U.S. customs agents in El Paso, Texas, intercepted the package, which would have been worth $9 million if the jewelry was genuine.
The Jewels on my Christmas Wish List
Take a peek at the designers and trends that resonated with our associate editor in 2017.

The independent jewelry designer has never had a stronger voice in the market than it did in 2017, thanks in large part to the power of social media.
Instagram, in particular, is allowing brands to shape their public perception and directly connect with consumers. The photo-sharing app is the first way I check out a designer I’ve heard of, and it’s often how I discover new brands.
I’ve saved thousands of images of jewelry to my Instagram saved image folder since the feature was introduced this year, and if Santa were to inquire what I want for Christmas, that’s exactly where I’d direct him.
Here are a few that I hope to (slowly) add to my jewelry box over the coming year or, at the very least, dream about come Christmas Eve.
A post shared by TWISTonline (@twistonline) on Nov 3, 2017 at 1:19pm PDT
Hoops were one of the biggest jewelry trends of 2017, with a variety of designers putting their own unique spin on the style.
I’d love a pair that are yellow gold, large, but light as a feather so I can wear them all day, plus easy to combine with the earrings I wear in my multiple piercings.
Twist--located in Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington but available to everyone through its excellent e-commerce site--is passionate about supporting its designers and one of the key places I scout great jewels.
These Kathleen Whitaker hoops that I saw on their Instagram are just the ones I’ve been looking for.
A post shared by Foundrae fine Jewelry (@foundrae) on Dec 15, 2017 at 4:57pm PST
When Foundrae launched a few years ago, it immediately resonated with consumers entranced by the brand’s combination of timeless, meaningful symbols with rich, eye-catching shades of enamel.
The hardest part about shopping for Foundrae is choosing what to buy. I’ve long desired their blue enamel “Karma” cigar band ring, but I’m also delighted with the above “True Lover’s Knot” pendant in cream enamel, accented with a white diamond.
A post shared by Melissa Kaye (@melissakayejewelry) on Jul 10, 2017 at 2:52pm PDT
What a year for designer Melissa Kaye. The former Goldman Sachs staffer--who left her career in finance to learn the jewelry industry from top to bottom at FIT before launching her brand--made her Couture debut and, subsequently, landed her line at Net-a-Porter.
Of all the new pieces Kaye has come up with lately, her “ear hooks” have set my heart aflutter. The above white gold version features white diamonds with a blue sapphire, the rose gold version swaps out the sapphire for a ruby, and the
A post shared by deborah pagani (@deborahpagani) on Dec 1, 2017 at 12:30pm PST
Deborah Pagani is known for her glamorous, Art Deco-inspired jewels that reveal the designer’s New Yorker status. While most of her extravagant one-of-a-kind pieces are outside of my budget, I can’t get enough of her tongue-in-cheek pill pieces, which are abstract enough to read as geometric shapes.
I could probably count the number of occasions I’ve taken off her mini pill pendant since purchasing it, and just in the time for the holidays, Pagani debuted these fun and exuberant cord bracelets featuring her pill and link motifs. I love the festive feel of the red enamel version.
The Latest

Health monitors become statement pieces when paired with the brand’s new collection of stackable diamond-studded bands.

Ten organizations were selected this year.

Supplier Spotlight Sponsored by GIA

Kim Carpenter and Sam Gevisenheit have joined the brand.


“Shell Auranova” is the next generation of the brand’s bridal line, featuring half-bezel engagement rings with bold and fluid designs.

Boucheron and Pomellato performed well in an otherwise bleak quarter for Kering amid struggles at Gucci.

Six new retail businesses were selected for the 2025 program, which began in January.

The company said it expects sightholders to remain “cautious” with their purchasing due to all the unknowns around the U.S. tariffs.

Sponsored by the Gemological Institute of America

A third-generation jeweler, Ginsberg worked at his family’s store, Ginsberg Jewelers, from 1948 until his retirement in 2019.

The company failed to file its quarterly reports in a timely manner.

The organization also announced its board of directors.

Charms may be tiny but with their small size comes endless layering possibilities, from bracelets to necklaces and earrings.

Located in Valenza, the now 355,000-square-foot facility includes a new jewelry school that’s open to the public, Scuola Bulgari.

Paola Sasplugas, co-founder of the Barcelona-based jewelry brand, received the Fine Jewelry Award.

A platinum Zenith-powered Daytona commissioned in the late ‘90s will headline Sotheby’s Important Watches sale in Geneva next month.

The basketball stars wear men’s jewelry from the “Curb Chain” collection.

The Signet Jewelers-owned retailer wants to encourage younger shoppers to wear fine jewelry every day, not just on special occasions.

The 21 pieces, all from a private collector, will be offered at its Magnificent Jewels auction next month.

Lilian Raji answers a question from a reader who is looking to grow her jewelry business but has a limited marketing budget.

GCAL by Sarine created the new role to sharpen the company’s focus on strategic partnerships and scalable expansion.

The Indiana jeweler has acquired Scottsdale Fine Jewelers in Scottsdale, Arizona.

“Cartier: Design, Craft, and Legacy” opened earlier this month at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Van Cott Jewelers in Vestal, New York, is hosting a going-out-of-business sale.

Industry veteran Samantha Larson has held leadership roles at Borsheims, McTeigue & McClelland, Stuller, and Long’s Jewelers.
The two organizations will hold the educational event together this fall in Mississippi.