The announcement coincided with its full-year results, with growth driven by its jewelry brands.
Meet the Fresh Faces of JA New York’s New Designer Gallery
The just-concluded JA New York Spring show hosted eight up-and-coming brands to watch.
A blizzard put a serious damper on this year’s JA New York Spring show, ending it a day early, which was a shame considering the strength of its New Designer Gallery.
Normally relegated to the summer edition, this was the first time that spring show-goers had a chance to experience the gallery, which was comprised of eight up-and-coming fine jewelry brands.
Here's a glimpse of what they had on display.
Baker & Black, from Brooklyn, New York designer Megan Baker, launched in 2013 and is gaining traction with its colorful range of mobile-like earrings and gem-centric cocktail rings.
Baker experiments with color, mixing gemstones like lapis, malachite and onyx in a single pair of earrings, or a green tourmaline with vibrant orange sapphires for an unexpectedly eye-catching statement ring. She also ventures into neutrals with pearls, though color is her strong suit.
Larisa Laivins’ eponymous line of fine jewelry also launched in 2013.
The Los Angeles designer’s creations form a cohesive narrative of a woman both urban and natural, New Age and classically romantic.
“Campo Frio” turquoise sourced from Sonora, Mexico features heavily in Laivins’ recent work. The stone’s calming green hue, dramatically different from typical blue shades of turquoise or the rarely embraced bright neon green variation, seems to be something of what I hope is a signature.
Mia Chicco is the sole designer of the New Designer Gallery located outside of Los Angeles or New York; she creates her line of rustic, antique-inspired jewelry in Sydney, Australia.
Chicco’s training with master jewelers in Florence shows in her romantic line, which could have been unearthed from some ancient jewelry box.
Deliberately rendered to look imperfect and exhibit the touch of its maker, Chicco’s bridal offerings are of particular interest for the growing sector of brides looking for variation and uniqueness.
Ark Jems made its official brand launch at JA New York following a few years in development. The intentionality and thoughtfulness showed at L.A.-based designer Ann R. Korman’s booth.
Featuring sacred geometry motifs, moonstones and a smattering of old-cut and Herkimer
A highlight is a spinning gold pendant representing male and female energies, with the table and crown of a white diamond featured on one side and its pavilion on the other.
Amyn Rahimtoola has been in the jewelry industry since he was 13 and has his own store, Amyn The Jeweler, where he sells his rose-cut diamond designs in Santa Monica.
Last year he launched Amyn, a more delicate counterpart to his established brand. Amyn is comprised of granulated, filigree gold jewelry, a modern interpretation of ancient Indian jewelry.
Amyn is mature and elegant, with trend-focused pieces incorporated here and there, like a hand bracelet Rahimtoola created just before the show at his daughter’s suggestion.
Nataly Aponte has created a pop-art-meets-fine-jewelry signature with her line of matchstick-inspired necklaces, earrings and “badges” (a term Aponte prefers to “brooch” because it indicates a “badge of honor,” she explained).
The Brooklyn, New York-located designer’s tongue-in-cheek collection, which is abstract enough to work aesthetically without the literal allusion, is delightful to see in a variety of colors and forms.
Aponte sported the above “Sparks are Flying” necklace at the show, and her simple, single matchstick pendants are great everyday pieces.
Kristi Sword showed her namesake range of industrial-meets-tribal jewelry, rendered in sterling silver and 18-karat yellow gold.
Originally hailing from Iowa, Sword earned a master’s degree in metalsmithing and jewelry at the State University of New York New Paltz and now creates each of her pieces by hand at Brooklyn Metal Works.
Fellow SUNY New Paltz metalsmithing alumni Rachel Atherley explores motifs plucked straight from nature in her eponymous line.
From snakeskin patterns to nautilus shapes, Atherley puts her own spin on natural textures in her sterling silver, gold and gemstone jewelry, which she crafts by hand in the Hudson Valley in New York.
Atherley’s ammonite-shaped pieces are particularly strong.
The Latest
Looking ahead, the retailer said it sees “enormous potential” in Roberto Coin’s ability to boost its branded jewelry business.
Jewelry trade show veterans share strategies for engaging buyers, managing your time effectively, and packing the right shoes.
Despite the rising prices, consumers continue to seek out the precious metal.
This little guy’s name is Ricky and he just sold for more than $200,000 at Sotheby’s Geneva jewelry auction.
Though its website has been down for a week, Christie’s proceeded with its jewelry and watch auctions on May 13-14, bringing in nearly $80 million.
Despite the absence of “The Allnatt,” Sotheby’s Geneva jewelry auction totaled $34 million, with 90 percent of lots sold.
Tradeshow risks are real. Get tips to protect yourself before, during and after and gain safety and security awareness for your business.
Lilian Raji gives advice to designers on how to make the most of great publicity opportunities.
The mining company wants to divest its 70 percent holding in the Mothae Diamond Mine in an effort to streamline its portfolio.
Why do so many jewelers keep lines that are not selling? Peter Smith thinks the answer lies in these two behavioral principles.
The “Argyle Phoenix” sold for more than $4 million at the auction house’s second jewels sale.
The annual list recognizes young professionals making an impact in jewelry retail.
Owner David Mann is heading into retirement.
While overall sales were sluggish, the retailer said its non-bridal fine jewelry was a popular choice for Valentine’s Day.
The mining giant also wants to offload its platinum business as part of an overhaul designed to “unlock significant value.”
Christie's is selling one of the diamonds, moving forward with its Geneva jewelry auction despite the cyberattack that took down its website.
The ad aims to position platinum jewelry as ideal for everyday wear.
Retailers can customize and print the appraisal brochures from their store.
The move follows a price-drop test run in Q4 and comes with the addition of a “quality assurance card” from GIA for some loose diamonds.
The site has been down since Thursday evening, just ahead of its spring auctions.
The late former U.S. Secretary’s collection went for quadruple the sale’s pre-sale estimate.
Three fifth graders’ winning designs were turned into custom jewelry pieces in time for Mother’s Day.
Kimberly Adams Russell is taking over the role from her father, David Adams, marking the third generation to hold the title.
As a token of womanhood, this necklace depicts when Venus was born from the sea.
The deal gives the retailer control over the distribution of Roberto Coin jewelry in the U.S., Canada, Caribbean, and Central America.
Show your mother some love with a piece of fine jewelry.