EditorsSep 12, 2025
Out & About: Mining Sapphires in Rock Creek, MontanaAssociate Editor Lauren McLemore headed out West for a visit to Potentate Mining’s operation hosted by gemstone wholesaler Parlé Gems.
Events & AwardsAug 10, 2016
New ‘Luxury Jewelry Event’ Launching in New York
Metal + Smith features a select group of fine jewelry designers and is scheduled to take place Sept. 19.
Taking place Sept. 19 in New York, Metal + Smith will connect a small group of invited designers exhibiting their jewelry with retailers, who can place orders on the spot.
New York--To be clear, Metal + Smith is a trade show.
Scheduled to take place Sept. 19 in New York, Metal + Smith will host a small, invited group of independent designers who will showcase their jewelry to retailers.
But the team behind Metal + Smith balks at the term “trade show.” Their goal is to create an anti-trade show experience.
“We’re very careful not to use those words,” said Metal + Smith co-founder Lee Wright of the t- and s-words, “because we’re not a trade show. Even though we are retail focused, it’s about a more intimate relationship between the designer and whoever that guest is.”
“We consider ourselves a luxury event and we’re very specific and deliberate in not using the term ‘show’ or ‘trade’ in our own marketing,” said Metal + Smith executive and venture capitalist Lara Ervin.
Got it. But if Metal + Smith is a “luxury event” during which jewelry designers exhibit their work and retailers are able to place orders, what exactly is the difference?
Ervin explained, “We are different because our cost is significantly less, because we’re more concerned with having the right assortment (of designers) rather than just warehousing brands that can pay 20 to 40 grand to attend a show. We want our space to feel more like a private shopping experience rather than a noisy, crowded convention center, which we don’t think really bodes nicely with the term ‘luxury’ when you’re thinking of fine jewelry. We wanted it to feel more like when you go into Cartier or you go into Tiffany’s.”
“The biggest part of how we differ would be the focus,” said Wright. “We don’t have 500 brands exhibiting, we max out at 50 and that is because we think that’s enough for people coming to be able to see and digest, which I think a lot of my friends who are buyers simply can’t do, due to the size and expanse of tradeshows,” Wright said.
Wright’s background is in luxury branding. She and her Metal + Smith co-founder Nicole Barklayv, a luxury public relations professional, came up with the idea of hosting a small, curated trade show focused on creating a positive experience for designers two years ago.
“We have heard over and over, the brands lamenting about, ‘Gosh, there’s really nothing for us. We’re feeling underrepresented. We’re not feeling the success that we thought we would from doing
these types of shows that come so highly recommended,’” Wright said.
Wright and Barklayv enlisted a group of retail jewelry buyers and bloggers to handle the selection of designers invited to exhibit at Metal + Smith. “It was important to us to work with advisors who were young and hip and fresh and had a good pulse on what was happening in the jewelry space,” said Wright.
“The retailers were important because you can have a beautiful piece of jewelry and not be marketable for whatever reason, so we wanted to focus on what they’re buying as buyers,” added Ervin.
Between 1,100 and 1,200 editors, retailers, stylists and influencers have been invited to the one-day only show at the Mercantile Annex in Manhattan.
Designers participating include Dana Bronfman, Ilana Ariel, Kataoka, Margery Hirschey, Roule and Co., Selin Kent, Tap by Todd Pownell and Yael Sonia.
The Metal + Smith team hopes to host their event two to three times per year, eventually moving into other cities.
“We want to achieve a very prestigious place in the whole jewelry circuit,” said Wright. “We want our brands to know that we put them first. We want our brands to know that we are doing all of this in an effort to help them stand apart. We know we’re only as good as our brands.”
Echoed Ervin, “We’ve gotten brands who are coming all the way from Israel, who have never done a show at market or (brands that) have done a show at market coming from Japan. That tells us that what we’re doing is right, not just because we have New York brands or L.A. brands coming but because people are crossing oceans to get here for Metal + Smith and that’s important to note in your story.”
Noted.
Metal + Smith is scheduled to take place Sept. 19 from 1 to 9 p.m. For more information visit MetalAndSmith.com.
Wright and Barklayv enlisted a group of retail jewelry buyers and bloggers to handle the selection of designers invited to exhibit at Metal + Smith. “It was important to us to work with advisors who were young and hip and fresh and had a good pulse on what was happening in the jewelry space,” said Wright.
“The retailers were important because you can have a beautiful piece of jewelry and not be marketable for whatever reason, so we wanted to focus on what they’re buying as buyers,” added Ervin.
Between 1,100 and 1,200 editors, retailers, stylists and influencers have been invited to the one-day only show at the Mercantile Annex in Manhattan.
Designers participating include Dana Bronfman, Ilana Ariel, Kataoka, Margery Hirschey, Roule and Co., Selin Kent, Tap by Todd Pownell and Yael Sonia.
The Metal + Smith team hopes to host their event two to three times per year, eventually moving into other cities.
“We want to achieve a very prestigious place in the whole jewelry circuit,” said Wright. “We want our brands to know that we put them first. We want our brands to know that we are doing all of this in an effort to help them stand apart. We know we’re only as good as our brands.”
Echoed Ervin, “We’ve gotten brands who are coming all the way from Israel, who have never done a show at market or (brands that) have done a show at market coming from Japan. That tells us that what we’re doing is right, not just because we have New York brands or L.A. brands coming but because people are crossing oceans to get here for Metal + Smith and that’s important to note in your story.”
