With Earth Day on April 22, the conversation about sustainability goes global. Don’t miss the Jewelry Design Professionals Network’s industry-specific webinar on the topic on Tuesday. Or consultant Christina Miller’s Living Room Session on sustainable diamonds on Friday. In between, make time for some scintillating presentations on the jewels of the Devonshire Collection, German jeweler Otto Jakob’s various inspirations, and a course on wearable sculpture taught by NYC Jewelry Week cofounder Bella Neyman!
LISTEN
The Jewelry District, Episode 42: Ongoing
In the latest episode of JCK’s The Jewelry District podcast, editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates pay their respects to two talented designers who recently passed away, Elsa Peretti and Alex Woo. Next, the conversation turns to Signet’s recent acquisition of the jewelry subscription service Rocksbox, and the buzz at last week’s virtual Watches and Wonders fair.
ATTEND
RJC’s Generation Equality Roundtable: April 20, 12 p.m. ET (online)
The Responsible Jewellery Council is leading a Generation Equality Roundtable for North America that will provide practical tools to address gender equality issues, particularly those across the precious materials supply chain.
JDPN Panel on the Importance of Sustainability: April 20, 6:30 p.m. ET (online)
Do lab-grown diamonds really help the environment? Will sustainability drive up the price of jewelry? How does sustainability affect a company’s carbon footprint? These questions and more will drive the panel discussion at the Jewelry Design Professionals Network’s webinar on sustainability. Panelists include Rachel Dery, director of communications at Gem Legacy; Bob Goodman, third-generation jeweler and co-owner of Robert Goodman Jewelers in Zionsville, Ind.; designer Bliss Lau; sustainability consultant Christina T. Miller; and Monica Stephenson, board president of Ethical Metalsmiths.
Gemflix Conversation About the Jewels of the Devonshire Collection: April 22, 12 p.m. ET (online)
For Gemflix’s ongoing “Gem XX Series: Celebrating Strong Women in Jewelry,” Chatsworth curator Sash Giles leads a discussion about the Devonshire Collection of jewels belonging to 16 generations of the Cavendish family. The conversation, which takes place on Zoom, will delve deep into the backstories of the jewels, as well as the family and home, which is said to have served as the model for Pemberley in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
NYC Jewelry Week Jewelry Confidants Series: April 22, 12 p.m. ET (online)
The organizers of NYC Jewelry Week continue their “Jewelry Confidants” series of online conversations between industry friends who love jewelry. This week’s talk, which takes place on Zoom and will later be uploaded to YouTube, features goldsmith and artist Otto Jakob, based in Karlsruhe, Germany, in conversation with auction and estate jewelry specialist Dianne Batista about the inspiration he draws from art, nature, and travel.
Christie’s “Wearable Sculpture” Class: April 23–May 21, 10 a.m., $350 (online)
NYC Jewelry Week cofounder Bella Neyman is teaching a five-week Christie’s course titled “Wearable Sculpture: A Look at Artist Jewels From the Post-War Period to Contemporary Times” starting this Friday. Covering topics including Salvador Dali’s and Pablo Picasso’s forays into jewelry and today’s market for art jewelry and the prominent collectors who shape it, the classes will comprise both lectures and guest speakers, including the designer Chus Burés and Martine and Didier Haspeslagh of London’s famed Kensington Gallery.
Living Room Session on Diamonds With Christina Miller: April 23, 12 p.m. ET (online)
Consultant Christina T. Miller’s Living Room Sessions are virtual meetups for community and conversation on topics of responsible sourcing and sustainability in the jewelry industry. This week’s gathering addresses complicated questions about diamonds: Should we abandon conflict-free claims? What can and can’t we assert when selling diamonds? And where do the diamond and jewelry industries have the greatest leverage to affect change in the diamond trade? An invigorating discussion is all but guaranteed.
WJA NY Metro Event on Resilience: April 23, 12:30 p.m. ET (online)
Arnaud Collery, aka Mister Happiness, leads a WJA NY Metro session titled “How Resilience, Courage, and Some Champagne Can Boost 2021!” He’ll share best practices, pandemic-related findings, and insights into how CEOs, entrepreneurs, and sports figures are making sense of the new normal.
Top: In support of #StopAsianHate, we’re highlighting Asian and Asian American jewelry designers in this Sunday newsletter and throughout our editorials this month and beyond. (Kintsugi bangle in 18k yellow gold, $11,000; Milamore)
Follow JCK on Instagram: @jckmagazineFollow JCK on Twitter: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Facebook: @jckmagazine
