The National Jewelry Institute will inaugurate the 2008 Designer Showcase as its first exhibition of contemporary jewelry from leading designers, including globally recognized luxury jewelry brand, Cinta by John Hardy.

The exhibition will include some of the latest creations from Cinta. 

Cinta, which means ‘love’ in Balinese, was launched in the fall of 2002 under the creative direction of John Hardy’s head designer, Guy Bedarida.

“Cinta is an ever-evolving collection with designs taking form from several streams of inspiration: travels in Asia, old European jewelry traditions, nature, and pure fantasy”, Bedarida said. “The Cinta collection has been one of the most fascinating challenges of my career. Every setting must ‘respect’ its stone, yet maintain the signature John Hardy design aesthetic. I wanted each piece to feel organic, as if the stone had been born in the setting.”

Close to forty designers are represented in the show, which will feature creations from American, European and Asian companies including Bulgari, Cartier, Graff, and Judith Ripka. Leading jewelry expert Ralph Esmerian serves as curator of Designer Showcase. Guest curators include Beth Rudin DeWoody, Saks Fifth Avenue, and the World Gold Council.

Designer Showcase will open with a press luncheon for the designers at The Forbes Galleries in New York Monday. The jewelry will be on display through June 28.

Designer Showcase will also reopen July 19 at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh. It will be on display at this location through Jan. 18, 2009.

JCK