FinancialsAug 08, 2025
Brilliant Earth’s Q2 Sales Up 3% as Engagement Ring Sales RiseThe company raised its full-year sales guidance while noting it has not yet assessed the potential impact of the latest tariff news.
TrendsSep 29, 2016
Town & Country Editor Pens Book on Jewelry Design
Stellene Volandes’ Jeweler: Masters, Mavericks, and Visionaries of Modern Design is out this month.
Pictured here is a collar by Giampiero Bodino, as featured in Rizzoli’s Jeweler: Masters, Mavericks, and Visionaries of Modern Design, written by Stellene Volandes.
New York--In her new book, Town & Country Editor-in-Chief Stellene Volandes explores the fantastical, the awesome and the unbelievable in jewelry design.
Out from Rizzoli this month, Jeweler: Masters, Mavericks, and Visionaries of Modern Design focuses on the extraordinary works of 17 contemporary talents, hailing from various geographical and cultural backgrounds and connected only by the thread of having mastered their shared medium.
Jeweler commences with a look into German, family-run design house Hemmerle, which experienced a rebirth in the 1990s, emerging as an innovative and adventurous home for jewelry formed from the marriage of seemingly disparate materials. Pieces like a set of earrings that consist of brilliant beryl stones set in white gold and copper that are surrounded by pebbles, or ornate food-inspired brooches depicting cauliflower and pomegranate illustrate Hemmerle’s creativity.
Volandes charts the colorful life and jewels (and language) of Nicholas Varney, an American designer born into a family of maximalist interior design who, conversely, played college baseball and treasures his time spent at his farm upstate.
His bold, brilliantly hued designs bring to mind the former of Varney’s influences. He sets tourmalines, amethysts and diamonds into large pieces of labradorite, jade and agate, held in place by enormous gold prongs, themselves set with brilliant diamonds. Varney’s pieces are exuberant and loud in their non-classical aesthetic.
An emerald necklace by Judy Geib
(Image courtesy of Rizzoli)
(Image courtesy of Rizzoli)
Ceramic and amethyst rings by James de Givenchy
(Image courtesy of Rizzoli)
(Image courtesy of Rizzoli)
A cauliflower brooch by Hemmerle
(Image courtesy of Rizzoli)
(Image courtesy of Rizzoli)
Collar by Giampiero Bodino
(Image courtesy of Rizzoli)
(Image courtesy of Rizzoli)
New York-based Judy Geib’s idiosyncratic works also are on display in Jeweler, with Volandes noting the handmade element that permeates her design ethos. Geib’s pieces convey a feeling of experimentation and exploration rather than one cohesive story. On one page, a geometrical masterpiece of rectangular emeralds making up the entire length of a necklace sits next to a pair of organic, fluid ruby and diamond earrings. Volandes paints Geib’s studio as a repository for her varied influences and ideas, ranging from calligraphy to architecture.
Elena Votsi, Mark Davis, Wallace Chan, James de Givenchy, Giampiero Bodino, Suzanne Syz, Bhagat, Sevan Bicakci, Lydia Courteille, Muriel Grateau, Luz Camino, Antonia Miletto, Marie-Helene de Taillac, and Lauren Adriana complete the roster of jewelry designers featured in the book.
Volandes lends context to each of these designer’s visual oeuvres. Of course, jewelry speaks best through imagery and Jeweler doesn’t disappoint with 300 color images.
Jeweler includes a forward by Carolina Herrera. It is out now from Rizzoli.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Trends
The Latest
Events & AwardsAug 08, 2025
GJEPC’s Jewellers for Hope Celebrates 10 Years of FundraisingThe organization has raised more than $1.3 million for charity since its inception.
WatchesAug 07, 2025
Bulova’s New Collection Honors Tony BennettThe first watch in the series commemorates his participation in the Civil Rights movement, marching from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.
Brought to you by
Taking the Moment Head On: How Rio Grande Champions the Present & Future of Fine JewelryAs a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.
Lab-GrownAug 07, 2025
Chatham Releases Catalog for Loose Lab-Grown GemstonesThe catalog contains a complete listing of all the loose gemstones in stock, as well as information about the properties of each stone.
