JCK Jewelry Agenda: Week of May 11

By Victoria Gomelsky | May 08, 2025

The most important jewelry sales of the season take place this week in Geneva, where a certain blue diamond may break the $20 million mark. Closer to home, all eyes are on a conference dedicated to the future of jewelry manufacturing, a high-profile retail residency, and a jewelry scholarship application. Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms—whether you’re nurturing children, pets, friends, or loved ones!

BID

Phillips Geneva Jewels Auction: May 12, 3 p.m. local time (in person and online)

53 carat fancy yellow diamond pendant — *Impressive fancy vivid yellow diamond and diamond pendant, estimate $2,400,000–$3,500,000*

A 53.14 ct. fancy vivid yellow diamond pendant leads Phillips’ Geneva Jewels IV auction, which also includes a curated selection of art deco pieces in honor of the 100th anniversary of the 1925 Paris Exposition des Arts Décoratifs.

Sotheby’s High Jewelry Sale: May 13 at 4 p.m. Geneva time (in person and online)

Mediterranean Blue Diamond — *The Mediterranean Blue (photo courtesy of Sotheby’s)*

Sotheby’s flagship jewelry sale in Geneva, which now goes by the name High Jewelry rather than Magnificent Jewels, offers signed pieces from the world’s most esteemed haute joaillerie houses, vintage jewelry, exceptional colored stones, and remarkable diamonds, few more remarkable than the Mediterranean Blue, a 10.03 ct. fancy vivid blue diamond estimated to fetch around $20 million.

Christie’s Magnificent Jewels Sale: May 14 at 3 p.m. Geneva time (in person and online)

JAR necklace — *JAR multi-gem chain necklace in 18k rose gold and blackened silver, estimate $285,000–$400,000*

Christie’s kicks off its Magnificent Jewels sale on Wednesday at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues in Geneva with a curated selection of historic and modern jewelry from famed makers such as Harry Winston, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and more. The highlight of the sale is undoubtedly “A Bouquet of Gems: A Superb Collection of Jewels by JAR,” a private collection of 21 works by the visionary designer Joel Arthur Rosenthal.

ATTEND

Adam Neeley Collection Preview at Bergdorf Goodman: May 13, 4–6 p.m. ET (in person)

Adam Neeley earrings — *Resonance earrings in 14k yellow gold with pavé diamonds, price on request; Adam Neeley*

Southern California jeweler Adam Neeley will make his New York City debut at Bergdorf Goodman this week in the store’s Jewelry Salon, with a cocktail event and preview of his latest work, including a contemporary fine jewelry collection created exclusively for the retailer, along with new, one-of-a-kind high jewels. Neeley’s residency runs through May 26.

The Jewelry Symposium in Metro Detroit: May 17–20 (in person)

2024 Jewelry Symposium speakers — *Speakers at the 2024 Jewelry Symposium*

Drawing on the history of the Santa Fe Symposium, the Jewelry Symposium (TJS for short) opens at the Detroit Marriott Troy this week. A collaborative, noncommercial, global community dedicated to fostering innovation, TJS offers 21 presentations across three days that cover a variety of topics relevant to the advancement of jewelry manufacturing technology. The event “will feature programs this year on sustainable gemstone sourcing, the use of artificial intelligence in design, and production innovations through additive manufacturing,” writes JCK’s Karen Dybis.

APPLY

Gem X Scholarship Fund Applications: Through May 31

The Gem X Scholarship Fund is a charitable initiative designed to provide financial assistance to aspiring jewelry designers, academics, and historians who possess exceptional talent, creativity, and a deep commitment to making a positive difference in the world through their craft or focus. The scholarship program aims to foster innovation, inclusivity, and social responsibility within the jewelry industry, as well as promote equal opportunities for aspiring jewelry designers.

Top: Cocktail ring in 18k white gold with 13.05 ct. oval emerald and 1.87 cts. t.w. diamonds, price on request; Steven Royce