Noted.
Metal + Smith is scheduled to take place Sept. 19 from 1 to 9 p.m. For more information visit MetalAndSmith.com.
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
TrendsSep 12, 2025
Piece of the Week: Arunashi’s Fordite and Rhodolite EarringsFordite is a man-made material created from the layers of dried enamel paint that dripped onto the floors of automotive factories.
Policies & IssuesSep 11, 2025
Supreme Court to Hear Tariffs Case in November A decision likely won’t come until January 2026 at the earliest, and the tariffs remain in effect until then.
Brought to you by
reDollar.com Is Rolling Out the Next Level Jewelry, Diamond & Watch Consignment ProgramWith their unmatched services and low fees, reDollar.com is challenging some big names in the online consignment world.
MajorsSep 11, 2025
Tabayer Opens Nordstrom Shop-In-ShopLocated in the revamped jewelry hall at the retailer’s New York City flagship, this opening is Tabayer’s first shop-in-shop.
Weekly QuizSep 12, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SourcingSep 11, 2025
Need to Sell More Natural Diamonds? De Beers Has an App for ThatThe new, free app offers accessible educational content, like games and podcasts, for U.S. retailers.
MajorsSep 10, 2025
Stuller to Swap Gold Scrap for Full Credit to AccountAs the gold price rises, the manufacturer is offering a 100 percent payout through Sept. 30 for gold clean scrap.
Brought to you by
Rallying Call for the Jewelry Industry on Tariffs and Other Key IssuesJewelers of America is leading the charge to protect the industry amidst rising economic threats.
SourcingSep 10, 2025
Tech Meets Style in the New Loewe x Jacob & Co. HeadphonesJacob & Co. partnered with the German technology company on two pairs of headphones, one set with diamonds and the other with sapphires.
TrendsSep 10, 2025
Tiffany & Co. Archival Jewels Bring Life to ‘Frankenstein’Guillermo del Toro’s 2025 “Frankenstein” will feature 27 jewels and objects from the storied brand, including pieces from its archives.
MajorsSep 10, 2025
24 Karat Club of New York’s Banquet to Return to Waldorf AstoriaThe Waldorf Astoria New York’s grand reopening this past summer means a homecoming for the industry group’s annual event.
SourcingSep 09, 2025
Anglo American to Merge With Canadian Copper Miner Anglo plans to merge with Teck Resources Ltd. to form Anglo Teck. The deal changes nothing about its plans to offload De Beers.
AuctionsSep 09, 2025
‘The Mellon Blue’ to Return to Auction, This Time at Christie’s The 9.51-carat fancy vivid blue diamond, which set two world auction records at Sotheby’s in 2014, is estimated to fetch up to $30 million.
AuctionsSep 09, 2025
Phillips Names Dianne Batista Head of Jewels, New YorkThe industry veteran joins the auction house as it looks to solidify its footprint in the jewelry market.
MajorsSep 09, 2025
MJSA Education Foundation Announces 2025 Scholarship WinnersThe nonprofit awarded four students pursuing a professional career in jewelry making and design with $2,250 each.
IndependentsSep 08, 2025
Take a Look Inside the New Korman Store in AustinThe Texas-based jeweler has also undergone a brand refresh, debuting a new website and logo.
MajorsSep 08, 2025
MJSA Is Officially Now Under JA’s UmbrellaThe two organizations have finalized and signed the affiliation agreement announced in May.
AuctionsSep 08, 2025
Sotheby’s To Auction ‘Exceptional’ Collection of JAR, Suzanne Belperron JewelsThe single-owner sale will headline Sotheby's inaugural jewelry auction at the Breuer building, its new global headquarters, this December.
ColumnistsSep 05, 2025
Peter Smith: A Lasting Lesson From Maurice Tempelsman Smith recalls a bit of wisdom the industry leader, who died last week, shared at a diamond conference years ago.
CollectionsSep 05, 2025
Piece of the Week: Jamie Turner’s ‘Victoria’ Necklace The “Victoria” necklace features a labradorite hugged by diamond accents in 18-karat yellow gold.
Policies & IssuesSep 05, 2025
Trump Takes Tariffs Case to the Supreme Court Two lower courts have moved to block the import taxes, which will remain in place as the legal battle continues.
WatchesSep 05, 2025
Patrick Mahomes Is the New Hublot Brand AmbassadorThe Kansas City Chiefs quarterback shares Hublot’s dedication to pursuing greatness, the Swiss watchmaker said.
SourcingSep 04, 2025
Lucara Unveils Unusual 37-Carat Pink DiamondThe Type IIa stone, recovered from Botswana’s Karowe diamond mine last month, features unique coloration.
WatchesSep 04, 2025
Breitling Takes Its NFL Game to the Next Level Breitling is now the NFL’s official timepiece partner, a move that puts the brand in front of the millions of Americans who watch football.
Events & AwardsSep 04, 2025
The NYC Jewelry, Antique, & Object Show Returns in NovemberNYCJAOS is set for Nov. 21-23 in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood.
SourcingSep 03, 2025
Gemfields Confirms Completion of Fabergé SaleU.S.-based investment company SMG Capital LLC is the new owner of the luxury brand.
