The best jewelry design collaborations of 2021 – JCK

From Aurate x Halston (pure Peretti chic) to Bea Bongiasca x Wolf Designs (electric youthful elegance), it was difficult to select the best jewelry design collaborations of the year. Some have raised awareness of important issues and historical events. Others simply delighted the senses with a unique expression of beauty, novelty and ingenuity. Here, we take a look back at eight memorable clashes.

The headliner

Patek Philippe x Tiffany & Co.

Patek Philippe x Tiffany nautilus — *La Patek Ref. 5711 / 1A-018 Tiffany Egg Blue Faced Nautilus (photo courtesy of Patek Philippe)*

Even though the Patek Philippe limited edition of its Ref. 5711 / 1A Nautilus steel wristwatch, named Ref. 5711 / 1A-018, debuted in select Tiffany & Co. stores this month, it’s already a start to the race and headlines: one of 170 watches just sold for $ 6.5million dollars at an auction hosted by Phillips in association with Bacs & Russo.

The game changer

NDC x Lorraine Schwartz Emerging Designers Diamond Initiative (EDDI)

NDC Emerging designers 1st round — Above: Portraits of the first emerging designer collective, clockwise from left: Malyia McNaughton, Made by Malyia; Jameel Mohammed, Khiry; Constance Polamalu, Birthright Foundry; Lisette Scott, Jam + Rico; Marvin Linares, Marvin Douglas jewelry; and Dorian Webb (all photos courtesy of the Natural Diamond Council)

Although there is still a lot of work to be done on issues of diversity, equity and inclusion in the jewelry industry, this collaboration allowed to discover the work of six emerging designers from BIPOC. to a wider audience. EDDI provided designers with valuable vendor access, public relations support and mentorship. When the proverbial table seats are an ongoing challenge, the efforts of NDC and Lorraine Schwartz have been a step in the right direction and, hopefully, will inspire other organizations to pursue similar projects.

The master stroke

Montblanc x Spike Lee

Montblanc Spike Lee Meisterstück presentation box — *The Meisterstück Special Edition Fountain Pen, $ 900, comes in a box with a leather notebook with the purple eye design and a purple ink bottle.*

Where some collaborations are a creative experience in search of nothing but novelty, the Meisterstück Spike Lee Special Edition pen looked like a true meeting of minds: two legends mingling their DNA in perfect harmony. “Not only is Spike Lee an exceptional storyteller and artist, but handwriting is at the heart of his own creative process. He writes all of his work by hand because he truly believes in the power of handwriting. It is this belief shared with Montblanc that makes this writing instrument so incredibly special, ”said Montblanc CEO Nicolas Baretzki in a statement prepared at the time of the launch.

the charmer

Serena Van Rensselaer x The Little Prince

The pendant from The Little Prince collection comes on a 30 inch snake chain that can be worn long or doubled up to be worn the length of a choker. A mini star is attached to the clasp, giving the back of the coin a special touch. — The pendant from the Le Petit Prince collection comes on a 30 inch snake chain that can be worn long or doubled around the neck. A mini star is attached to the clasp, giving the back of the coin a special touch. (Photo courtesy of Serena Van Rensselaer.)

Showcasing the iconic star shape of the beloved book in various earrings and pendants crafted in silver, gold, and diamonds, this collection is the first in a series from Brooklyn, NY-based designer Serena Van Rensselaer in partnership with the Company for the Management and Exploitation of Derivatives of the Work of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (SOGEX), the grantor of all rights of The Little Prince®. “I hope it becomes something timeless, something for collectors,” said Van Rensselaer JCK in October.

The “Shelfie” star

Suzanne Kalan x Jonathan Adler

Suzanne Kalan Jonathan Adler Baguette Trinket Tray — *Rainbow Porcelain Baguette Tidy, $ 300*

Divine on decorative shelves and dressing tables, the famous jewelry designer porcelain line of storage compartments created in collaboration with design legend Jonathan Adler has taken the idea of ”jewelry for the home” to a whole new level. chic. And introduced Kalan’s signature Fireworks motif – “strewn” baguette diamonds just so – to a wider audience.

Tight compression

Stephanie Gottlieb x Joe jeans

Stephanie Gottlieb x Joes High Waist — *The Scout Mid-Rise Slim Boyshort Cropped Jean, $ 398; Stephanie Gottlieb x Joe’s*

When vaccines became available and we started to seriously think about ditching our leggings in favor of real pants, this crystal-embellished denim capsule was tailor-made to re-enter the public sphere in a glittering blaze of glamor to watch. The sheer novelty of this collaboration was perfectly suited to the moment – who else remembers being ready to go wild with wild abandon? And all these months later the joke is on us I guess our leggings are always in strong rotation.

The master of toast

Fabergé x the Craft Irish Whiskey Co.

Fabergé Whiskey Box — Inspired by the shape of an emerald, representing the natural beauty of Ireland, the Emerald Isle collection represents the wonders of the country and its geographic coordinates, with an egg-shaped opening and a frame of colorful gemstones (photo with courtesy of Fabergé).

In March, we called the Emerald Isle Collection Whiskey Set “a miniature dragon’s lair” with its first of its kind Celtic egg and a selfless watch, both from Fabergé, and a bottle of ultra-fine wine. rare 30 years. , triple distilled Irish whiskey. Each set also included a humidifier with two Cohiba Siglo VI Gran Reserva cigars, a gold-plated cigar cutter, a gold-plated water pipette, pure obsidian whiskey stones (for cooling drinks), a flask and a carafe filled with Irish source water from the same region where the whiskey was made. Sláinte!

High: The history maker. Coinciding with the Met’s breakthrough new era room celebrating Seneca Village, a predominantly black colony that flourished in New York City until its demise in 1857, the museum commissioned Ten Thousand Things to create a capsule of “elegant pieces. that a woman living in Seneca Village today would wear, ”according to co-founder David Rees. Small Lapis Crescent Hoop Earrings in Sterling Silver, $ 350; Ten thousand x things encountered.