In a year defined by webinars, Zooms, and Instagram Lives, the third edition of New York City Jewelry Week (NYCJW 2020) is basically the mother of all virtual jewelry events—and it kicks off tomorrow.
The programming is robust, rich, and so perfectly tailored to any jewelry pro that you’re going to want to hold all calls, cancel all plans, and find a comfortable chair to take it all in.
And since attending all of the scheduled events is likely impossible for most of us, we’ve put together a curated list of your best bets below.
All events, except for the Instagram Lives (of which there are many), can be accessed via the NYJW 2020 platform and many do not require an RSVP. There are also a number of ancillary events that you can check out at your leisure (and several will be on view beyond the NYCJW 2020 end date of Nov. 22).
See you on the chats!
Monday, Nov. 16
Rare, Beautiful & Responsibly Sourced—Muzo Emeralds: 12:30 p.m. ET
Led by jewelry editor Tanya Dukes, designers Jenna Blake, Loren Nicole, Lauren Harwell Godfrey, and Nina Runsdorf join Muzo’s head of business development and emerald expert, Gabbi Harvey, in a discussion about the mine’s latest jewelry design collaboration project (the pendant above is your exclusive sneak peek!).
Silvia Furmanovich—Artistic Visions: 2 p.m. ET
Tuesday, Nov. 17
Future Now: Responding to the Now—A Jewelry Pipeline: 10:45 a.m. ET
This conversation explores the need for jewelry businesses to increase their commitment to social responsibility and racial equity in the wake of an unprecedented year and an unpredictable future. Panelists include Bob Donofrio of Futura Jewelry and Sally Morrison of De Beers Group.
Power, Freedom, Love—The Jewelry of Lorraine West: 2 p.m. ET
Join Cooper Hewitt’s curator of contemporary design, Alexandra Cunningham Cameron, as she welcomes Lorraine West, founder of Lorraine West Jewelry, for a discussion of the jeweler’s evolution as a designer over her 20-year career. The NYCJW 2020 schedule also includes a retrospective of the designer’s work.
Assael—Come Play Among the Pearls: 4:30 p.m. ET
Embark on a global tour of pearls from Japan to the Bahamas and trace Assael’s seven-decade-long obsession with the gem in this intimate conversation between Assael CEO-president Christina Lang Assael and vice president Peggy Grosz.
Wednesday Nov. 18
Tour Museo Gioiello Vicenza: 2 p.m. ET
Join Alba Cappellieri, director of the Museo del Gioiello, for a tour of the Italian museum’s exceptional jewelry collection. Thinking there will be gold.
In Their Element—Sheryl Jones: 5 p.m. ET (Instagram Live)
Make sure you are following @nycjewelryweek to access this half-hour exploration of the world of jewelry designer Sheryl Jones, about whom Essence magazine has said: “Sheryl is one of a kind—literally. The African-American jewelry designer is currently the only woman of color operating her own brand of bling in New York City’s famous Diamond District.’”
The Ideal Jewelry Library: 7 p.m. ET
Hosted by authors Ruth Peltason, Joanna Hardy, and Carol Elkins of Sotheby’s, this event will address what to consider when curating the essential library of jewelry books, from celebratory monographs to educational tomes about gems and jewelry history.
Thursday, Nov. 19
We Are Here—Examining and Ensuring Change: 10:45 a.m. ET
In conversation with Elliot Carlyle—NYC Jewelry Week’s director of cultural diversity and inclusion—1stDibs chief commercial officer Cristina Miller and Couture senior account executive Morgan Miller will discuss diversity, equity, and change in the jewelry industry.
Jewelry of the 1960s & 1970s—Kimberly Klosterman Collection: 11:30 a.m. ET
Soon to be the subject of a major exhibition (130+ pieces) at the Cincinnati Art Museum in 2021, Kimberly Klosterman’s private collection of 1960s and 1970s jewelry includes works by Andrew Grima, Gilbert Albert, Arthur King, Thierry Vendome, and Barbara Anton along with jewels by Bulgari, Cartier, Boucheron, and other major houses. A panel of jewelry scholars and curators will discuss.
Legacy With Sebastian Grant—Jewelry Making and Building African-American Communities, Preserving Heritage, and Pushing Creativity: 12:30 p.m. ET
Hosted by Sebastian Grant—curator, art historian, and professor at Parsons School of Design in New York City—this presentation will cover some of the many contributions of African-American jewelers, from the modernist jewelry practices of the 1940s to the present day.
Picnic Conversations With Daniela Villegas: 4 p.m. ET
Held from the lush environs of Villegas’ garden in Los Angeles, this informal hangout is the perfect way to get a better feel for the beloved Mexican designer’s inspiration, values, and (highly covetable) collections.
Friday, Nov. 20
The cover of The New Stone Age: Ideas & Inspiration for Living With Crystals by Carol Woolton (photo: Luke Garwood © 2020)
The Magic of Stones: 11:30 a.m. ET
British Vogue jewelry editor Carol Woolton, author of The New Stone Age, discusses the use of stones and crystals by the ancients, as well as their place in the modern world, with jewelry designer/anthropologist Pippa Small.
The Modern Man—A Conversation on Men and Jewelry: 4:30 p.m. ET
Three thought-leaders in the jewelry space—Frank Everett of Sotheby’s, Grant Mobley of the Natural Diamond Council, and Levi Higgs of David Webb—will discuss men wearing jewelry, a trend we’re all tracking and hope to see more of.
Saturday, Nov. 21
Crafting Entrepreneurship—The Business of Process: 2 p.m. ET
How do you professionalize your craft and run a sustainable business? How do you strategically position your designs within the mass-digitization of jewelry? Emerging jewelry designers and artists, don’t miss this crash course in the essentials of entrepreneurial thinking with Alex Darby of Darby Studios, an interdisciplinary studio that produces events, creative projects, and a jewelry and streetwear line.
Cultural Innovators—April Walker & Johnny Nelson: 6:30 p.m.
Start your Saturday night off right: Join streetwear fashion pioneer April Walker and rising jewelry star Johnny Nelson in a conversation about the art of building a business inspired by the world around you. They’ll chat inspirations, including hip-hop culture, as well as the then-and-now of NYC and how the city has helped them find success.
Top: Who needs a cocktail? The ladies of branding agency/showroom For Future Reference—Meaghan Flynn Petropoulos and Randi Molofsky—will be raising a glass (or two) on Monday night at 7 p.m. in a virtual happy hour with (from l.) Brent Neale Winston of Brent Neale, Lauren Harwell Godfrey of Harwell Godfrey, Catherine Sarr of Almasika, and Kirsty Stone of Retrouvaí.
Follow JCK on Instagram: @jckmagazineFollow JCK on Twitter: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Facebook: @jckmagazine
