Schedule
*Schedule may be subject to change
Sunday, June 4: Christie’s Magnificent Jewels Preview
Monday, June 5: The Rarest (Natural) Diamonds in the World
Lecture: The Rarest Diamonds in the World, Christie’s NY
How well do you know the story behind the greatest diamonds in the world? If we are willing to travel the globe, the world’s greatest diamonds are at our disposal, on view in museum’s around the world and available for our viewing pleasure. These diamonds, including the Hope, the Cullinan, the Centenary, the Tiffany Yellow, the Regent, the Orlov, and the Koh-i Noor, are beautiful to behold and capture our imagination with tales that are full of mystery and intrigue worthy of a best-seller. Every Royal family in the western hemisphere has laid their claim to these jewels and whether they have brought them fortune or misfortune, one thing we know for sure, these precious stones are priceless. We will kick-off our course with a lecure on the Rarest Diamonds in the World.
Interview: Class room visit with John Hatleberg, Christie’s NY
A conceptual gem artist, Hatleberg has created exact replicas of famous diamonds since 1987. His replicas are visually indistinguishable from the original diamonds. Always working with the actual gems, Hatleberg has created molds and/or replicas of the Hope, Centenary, Dresden Green, Eureka, Incomparable, Guinea Star, Portuguese, Blue Heart, Victoria Transvaal, Shah Jahan Table Cut Diamond, Excelsior I, McLean-Duchess of Windsor, Oppenheimer, Milennium Star, “Lili”, The Pink Star, Heart of Eternity, Koh-i-Noor, Jonker, Light of Peace, Blue Lili, Wittelsbach-Graff, French Blue and Tavernier Diamonds. John Hatleberg has consulted for the Tower of London for the permanent exhibitions "Crowns and Diamonds" concerning the Koh-i-Noor, consulted for Christie's Third edition of lan Balfour's "Famous Diamonds" to improve the diamond photographs and consulted on the landmark "Diamants" exhibitions at the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris.
Visit: William Goldberg, William Goldberg Way, 589 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10017
In the heart of New York’s Diamond District, on a street named in honor of its legendary founder, resides one of the world’s most distinguished diamond jewelry houses – William Goldberg. Throughout his life, William Goldberg reveled in the pure happiness that beautiful diamonds brought to people. He was fond of saying, “The perfect diamond is the one that makes you perfectly joyous.” Today, his wife, Lili, son, Saul, daughter, Eve, son-in- law, Barry Berg and grandson Benjamin Goldberg manage the company he founded with the same passion and dedication. William Goldberg, the company, has become synonymous with the most spectacular diamonds in the world. It has had the honor of shaping some of history’s most famous diamonds, including the 137 carat pear shape D Flawless Premier Rose and the 102 carat oval shape D Flawless Beluga. The famed diamond house has factories in New York, Botswana, Israel, South Africa, China and India. William Goldberg procures the finest rough and creates the most breathtaking diamond jewelry that has come to define luxury, timeless style
and elegance. Today the company is also known for their proprietary ASHOKA diamond and design spectacular diamond jewelry.
Tuesday, June 6: Designing with Diamonds
The jewelry industry is brimming with creativity and inventiveness. Independent jewelers are bringing their diamond focused designs to life with one-of-a kind statement pieces that sets their clientele apart. We will have an opportunity to visit several prominent designers in their showrooms to get to know them and their work.
Visit: SoHo Studio Visit with Karma El Khalil
Karma El Khalil is a New York-based fine jewelry designer and gemologist. Her jewelry reveals a myriad of geometric shapes and architectural features that recreate ethically sourced natural gemstones and diamonds into handmade 18k gold statement pieces. Karma holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Tufts University in Boston and several degrees in Gemology, Jewelry Design and Manufacturing from GIA in New York. Having lived and studied in Nigeria, France, Italy and the United States, her international roots are a constant source of creativity and design exploration for her collections. “Drawing has always been a gateway to discovering, capturing and describing my world; a means of concretizing my interpretation of beauty. When you are open to seeing beauty, it just comes to you. Inspiration demands no effort; it is something one finds when we love, dream, and allow ourselves to wander.” Just like the mystery in every woman, Karma’s jewelry often has a hidden side, a detail that only the person wearing it knows and enjoys. Refined with an element of edge, Karma has made her signature Trilogy Ring and T Cuff a favorite among Hollywood’s elite spanning Angelina Jolie, Madonna, Charlize Theron, Scarlett Johansson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Gwen Stefani, Christina Aguilera, amongst others.
