JCK has announced its lineup for the 2015 Rising Stars: five jewelry designers to be featured in a special section of the Design Center at JCK Las Vegas, May 29–June 1.

To kick off the promotional activities surrounding their presence at the show, JCK Events is handing over the reins to its very own Instagram starting Feb. 23. Each week, one of the Rising Stars will take ownership of the feed, giving followers a look into their worlds, from the ins and outs of being a designer to special glimpses at their jewelry creations. You can start following that here, or search @jckevents on your mobile device.

The selection, based on each of the five designers’ merits as up-and-comers and innovators, includes:

Arya Esha

Arya Esha Galaxy pink amethyst earrings in recycled 18k gold

Designer Priyanka Murthy, with formal training from GIA and undergraduate and law degrees from Northwestern University and a master’s from Copenhagen University in Denmark, uses her background in academia and law to inspire her creations of the intangible (ideas and theories) mixed with the tangible (nature and art). Murthy’s Arya Esha jewelry collection consists of handcrafted, one-of-a-kind jewels in recycled gold and sterling silver, with ethically sourced gemstones and diamonds.

Said Murthy: “It has been less than a year since I launched the Arya Esha jewelry brand, so this recognition tells me that I am on the right track. I look forward to the exposure to important jewelry stores and the jewelry community at large that this recognition will afford me, and I will continue to work hard to design and craft beautiful, wearable jewelry.”

 

Dao Fournier

Dao Fournier was founded by Bangkok-born twins Kimberly Gibson and Lucy Price in 2012. Raised in the U.S., the twins’ earliest memories include playing with diamonds and precious gemstones in their parents’ jewelry boutique, leading them to reconnect with their roots and study at the Geomological Institute of America in Thailand. Dao Fournier represents the beauty and richness of East meets West.

Said Gibson: “This is our third year in business, and showing at JCK as a Rising Star is the next big step for us. It is a testament to all of our hard work and gives us a clear direction of how we see ourselves growing.”

Marcia Budet

Marcia Budet 18k blue green necklace with diamonds

A lifelong passion for stones paired with a master’s degree in architecture from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Design set Marcia Budet on the path to jewelry design. She created an international design competition–winning double ring and enrolled in New York’s Fashion Intitute of Technology for brand management. Designing under her own name, Budet is the recipient of numerous awards for design and entrepreneurship, using her architecturally inspired styles to convey sophistication with an edge. Her mission: to make women feel “elegantly bold” while expressing their own individuality.

Said Budet: “I love that JCK believes in my brand enough to stand by it and allow me into this small group of featured designers with promising futures. I’m working really hard to make the best out of this opportunity and plan to showcase some very exciting pieces at the show.”

Heather Guidero

After graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2002 with a BFA in jewelry and metalsmithing, Heather Guidero moved to New York to work as a goldsmith with Reinstein/Ross. She stayed until 2005 and then she returned to Providence, R.I., to begin work on her namesake collection, consisting of simple geometric shapes inspired by elements of modernist design. Utilizing various combinations of sterling and oxidized silver, gold, sheet metal, wire, and colored gemstones, the designer  renders drawings three-dimensionally, exploring volume, movement, and pattern. Each piece is constructed and finished by hand.

Said Guidero: “I’m honored and thrilled to be chosen as one of the 2015 JCK Rising Stars! I’m excited for the opportunity to introduce my modernist-inspired collections to such a distinguished group in Las Vegas this year.”

Ralph Masri

Ralph Masri diamond Arabesque rings

The young Ralph Masri has had an international upbringing. Born in Beirut in 1989, the designer lived between Lebanon, Canada, France, and the U.K., before settling in London at the age of 18 to train as a jeweler at Central Saint Martins. His first major milestone in jewelry came when he won the Swarovski Award as a first-year student, creating the opportunity for him to work for the global brand. At age 20, he was the youngest to be nominated for a UK Jewellery Award. After graduating in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in jewelry design, he started his eponymous label. Creating statement pieces inspired by his love for both fine and fashion jewelry, Masri fuses the two with a fervent attention to detail and strong emphasis on artistry and craftsmanship.

Said Masri: “I am delighed to have been named a JCK Rising Star and cannot imagine and bigger and more exciting platform to showcase my work.”

Visit the JCK Rising Stars in the Design Center at JCK Las Vegas, May 29–June 1, in the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.

Follow JCK on Instagram: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Twitter: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Facebook: @jckmagazine