15 Stellar Jewelry Designers to See at NY Now

By Ashley Davis
Ashley.Davis@nationaljeweler.com

Jo Hayes Ward is one of the designers not to miss at the NY Now trade show. Pictured here is a ring by Hayes Ward, rendered in 18-karat yellow gold with white diamonds.

August 18, 2016

Call me crazy, but even after July jewelry-week mania in New York, I can’t wait for my next trade show adventure.

NY Now isn’t a jewelry-specific show but they have well over 500 jewelry brands exhibiting in their “handmade” section, and some of these brands are good, good enough to get me in the mood for a long day of show stomping.

Jo Hayes Ward, Shimell & Madden and Jacqueline Cullen will all be at the show representing the U.K., and Amrapali will be there from India. California-based sustainable design guru Jennifer Dawes will show her eco-friendly collection and Wwake, a CFDA + Lexus Fashion Initiative finalist, based in Brooklyn, will also be on hand with its delicate range of baubles.

The “handmade” part of NY Now runs from Aug. 20 to 23 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in Manhattan.

There’s never time to see enough, but here’s a peek at 15 pieces from brands that retailers should be sure to set aside time to visit.

Adel Chefridi is known for his organic yet refined aesthetic, utilizing vibrant colored gemstones, all crafted in his studio in upstate New York. Pictured here is Chefridi’s “Petal Pendant” in 18-karat yellow gold with diamonds and pink sapphires.
20160818 NYNow AdelChefridi 20160818 NYNow AdelChefridi
Amrapali is a prolific, Jaipur-based brand founded in the 1970’s, named for a famous royal courtesan. These 18-karat yellow gold pendants, set with diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires, are part of the brand’s Heritage Collection.
20160818 NYNow Amrapali 20160818 NYNow Amrapali
This boulder opal and diamond ring, set in 18-karat and 22-karat gold, is from Massachusetts-based designer Ananda Khalsa. Much of Khalsa’s design focus is on colored gemstones like green tourmaline, turquoise and sapphires to name a few. Khalsa also sets her original paintings behind crystal and makes them into pendants, framing them in silver and gold.
20160818 NYNow AnandaKhalsa 20160818 NYNow AnandaKhalsa
This Celeste Shooting Star Stud and Ear Jacket, rendered in reclaimed 18-karat rose gold, is from designer Delphine Leymarie. The French-born, New York-based designer uses the wax carving technique to create her sculptural creations.
20160818 NYNow DelphineLeymarie 20160818 NYNow DelphineLeymarie
Emanuela Duca is based between New York and her home city of Rome. Formerly a dancer, Duca gravitated toward jewelry design for its meshing of movement and sculpture. Pictured here is a ring from Duca in 18-karat yellow gold with a yellow sapphire.
20160818 NYNow EmanuelaDuca 20160818 NYNow EmanuelaDuca
Erica Molinari utilizes classic symbols with a gothic bent in her sterling silver and gold designs. Her line is abundant with crosses, skulls and sacred hearts. Here is Molinari’s 18-karat yellow gold and black enamel bangle. The Italian script reads, “Thinking is the soul talking to itself.”
20160818 NYNow EricaMolinari 20160818 NYNow EricaMolinari
Jacqueline Cullen is known for her work with whitby jet, or prehistoric black fossil. Cullen’s jewelry features sharp facets and geometric planes. Pictured here are Cullen’s whitby jet earrings with gold and rubies.
20160818 NYNow JacquelineCullen 20160818 NYNow JacquelineCullen
Jennifer Dawes sets the bar for sustainable, ethical jewelry design. Dawes is particularly known for her bridal designs and stacking rings. This ring features spinel and lavender sapphire set in 18-karat yellow gold.
20160818 NYNow JenniferDawes 20160818 NYNow JenniferDawes
Jo Hayes Ward is a British designer who launched her line ten years ago after earning a master’s in goldsmithing, silversmithing, metalwork and jewelry at London’s Royal College of Art. Her work centers on an architectural building block motif, as seen here in this 18-karat yellow gold and diamond ring.
20160818 NYNow JoHayesWard 20160818 NYNow JoHayesWard
Marian Maurer is a Brooklyn-based jeweler known for her richly-detailed, matte-finished yellow gold designs. This trio of Maurer’s stacking rings is made of 18-karat yellow gold and diamonds.
20160818 NYNow MarianMaurer 20160818 NYNow MarianMaurer
This 14-karat yellow gold and white diamond ring is a prime example of N+A New York’s dainty, sinuous design aesthetic, utilizing thin lines and miniscule jewels. Behind the name is a duo of sisters, who originally hail from Japan.
20160818 NYNow n anewyork 20160818 NYNow n anewyork
Shay Jewelry is a line from Los Angeles mother and daughter Ladan and Tania Shayan. Shay Jewelry has a more-is-more approach to diamonds, sprinkling them on customized nameplates and bold signet rings. Here is an 18-karat yellow gold and diamond collar mounted on black fabric from the maximalist brand.
20160818 NYNow ShayJewelry 20160818 NYNow ShayJewelry
Shimell and Madden are the duo behind this geometric-inspired namesake brand. Their intricate, mathematical works of symmetry are all handmade in the pair’s London studio. These studs are made from 18-karat yellow gold and white diamonds.
20160818 NYNow ShimmelMadden 20160818 NYNow ShimmelMadden
Tura Sugden relies on classic, handmade jewelry-making techniques to assemble her line of jewelry in her San Francisco studio. Trained in sculpture, Sugden uses recycled metals and ethically-sourced stones in her designs, like this 18-karat gold and sapphire cuff.
20160818 NYNow TuraSugden 20160818 NYNow TuraSugden
Wwake has made its mark with its barely-there, delicate aesthetic. Designer Wing Yau plays with scale and stone combinations in her signature playful yet elegant designs, exemplified in these 14-karat yellow gold and sapphire earrings.
20160818 NYNow wwake 20160818 NYNow wwake

