April in Paris (or South Florida or Lafayette, La.) sounds like a great idea, given the array of in-person events this week. (And in New York City, remember that the Winter Show is on through April 10.) Meanwhile, two virtual events are on the calendar: one focused on building collections, the other on repurposing and upcycling the jewels you already own.
Speaking of, be sure to cue up the latest episode of The Jewelry District podcast to hear what Beth Gerstein, founder and CEO of Brilliant Earth, has to say on the topic of sustainability. Here’s to an enlightening week on many levels!
ATTEND
Sotheby’s Palm Beach Gallery x The Stax exhibition: April 4–10 (in person)
Starting tomorrow, South Florida jewelry collectors have a unique opportunity to shop a selection of jewels by some highly coveted designers (and longtime JCK editor favorites), including Alice Cicolini, Lydia Courteille, Daniela Villegas, Loren Nicole, Marlo Laz, Renna, Guita M, Nina Runsdorf, Almasika, and Prounis. Curated by jewelry style advisory The Stax, the sale’s 130 jewels are a celebration of female creativity, and a portion of proceeds will benefit the charity Mother Lovers, which is helping to battle the maternal health care crisis in the United States.
Jewelry Design Professionals Network’s “Repurposing Jewelry” webinar: April 5, 6:30 p.m. ET (online)
If you haven’t yet gotten the memo that many consumers want to “shop” for jewelry by working with jewelers to repurpose their unwanted or heirloom pieces to wear anew (also known as upcycling), you’re officially late to the party. The Jewelry Design Professionals Network (JDPN) is on board with the trend and dives into it in this virtual conversation with Jane Becker, Leona Seufert, and Martha Jackson, three unique makers who are proficient, and delight in, the process and have insights to share. Register here.
PAD Paris: April 6–10 (in person)
Held in the famous Tuileries Garden, the Parisian edition of the prestigious international decorative arts and design fair will welcome 69 exhibitors, including French jewelry artists 5 Octobre, Walid Akkad, and Karry Berreby, as well as U.S. and India–based designer Neha Dani, who will be showing her new La Pluma series (pictured above). Dealers of antique and estate jewelry Bernard Bouisset and Second Pétale are also a must-see for those seeking the highly unusual—and covetable. An on-site restaurant designed by architect Sandra Benhamou looks like a prime spot to déjeuner.
Stuller’s Bench Jeweler Workshop, Lafayette, La.: April 8–9 (in person)
Hopefully, you already registered for this educational, action-packed event because there’s currently a wait list! Designed for bench jewelers hoping to develop or sharpen their skills, the lineup of classes and demos will be held at Stuller’s headquarters in Lafayette, La. On hiatus since 2019, the 2022 edition will be robust, touching on everything from welding and engraving to repairs and 3-D printing. The Battle of the Benches competition also returns, featuring live mini challenges (e.g., stone setting, CAD, engraving) on the demonstration floor. More info here.
“The Birth of a Collection: What Do We Collect and Why?” panel discussion: April 6, 7 p.m. ET (online)
Hosted by The Jewelry Library, this is the first conversation in a six-part series titled “A Curriculum on Collecting” moderated by artist and metalsmith and jewelry lecturer/coordinator at Towson University Luci Jockel and her sister, artist and architect Emily Jockel. The series will focus on the curation of collections, the artful transformation of collections, how we assign value to collections, creating spaces for collections, and more. The April 6 event invites guest panelists Adam Irish, an antiques and Americana specialist; Tina Jockel, a textile artist, doll designer, and antiques dealer specializing in vintage couture; and Sarah Nehama, a jewelry designer, collector, and dealer, to discuss their work and the origins of their personal collections. Register here.
Top: 14k white gold and diamond earrings, $3,095; EF Collection
Follow JCK on Instagram: @jckmagazineFollow JCK on Twitter: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Facebook: @jckmagazine
