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EditorsJul 28, 2015
Favorites from the Gallery
I think that the line-up in this year’s New Designer Gallery at the JA New York Summer show was fantastic.
Not only are these designers talented, up-and-coming women, but they are offering a lot of beautiful, interesting designs and, not to mention, a fair share of outstanding colored gemstones. It’s exciting to be able to see them get their footing in the trade show world and to see where they go from there.
Here are five pieces that stood out to me from the new designers.
These stunners from Unhada instantly caught my eye. The Leopold earrings, with lepidolite, purple sapphires, blue sapphires and diamonds, are made in 18-karat gold by designer Jocelyn Prestia, who also was named the New Designer of the Year on Monday.
These hoop and pearl earrings are from Lauren Chisholm. I love that they give a little bit of an update for both hoops and pearls alike, while also channeling a boho vibe.
I love a rough gemstone, especially when it’s bold in color and large in size. Nathalie Regnier is a Colombian jewelry designer who uses her pieces to embody her country’s fauna, flora and culture, and in this ring she chose a beautiful rough Colombian emerald to do so.
All of the pieces designed by Lisa Kim—who won the first $5,000 Carelle-WJA Grant in honor of the late Brooke Tivol McGrath back in 2013—pack a punch and make a statement but, for me, her “Shield” ring, made with a rose-cut moonstone, oxidized sterling silver and 18-karat yellow gold, really knocks it out of the park.
Designer Priyanka Murthy at Arya Esha does a great job of mixing design and outstanding color, like this pair of earrings that she was showcasing at JA NY. They’re orange carnelian and garnet set in recycled 14-karat yellow gold.
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