The idea that an engagement ring should be a diamond solitaire is the greatest marketing stunt in history. Diamonds have never been merely precious stones—they have served as symbols of authority, marked political and family alliances, and sealed intimate commitments. “Rings That Rock,” at DIVA museum, in Antwerp, Belgium, brings together an exceptional selection of diamond rings […]
AJF Live: “Rings that Rock” at the DIVA museum Read More »
Heidi Lowe Gallery operates as both an exhibition space and educational platform within the field of contemporary jewelry. With its new location at 119 Front Street in Lewes, DE, US, the gallery supports artists through exhibitions, workshops, and public programming. In this interview, Heidi Lowe discusses the gallery’s development, its structure, and its role in
In Conversation with Heidi Lowe, founder of Heidi Lowe Gallery Read More »
Switzerland’s Benedict Haener is a rising star. Shortly after his goldsmith’s apprenticeship, he took first place in the technology category of the Swiss Vocational Championships. The year after graduating from the XS-SCHMUCK program at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences, he was awarded a 2024 Talente — Masters of the Future prize for his jewelry. And
Touching Base with Benedict Haener Read More »
Espace Borax, in Vevey, Switzerland, was founded in 2021 by the Einzweidrei collective. Contemporary jewelry is a shared, self-taught passion for the nonprofit’s gallerists, Nicolas Christol and Mélane Zumbrunnen, who came to the field with backgrounds in photography and arts management. The 12th-century building housing Borax is unique and idiosyncratic. It formerly served as not
Nicolas Christol and Mélane Zumbrunnen of Espace Borax Read More »
Join AJF for a conversation on Douriean Fletcher: Jewelry of the Afrofuture, the first major museum exhibition dedicated to the artist who designed the jewelry for Marvel Studios’ Black Panther film franchise. Organized by the Museum of Arts and Design (New York City), where it was co-curated by the Museum’s Barbara Paris Gifford and Sebastian
AJF Live: Douriean Fletcher: Jewelry of the Afrofuture—Two Institutional Perspectives Read More »
The American gallerist asks, “What happens to jewelry once it has been released into the world? Hopefully it gets loved and worn, but many times it ends up forgotten in a drawer and sometimes lost for years … waiting to be found.” AJF held 16 talks over five days in Munich. Saabye gave this presentation
Mike Holmes. William Clark Jewelry: Lost & Found Read More »
The Dutch maker and gallerist asks what do we make, collect, or wear—which choices do we make? AJF held 16 talks over five days in Munich. Saabye gave this presentation as part of the 2026 “AJF Speaker Series: Jewelry that Makes You Think.” Most of the series took place in the booth AJF shared with
Paul Derrez. Jewelry: Beauty or Activism? Read More »
The Danish maker and curator examines jewelry as a language for entering into dialogue with people. AJF held 16 talks over five days in Munich. Saabye gave this presentation as part of the 2026 “AJF Speaker Series: Jewelry that Makes You Think.” Most of the series took place in the booth AJF shared with Arnoldsche Art
Mette Saabye: Jewelry Dialogues Read More »
The Australian editor of Garland magazine poses the question: What does it mean to make jewelry for the “more than human”? Murray gave this presentation as part of the 2026 “AJF Speaker Series: Jewelry that Makes You Think,” which featured 16 talks over five days. Most of the series took place in the booth AJF shared with
Kevin Murray: Re-wilding Jewellery Read More »
The Italian-British editor of the Journal of Jewellery Research reframes jewelry as (dis)obedient bodymatter—an active agent rather than a passively worn object. Bernabei gave this presentation as part of the 2026 “AJF Speaker Series: Jewelry that Makes You Think,” which featured 16 talks over five days. Most of the series took place in the booth
Roberta Bernabei: Re-Conceptualizing [Dis]obedient Jewelry Read More »
The educator, artist, and writer from Belarus/Portugal reflects on how to see the contemporary jewelry scene in a broader context—and why we all need, from time to time, to climb up a ladder so that the “furrows” in the ground, when viewed from above, turn into meaningful shapes. Karpilova gave this presentation as part of
Elena Karpilova: To Climb up a Ladder Read More »
The American jeweler asks, is art jewelry just another niche, and if so, what does it serve? Decker gave this presentation as part of the 2026 “AJF Speaker Series: Jewelry that Makes You Think,” which featured 16 talks over five days. Most of the series took place in the booth AJF shared with Arnoldsche Art
Aaron Decker: When a Niche Resists the Market Read More »
