A Jeweler’s Palate: Anything Goes at NYC Jewelry Week 2025

No one ever asked Picasso what his paints were worth. Because true value has never been solely about cost—it’s about creativity. Today artists and designers are redefining luxury by pairing precious materials with the unexpected—non-precious, alternative, and experimental elements—to create pieces that are bold, artistic, and meaningful beyond their intrinsic value. Join us as we explore how materials, value, and innovation intersect—and how creativity continues to reshape what jewelry can be.

Jiro Kamata (b. 1978, Hirosaki, Japan) is a contemporary jewelry artist known for redefining the relationship between jewelry, light, and perception. Trained at the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich under Otto Künzli, he combines unconventional materials like camera lenses, mirrors, and pigments with gold and silver. His work uses reflection, transparency, and optical effects to engage viewers beyond ornamentation. Blurring jewelry, art, and design, Kamata explores memory and vision. Exhibited globally, his pieces are in collections including Die Neue Sammlung, Munich, and the Museum of Arts and Design, New York. He lives and works in Munich.

Marla Aaron takes a functional maximalism approach to jewelry. What began in 2012 with the iconic recasting of the carabiner Lock into precious metals and chains expanded rapidly into rings and bracelets that open and close, convertible earrings, charms, and many other objects–several of which hold US patents, and proudly range anywhere from $100 to $300,000. “Jewelry’s only job is to bring joy to as many people as possible” are words the company lives by. Marla’s rebellious approach has led to everything from selling her collection out of vending machines to being part of an exhibit at the Museum of Finance to giving away thousands of Heartlocks to deserving single moms across the country on Mother’s Day. In 2024, Marla won the Gem Award for Jewelry Design by the Jewelers of America.

Since 2014, Stephanie Wenk has led SAUER’s creative direction, honoring its 1941 legacy with a bold, modern vision. Raised in the ateliers, she blends her background in psychology and fashion into jewelry that unites emotion, spirituality, and art. Under her leadership, SAUER has launched over 20 collections, including the acclaimed Tarsila series inspired by Brazilian modernism.

She’s transformed SAUER into a cultural platform through exhibitions, collaborations with Jason Wu and Marisa Berenson, and the SAUER Art Prize at The Armory Show and SP-Arte. Her 2025 collection with the Francisco Brennand Institute furthers her mission to link jewelry and art. Committed to sustainability, she prioritizes recycled gold and reforestation with IDESAM.

Her vision expanded SAUER globally, culminating in the 2024 Madison Avenue flagship. Today, clients from Queen Máxima to Zoë Saldaña see SAUER as a universe of identity, art, and purpose.

Bella Neyman is the founder of NYC Jewelry Week. She is also an independent curator and journalist specializing in contemporary jewelry. Currently, she is on the Curatorial Advisory Committee for Power to Wear at the DIVA Museum in Antwerp, opening in April 2026. Bella lectures on jewelry history both online and in-person at various institutions. She is a longtime member of the Board of Art Jewelry Forum. 

Each November, NYC Jewelry Week proudly presents ‘The Week,’ a 7-day celebration dedicated to the art of jewelry. This annual festival invites a global audience to explore the world of jewelry through a dynamic mix of in-person and virtual experiences, spanning New York City and beyond. Our hybrid program features virtual programs streamed on YouTube alongside immersive on-site activities.

In-person, NYC Jewelry Week brings together leading figures in the jewelry industry to curate extraordinary experiences, including exhibitions, exclusive shopping opportunities, and retail collaborations. Attendees can also participate in insightful panel discussions that explore trends, challenges, and innovations in the field. Each event creates memorable jewelry moments that celebrate the creativity and craftsmanship of the industry.

Committed to inclusivity, many of our programs are free and open to the public. NYC Jewelry Week seeks to reshape how people view jewelry by inviting everyone to appreciate the artistry behind the scenes. Join us in celebrating the transformative power of jewelry and experience the beauty and innovation that define our community.

We look forward to welcoming you to NYCJW25!

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