Take a pause this week, before the fall season really gets going, to appreciate—even if from afar—two international jewelry exhibitions as well as a JCK podcast with important reminders about how to keep your store safe from criminals. And if you’re a designer, don’t miss the grant opportunity highlighted below, as it would truly be life-changing!
LISTEN
The Jewelry District Podcast, Episode 155 (ongoing)
In the latest episode of The Jewelry District, JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates sit down with Scott Guginsky (pictured), executive vice president of the Jewelers’ Security Alliance, a nonprofit trade association dedicated to battling jewelry crime. Scott, a decorated former NYPD detective sergeant, brings listeners up to speed on the latest high-tech robberies (think Wi-Fi jammers and GPS trackers) and a rash of violent smash-and-grabs that involve ramming cars through storefronts during business hours. Finally, he offers advice on how to protect yourself, your team, and your livelihood. Do: Get insurance. Don’t: Fight back during a robbery.
ATTEND
“Surrealist Jewels 101” in London: Opens Sept. 26
Reimagining surrealism through the lens of artist-made jewelry, this exhibit opening on Friday at London’s Louisa Guinness Gallery marks 101 years since the birth of surrealism. The show draws on rare historic pieces and daring new commissions to explore how artists and designers have used jewelry to blur the line between imagination and ornament. It runs through Nov. 7 and features works by Salvador Dalí, Man Ray, Claude Lalanne, Niki de Saint Phalle, and Max Ernst, alongside contemporary designers and makers.
Bulgari Exhibition at National Art Center, Tokyo: Through Dec. 15 (in person)
“Bulgari Kaleidos: Colors, Cultures and Crafts” marks Roman jeweler Bulgari’s first exhibition in Japan in 10 years, and its largest ever in the country. A kaleidoscopic journey into its vibrant world of colors, the exhibit showcases nearly 350 chromatic masterpieces, from high jewelry to contemporary art, as well as works by three contemporary female artists—Lara Favaretto, Mariko Mori, and Akiko Nakayama—who offer their personal reflections on color.
APPLY
David Yurman Gem Awards Grant: By Oct. 7
The David Yurman Gem Awards Grant was created to support an emerging fine jewelry designer who has been in business for at least three years and shows exceptional promise. The grant recipient will receive a one-time financial award of $50,000 and mentoring meetings with executives at David Yurman, as well as consultative meetings with other industry executives. If selected as a finalist, the jewelry designer must travel to New York City in January 2026 to give a final presentation to the David Yurman Gem Awards Grant selection committee. The recipient will be announced at the 24th annual Gem Awards on Friday, March 13, 2026, at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. The deadline to apply is Oct. 7.
Top: Emerald Cut With Baguette Classic Nomad ring with 1.22 cts. t.w. light blue and Ceylon sapphires, price on request; Claudia Mae
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