MajorsJul 18, 2025
Lewis Heyman on Sourcing Gemstones, Post-Retirement PlansHe retired last month after 28 years traveling the world to source the very best gemstones for his family’s jewelry business, Oscar Heyman.
TrendsDec 07, 2016
Inside the Fantastical Mind of Lydia Courteille
A monograph dedicated to the French fine jewelry designer delves into her life and jewels.
Lydia Courteille’s new monograph is filled with images of her collaboration with Lithuanian digital artist Natalie Schau, whose portraits featuring Courteille’s jewelry are seen here. (© Natalie Schau)
New York--A new monograph dedicated to French fine jewelry designer Lydia Courteille delves into the mind behind the designs.
ACC Art Books published Lydia Courteille, Extraordinary Jewellery of Imagination and Dreams this fall.
Written by jewelry expert Julia Weir de la Rochefoucauld, the book recounts Courteille’s childhood and the traits that eventually manifested themselves in her jewelry design: an extreme curiosity about the world’s diverse cultures (she corresponded with 18 pen pals worldwide), a love of narrative, and an eye for aesthetically interesting objects, such as the stones she saw at the mineralogical museum in Paris.
It was in 1979 that Courteille turned her attention to jewelry outright.
While trying to repair an Art Deco watch she had purchased, Courteille became besotted with jewelry antiques she saw in dealers’ shops.
She began re-setting antique cameos, transforming them from brooches to large rings, finally deciding to pursue her passion for these jewels through formal gemology study, which culminated with a career as an independent antiques dealer, in which she collected great jewelers like Suzanne Belperron and opened a store in Paris.
This diadem is from Courteille’s Queen of Sheba collection.
Copyright Lydia Courteille
Copyright Lydia Courteille
Courteille created this headdress bangle as part of her collection inspired by Native American tribes. It features a variety of gemstones and enamel set in rhodium-plated gold.
Copyright Lydia Courteille
Copyright Lydia Courteille
Courteille’s bunny earrings featuring rubellite, pink sapphires and white and black diamonds set in rose gold
Copyright Lydia Courteille
Copyright Lydia Courteille
The Ashanti warrior ring featuring ebony, diamond and gold
Copyright Lydia Courteille
Copyright Lydia Courteille
Serpent pendant earrings from the Xochimilco collection, inspired by Courteille’s first trip abroad at age 21 to Mexico
Copyright Lydia Courteille
Copyright Lydia Courteille
A Memento Mori Couple brooch, circa 2007, featuring a boulder opal, diamonds and white gold
Copyright Lydia Courteille
Copyright Lydia Courteille
As Courteille began creating her own jewelry, she displayed it in the windows of her store along with her antique finds. The store and, subsequently, her designs garnered an impressive following.
Extraordinary Jewellery takes the reader through 20 of Courteille’s exquisite collections, their inspirations and origin stories.
Filles du Ciel, one of Courteille’s first collections, created in 1998, is inspired by carved jade in Asian design. Courteille made elaborate carved rings from turquoise and coral, adorning one with a ruby-encrusted beetle. It’s history reimagined through Courteille’s colorful, over-the-top lens.
In The Rainbow Warrior collection, there’s a fantastic take on Native American themes, such as a collar that feels ceremonial in its heft: Seven large semi-precious gemstones hang from the necklace and are bedecked with an array of animals.
Courteille’s collaborations are also highlighted, like the ongoing relationship she has with Lithuanian digital artist Natalie Schau, who illustrates Courteille’s creations, embedding them in her signature, anime-esque portraits.
Schau’s works fill the pages of Extraordinary Jewellery.
Extraordinary Jewellery is available now through a variety of booksellers, including its publisher, at ACCPublishingGroup.com.
More on Trends
The Latest
MajorsJul 18, 2025
Plumb Club Elects New Board MembersThe organization elected its youngest vice president as it looks to draw in fresh talent.
TechnologyJul 18, 2025
Brad Campbell, John Liebler Join Clientbook’s Executive Team Campbell joins the company as vice president of business development while Liebler is the new vice president of operations.
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.
CollectionsJul 17, 2025
2026 Winter Olympic Medal Design Symbolizes UnityThe medals feature a split-texture design highlighting the Games’ first time being hosted by two cities and the athletes’ journeys.
