CollectionsOct 10, 2025
Piece of the Week: Marla Aaron’s ‘Nymphenburg Lock’TrendsOct 17, 2025
Piece of the Week: Judi Powers Jewelry’s ‘Stella’ Earrings
Take a gaze at the sky with this pair of platinum diamond-set star earrings with blue lace agate drops.
Image credit: Cole Rodger
Before Judi Powers, the owner and creative director of her namesake brand, started making jewelry, she was a devoted white metal wearer.
She kept a steady rotation of platinum, white gold, and silver pieces, but, as a goldsmith, she eventually began wearing and working with green gold.
Although she has continued to make and acquire gold pieces, her new offering and our Piece of the Week, the “Stella” earrings, mark a return to platinum.
The earrings feature diamond-set star motifs in platinum with blue lace agate drops, a design that was inspired by Powers’ longtime obsession with stars and the night sky.
“Platinum has such a cool, icy color, and the blue lace agate shares those properties, too. Bands of periwinkle blue, white, and translucent stone in the blue lace agate share a lot in common with a slightly cloudy, blue-sky day,” said Powers.
“I don’t follow any rules about stone and metal pairings. I follow what excites me and this combination of materials made me giddy.”
Powers first worked in platinum 10 years ago when she was creating a custom wedding band.
She has created a handful of bespoke pieces in the metal but didn’t begin incorporating platinum into her offerings until she worked on a suite of Paraiba tourmaline pieces earlier this year.
“Working in platinum is a little different. It’s very dense, it requires much higher heat, and it’s actually quite pliable, and none of the schools I’d attended in those early days offered platinum classes, so I shifted to green gold, which I’ll always use,” said Powers.
The designer confirmed that her decision to work in platinum was not motivated by the rising price of gold.
As of press time, the price of gold exceeds $4,200 an ounce, while platinum is around $1,630 per ounce, according to APMEX.
“Even though platinum is less expensive than gold, you need more of it, because it’s so dense. So, when I introduced these platinum pieces, there really wasn’t a cost savings to be had,” said Powers.
“The shift to platinum is about wanting to have a gorgeous grey-white metal in my collection for my customers who don’t wear gold.”
Related stories will be right here …
She kept a steady rotation of platinum, white gold, and silver pieces, but, as a goldsmith, she eventually began wearing and working with green gold.
Although she has continued to make and acquire gold pieces, her new offering and our Piece of the Week, the “Stella” earrings, mark a return to platinum.
The earrings feature diamond-set star motifs in platinum with blue lace agate drops, a design that was inspired by Powers’ longtime obsession with stars and the night sky.
“Platinum has such a cool, icy color, and the blue lace agate shares those properties, too. Bands of periwinkle blue, white, and translucent stone in the blue lace agate share a lot in common with a slightly cloudy, blue-sky day,” said Powers.
“I don’t follow any rules about stone and metal pairings. I follow what excites me and this combination of materials made me giddy.”
Powers first worked in platinum 10 years ago when she was creating a custom wedding band.
She has created a handful of bespoke pieces in the metal but didn’t begin incorporating platinum into her offerings until she worked on a suite of Paraiba tourmaline pieces earlier this year.
“Working in platinum is a little different. It’s very dense, it requires much higher heat, and it’s actually quite pliable, and none of the schools I’d attended in those early days offered platinum classes, so I shifted to green gold, which I’ll always use,” said Powers.
The designer confirmed that her decision to work in platinum was not motivated by the rising price of gold.
As of press time, the price of gold exceeds $4,200 an ounce, while platinum is around $1,630 per ounce, according to APMEX.
“Even though platinum is less expensive than gold, you need more of it, because it’s so dense. So, when I introduced these platinum pieces, there really wasn’t a cost savings to be had,” said Powers.
“The shift to platinum is about wanting to have a gorgeous grey-white metal in my collection for my customers who don’t wear gold.”
The Stella earrings debuted in August at Melee The Show in New York.
Powers said she has been happily surprised by the reception of her platinum pieces and is sensing a keen consumer desire for platinum.
Powers is already planning new designs in platinum with stones she sourced at the Ethical Gem Fair, which took place earlier this month in the Brooklyn neighborhood of New York City.
The Stella earrings retail for $1,100 and are available on the Judi Powers Jewelry website.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Trends
The Latest
ColumnistsMay 12, 2026
It’s Official: We’re Getting ‘Brain Rot’ From Watching Short-Form Videos Peter Smith gives tips on leading meetings, developing marketing, and making trade show appointments in the age of short attention spans.
CollectionsMay 12, 2026
Jessica McCormack Debuts Antique Coin-Inspired Medallions for SummerThe 11-piece “Medallions” capsule collection features five motifs: a crying eye, a heart on fire, a spiral, a flower, and a swallow.
