Jesse Cole, founder of Fans First Entertainment, shared the “five Es” of building a fan base during his AGS Conclave keynote.
The 10 Designers of JANY’s New Designer Gallery
They will be making their trade show debut at the JA New York Summer show, which opens Sunday.
New York--Ten jewelry designers have been chosen to make their fine jewelry trade show debut at the JA New York Summer show this weekend as part of the New Designer Gallery.
Liz Kantner, a jewelry consultant and publicist, who spent 4 years as a marketing communications specialist for Colorado-based designer Todd Reed, curated the group, taking over for designer advocate Cindy Edelstein, whom the industry lost earlier this year.
“Each designer we’ve selected to participate in the New Designer Gallery has a very unique aesthetic,” Kantner said. “The consumers who shop with our retail partners are looking for something different, wearable and meaningful; they’re prepared to invest in quality pieces that they can wear daily and layer with their existing jewelry wardrobes. This group of designers provides all the touch points that our retailers need to fit their client’s needs.”
Among the designers showing is Elisa Solomon of Elisa Solomon Jewelry, the group’s most recognizable name who sells at the likes of Roseark, ABC Carpet & Home, and Catbird. The New Jersey-native created her first collection in 2004 after studying metalsmithing at the University of Michigan.
Solomon’s designs center on organic, tactile settings with a 1960s flower-child vibe: think peace signs adorned with multi-colored sapphires, and guitar and daisy motifs.
The designer also is inspired by Native American iconography and features small, carved animals in much of her work.
Jacqueline Stone of Salt + Stone previously authored “Designer’s Diary” for National Jeweler, a regular column on the day-to-day life and struggles of being an independent jewelry designer.
The former Tiffany & Co. product development specialist and former JCK Design Ambassador, who is now based in Colorado, specializes in custom engagement rings as well as fashion fine jewelry collections, like her Gumdrop series, which features bright cabochon-cut stones that, true-to-their-name, look good enough to eat.
Designer Roman Drake of Santi Rom has worked as an artist in several mediums for more than two decades. Each piece from the Santi Rom collection is handmade by Drake, and individually molded and cast, making each creation one-of-a-kind.
Drake is inspired by the
Nantucket-native Hannah Blount operates her eponymous jewelry line from Boston’s artist district.
Among the pieces she will be bringing to JA New York are the face-motif rings from her Cameo line, which feel mythical and spooky at the same time.
Blount’s jewelry is earthy, organic and spiritual; the designer often works with semi-precious stones ranging from Herkimer diamonds to turquoise, aquamarine and moonstone.
Adriatic Jewelry’s Rebecca Fragola will debut a new collection at JA New York. Called Veza, the range features 14-karat yellow gold and white sapphire pieces in a sleek, minimalist design that lends itself well to layering.
Fragola also produces a brass and silver line, and will have previous fine collections on hand at the show. All of her work is handmade in the United States.
Designer and gemologist Rachael Sarc worked at a number of jewelry brands in New York before launching her own collection in 2014.
Her signature is a crisscross motif, in which gemstones are draped with intersecting lines of diamond pave. She has also designed a large volume of bespoke pieces for her clients.
The daughter of a goldsmith, Alexis Kletjian launched her namesake line in 2011 after a career in fashion design and the birth of her children.
Her collections range from a series of jewels engraved with Victorian star motifs to stacking rings and her most compelling collection, the Lotus Shield, in which a center stone and accent diamonds are set in a gold shield-shaped pendant.
Emilie Shapiro cut her teeth at Pamela Love and Allforthemountain after studying jewelry and metalsmithing at Syracuse University and Alchimia in Florence.
The accomplished designer relies on the lost wax casting technique to create her pieces by hand in her New York studio.
Shapiro’s affinity for rough stones and hand-crafted pieces ring loud and clear in her eponymous collection.
The Wave and Splash collection from Alexandra Gunn Designs is designer Alexandra LaValley’s first.
Previously, LaValley worked across several mediums including painting, sculpture, drawing and fashion design.
The artist’s fore into jewelry came about when LaValley couldn’t find jewelry she liked to wear on her wedding day so she decided to make her own, eventually branching into a full-blown business.
The designer of line Acanthus, Minnesota-based Nichole McIver, specializes in exploring the interplay between oxidized silver and 24-karat gold.
She derives inspiration from the moon, stars and planets as well as more macabre symbols, like skulls and daggers.
All 10 designers will be on display at the New Designer Gallery at the JA New York Summer show, which runs this Sunday, July 24 through Tuesday, July 26 at the Javits Center in New York City.
For more information, visit JANewYork.com.
The Latest
The Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar "John Mayer" was celebrated at a star-studded party in LA last week.
The announcement came as the company reported a 23 percent drop in production in Q1.
With Ho Brothers, you can unlock your brand's true potential and offer customers the personalized jewelry experiences they desire.
The three-time Pro Bowler continues to partner with the retailer, donating to a Detroit nonprofit and giving watches to fans.
A double-digit drop in the number of in-store crimes was offset by a jump in off-premises attacks, JSA’s 2023 crime report shows.
Inspired by the Roman goddess of love, the designer looked to the sea for her new collection.
For over 30 years, JA has advocated for the industry, fought against harmful legislation and backed measures that help jewelry businesses.
The luxury titan posted declining sales, weighed down by Gucci’s poor performance.
The mining company’s Diavik Diamond Mine lost four employees in a plane crash in January.
The crown introduced a dozen timepieces in Geneva, including a heavy metal version of its deep-sea divers’ watch.
Emmanuel Raheb recommends digging into demographic data, customizing your store’s communications, and retargeting ahead of May 12.
Located in the town of Queensbury, it features a dedicated bridal section and a Gabriel & Co. store-in-store.
A 203-carat diamond from the alluvial mine in Angola achieved the highest price.
Ruser was known for his figural jewelry with freshwater pearls and for his celebrity clientele.
The “Rebel Heart” campaign embodies rebellion, romance, and sensuality, the brand said.
Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff shares the standout moments from the education sessions she attended in Austin last week.
The overhaul includes a new logo and enhanced digital marketplace.
The money will go toward supporting ongoing research and aftercare programs for childhood cancer survivors.
A new addition to the “Heirloom” collection, this one-of-a-kind piece features 32 custom-cut gemstones.
Last month in Dallas, David Walton pushed another jeweler, David Ettinger, who later died.
The move will allow the manufacturing company to offer a more “diverse and comprehensive” range of products.
From now through mid-May, GIA will be offering the reports at a 50 percent discount.
De Beers’ rough diamond sales were down 18 percent year-over-year in its latest round of sales.
Sponsored by the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show
The Patek Philippe expert will serve as personal curator for the brand-focused company.
The 553-square-foot shop is aboard the Carnival Jubilee cruise ship.