Tiina Smith Opens New Gallery Space With Robust Educational Programming

By Amy Elliott | October 19, 2021

For jeweler Tiina Smith, the undeniable highlight of summer 2021 was the relocation of her gallery to a new space at 33 Newbury St., just steps away from her original storefront on one of Boston’s toniest blocks. Situated near the newly refurbished Newbury Hotel (originally the Ritz-Carlton) and a coterie of big-name luxury brands, she’s right where she wants to be—but that’s not entirely her goal. What is: cultivating a client base of collectors and connoisseurs who want not only to buy rare and exceptional jewels from marquee names like David Webb, Chanel, Oscar Heyman, and Cartier, but also to appreciate jewelry as a unique art form on an altogether deeper and infinitely more sophisticated level.

The idea was to create an intimate, salon-like environment that attracts experts and talent from the worlds of fashion, art, and style, in the hopes that guests would come to be entertained and educated on how these realms intersect within the nuances of jewelry history, provenance, investment, and gemology. And shop if they so desired (how could they not?).

Tiina Smith gallery interior — The interior of the new Tiina Smith gallery space offers a parlor-like setting where the stories behind each jewel are celebrated. Among the furnishings: a 1940s Murano glass flower mirror, a custom Oomph table, two Gilt chairs sourced from a Hollywood estate, a 1919 Henry Rittenberg painting, and more. (Photos courtesy of Tiina Smith)

A robust program of educational events is already underway, and this week the gallery will welcome Guy Bedarida, creative director of Marina B, who acquired the brand in 2017 after a 25-year career with Boucheron, Van Cleef & Arpels, and John Hardy. Since then, he has created new fine jewelry collections inspired by founder Marina Bulgari’s original design codes.

There are two events surrounding Bedarida’s appearance: cocktails tomorrow, and coffee on Thursday morning. Besides the conversation, of course, there will be the chance to see a selection of Marina B jewels in context—the latest designs, rare vintage pieces, and original jewelry renderings from the 1970s and 1980s—including the pieces highlighted below and up top.