It’s day one at Luxury by JCK, and the halls
are bustling with as much activity as the bar last night at the opening soiree.
A number of vendors, including Sonny Sethi, Tara & Sons, have told me that they’ve booked a lot of appointments and that word from their retailers is they’re looking to make some big
purchases to satisfy shopper demand.
To that end, I stopped over at Royal
Asscher to see the new pieces designed for them by Canada-based Reena Ahluwalia. Ahluwalia was enlisted by the brand to help expand its Stars of Africa collection.
To do so, Ahluwalia and the Asscher family, including 6th generation diamantaire, Lita
Asscher, worked together to create five new styles of jewelry to complement the
existing collection of floating diamonds set under crystal half-domes. A
portion of sale proceeds benefit the Star of African Initiative, which is the
brand’s effort to raise funds for African charities making tangible differences
on the continent.
Ahluwalia’s designs total five and feature three
pendant necklaces and a pair of earrings with floating-diamond-filled whole
globes that spin on their axes (representing the earth) as well as one pendant
necklace featuring a half globe set on ball bearings to enable movement. All
pieces aim to remind wearers of the beauty of the African continent and
its people. Suggested retail prices start at $20,000.
The pieces debut (now!) at Luxury by JCK booth
1004 and at JCK Las Vegas booth 15094. Check them out and know that they’re
much prettier in person; my little Cannon Powershot can only capture so much of
their beauty.
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