The first-time exhibitors, set to debut at the New York City show, share a devotion to craftsmanship, storytelling, and material integrity.
Looking Back on the Legacy of Alex Woo
Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff shares memories of the designer, who died of cancer late last month at 47.

Mine is too.
The talented designer and savvy businesswoman, 47, died of cancer March 30 at her home in New York City.
A private memorial service was held April 2—the same day her company announced their founder’s passing via social media—at the beautiful Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota, Florida.
Alex was awesome.
She was, good friend Lynette Brubaker remembered with me last week, the perfect “left brain-right brain,” a rare find in the field of jewelry design, or any field really—someone who can be creative but also balance the books.
Alex’s sculptural, three-dimensional charms have a distinctive look and feel, fulfilling a tenet of good design continually preached by another woman we lost too soon, Cindy Edelstein.
Alex certainly did not invent initial jewelry, but she carved her own place in the field, particularly with the launch of her iconic, trademarked “Little Icons” collection.
“Her take on personalization,” Lynette said, “was very new.”
“She made charms sophisticated, in my opinion. This was not your mother’s charm necklace or charm bracelet.”
“Alex Woo was one of the smartest people I knew in the industry. Over the years, she worked strategically to take her company to another level. Every major department store and luxury retailer carried Alex Woo. Her design aesthetic was strong and she created a niche in the market … She [also] was a kind soul who was always willing to help with a smile. The industry has experienced a huge loss, but her work will always live on through her classic designs.” — Jay Lakhani, Deepa Gurnani
While the sculptural look of the charms set them apart, it was the savvy placements engineered by Alex that helped put them on the map, observed Lynette, who was publisher of InStyle magazine when the pair first met in the early aughts.
Alex Woo jewelry was all over the uber-popular series “Gossip Girl,” which aired on the CW from 2007 to 2012 (“Will Gossip Girl fuel a must-have necklace craze?” this very publication asked back in 2010), and on another CW show, “The Carrie Diaries.”
Airing for two seasons in 2013 and 2014, the latter followed the misadventures of a young Carrie Bradshaw, played by AnnaSophia Robb. Having the lead actress wear an Alex Woo “C” was a smart way to reach a younger audience, especially given the trend-setting precedent set by “Diaries” adult forerunner, “Sex and the City.”
Then there were the collaborations.
Alex was onto the idea of seeking out partners to help expand her reach before “collabs” became ubiquitous, before every other collection was “Somebody x Somebody.”
Knowing there were female sports fans out there who were looking for ways to show support for their favorite team, she partnered with Major League Baseball to design charms for all 30 teams.
She made charms for numerous Disney movies, and when it came time to soften up her line with the addition of the cursive “Autograph” collection, she teamed up with high-end nail polish brand Smith & Cult.
And it was another collaboration that brought me to Alex’s New York City showroom in June 2019, the last time I sat down for an extended interview with her.

National Jeweler Associate Editor Lenore Fedow and I went together, heading uptown ostensibly to spend an hour or so with Alex talking about her deal with Sugarfina.
We ended up staying most of the day because I just enjoyed chatting with Alex, which doesn’t happen every time I do an interview, trust me.
She was smart and engaging, and I felt like I left her studio with a refreshed perspective on the industry, and several story ideas.
We talked about everything—retail distribution, trade shows, the intrinsic value of jewelry, how she picked her collaboration partners.
She looked for brands with a solid base of sophisticated clients who appreciate quality (all of Alex’s jewelry was top-notch, and all of it was made in New York City).
She also said she gravitated toward women-owned, or co-owned, brands because she liked working with other female entrepreneurs.
“It’s heartwarming,” Alex told me, “to see how much we can, and want, to help each other.”
She cut a path for other female business owners and, as Greenwich St. Jewelers co-owner Jennifer Gandia noted in her touching tribute to Alex shared on Facebook, for BIPOC designers and entrepreneurs as well.
“[Alex] was a wonderful colleague and friend. We are both mothers of boys and shared stories about our sons and juggling work/home life. She was very busy, but often reached out to invite me to dinner or a coffee. I will remember her warm smile, her enthusiasm for projects such as Disney or the MLB items and, importantly, her commitment to charity. I will miss Alex dearly.”— Karen Giberson, Accessories Council
The last time I saw Alex was at the 2020 Gem Awards, which took place in January of last year. It was the next-to-last industry event I attended before the shutdown.
When I think of Alex being gone, the same few thoughts cycle through my mind.
I wish I would have reached out more over the years—had more coffees, more lunches, more phone conversations, eschewed my overpacked schedule to connect. At the end, those will be the things worth remembering, not the day you finally cleared your inbox or checked off everything on your to-do list.
I wish I had one more chance to hang out with Alex at her showroom and talk.
And I wish I would have known that the last time I saw her would be the last time.
These are the same thoughts I remember having after Cindy Edelstein died and, yet, it seems like I never learn.
Because here I am again, five years later, saying an unexpected goodbye to another kind friend with the same regrets.
Rest in peace, Alex. You will forever be missed.
The Latest

The online auction house’s September sale will feature rough Brazilian emeralds of various qualities.

She’ll lead an executive committee consisting of President-Elect Bryan Moeller, Mitchell Clark, Bill Farmer, and Larry Rickert.

As a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.

Announced Sunday, the deal will set the tax on goods imported into the United States from the European Union at 15 percent.


A new edition of the Italian brand’s “Ipanema” collection has debuted with gemstones that evoke Brazil’s breathtaking views.

The retailer will refer its customers to WonderCare, founded by venture capitalist and watch collector Kevin O’Leary.

The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.

The jeweler’s largest store yet is set to open in Little Rock next fall.

Anne Hathaway was seen wearing the toggle necklace three times while filming scenes for “The Devil Wears Prada 2.”

Jewellery & Gem World Hong Kong is scheduled for Sept. 15 to 21, and buyer pre-registration will be available until Sept. 7.

Renovations at Tiffany & Co. stores ate into profits in the company’s watch and jewelry division.

Mark and Candy Udell of London Jewelers will receive the honor at the 24th annual Gem Awards next March.

While struggles continue at the mining and trading end of the pipeline, consumer demand for diamond jewelry is holding steady.

The “Fantasia” jewelry collection turns the intaglio animals from her “Close Encounters” collection into 3D characters.

The special Classic Avi Chronograph 42 with an Eagles-green dial is limited to 59 pieces, a nod to the Super Bowl Philadelphia just won.

JSA has received reports of mobs swarming jewelry stores, driving cars into the storefront or smashing through the windows.

The “Kashmir” collection features centuries-old craft techniques made in collaboration with the region’s master papier-mâché artisans.

Creative Director Erica Bianchini shared why the jeweler is looking to expand into the U.S. and how it’s putting Canadian craftsmanship on the map.

Two Los Angeles Fire Department stations plan to use the donations to upgrade their equipment and tools.

Next week, the auction house will kick off a selling exhibition of jewelry by British artist Hannah Martin and Coldplay’s Guy Berryman.

“Stolen: Heist of the Century” is based on “Flawless,” the book about the middle-of-the-night theft, and will debut on Netflix in August.

Emmanuel Raheb shares the top five gifting moments outside of major holidays that jewelers should build marketing campaigns around.

The wholesale trade show’s Luxury Lifestyle section will showcase established and emerging jewelry designers.

As demand for custom jewelry grows, the company is expanding its services to support retailers.

The mid-year conference for jewelry and watch appraisers is slated for Aug. 9 to 10 on Zoom.

Graduated stones make for elevated tennis-style pieces and dramatic statement necklaces.