Weekly QuizJul 17, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Supplier BulletinJul 17, 2025
The INSTORE Jewelry Show 2025: Your Holiday Preparations, All Wrapped Up! Sponsored by The INSTORE Jewelry Show 2025
SurveysJul 17, 2025
The Most Recommended Brands in the World, According to YouGovGlobally, travel and transportation brands reigned, while in the U.S., alcoholic beverage companies and a lingerie brand took the top spots.
Brought to you by
Jewelers of America is Headed to Las Vegas for JCK 2025The countdown is on for the JCK Las Vegas Show and JA is pulling out all the stops.
IndependentsJul 17, 2025
Gina Ferranti of GiGi Ferranti Jewelry Dies at 59The Brooklyn-based jewelry designer is remembered as a true artist and a rare talent.
SourcingJul 17, 2025
Rio Tinto Names New CEO, Production Rises at DiavikProduction at the mine in Canada’s Northwest Territories topped 1 million carats in Q2, the third consecutive quarter of growth.
Events & AwardsJul 17, 2025
JA to Hold Learning Workshops This FallA new slate of Learning Workshops will take place in Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Georgia.
SurveysJul 16, 2025
Signet Jewelers Falls Lower on NRF’s ‘Top 100’ Retailers ListThe middle class is changing its approach to buying jewelry and affordable luxury goods, the NRF said.
FinancialsJul 16, 2025
Richemont’s Jewelry Sales Up 7% in Q1It marks the third consecutive quarter of growth for Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Buccellati, and Vhernier.
WatchesJul 16, 2025
The Top-Selling Rolex Models of the Last 15 Years, According to Bob’s Watches The reseller’s market trends report, based on its sales data, also shows exactly how much Rolex prices have jumped since 2010.
AuctionsJul 16, 2025
Christie’s To Honor Dinh Van With ExhibitionThe auction house will be hosting a retrospective paying tribute to jeweler Jean Dinh Van and his company’s 60th anniversary.
IndependentsJul 16, 2025
Clyde Duneier Ushers In Fourth GenerationJake Duneier and Danielle Duneier-Goldberg have stepped into the roles of CEO and president, respectively.
CollectionsJul 15, 2025
Boucheron’s New High Jewelry Calls Attention to Nature’s ImpermanenceThe “Impermanence” collection contemplates nature through the Japanese art of Ikebana (flower arranging) and philosophy of wabi-sabi.
MajorsJul 15, 2025
James Avery Expands to 2 More StatesThe Texas-based jewelry retailer has set up shop in Tennessee and Arizona.
Events & AwardsJul 15, 2025
Neiman Marcus Vet Joins Couture as Brand Director Eric Ford will step into the role, bringing with him decades of experience.
MajorsJul 15, 2025
Ben Bridge Jeweler Acquires Olympic ManufacturingIn addition to improved capabilities, the acquisition will allow the jeweler to offer support to other independent jewelers.
CollectionsJul 15, 2025
Guzema Debuts First Colored Gemstone JewelryThe “Celestial Blue” capsule collection campaign features Olympian Kateryna Sadurska.
MajorsJul 14, 2025
Nanis Opens First StoreThe seasonal store, located in Mykonos, Greece, offers exclusive events, personal styling, and curated experiences.
IndependentsJul 14, 2025
It’s the Summer of Love at Long’s JewelersThe New England jeweler is hosting a bridal event for the month of August.
SourcingJul 14, 2025
Ethical Gem Fair Heads to SeattleThe trade-only event will host its debut fair in the Emerald City later this month.
Events & AwardsJul 11, 2025
The Edge’s Annual Conference Returns in SeptemberIts sessions will focus on inventory strategies, staff performance, retention and acquisition, emerging market trends, and more.
CollectionsJul 11, 2025
Piece of the Week: Miseno’s ‘Arco’ EarringsFor its 10th anniversary, Miseno designed the “Arco” earrings based on the Arco Felice, an arch conceptualized in A.D. 95 in Miseno, Italy.
Policies & IssuesJul 11, 2025
James Avery to Donate $1M to Texas Hill Country Relief EffortsThe jewelry company is one of several contributing to relief efforts in the region after the recent floods.