Weekly QuizAug 08, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
TechnologyAug 07, 2025
Rembrandt Charms Debuts New Website, Bird CharmsThe company added a retailer dashboard to its site and three new birds to its charm collection, the cardinal, blue jay, and hummingbird.
Policies & IssuesAug 06, 2025
Tariff on India to Rise to 50%, Trump Says An additional 25 percent tariff has been added to the previously announced 25 percent.
Brought to you by
Investing in the Next Generation of Bench JewelersThe Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.
MajorsAug 06, 2025
Claire’s Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy AgainThe jewelry and accessories retailer plans to close 18 stores as part of the proceedings.
IndependentsAug 06, 2025
Smith & Son Jewelers to Close 107-Year-Old Location Its Springfield, Massachusetts, store is set to close as owner Andrew Smith heads into retirement.
CollectionsAug 06, 2025
Zahn-Z Swims With Whales in ‘Beluga’ CollectionDesigner Hiba Husayni looked to the whale’s melon shaped-head, blowhole, and fluke for her new chunky gold offerings.
CrimeAug 05, 2025
Report: Suspect Arrested in 1992 Murder of Miami JewelerOmar Roy, 72, was arrested in connection with the murder of jeweler Dionisio Carlos Valladares.
CollectionsAug 05, 2025
Mignon Faget Commemorates 20th Anniversary of Hurricane KatrinaThe New Orleans-based brand’s “Beyond Katrina” jewels honor the communities affected by the storm.
ColumnistsAug 05, 2025
The PR Adviser: Affiliate Marketing Is the Cost of CoverageLilian Raji explains why joining an affiliate network is essential for brands seeking placements in U.S. consumer publications.
Events & AwardsAug 05, 2025
JA Announces Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship WinnersThe organization has awarded a total of $42,000 through its scholarship programs this year.
Events & AwardsAug 04, 2025
Gem Awards, David Yurman Introduce $50K Grant for Emerging DesignersThe winner of the inaugural David Yurman Gem Awards Grant will be announced live at the 2026 Gem Awards gala.
TrendsAug 04, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: August’s Bright BaublesAs summer winds down, celebrate the sunny disposition of the month’s birthstones: peridot and spinel.
CrimeAug 04, 2025
‘The Watch King’ Assaulted, Robbed in QueensMoshe Haimoff, a social media personality and 47th Street retailer, was robbed of $559,000 worth of jewelry by men in construction outfits.
MajorsAug 04, 2025
Borsheims Welcomes New Assistant Facilities ManagerXavier Dibbrell brings more than a decade of experience to the role.
MajorsAug 01, 2025
Helzberg President Julie Yoakum Moves Over to Signet JewelersThe addition of Yoakum, who will lead Kay and Peoples, was one of three executive appointments Signet announced Thursday.
MajorsAug 01, 2025
Jewelers Mutual Names Mike Alexander as President The insurance company’s previous president and CEO, Scott Murphy, has split his role and will continue as CEO.
SourcingAug 01, 2025
Gemfields’ Auction Revenue Drops 50% in H1The nearly six-month pause of operations at its Kagem emerald mine earlier this year impacted the miner’s first-half results.
CollectionsAug 01, 2025
Piece of the Week: Hernsdorf’s ‘Tears of Aphrodite’ NecklaceThe necklace uses spinel drops to immortalize the moment Aphrodite’s tears mixed with her lover Adonis’ blood after he was fatally wounded.
SourcingJul 31, 2025
De Beers Records $189M First-Half Loss The diamond miner and marketer warned last week that it expected to be in the red after significantly cutting prices in Q2.
Events & AwardsJul 31, 2025
These Are the 2025 CASE Award WinnersJewelers of America’s 35th annual design contest recognized creativity, artistry, style, and excellence.
IndependentsJul 31, 2025
Matthew Tratner Takes Over as CBG President Tratner succeeds Andie Weinman, who will begin stepping back from the buying group’s day-to-day operations.
Policies & IssuesJul 30, 2025
Tariff on India Will Be 25%, Trump Says The president made the announcement via Truth Social Wednesday, adding that India also will face a penalty for its dealings with Russia.
