Events & AwardsMay 22, 2026
Instore Buys JA New York ShowThe deal closed this week, which means Instore will produce the JA NY show slated to take place this fall.
EditorsAug 28, 2019
Meet the Showroom Bringing Cool Jewelry Brands Stateside
Rainbowwave represents a number of emerging and established fine jewelry brands.
Designs from British jewelry designer Pippa Small, pictured, were on view recently at Rainbowwave’s New York City showroom.
Whenever an international fine jewelry brand with a unique point of view dips its toes in the American market there’s a good chance they’ve entered my purview via Rainbowwave.
Maria Lemos founded the fashion, accessories and jewelry sales showroom in London back in 2002.
Today it boasts a second office in New York City and, in addition to its staff of 45 sales professionals, a public relations and operations team.
The delightfully named company has been my introduction to brands like Venyx, Raphaele Canot and Yannis Sergakis.
Currently, the showroom represents 15 fine jewelers, including Nina Runsdorf, Ileana Makri, Nikolle Radi and Bibi van der Velden, as well as Canot and Sergakis.
A recent trip to the New York showroom introduced me to a whole new set of creatives I’d never heard of as well as a few brands planted firmly in my list of favorites like one of its few Americans, the Los Angeles-based Lizzie Mandler.
“We do not have a definitive selection criteria when it comes to style. However, one thing that we always look for is originality and craftsmanship,” Rainbowwave Jewelry Director Darren Hildrow explained of the company’s impressive cadre of designers.
“It is a joy to see designers who are brave enough to push the boundaries of design; too many fall into the trap of commerciality. Commerciality will make any designer money in the short term but will likely only lasts a couple of seasons. Originality, although a struggle in the beginning, will last a lifetime.”
Below is a highlight reel of non-commercial and boundary-pushing works I saw from designers new and established.
German designer Gisa Golpira launched Golpira as an ode to her childhood in South America, where her mother dug for gold. Golpira decided to honor gold’s natural nugget shape by incorporating the raw material into pendants, earrings and rings, sometimes accented with diamonds.
British jewelry veteran Pippa Small takes philanthropy to an unheard-of level with her Turquoise Mountain line, crafted by artisans she works with in depressed locations like Afghanistan.
Her namesake fine line is as entrancing as ever. Coiled rings and bracelets have a tribal quality that lends themselves well to her simple style, in which the materials do most of the talking, like these rubies.
Ileana Makri continues to expand on some of her favorite signatures, like an evil eye or baguette diamonds, which accent luxurious new
pendants. She’s also branched into hand-stamped jewelry, a nod to a traditional technique, like this ornate heart pendant.
Out of Japan, Hum exemplifies the meticulous pursuit of perfection that characterizes much of Japanese design. The brand applies a sophisticated point of view to update classic chain link bracelets and rings with interesting metal alloys and pavé diamonds.
Speaking of perfection, Lizzie Mandler has just about perfected her gold chain with her signature knife-edge.
The designer elevates daily jewelry staples with her exacting attention to detail, honing in on ideal scale, shape and texture to create truly investment-worthy pieces.
More on Editors
The Latest
FinancialsMay 22, 2026
Richemont’s Jewelry Brands Lead the Charge in Q4The company’s jewelry sales were up in Q4 and the fiscal year, with Richemont raising prices in part because of the cost of gold.
CollectionsMay 22, 2026
Leigh Maxwell Celebrates 5 Years at Couture With ‘Bauble’ CollectionThe “Bauble” capsule collection of colorful one-of-a-kinds includes our Piece of the Week, the “Bauble” earrings, featuring rose zircon.
Brought to you by
All Eyes on Gold Prices. Alternatives to Look For. And What to BEWARE of in VegasAs gold prices rise, today’s retailers are looking for alternatives at prices that will appeal to wider audiences.
MajorsMay 22, 2026
Stuller’s New Packaging, Display Catalog Is Out The updated catalog has a newly dedicated section for gift wrapping.
Weekly QuizMay 21, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
PodcastsMay 21, 2026
Episode 5: Sotheby’s Frank Everett Puts the Auction Market in PerspectiveEverett covers colored stones’ surging popularity, the mellow return of the “Mellon Blue,” and his “The Devil Wears Prada” doppelgänger.
