Auction season concludes this week with the second half of Phillips’ blockbuster New York watch sale and a Sotheby’s sale in Paris dedicated to masterpieces by René Lalique (swoon!). If you’re committed to being more sustainable and purpose-led in 2022, don’t miss Initiatives in Art and Culture’s “Decade of Action” conversation or the Responsible Jewellery Council’s winter conference. And if you’re simply in the mood to schmooze (and happen to be in Southern California), buy yourself a ticket to WJA Los Angeles’ “Night Among Gems” at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Cheers!
LISTEN
The Jewelry District, Episode 58 (ongoing)
In the latest episode of The Jewelry District, JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates look back at the biggest news stories of 2021, including the pandemic-fueled boom in jewelry sales, the state of the gem trade in Taliban-era Afghanistan, ongoing changes at Tiffany & Co. since its acquisition by LVMH in January, and more.
BID
Phillips’ 2021 New York Watch Auction, Session 2: Dec. 12, 10 a.m. ET (in person and online)
In yesterday’s Session 1 of Phillips’ New York watch sale, Lot 1T, a brand-new, stainless steel Ref. 5711 Nautilus wristwatch by Patek Philippe featuring a Tiffany Blue lacquer dial, with proceeds benefiting the Nature Conservancy, is sure to have brought fireworks. But there’s plenty of action in store for today’s Session 2. Literary buffs, take note: Lot 138 is an Omega Speedmaster that once belonged to author Ralph W. Ellison.
René Lalique Sale at Sotheby’s Paris: Dec. 17, 8:30 a.m. ET (in person and online)
Heralded as one of the greatest jewelers of all time, the art nouveau master René Lalique is revered for creating works of art—spanning the categories of jewelry, glassware, and sculpture—that questioned traditional notions of preciousness. A museum-quality collection of 39 exceptional pieces by Lalique collected by Paris-born entrepreneur Claude Henri Sorbac goes on the block this week at Sotheby’s Paris. If you’re a fan of 20th-century jewelry history, simply being a spectator to the sale will be rewarding.
ATTEND
IAC and Mark Hanna Kick Off “Decade of Action” Conversation Series: Dec. 13, 12 p.m. ET (online)
Initiatives in Art and Culture’s Lisa Koenigsberg teams with Mark Hanna, chief marketing officer of the Richline Group, on a series of conversations addressing the major issues facing our industry over the coming decade, beginning with tomorrow’s “Decade of Action: Climate and The Precious Metals Industry.” One of the big topics on deck is how members of the industry can transform pledges and commitments into clear, detailed action plans.
WJA Los Angeles 2021 Holiday Party: Dec. 14, 6:30 p.m. PT (in person)
Join members of the WJA’s Los Angeles chapter for “A Night Among Gems,” a hosted dinner and cocktail event at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County’s Gem & Mineral Hall, where an exhibition entitled “Brilliance: The Art and Science of Rare Jewels” is on display through Feb. 21, 2022. $65, proof of vaccination required.
RJC Winter Conference: Dec. 15, 8 a.m. ET (online)
At its winter conference this week, the Responsible Jewellery Council addresses the critical importance of “Reporting for Good: How ESG Builds Business Value.” In addition to discussing the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria that increasingly shape how the jewelry industry does business, the event will emphasize why it is so important for the industry to accelerate the way it reports on the progress it makes toward reaching its sustainability goals.
Gemflix Conversation With Curator And Historian Dr. Usha R. Balakrishnan: Dec. 16, 12 p.m. ET (online)
In “From Warriors to Maharajas, the Magnificent Jewels of India and the Men Who Wore Them,” Dr. Usha R. Balakrishnan, chief curator of the World Diamond Museum and a globally renowned scholar with a Ph.D. in ancient Indian culture, leads a Gemflix session from Mumbai on masculine jewelry traditions in India, including the Konyak Naga warriors, whose necklaces indicated prowess on the battlefield, and the maharajas, whose colorful, decadent jewels inspired leading European maisons such as Cartier.
Top: (From top) 14k yellow gold Diamond Bezel Wave Band II, $2,600; 14k yellow gold Tanzanite Wave Band V, $3,400; 14k yellow gold Zodiac Gold Wave Band V, $2,200; Marlo Laz
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