The independent jeweler first opened its doors in 1888.
Exhibition of Contemporary Jewelry Designers Opens in KY
The American Jewelry Design Council is displaying the work of 36 members at the Headley-Whitney Museum of Art in Lexington.

Lexington, Ky.--A new museum exhibition highlights the works of 36 contemporary jewelry designers.
The Headley-Whitney Museum of Art in Lexington, Kentucky, opened “Convergence” this month, with a gala to celebrate it taking place last weekend.
Convergence features 92 works from 36 artists who belong to the American Jewelry Design Council (AJDC).
For more than 25 years, AJDC has asked its members to create a piece of jewelry or objet d’art inspired by a particular concept annually, creating a thematic grouping from a diverse group of artists. This year, the AJDC chose five past themes and is displaying jewelry from all of them under the Convergence umbrella: Ice, Wave, Fire, Transformation and Stripes.
Past projects have been shown at the GIA Museum in Carlsbad, California; the Kent State University Museum in Kent, Ohio; and the now-closed Forbes Gallery in New York City.
The AJDC said pieces are also displayed annually in Las Vegas during jewelry market week; this year, they were shown at the Couture show.
The Headley-Whitney Museum of Art is a fitting venue for this year’s exhibition.
Jewelry designer George Headley III and his wife, Barbara Whitney, founded the museum in 1968. Whitney was the daughter of sculptor Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, who founded the Whitney Museum of Art in New York City
During his career, Headley had a jewelry boutique in Los Angeles at the Hotel Bel-Air that serviced the Hollywood elite, from Gary Cooper to Judy Garland to Joan Crawford.
When Headley settled down in his native Lexington, he and his wife opened their museum, which includes a jewelry gallery and library, while Headley continued to design.
The AJDC is a nonprofit organization founded by American jewelry designers in 1988. Founding members include Whitney Boin, Michael Bondanza, Henry Dunay, Michael Good, Ron Hartgrove, Jose Hess, Cornelis Hollander and Pascal Lacroix.
The AJDC’s Convergence exhibition at the Headley-Whitney is open now through Sunday, Aug. 19.
The Latest

The layoffs come amid the TV shopping channel’s efforts to restructure and focus on live shopping through social media.

The “Peanuts x Monica Rich Kosann” collection features the comic strip’s classic vocabulary across 10 bracelet designs.

Bench jewelers spend years honing their skills, Jewelers of America’s Certification validates their talents.

Three industry experts dive into the complexities of the material often marketed as an “ethical” alternative for metal in jewelry.


Diamonds are not only one of the most prominent gemstones, but the birthstone for those born in April.

The Utah-based company known for making wedding bands has acquired Doubloon Golf.

Natural diamonds mean more than lab-grown, but when every cut is ideal, they all look the same. Customers want more—Facets of Fire delivers.

The longtime luxury executive led one of LVMH’s watch brands, TAG Heuer, for 12 years before taking over Bulgari in 2013.

Authorities said the robbers fled with jewelry and 70 Rolex watches, later taking pictures of themselves posing with big stacks of cash.

Lotus Gemology founder Richard W. Hughes has translated Heinrich Fischer’s 1880 book “Nephrit und Jadeit” from its original German.

The ring's design features contrasting lines influenced by work from architecture-inspired photographer Nikola Olic.

The Conference Board’s index fell as consumers continued to worry about the impact of tariffs, the labor market, and the price of eggs.

However, two medieval jewels surpassed estimates at Noonans Mayfair’s recent jewelry auction in London.

The Oscar-nominated actor debuted in the campaign for the new “Top Time B31” collection, which introduced Breitling’s Caliber B31.

The Congress is scheduled to take place May 19-22 in Brasilia, Brazil.

The family-owned retailer is the new owner of Morrison Smith Jewelers in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The “150 Art Deco” collection features a Miss America timepiece and a pocket watch from the brand’s Archive Series.

Alex Wellen, formerly CEO and president of MotorTrend Group, has taken on the role.

The Impact Initiative is part of the nonprofit association’s new three-year strategic plan.

The ruby and the sapphire, which Christie’s calls a “once-in-a-generation masterpiece,” are part of the upcoming Hong Kong jewelry auction.

The two pairs of earrings, snatched from a Tiffany & Co. store in Orlando, Florida, are valued at a combined $769,500.

The time to start experimenting with video content is now, writes columnist Emmanuel Raheb.

From striking high jewelry to miniature fine jewelry, the new chapter continues to highlight gemstones featuring its signature 57-facet cut.

The jewelry giant is reducing its senior leadership by 30 percent as part of its new turnaround strategy.

The auction house's partnership with online watch servicing platform WatchCheck makes repairs convenient and accessible, it said.

The company also noted record sales in the United States and a strong performance in its jewelry category.