IndependentsMay 21, 2026
Springer’s Jewelers’ New Flagship Will Serve Next-Gen Luxury ShoppersFourth-generation CEO Lilly Mullen wants to emphasize experience, connection, and personalized service.
Brought to you by
How Modern Training Is Becoming a Competitive Advantage for Jewelry RetailersWith the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.
Events & AwardsMay 21, 2026
JA Announces Nina Pugliese Memorial ScholarshipThe new award, created in partnership with Henne Jewelers, honors the late designer’s legacy through supporting jewelry education.
SourcingMay 21, 2026
Botswana, Angola Join WFDBThe addition of the diamond-producing countries as nation affiliated members broadens the federation’s global representation, WFDB said.
CrimeMay 20, 2026
NYPD Warns of Jewelry Swap Scams Targeting SeniorsThe NYPD is warning elderly New Yorkers to keep their jewelry hidden when walking outside to avoid being a target.
IndependentsMay 20, 2026
Adornment & Theory’s New Store Feels Like Home Designer Viviana Langhoff has realized her dream of owning a space for her Chicago jewelry store that looks and feels like her brand.
Events & AwardsMay 20, 2026
Here Is Couture’s 2026 Education Lineup The sessions will run from Friday, May 29, to Sunday, May 31, with one being a live taping of an episode of Couture’s podcast.
Lab-GrownMay 20, 2026
Savannah Friedkin Jewelry Names New CEOFormer Stephanie Gottlieb Fine Jewelry executive Morgan P. Richardson is joining the lab-grown diamond jewelry brand.
WatchesMay 19, 2026
Here’s the AP x Swatch Pocket Watch That Caused PandemoniumThe $400 pocket watch is a blend of Audemars Piguet’s iconic eight-sided Royal Oak and Swatch’s unserious Pop watches from the ‘80s.
CollectionsMay 19, 2026
Chris Ploof’s New Collection Makes an Ancient Metal ModernWith gold prices on the rise, the “Modern Electrum” collection uses an alternative, non-tarnishing metal alloy composed of gold and silver.
IndependentsMay 19, 2026
Ellen and Michael Fruchtman Retire, Sell Marketing Agency Fruchtman Marketing has new owners, Erin Moyer-Carballea and Manuel Carballea, and will relocate to Miami.
ColumnistsMay 19, 2026
Peter Smith: The (Mostly) Immutable Sales TruthsIn a column for the 2026 State of the Majors issue, Smith lists 10 time-tested principles about sales that still ring true.
ColumnistsMay 18, 2026
Edahn Golan: What a K-Shaped Economy Means for Fine JewelryIn a column for the 2026 State of the Majors issue, Golan spells out how the growing economic divide in the U.S. is reshaping the market.
CollectionsMay 18, 2026
Foundrae’s New Collection Taps Into JoyThe “Limitless Expansion of Joy and Hope” collection evokes summer through colored gemstones and motifs of butterflies and florals.
CollectionsMay 18, 2026
Hancocks London Acquires Historic ‘Inchiquin’ EmeraldThe jewel, circa 1890, is from the late Victorian era and was owned by descendants of the last high king of Ireland.
Events & AwardsMay 18, 2026
Here Are the 2026 JCK Industry Fund Grant Recipients This is what the nine recipients plan to do with the funds.
AuctionsMay 15, 2026
American Collector Ponies Up Almost $17K for John Wayne’s RingThe Western star’s 14-karat gold signet ring sold for six times its low estimate following a bidding war at U.K. auction house Elmwood’s.
Events & AwardsMay 15, 2026
JA, MJSA To Sponsor Roundtable at TJSThe discussion, "Rebuilding the Jewelry Workforce," will take place on Saturday, May 16, in Troy, Michigan.
SourcingMay 15, 2026
State of Diamonds: The Way Forward for Natural DiamondsThe jewelry industry is reassessing its positioning as Gen Z reshapes the retail landscape and lab grown continues to gain market share.
AuctionsMay 14, 2026
White Diamonds Lead Sotheby’s Auction, Blue Diamond Does Not SellA matching pair of 18.38-carat, D-color diamonds from Botswana’s Jwaneng mine sold for $3.3 million, the top lot of the jewelry auction.
Supplier BulletinMay 14, 2026
A Diamond Is Forever Continues Desert Diamonds – Bridal ReinvigoratedSponsored by A Diamond Is Forever