IndependentsMay 12, 2026
State of Retail: 6 Things Retailers Should Know About Consumers TodayFrom Gen Z’s view of luxury to “doom spending,” these are the six consumer trends to note this year.
Brought to you by
How Modern Training Is Becoming a Competitive Advantage for Jewelry RetailersWith the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.
Events & AwardsMay 12, 2026
The Tiffany & Co. x CFDA Jewelry Designer Award Is BackThe partners have announced the second cycle of the program, which has expanded to include a $25,000 student scholarship.
Weekly QuizMay 07, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
IndependentsMay 11, 2026
Kansas Jeweler Closing After 70 YearsThe owners of Staats Jewelers are heading into retirement.
TechnologyMay 11, 2026
Clientbook’s New Tool Helps Jewelers Plan In-Store EventsThe new module allows retailers to plan, promote, and measure the success of events from a single dashboard.
Brought to you by
Discover Timeless Treasures: A Showcase of Antique Jewelry & Timepieces in Las VegasGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
Lab-GrownMay 08, 2026
NDC Publicly Criticizes Pandora Over ‘Misleading’ Natural Diamond ClaimsNDC said in an open letter that Pandora’s statements about the carbon footprint of lab grown versus natural diamonds are inaccurate.
SourcingMay 08, 2026
Ronnie VanderLinden Takes Over as WDC President The diamantaire and industry leader succeeds Feriel Zerouki and said he will focus on being a “champion” for natural diamonds.
TrendsMay 08, 2026
Rihanna Chooses ‘Desert Diamonds’ for 2026 Met GalaShe wore our Piece of the Week, Glenn Spiro’s “Old Moghul Golconda” earrings, featuring fancy brown-yellow diamonds totaling 51.90 carats.
Events & AwardsMay 08, 2026
JA Announces 2026 CASE Award WinnersTwo pieces were named “Best in Show,” one from the retail category and one from the supplier category.
FinancialsMay 07, 2026
Brilliant Earth Appeals to Higher-Income Shoppers in Q1The jewelry retailer noted resilience among its higher-end customers while demand softened for its lower-priced offerings.
AuctionsMay 07, 2026
‘Spectacular’ Kashmir Sapphire Headlines Heritage Spring Jewelry SaleLed by the 6.59-carat sapphire, the sale garnered $9.7 million, a record total for a Heritage jewelry auction.
MajorsMay 07, 2026
Gannon & Scott Names New Regional Account ExecutiveIn his new role, sales specialist Billy Welshoff will focus on the eastern United States.
WatchesMay 07, 2026
Chrono24 Names New CEOJosé Gaztelu has been promoted to the role, which has been vacant since last year.
Events & AwardsMay 07, 2026
JA Accepting Applications for 2026 Scholarship ProgramIt has also opened the application period for the Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship through June 30.
SourcingMay 06, 2026
Canada’s Oldest Diamond Mine Faces Uncertain FutureThe owner of the Ekati mine, which opened in 1998, has filed for insolvency protection amid the significant decline in diamond prices.
FinancialsMay 06, 2026
Pandora to Add Carbon Footprint Info to Lab-Grown DiamondsThe company announced the change alongside its Q1 results, which showed that the jewelry brand’s year is off to a shaky start.
MajorsMay 06, 2026
Saks Global Begins Layoffs, Reorganization Plans Closer to ApprovalThe retailer will cut 16 percent of its corporate workforce as part of its plan to exit bankruptcy.
AuctionsMay 06, 2026
Steve McQueen’s Heuer Monaco Watch Heads to Sotheby'sOf the many examples used in the filming of “Le Mans,” this one is believed to have spent the most time on Steve McQueen’s wrist.
EditorsMay 05, 2026
This Ohio Designer’s Jewelry Made It to the Met GalaMegan Piccione dressed Lauren Wasser in layers of diamond jewelry, making her stand out in a crowd that included celebrities like Beyoncé.
SourcingMay 05, 2026
Doug Hucker Returns to His RootsFollowing decades of association leadership, the “semi-retired” colored gemstone expert is turning his focus to gemstone education.
Events & AwardsMay 05, 2026
AMNH to Showcase Famous Jewelry, Trophies in Sports HistoryThe museum’s new exhibition will feature one of Jesse Owen’s Olympic medals, Yogi Berra’s crown, Super Bowl rings, and more.
Events & AwardsMay 05, 2026
JIS Launches Brand Exposure ProgramThe new program provides access to media exposure and editorial opportunities for exhibitors and retailers.
CollectionsMay 04, 2026
Melanie Georgacopoulos Turns Pearls Into Light for ‘Eclipse’ CollectionThe “Eclipse” jewelry collection captures the fleeting moment where light and shadow align though onyx, diamonds, and freshwater pearls.
ColumnistsMay 04, 2026
The Key Mindset for Better Trade Show BuyingBuying discipline at trade shows starts with clarity about your inventory levels, Smith writes.
