Happy Hanukkah to those who are in the midst of celebrating the festival of lights!
This week brings beauty to you in many forms: feel-good holiday promotions, curated artwork, designer jewels, and gem-studded Creatures in the pages of a much-talked-about book.
Plus: the RJC’s annual conference goes virtual and JCK’s editors are talking shop—as in, holiday 2020 shopping tips and trends. Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?
WATCH
Responsible Jewellery Council Webinar: Dec. 15, 8 a.m. ET
Under normal circumstances, the London-based RJC’s winter conference would be a festive in-person gathering, especially since this year marks the 15th anniversary of the organization’s objective of furthering the importance of responsible supply chain practices. Instead, attendees will take in a robust three-hour panel discussion composed of many of our industry’s most respected voices. The burning question: How can we build back better through a partnership model to deliver positive effects on the ground? Register here.
SHOP
Multi-Designer Trunk Show: Dec. 13, 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m., Newtown, Pa.
Part of a robust holiday marketing campaign, industry leader Bernie Robbins Jewelers has modified the annual holiday party held in its Newtown, Pa., store. This year, the event will feature four big-name designer trunk shows over a single extended weekend in a socially distanced environment. Today’s the last day to shop a trove of jewels from Penny Preville, David Yurman, Roberto Coin, and Marco Bicego all under one roof. More good news: For the entire holiday season customers may use the promo code “Holiday” at checkout to receive up to $200 off their purchase, and all online orders receive complimentary two-day shipping.
Sotheby’s Milan “Contemporary Curated” Auction: Through Dec. 17
This is an art auction, not a jewelry sale, but it represents the specially curated selections by one Delfina Delettrez, acclaimed jewelry designer and fourth-generation Fendi fashion empire descendant. Fans of her jewels will want to set aside some time to review her picks in the debut edition of “Contemporary Curated,” including works by Joan Miró, Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, Damien Hirst, and others. Here’s a video that sheds light on her curation process and a window on her approach to jewelry design.
Electric Picks’ “12 Days of Giving”: Through Dec. 18
One jewelry brand is having a lot of fun with the concept of giving back this season. Last week, New York City–based Electric Picks kicked off a “12 Days of Giving” initiative that ends this Friday. In addition to fulfilling the entire wish list from Washington, D.C.’s Ronald McDonald House, the company is also donating a percentage of proceeds to Community Medical Center in New Jersey, One Simple Wish, Kind Campaign, and various GoFundMe pages, while also donating product to teachers, moms, and more. Check Instagram for updates and details.
READ
Beautiful Creatures: Jewelry Inspired by the Animal Kingdom by Marion Fasel
Sad: The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) announced last week that the opening of the Allison and Roberto Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals has been postponed from February 2021 to sometime in the spring. Happy: the book that jewelry expert, author, and speaker Marion Fasel wrote as a companion to the exhibition. Published by Rizzoli Electa in association with the AMNH, the 160-page tome has already been toasted several times over in the press since its Sept. 22 publication but is especially worthy of your attention now: What better way to experience the much-anticipated exhibition since we all have to wait even longer to do so in person? Also: Hello, perfect holiday gift!
LISTEN
The Jewelry District—Episode 33: Ongoing
In the latest episode of JCK’s The Jewelry District podcast, news director Rob Bates and editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky discuss holiday sales, accommodating holiday shoppers in the pandemic world, responsible gold sourcing, and Amazon’s entree in to the luxury space, where it hopes to compete with luxury retail platform Farfetch.
Top: Hanukkah artwork courtesy of Lisa Bayer of @sketchnyc—many jewelers have picked up her trinket trays, the season’s most talked-about holiday gift (of the non-jewelry variety).
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