Adel Chefridi is known for his organic yet refined aesthetic, utilizing vibrant colored gemstones, all crafted in his studio in upstate New York. Pictured here is Chefridi’s “Petal Pendant” in 18-karat yellow gold with diamonds and pink sapphires.

Amrapali is a prolific, Jaipur-based brand founded in the 1970’s, named for a famous royal courtesan. These 18-karat yellow gold pendants, set with diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires, are part of the brand’s Heritage Collection.

This boulder opal and diamond ring, set in 18-karat and 22-karat gold, is from Massachusetts-based designer Ananda Khalsa. Much of Khalsa’s design focus is on colored gemstones like green tourmaline, turquoise and sapphires to name a few. Khalsa also sets her original paintings behind crystal and makes them into pendants, framing them in silver and gold.

This Celeste Shooting Star Stud and Ear Jacket, rendered in reclaimed 18-karat rose gold, is from designer Delphine Leymarie. The French-born, New York-based designer uses the wax carving technique to create her sculptural creations.

Emanuela Duca is based between New York and her home city of Rome. Formerly a dancer, Duca gravitated toward jewelry design for its meshing of movement and sculpture. Pictured here is a ring from Duca in 18-karat yellow gold with a yellow sapphire.

Erica Molinari utilizes classic symbols with a gothic bent in her sterling silver and gold designs. Her line is abundant with crosses, skulls and sacred hearts. Here is Molinari’s 18-karat yellow gold and black enamel bangle. The Italian script reads, “Thinking is the soul talking to itself.”

Jacqueline Cullen is known for her work with whitby jet, or prehistoric black fossil. Cullen’s jewelry features sharp facets and geometric planes. Pictured here are Cullen’s whitby jet earrings with gold and rubies.

Jennifer Dawes sets the bar for sustainable, ethical jewelry design. Dawes is particularly known for her bridal designs and stacking rings. This ring features spinel and lavender sapphire set in 18-karat yellow gold.

Jo Hayes Ward is a British designer who launched her line ten years ago after earning a master’s in goldsmithing, silversmithing, metalwork and jewelry at London’s Royal College of Art. Her work centers on an architectural building block motif, as seen here in this 18-karat yellow gold and diamond ring.

Marian Maurer is a Brooklyn-based jeweler known for her richly-detailed, matte-finished yellow gold designs. This trio of Maurer’s stacking rings is made of 18-karat yellow gold and diamonds.

This 14-karat yellow gold and white diamond ring is a prime example of N+A New York’s dainty, sinuous design aesthetic, utilizing thin lines and miniscule jewels. Behind the name is a duo of sisters, who originally hail from Japan.

Shay Jewelry is a line from Los Angeles mother and daughter Ladan and Tania Shayan. Shay Jewelry has a more-is-more approach to diamonds, sprinkling them on customized nameplates and bold signet rings. Here is an 18-karat yellow gold and diamond collar mounted on black fabric from the maximalist brand.

Shimell and Madden are the duo behind this geometric-inspired namesake brand. Their intricate, mathematical works of symmetry are all handmade in the pair’s London studio. These studs are made from 18-karat yellow gold and white diamonds.

Tura Sugden relies on classic, handmade jewelry-making techniques to assemble her line of jewelry in her San Francisco studio. Trained in sculpture, Sugden uses recycled metals and ethically-sourced stones in her designs, like this 18-karat gold and sapphire cuff.

Wwake has made its mark with its barely-there, delicate aesthetic. Designer Wing Yau plays with scale and stone combinations in her signature playful yet elegant designs, exemplified in these 14-karat yellow gold and sapphire earrings.