The special-edition egg pendant ingested in a New Zealand jewelry store was recovered after a six-day wait.
NYJDI Offers ABCs of Jewelry Design Classes in 2018
Art, business and computer-aided design are the focus of the new course listings.

New York--This spring, the New York Jewelry Design Institute is holding five courses that focus on what they call the ABCs of jewelry design: art, business and computer-aided design (CAD).
“The ABCs are an easy way to remember what the full program is about,” explained Jenine Lepera Izzi, creative director of NYJDI.
“Our course of studies is circular, not linear, so students can begin anywhere. There is no starting, or ending point. Some students gravitate more towards one pillar (art, business or CAD) over the others. By compartmentalizing the different classes, it is easier for them to gain the well-rounded skills needed to become great designers.”
Under the art category, students can partake in two courses: “Rapid Rendering” and “Adobe Illustrator for Jewelry Design.”
Both courses meet one evening a week at the NYJDI New York City campus and focus on sketching jewelry--by hand and digitally.
“Rapid Rendering,” taught by Lepera Izzi, focuses on critical shading, coloring and texturing skills for sketching designs by hand. Martinu Schneegass leads “Adobe Illustrator for Jewelry Design,” a beginner’s introduction to the important program.
Schneegass explained, “Illustrator is an industry standard required for every jewelry designer. As an Art pillar, it is a powerful and precise tool for designers, looking to create eye catching professional drawings for production, which are a key element for mass production. Illustrator files can be imported into Photoshop and CAD to create realistic three-dimensional images, which add drama and context to a digital, or print, presentation.”
Falling under NYJDI’s Business category, “Jewelry Branding and Marketing” will help designers understand how to put their creations in front of the public eye and understand the difference between branding and marketing. That course will be led by Vashti de Verteuil.
Lastly, “Shaper Pro and Retopology” and “Understanding Jewelry CAD” make up the CAD classes starting this month.
Hiba Husanyi will teach the former, which will focus on creating two- and three-dimensional designs in various metalwork techniques and textures, while the latter provides an extensive introduction to CAD programs, where students receive one-on-one instruction.
For more information about these classes, contact NYJDI at 212-951-1314 or info@nyjdi.com.
The Latest

Associate Editor Natalie Francisco plays favorites with Piece of the Week, selecting a standout piece of jewelry from each month of 2025.

The “Love and Desire” campaign is inspired by the magic that follows when one’s heart leads the way, said the brand.

How Jewelers of America’s 20 Under 40 are leading to ensure a brighter future for the jewelry industry.

Two awardees will receive free tuition for an educational course at the Swiss lab, with flights and lodging included.


Berta de Pablos-Barbier will replace Alexander Lacik at the start of January, two months earlier than expected.

Sotheby’s held its first two jewelry sales at the Breuer building last week, and they totaled nearly $44 million.

Roseco’s 704-page catalog showcases new lab-grown diamonds, findings, tools & more—available in print or interactive digital editions.

Winners will receive free registration and lodging for its fourth annual event in Detroit.

Here are six ideas for making more engaging content for Instagram Reels and TikTok, courtesy of Duvall O’Steen and Jen Cullen Williams.

The honorees include a notable jewelry brand, an industry veteran, and an independent retailer.

Carlos Jose Hernandez and Joshua Zuazo were sentenced to life without the possibility of parole in the 2024 murder of Hussein “Sam” Murray.

Yood will serve alongside Eduard Stefanescu, the sustainability manager for C.Hafner, a precious metals refiner in Germany.

The New Orleans jeweler is also hosting pop-up jewelry boutiques in New York City and Dallas.

Set in a Tiffany & Co. necklace, it sold for $4.2 million, the highest price and price per carat paid for a Paraíba tourmaline at auction.

The jeweler’s “Deep Freeze” display showcases its iconic jewelry designs frozen in a vintage icebox.

Take luxury gifting to new heights this holiday season with the jeweler’s showstopping 12-carat sphene ring.

This year's theme is “Unveiling the Depths of the Ocean.”

Starting Jan. 1, customers can request the service for opal, peridot, and demantoid garnet.

The 111-year-old retailer celebrated the opening of its new location in Salem, New Hampshire, which is its third store in the state.

The new catalog features its most popular chains as well as new styles.

The filmmaker’s personal F.P. Journe “FFC” prototype was the star of Phillips’ recent record-setting watch auction in New York.

The new location in the Design District pays homage to Miami’s Art Deco heritage and its connection to the ocean.

Inflations, tariffs, and politics—including the government shutdown—were among consumers’ top concerns last month.

“Longtime favorite” presenters, as well as first-time speakers, will lead talks and workshops at the annual event in Tucson next year.

Silas Smith of Meridian Metalworks won the challenge with his pendant that blends Australian and American landscapes.

The sale of the 31.68-carat, sunset-hued stone was part of Sotheby’s first series of events and auctions in Abu Dhabi.






















