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Dear Jewelry Friends,

February has been a month of love for Gem X. Two days after Valentine’s Day, we were smitten with Nan Skier’s beautiful collection of lover’s eye miniatures on Gemflix. After our glimpse into the many stories behind the jewels, from a prince with an infatuation to the mysterious Mary Sarah Fox, we will never look at these jewels the same way again.  

This jewellery love stayed in the air all month long. From our events at the Tucson Gem Show to London and New York, which you can read more about below. During our first virtual book club meeting in which core member Levi Higgs and author M.J. Rose discussed her mystery “The Last Tiara,” the moving story of a young female architect, who stumbles upon a hidden treasure and begins a journey to discover her mother’s life during the fall of the Romanovs. As we learned more about our 2022 scholars and prepared the below introduction for you all.

If you are looking for ways to keep the jewelry love theme going this week, we had a think about a few of our most romantic Gemflix. There is the heartstopper “Regency Romance and Georgian Jewels.” The lovely stories of the Devonshire family told through the “Jewels at Chatsworth.” And what else? Send us your most romantic Gemflix on Instagram and we’ll share it with the group next month.

Yours in jewels,    

Lin & Heidi

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We are so excited to introduce our 2022 scholars! They are Jenny House from Surrey, UK, Yeena Yoon from London,UK, Kwabena Ampadu and Briyana Rainer from Brooklyn, NY, USA, and Ellin Geary from Victoria, Australia.  We put together this video so you can get to know them a bit better. We’ll continue to keep you posted on their journeys during the months ahead!

@origin31 @yeenayoonstudio @ampadustudios @all.enamel.everything

In London, the designers Sarah Ho, Valery Demure and Melanie Georgacopoulos each opened the doors of boutiques and hearts to share their passions, respectively, for upcycling old jewels into modern wonders, for helping collectors find their individual styles and for exploring the exquisite pearl. We lit up the start of the Lunar New Year with stunning jewels that embody change and renewal with a wonderful evening at Sarah Ho’s fabulously pink Mayfair salon.  At Valery Demure’s Objet D’Emotion boutique we swooned over Valery’s comparison of meeting new pieces of jewelry and falling in love and felt all sorts of love while viewing Valery’s collection, including work by designers such as Elhanati, Francesca Villa and Jo Hayes Ward. Then there was the unveiling of the new M/G Tasaki collection with pearl queen Melanie Georgacopoulos. We marvelled at the beauty of Melanie’s cut pearls and her incredibly wearable modern take on this most traditional of gems.  We rounded out the month with a private tour of Collect, a fair dedicated to contemporary craft. XX
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Last month, Gem X members gathered in San Francisco for unforgettable jewels and cocktails hosted by Thesis founder Cate Claus. What a sensory delight; from the misty drive through the Presidio into the glittering room filled with a literal rainbow of gems. We were stunned again by the Leen Heyne collaborations, as seen during his Powerful Calm Gemflix, and admired hidden diamonds in modern lockets while dreaming up perfect gemstone combinations for our next double ring. For those of you in New York, look forward to Cate’s next event in May!  

XX

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 After taking a year off, we returned to Tucson, Arizona for the annual gem show with much anticipation. We were not disappointed. From a first experience at the Ethical Gem Fair, to an enchanting preview of the newly opened Alfie Norville Arizona Gem and Mineral Museum, and the many gem shows in between, our visit to Tucson was a vibrant whirlwind. We celebrated Chinese New Year with a festive dinner to spread the love and good luck, which certainly seemed to pour into all of our fabulous gemstone finds. Our final evening was spent at The Granada Gallery, where we sipped cocktails with kaleidoscopic Ammolite sparkling around us. Million and billion year old fossils make a year seem short. we needed that reminder as we count down the days to Tucson 2023!

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 After taking a year off, we returned to Tucson, Arizona for the annual gem show with much anticipation. We were not disappointed. From a first experience at the Ethical Gem Fair, to an enchanting preview of the newly opened Alfie Norville Arizona Gem and Mineral Museum, and the many gem shows in between, our visit to Tucson was a vibrant whirlwind. We celebrated Chinese New Year with a festive dinner to spread the love and good luck, which certainly seemed to pour into all of our fabulous gemstone finds. Our final evening was spent at The Granada Gallery, where we sipped cocktails with kaleidoscopic Ammolite sparkling around us. Million and billion year old fossils make a year seem short. we needed that reminder as we count down the days to Tucson 2023!

