May 26, 2024—The fortnight of film, fashion and fine jewelry in the South of France wrapped up yesterday. It was a fascinating year for the Cannes Film Festival. There wasn’t any real notable blockbusters shown at the event this year like when Top Gun took over. Instead it was filled with independent productions that are bound for the art houses stateside. In terms of the jewelry, there is always a flow of bigtime pieces that are the equivalent of Hollywood blockbusters. But what caught my eye was the more artistic statements in the steady stream of styles. The looks ranged from Margaret Quall ..read more

May 10, 2024—The best jewels have a good story behind them. And the back story of the jewelry collaboration between feminist icon Gloria Steinem and the legendary designer Jill Platner is a great one. The dynamic duo met when they were filming episode 4 of Hillary and Chelsea Clinton’s Apple TV Special Gutsy, “Gutsy Women Are Rebels at Heart.” In the process Jill learned that Gloria had a connection to jewelry. “The closest my family had to a family business was jewelry,” Gloria explained. “My sister was a gemologist and my father sold antiques, including gemstones and antique jewelry.” Jill s ..read more

May 9, 2024—Hip-Hop was born in New York City just over 50 years ago. And Hip-Hop jewelry started here too. It’s only fitting that Ice Cold: An Exhibition of Hip-Hop Jewelry would be staged at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. The presentation which celebrates Hip-Hop’s cultural influence through spectacular custom-made jewelry from its biggest stars, including Slick Rick, A$AP Rocky, Nicki Minaj and Bad Bunny among many others opens today and will be on display through January 2025. Tyler, The Creator wearing an array of his jewelry set with colored diamonds. Photograph ..read more

May 7, 2024—The Met Gala has become such a big red carpet that in past years, I have spent days after the fact covering the trends. There is always more looks than at the Oscars. The abundance makes sense on a couple of fronts. Anna Wintour and her fleet of editors at Vogue, as well as the stylists working with the stars curate everything for full impact. And they really cut loose in a way they may not at a serious awards show, because the evening is all about fashion and aligning with the theme of the Costume Institute. The relatively new thing among fashion critics, and the public, has been ..read more

March 6, 2019 [Updated April 7, 2024]—My colleague, co-author and friend, Penny Proddow passed away 15-years ago. I wrote this post with a compilation of her witticisms five years ago. To mark this anniversary, I updated it with more of her words and some photos. A pioneer in modern jewelry history, a beloved art history teacher at the Met and a classicist who enjoyed popular culture, not a day has gone by when I don’t think how lucky I was to work with and know Penny. Bang! Every day working with Penny Proddow began in the same way. She flew into the R. Esmerian, Inc. suite of offices at Rock ..read more

April 4, 2024—Temple St. Clair has divided her time between New York City and Florence, Italy since she launched her beloved label in 1986. In the Big Apple, the American designer lives and works around the Greenwich Village neighborhood. Florence is where Temple, who speaks Italian fluently, spends a significant amount of time overseeing the creation of her jewels. Temple’s creative life is beautifully reflected in the décor of her first boutique in New York City located at 803 Washington Street near the Whitney Museum and Highline in the Meat Packing District. Designer Temple St. Clair looki ..read more

March 10, 2024—There was a spirit of new formality on the Oscars red carpet. It paid tribute to the glamour of old Hollywood without mimicking it. The most surprising risk was perhaps the men who didn’t wear ties which was pretty tame compared to those who didn’t wear shirts last year. (I am looking at you Timothée.) It was almost as though a color palette was circulated to guests of soft pastels as well as black and metallics with some Barbie pinks and reds thrown in for pops of color. Another sub-theme of the evening was oversized ruffles on shoulders and peplums as well as trains. Perhaps t ..read more

February 25, 2024—The SAG Awards always take place on a Saturday night as opposed to Sunday like most awards shows. And they are very deep into the long Awards Season. So, you never really know what you are going to get in terms of the jewelry. You could be looking at jewels people haven’t had a chance to wear over the course of the Season. Sometimes people are experimental in their jewelry choices. Much to my surprise this year, there was an array of statement necklaces. I say to “my surprise” because there have been a few award shows this season where necklaces were scarce. Designer Lauren H ..read more

February 22, 2024—Not all jewelry worn on the red-carpet during Awards Season comes from big companies. There are, on occasion, independents who shine through. And like the old days in Hollywood when stars went to their local favorites, sometimes there is a personal connection to the designer. The Sarah Hendler jewels The Bear’s Liza Colón-Zayas shone in at the Critics Choice Awards and the Emmys not only have a personal connection there is also an apropos link to restaurants The jewelry designer—who has a cult following and a stellar list of celebrity credits including Madonna, Meghan Markle ..read more

February 18, 2024—The BAFTAs, otherwise known as the British Academy of Television and Arts awards, held in London tonight always feel like the glamorous European vacation segment of the long Awards Season itinerary. Generally, all the stars on the red carpet are outshone by the appearance of Catherine, Princess of Wales, who is still commonly known in America as Kate Middleton. But the princess did not attend because she is still convalescing from the abdominal surgery she had last month. Prince William went solo and was kept company during the ceremony by Cate Blanchett. Prince William chatt ..read more