Her new “Ocean” collection was inspired by Myanmar’s traditional articulated fish jewelry, with depictions of flounder, catfish, and more.
Ohio university's museum to host AJDC exhibition
After seven months at the Forbes Galleries in New York earlier this year, the American Jewelry Design Council’s “Variations on a Theme” exhibit will travel to the Kent State University Museum in Ohio before it heads west to the GIA.

In 1996, the AJDC began the tradition of asking each of its artists to create a design project based on a single concept or theme, such as water, spiral or black and white. The “Variations on a Theme” exhibition provides a sampling of pieces from the projects spanning 18 years, from its start in 1996 to 2013.
The exhibition is scheduled to be at Kent State University from Oct. 24 to May 3, 2015, displaying 40 installations of one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces created by AJDC artists.
It then will move to the Gemological Institute of America’s gallery in Carlsbad, Calif. over the summer.
Variations on a Theme will kick off with an invitation-only event on the evening of Oct. 24, and will be open to the public every day after that.
“Part of the AJDC mission is to educate the public, which is what prompted us to find a wider audience for our yearly projects,” said President Barbara Heinrich, who is also a contributing artist. “This is an exhibition of art for art’s sake, and it is a beautiful showcase of American jewelry design as art.”
An 82-page, full-color catalog about the pieces can be ordered on the AJDC’s website.
The AJDC also will offer an educational session on jewelry design and fabrication for students at Kent State University during the exhibition.
The Kent State University Museum currently holds one of the most comprehensive teaching collections of fashionable design from the 18th century to the present. Last year, online magazine Fashionista.com named Kent State’s School of Fashion Design and Merchandising to its list of the top 50 fashion schools in the world.
The Latest

Longtime Casio executive Yusuke Suzuki is the new president and CEO of Casio’s U.S. subsidiary.

The full-day sourcing and networking event, slated for Aug. 18, will be followed by the fifth annual Mega Mixer Summer Soirée.

As a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.

The board elected 9 new directors at its recent ICA Congress in Brazil.


JD Sports and Wawa were among the fastest-growing retail companies in the U.S. last year.

The new inventory, all untreated, features vibrant hues and unique bicolor combinations.

The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.

Acquired by a tech investor, the historic brand will continue to focus on jewelry, accessories, and timepieces.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order extending the pause on higher tariffs to November as negotiations with China continue.

The “Thunderbird Slab” collection features a thunderbird motif as a symbol of power, protection, and boundless possibility.

Columnists Jen Cullen Williams and Duvall O’Steen share tips on how to elevate your professional image.

Peter Damian Arguello, a jeweler in the Denver suburb of Wheat Ridge, was found dead inside his store in November 2023.

The retailer, owned by Berkshire Hathaway, is becoming part of the Berkshire Hathaway Jewelry Group with Helzberg.

The Continental Buying Group’s 2025 Tampa Experience Show is slated for Sept. 8-10.

Associate Editor Lauren McLemore recently attended a fabrics trade show where a trend forecaster shared her predictions for summer 2027.

The company raised its full-year sales guidance while noting it has not yet assessed the potential impact of the latest tariff news.

The organization has raised more than $1.3 million for charity since its inception.

The brand’s latest iteration of a bezel-set diamond bangle features clean lines and a timeless design for a new modern silhouette.

The first watch in the series commemorates his participation in the Civil Rights movement, marching from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.

The catalog contains a complete listing of all the loose gemstones in stock, as well as information about the properties of each stone.

The company added a retailer dashboard to its site and three new birds to its charm collection, the cardinal, blue jay, and hummingbird.

An additional 25 percent tariff has been added to the previously announced 25 percent.

The jewelry and accessories retailer plans to close 18 stores as part of the proceedings.

Its Springfield, Massachusetts, store is set to close as owner Andrew Smith heads into retirement.

Designer Hiba Husayni looked to the whale’s melon shaped-head, blowhole, and fluke for her new chunky gold offerings.

She will present the 23rd edition of the trend forecasting book at Vicenzaoro on Sept. 7.