The New York City-based jewelry designer, who will be exhibiting as a Rising Star at JCK Las Vegas this year, gives her pieces structure and balance through delicate and unexpected touches.
Designer Dana Bronfman said environmental conservation is important to her, so she uses post-consumer diamonds when she can find them and reclaimed gold in her designs, which are made locally in New York.
New York--Up-and-coming jewelry designer Dana Bronfman is all about conserving the environment.
She uses recycled gold and pre-owned diamonds when she can find them in her jewelry, which is made locally in New York so she can control the craftsmanship and quality.
As a bench jeweler and metalsmith, Bronfman hand designs her jewelry at the desk, giving her pieces structure and balance through delicate and unexpected touches, like putting hidden details in each piece such as a gallery of cutouts or a tiny diamond accent.
She soon will introduce pieces with Fairmined gold and some featuring gemstones.
Bronfman, who will be exhibiting at JCK Las Vegas this year as one of the show’s Rising Stars, is the focus of this month’s “One to Watch,” a feature highlighting up-and-coming jewelry designers.
Below, the designer answers questions that retailers need to know about her jewelry line.
National Jeweler: What was the inspiration for your collections? Dana Bronfman: My collections were inspired by industrial architecture of New York City, as well as the process of hand designing each piece at the bench. I always start with an idea or a sketch, but the designs evolve a bit as I create and play with negative space, sculpt and hammer metal at the bench. It is all about structure and creating balance through incorporating delicate and soft, unexpected touches and hidden details.
NJ: Where is your jewelry made? DB: My jewelry is made in New York City. I keep everything local so I can work closely with my jewelers each day to ensure my vision and standards of craftsmanship are carried out, and it allows me to support local production, which I believe in.
NJ: What should retailers focus on, or what story should they tell, when showing your line to customers? DB: I am a bench jeweler by trade and metalsmith. My pieces highlight the beauty of pure precious metal and the true art of traditional jewelry craftsmanship infused with a modern aesthetic. The silhouettes are unexpected, and I always add a hidden detail such as movement in my riveted collections, a gallery of hidden cutouts on rings, a tiny diamond’s sparkle on an everyday stacking ring or an asymmetrical shape. With matte and hammered finishes, they are understated enough to wear every day, and I want to inspire people to wear “real” jewelry every day. I also encourage the wearers
of my jewelry to have fun mixing colors and layering to create the look that allows them to express themselves.
My jewelry is created with reclaimed gold in New York City and I use post-consumer diamonds whenever I can find them to create my designs, as I am passionate about environmental conservation. I am also passionate about philanthropy and love to donate pieces to auctions that support causes I believe in. Some organizations I donate a portion of my proceeds to are the Sierra Club and Publicolor. I am also a member of Ethical Metalsmiths, a community of jewelry industry people who collaborate and share resources. It’s fantastic to be able to use my passion to make a difference in the world.
NJ: How much inventory must a retailer invest in to carry your brand? DB: Six pieces or $3,500.
NJ: Which retailers currently are carrying your line? DB: Roseark in Los Angeles, a couple of Brooklyn, N.Y. boutiques, the Cogswell Gallery in Vail, Co. and J Scott Jewels in Beaver Creek, Co. Coming soon is JC Jewelers in Jackson Hole, Wyo., and I am currently creating studs for a designer jewelry piercing studio called Iris with locations in Denver, Brooklyn and Salt Lake City, Utah.
NJ: At which trade shows do you exhibit or are you planning to exhibit? DB: I am excited to exhibit at JCK Las Vegas this June as a Rising Star. I also showed at JCK Tucson this year and plan to again next February.
NJ: What are your plans for upcoming collections? DB: I am currently editing my collections to create more of a tightly curated assortment, and soon I will introduce pieces using Fairmined gold. I will create some more statement and one-of-a-kind pieces incorporating gemstones as well as expand my signature cutout and sculpted elements.
NJ: Complete this sentence: “People would be surprised to learn that I …” DB: Didn’t get my ears pierced until I was 17!
Retailers interested in contacting Dana Bronfman can do so by emailing her at sales@danabronfman.com.
This classic band ring with a convex curve features one white marquise diamond and two black round diamonds (total carat weight of approximately 0.09) made in 18-karat rose gold with a matte finish. Though it’s perfect for everyday use, Bronfman said lately it has caught customer attention as a modern-day wedding band ($2,990).
Bronfman’s elongated, tapered Helena earrings featuring circular cutouts of varying sizes and six burnish-set diamonds in each earring (0.16 carats total) set in 18-karat yellow gold ($2,180).
With circular cutouts of varying sizes, the delicate chain can be slipped through any hole on the tube-shaped Holly necklace to be worn horizontally, vertically or even at an angle. It has a total of approximately 0.9 to 1 total carat of diamonds set in 18-karat gold ($6,745).
The Holly ring in 18-karat yellow gold features circular cutouts of varying sizes and is adorned by double diamond eternity “halos” with 88 diamonds weighing a total of approximately 1.1 carats ($4,165).
The Inverted Cross earrings feature approximately 0.24 total carats of black diamonds set in 18-karat rose gold with Bronfman’s signature hammered texture ($2,995).
The Lipstick ring is reminiscent of a signet ring, except the faceting is off-center to emulate the application edge of a lipstick. It is made in 18-karat gold and finished in a brushed matte patina ($1,940).
These tiny mismatched asymmetrical pyramid and triangle studs in sterling silver, also known as Pi and Tri, are one of the brand’s best-selling studs ($115). They can be paired with the extenders seen in the following slide for a day-to-night look.
The Tiny Coin pendant features tiny bits of negative space in varying sizes and is made in 18-karat gold with diamonds, hanging on a sterling silver chain ($365).
These triangle chain drop extenders in in 18-karat yellow gold with diamond pave can be added to the back of any studs to create a different look ($780). They can be slipped on to the post, front or back, to elongate a stud into a drop earring and can be sold as singles or pairs.
The Tri bangle collection in sterling silver features Bronfman’s signature hammered texture on the outer edge and an inner matte surface. The trio creates an interlocking wave pattern when worn together ($985).
Brecken Branstratoris the senior editor, gemstones at National Jeweler, covering sourcing, pricing and other developments in the colored stone sector.