Visit: Dumbo Studio Visit with Angie Marei of Marei New York
New York-born and raised Egyptian-Dominican jewelry designer Angie Marei creates fearless and seductive fine jewelry for everyday and special occasions. Her collections adorn those who dare to stand out with jewelry designs that exude power and elegance. Angie has always had a passion for art and design and began her career as an advertising creative director working with brands such as Tom Ford, Gucci, and Yves Saint Laurent. While she enjoyed the creativity of her work in advertising, she longed to create something tangible. Angie took a leap of faith and enrolled in a fine jewelry school to study the art of jewelry design and metalsmithing before launching her own line. Angie instills in her jewelry the spirit of her diverse Egyptian-Dominican cultural heritages infused with the fierce energy of New York City. From classic film noir to femme fatale heroines, a family tradition of collecting gold jewels, her love of art and architecture, deco-era design, and spiritual mythology are always on her mind while designing. As a result, her jewelry designs are unique symphonies of mystic and enigmatic luxury. Angie Marei's jewelry has been featured in Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Elle, and Marie Claire, among other publications. Her celebrity clients include Beyoncé, Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Zendaya, Taraji P. Henson, Bella Hadid, Billy Porter, and more.
Wednesday, June 7: Diamonds and 47th Street
New York’s Diamond District is legendary. It’s original home was on Maiden Lane where diamond merchants conducted their business from the late-18th century to the beginning of the 20th century. But it wasn’t until the 1920s and 1930s that the trade started to move uptown to 47th Street between 5th and 6th Ave. World War II and the persecution of Jews in Europe brought many skilled gem cutters and merchants to New York where their businesses prospered and along with them 47th Street and the new Diamond District. Today, the District is home to 2,600 business and employs 33,000 people and stretches up to the 50s on 5th Avenue.
Visit: Diamond Dealers Club
Since its founding in 1931, the DDC has grown into the largest diamond trade organization in the United States and one of leading diamond exchanges in the world. And although none of the few pioneers who were among its founders are alive today, many of their descendants are still prominent in the trade and can be counted among the Club’s 2,000 members. Our group will get a tour of the DDC and the diamond exchange which is only open to members. For the last 40 years the DDC has been located at 580 Fifth Avenue.
Visit: Diamex, Inc.
Founded in 1976, Diamex manufactures polished diamonds from rough, recuts and repairs stones of all sizes, buys and sells finished diamonds to both wholesalers and retailers while continuing to expand their services with new technologies and techniques. They provide jewelry consultations, appraisals and is a trusted resource for estate sales or private purchases. Their expertise is known worldwide and is sought by the diamond trade, the U.S. State Department, international auction houses and both commercial and private customers looking for an experienced eye and opinions they can respect. We will get a tour with company President, Ronnie Vanderlinden.
Thursday, June 8: Lab-Grown Diamonds : What are they all about?
Lab-Grown Diamonds are big topic of conversation in the industry. We will spend our day hearing about the evolution of LGB directly from the specialists – both from the perspective of the producer, the design house, and the diamond grading lab.
Visit: Oscar Massin
Oscar Massin is the first heritage luxury brand to offer fine jewelry, bridal and high jewelry collections that use only 100% climate-neutral, fully traceable, lab grown brilliance, in recycled 18k gold and platinum. Rooted in the artistry and innovative technique of Oscar Massin himself, a 19th century grand joaillier, artist, teacher and designer whose bold vision and inclusive approach radically redefined the craft and opened the door for a new generation of fine jewelry. The brand was revived in 2022 by three leaders of the industry, Frédéric de Narp, former CEO of Cartier and Harry Winston, Coralie de Fontenay, former CEO of Cartier, and Sandrine de Laage, Creative Director at Cartier, Harry Winston and De Beers, with investors Rachel Zoe Ventures and Kate Hudson.
Visit: Aether Diamonds: Diamonds Made from Air
Aether is an award-winning startup and certified B-Corp. Aether’s lab grown diamonds are made from 100% Atmospheric Carbon, captured from the air. These diamonds from air fundamentally change the nature of provenance, traceability and rarity in the diamond market. Aether’s patented process takes carbon from the atmosphere and transforms it into best-in-class diamonds from anywhere there is air. Today, Aether diamonds are made using air captured in Europe. Aether diamonds are the highest echelon of modern diamonds, designed to capture the imagination.