XX 

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From day to night, Gem X was offered exclusive access in museums across NYC last month. At a special tour, hosted by the Junior Council, we stepped inside the American Museum of Natural History to hear gem stories (and secrets) at the Mignone Hall of Gems and Minerals. Our flashlights danced around the hall, stopping for an extended view of the Okavango Blue Diamond, to see what tales lay within. We were riveted by the one involving the theft of over 24 gems from the museum in 1964, including The Star of India, by infamous robber Jack Murphy. The Star of India has since returned to the museum but many of the other diamonds were recut and sold, never to be recovered again. Later in February, we were treated to a special tour of the Dior: Designer of Dreams exhibition at The Brooklyn Museum. Dior debuted his first collection and the revolutionary “New Look” on February 12th, 1947. 75 years later we took a trip in the enchanting Dior time machine. Attendees saw his first creations, the evolution of Dior designs from YSL to Galliano to Chiuri and some simply dazzling accessories that lit up the way.      XX

Co-hosts M.J. Rose and Levi Higgs led the first meeting of our Gem X Book Club on February 13th, where they discussed, amongst other things, the inspirations behind M.J.’s novel and our current winter read, The Last Tiara.

Growing up in New York City, M.J. sought inspiration amidst her surroundings & even her own family history, including a personal connection to 19th century Russia. And as a jewelry lover, it is only appropriate that she found a bejeweled talisman to wear as she was writing the book.  Click here to hear her talk about her Last Tiara talisman.

While The Last Tiara is a fictional story, some of M.J.’s characters are often based on real life historical figures.  The Last Tiara is no exception, with Reed’s grandfather inspired by renowned American jeweler, Paul Flato.  Here is M.J. discussing what piqued her interest about Flato’s rather colorful past. 

 We look forward to seeing you for our second Book Club meeting on Sunday, February 27th at 12 PM EST/5 PM GMT.  We can’t wait to see where Isobelle and Sofiya’s journey takes them next!

It’s not too late to join in – email assistant@gemx.club to find out more

WHAT'S COMING UP ON THE LATEST GEMFLIX ...

ONLINE | WINTER 2022

GEM X BOOK CLUB | THE LAST TIARA, by M.J. ROSE

Publishers Weekly calls M.J.’s book, “engrossing.  [The Last Tiara] chronicles a New York City architect’s quest to unravel the mystery behind a tiara she finds hidden in a wall of her late mother’s Manhattan apartment in 1948. It’s not too late to join in. You may purchase the book here, and RSVP to assistant@gemx.club, so we can add to you our book club chat group and email list. 

LOS ANGELES | FEBRUARY 27 

SUNDAY IN THE BOWERS WITH DISNEY

Many of us can link the origin of our jewelry obsession to a beloved Disney film – the Titanic Heart of the Ocean, Princess Mia’s coronation crown, anyone? In a special collaboration Gem X, Jewelry Collectors of Los Angeles, and the Women’s Jewelry Association are delighted to cordially invite you to a private tour of the much anticipated All That Glitters exhibition of The Walt Disney Archives at the Bowers Museum. We will be guided through the iconic jewelry and watches worn by our favorite characters in addition to viewing cinematic accessories like Aladdin’s lamp on display for the first time. RSVP in title.

Image Credit: “The Heart of the Ocean” Titanic (1997) (Lightstorm Entertainment, 20th Century Fox), Walt Disney Archives, ©20th Century Studios

NEW YORK | MARCH 7

JEWELRY THROUGH THE AGES WITH SIMON TEAKLE

If we were to design a class in jewelry history, Simon Teakle would be our dream professor. After twenty years at Christie’s, the majority of which was spent running its New York department, Simon now owns a vintage and estate jewelry gallery in Greenwich, CT. During his career, Simon has handled many of the world’s most important gemstones and jewelry collections, including The Agra Diamond, The Rockefeller Sapphire, and jewels belonging to Eva Peron, Doris Duke and Elizabeth Taylor. And lucky for us, there is nothing Simon enjoys more than discussing the history of jewelry. You are cordially invited to join us for a lesson in jewelry history, hosted with Simon inside the private Library inside 15 Central Park West. RSVP is open in the title.

Find out more about our fab Upcoming Events here and take a look at our Gemflix programme here

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It was a feast of and for the eyes on Gemflix this week. We listened to the stories Nan Skier told about her mesmerising collection of lover’s eye jewels. Look left to meet Mary Sarah Fox. Made in 1835, she is enveloped in foxgloves flowers (a play on her name), a blue & gold guilloche enamel border and seed pearls. Foxgloves can signify energy and magic, but also danger and poison, as a source of the drug digitalis. Judging by the mischievous look in her sparkly blue eye, she has a bit of all these elements, beautifully captured in this miniature jewel. Thank you Nan, for sharing your passion for collecting and your knowledge of these bejeweled eyes. We will never look at these jewels the same way again!
 

ACCESS ARCHIVES OF 120+ GEMFLIX REPLAYS
Replays are available to all members of Gem X

 Not a member yet? Learn about joining us HERE.

That’s it for this month!  For questions and comments, please drop us a note here.

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