Bernard James Debuts Working Jewelry Bench Inside USM’s SoHo Flagship

By Karen Dybis | September 16, 2026

Bernard James’ latest collaboration with his favorite furniture brand is a lesson in style, craftsmanship, and how to give clients a behind-the-scenes look into how jewelry is made.

James debuted In Process, his exclusive residency at the USM Modular Furniture flagship showroom in Manhattan, on Sept. 12. The residency will continue through Nov. 7 with new designs from the James’ Process collection.

The residency’s centerpiece is the Makers’ Desk, which James designed using the USM Haller System. The modular workstation serves as his working jewelry bench as well as a flexible workstation for him during his time in store. Its gray-to-black gradient design also is a nod to James’ use of gradient natural diamonds.

“Being in this space is just an exaggeration of what we do daily. The true novelty is the jewelry bench—I’m excited to showcase more of our craft by adding it to the space to reveal even more about the making of jewelry,” James says.

Bernard James USM desk — *Not your father’s jewelry bench: Bernard James used his collaboration with USM to create a residency and a unique bench installation in SoHo.*

Part of what James will examine in his usual thoughtful way during his USM residency is his use of jewelry tools, materials, and references that shape how he works. That is part of what customers will see on the desk as well as in the Vault, another structure USM created that holds James’ finished artworks.

“I love working with the USM team because they give me the space to explore and imagine. The residency was born from just that: ideas flowing and thoughts of how to take the partnership to the next level,” James says.

James says both he and USM use relatively simple components that can be configured in endless ways. For him, his works use precious metals and gemstones—deceptively simple elements that create master artwork in the right hands and mindset.

“This residency means so much to me personally because of my love for USM and connection to SoHo,” James says. “Since I was a teenager, the neighborhood has been both a refuge and a constant source of creativity and inspiration. It played an important role in shaping me as a designer. Working with USM feels like a natural extension of that experience.”

James first introduced his Process jewelry collection in 2023. Its goal is to trace a diamond’s transformation from its raw state through the cutting stage and, finally, to its final fully polished form.

USM Bernard James collaboration — *Bernard James can use this space to display his jewelry collections, show how he makes his work, and honor how USM supports creatives like him.*

During the USM residency, James will debut new jewelry designs within the collection to further explore the relationship between natural and man-made processes. The first is a statement tennis bracelet featuring a progression of natural pear-shape diamonds, moving from white to champagne to yellow to brown.

“Jewelers should consider residencies like this because it’s important to not only expand your jewelry concepts, but also consider how your jewelry is presented and experienced. Working with like-minded partners, like USM and Flos, expands the visual world of my designs and invites in new audiences,” James says.

The In Process residency also marks the first time USM has dedicated its retail environment to another brand through a fully integrated retail experience. James first started working with USM at the company’s inaugural SoHo pop-up shop in 2022. In 2023, James expanded his artistry into home objects, debuting his first collection of leather valet trays, incense holders, and jewelry boxes using the USM system.

“What has made this partnership feel so natural from the beginning is that Bernard approaches jewelry in much the same way we approach furniture at USM,” said Jon Thorson, brand experience director of USM Modular Furniture and CEO of USM Modular Furniture, North America.

“Neither of us starts with a fully formed object in mind. We start with a system of components and an understanding that thoughtful design comes from how those elements are brought together,” Thorson said in a statement. “There’s a precision and honesty to Bernard’s work that we deeply admire, and this residency offers a rare opportunity to experience that practice in a setting that is as much about making as it is about exhibiting.”

Top: Jewelry designer Bernard James (Photos: Marco Galloway/courtesy of Bernard James)