Visit: International Gemological Institute (IGI)
The first gemological institute to commit to carbon neutrality, IGI operates 29 grading laboratories and 14 education facilities in major diamond and jewelry centers around the world. For over 45 years, IGI has provided the fine jewelry community and consumers with a broad range of services including natural and laboratory grown diamond reports, colored stone grading and origin reports, as well as jewelry identification and appraisal reports. With the increase of lab grown diamonds in the marketplace, IGI screens millions of natural and lab grown diamonds in order for the industry and consumers to receive the product they expect. Regardless of location or marketplace, an authentic IGI Laboratory Report is the common language of trust and confidence in the gemological world. We will visit the IGI’s new 20,000 square foot space home to their state of the art grading labs.
Friday, June 9: High-Luxury Diamonds
New York City is home to some of the most legendary jewelry brands in the world. We will end our course by visiting three renowned high-luxury houses to learn about their heritage story and aesthetic.
Visit: Fred Leighton and Kwiat, Madison Ave.
For every connoisseur of beauty, there is a jewel. But for those seeking something unique, a pedigree piece, a design of audacious style, there is only one source: Fred Leighton, curator of the most coveted vintage jewelry. Whether you want to buy or sell a rare piece from the Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Retro or contemporary eras, Fred Leighton has been a trusted authority for more than 40 years. Today, rare vintage jewels grace Hollywood stars and live next to masterpieces of art in the world’s private collections – but it wasn’t always so. Until the 1970s, period pieces were unappreciated and often taken apart for their stones, which were re-set in new designs. Mr. Fred Leighton put an end to this shortsighted practice, elevating the appeal of vintage jewelry and making it desirable. The proprietor of a bohemian clothing store in 1960s Greenwich Village, his was an unlikely start for a purveyor of fine jewels. But with a curator’s eye and connoisseur’s taste, Leighton focused his business on vintage jewelry and moved to the Upper East Side in the 1970s. Soon, his boutique was attracting international celebrities, socialites and tastemakers – and giving new life to their erstwhile gems. Josephine Baker, Diana Vreeland, Elizabeth Taylor, Brigitte Bardot and Jackie Onassis are just a few style icons whose extraordinary jewels have been sold by Fred Leighton. Although important period jewelry is the heart and soul of Fred Leighton, the house also creates new pieces that draw inspiration from historical periods – but are never reproductions. Designed by an in-house team, everything in the collection is signed Fred Leighton and is limited edition or one-of-a-kind. In the pages of Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and W, Fred Leighton jewels are paired with the season’s best fashion. At the Oscars and Golden Globes, red carpet regulars like Nicole Kidman, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron and Meryl Streep capture the spotlight in magnificent showstoppers. In 2009, Fred Leighton was acquired by Kwiat.
In 1907, Sam Kwiat started in the diamond jewelry business. He never imagined that his passion would take hold for generations to come. Together with his son, David, they grew a small family shop into a diamond legacy. More than a century later, the Kwiat family continues to design and craft the most exquisite diamond jewelry. We will visit the Madison Avenue flagship for Fred Leighton and Kwiat.
Visit: Bayco, Madison Ave.
Bayco is a fine jewelry company established in New York in 1981 by brothers Moris and Giacomo Hadjibay. The two brothers, having spent their youth in Italy learning the precious gemstone trade from their father, fabled gemstone dealer Amir Hadjibay, decided to join forces in New York to start their own venture. From the beginning it was decided that they were only to make one of a kind pieces of jewelry, to showcase the rare precious stones that they possess. Over the last 39 years, Bayco has grown significantly. Moris’ sons, Marco and Manuel and Giacomo's children Nicole and David have joined the company. Today Bayco is one of the leading names in the high jewelry sector, providing fabulous jewels to many different markets, such as the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, South America, the Middle East, & Australia. Bayco jewels adorn royalty and the social elite worldwide.
Visit: De Beers Jewellers, Madison Ave.
De Beers Jewellers is the pinnacle of diamond luxury and excellence. Of all of the diamonds De Beers see, only the best are chosen for our Jewellery Houses. Less than 1% of the world’s natural diamonds are eligible to be chosen for our Jewellery houses. For De Beers Jewellers we go even further, scrutinizing and selecting by eye for fire, life and brilliance those truly exquisite diamonds with the utmost beauty and character. We then send them to the De Beers Institute of Diamonds to be graded and to be inscribed with the DB Marque, evidence of its extraordinary beauty. De Beers Jewellers’ diamonds are glorified through vision and creativity in bold, distinctive designs. They are cut and polished by the world’s finest diamantaires, artisans chosen for their extremely rare skill and craft which is often passed down through generations. Signature collections include Talisman, Enchanted Lotus and Bridal. We will experience the beauty of De Beers diamond jewelry first hand during our visit.
