Vacheron Constantin Exec CMODaniel Bing was formerly the marketing director for the Americas at Vacheron Constantin.
