Of all the jewelers in Paris, Walid Akkad may be the most successful one you’ve never heard of. In three decades, he has rarely granted an interview about his work. His clients include entrepreneurs, Hollywood stars and socialites, but, in a world ruled by social media peacocks, he opts for the luxury of discretion. His…
Ming Lampson was sitting in her Notting Hill studio in West London, peering at the Nigerian aquamarines, sapphires from Madagascar, fire opals and other gems sprinkled across sheets of white paper on her desk. “I am trying to honor the stone, thinking, ‘How do I make a home for the gem in the most unique…
Along the teeming narrow streets of this centuries-old trading port, and among the modern-day merchants of the old souk who have immigrated from across the Middle East, South Asia and beyond, an urban project is paying homage to 5,000 years of pearling history in Bahrain. The newest part of the project is the Pearling Path,…
The St. James’s district of London is known for its gentlemen’s clubs, aristocratic residences and craft specialists including tailors, milliners and perfumers. Recently joining them is the 175-year-old British jeweler Hancocks & Co., which last month relocated its showroom from a shop within the Burlington Arcade in the Mayfair district to a renovated Georgian townhouse…
The Italian playwright and politician Gabriele d’Annunzio entered a Milan shop in 1922, intrigued by intricate sketches displayed in the window. Inside, he discovered Mario Buccellati and a goldsmithing expertise rooted in the traditions of the Italian Renaissance. Their encounter sparked a lifelong friendship and patronage, ultimately shaping the fortunes of the young craftsman and…
Her creations are part of the permanent collections at the Smithsonian in Washington, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. There is at least a five-year waiting list for her butterfly brooches. She has been honored by the French Order of Arts and Letters, with the country’s…
Love it or hate it, artificial intelligence has become increasingly prevalent in our lives. Now, jewelers are exploring its marketing potential. Frankie Deane, senior vice president of growth for the British brand Monica Vinader, said A.I. was “another form of us utilizing technology to elevate our digital experience for consumers.” When it comes to providing…
Many designers working in the high jewelry sector take pride in crafting metallic settings that seem to disappear, allowing the color, fire and vivacity of extraordinary gemstones to shine through. Luxury houses like Van Cleef & Arpels and Cartier, among others, have patented their techniques for creating what is known as invisible settings. Skilled designers,…
Nearly every spring for over two decades now, a tender ritual has taken place in a leafy plaza in the Turtle Bay area of Midtown Manhattan. It is the Katharine Hepburn Garden Party, a posthumous birthday celebration for the four-time Academy Award-winning actress, who was a beloved member of the neighborhood until she died in…
Not all patches — or pimples — are created equal.