Jennifer Maxwell, Leigh Maxwell:

Designer Jennifer Maxwell of Leigh Maxwell believes in jewelry’s inherent ability to tell stories and forge connections. Her “luxuriously casual” jewelry is intended to mark life’s milestones, commemorate relationships and celebrate success. For our Aspirational Advent Calendar, Jennifer submitted a personal piece of antique jewelry with plenty of stories to tell. “This is my grandmother’s ring,” Jennifer wrote. “It holds her diamond, along with her mother’s diamond. My grandparents were married for 72 years and were best friends every day of their lives together. To me, that is pretty aspirational!”

Eric Ford, Neiman Marcus:

Precious Jewelry Buyer at Neiman Marcus, Eric Ford, is a well-known figure within the COUTURE community. He’s perpetually running from meeting to market appointments, adeptly juggling the vigorous demands of his role. Despite his hectic schedule, Eric always carves out time to give back. From leading COUTURE’s Diversity Action Council (DAC), to running his church fundraisers, he is civically minded through and through. Sadly, Eric lost his mom this past year, and his submission is focused on helping others who are fighting her same battle.

“My charity is the American Diabetes Association,” Eric told us. “My mother suffered from diabetes and passed away within the last year. I’ve seen diabetes affect so many people on my mom side of the family. It’s one of those diseases where you can lose a limb or you can lose a life, or even having to deal with the stresses and burdens of kidney failure or dialysis. With more education to teach people how to avoid it, and then also with more research for the medical community to understand how to cure it, we can prevent so much heartache and loss.”

Jenna Grosfeld, Jenna Blake:

The designer behind Jenna Blake, Jenna Grosfeld, takes a “more is more” attitude to the design process. Her bold, colorful pieces are contemporary interpretations of classic silhouettes, and she counts architecture and design as key sources of inspiration. Enamored by the Art Deco and Mid-Century periods, as well as French jewelry designs from the ‘40’s such as Bucheron and Rene Boivin, Jenna considers jewelry an art form on par with any other medium. As with many COUTURE designers, she is also infinitely inspired by her travels, and her prolific collections are representative of her ever-expanding world view. 

Jenna’s submission to our Aspirational Advent Calendar is one such “perception altering” experience, “My favorite experience is exploring through travel and discovering new inspiration for my creative process. This past summer, I was most inspired by a trip to Provence. The color of all the lavender and green fields at the vineyards we visited gave me a whole new appreciation for tones or purple. Amethyst is now featured throughout my current collection.”

Camille Zarsky, The Seven:

As mentioned in a previous Hidden Gems feature, Camille Zarsky opened her charming, West Village boutique, The Seven, with the intention of forging relationships with fellow jewelry enthusiasts-turned clients. The former luxury hand-bag designer has always recognized how inherently emotional jewelry is and delights in guiding people towards jewelry that not only makes their ensemble, but also that they can connect with on an emotional level.

Camille’s submission to our Aspirational Advent Calendar combines her love of jewelry with her love for animals, and she’s not only raising awareness for this important organization here, she’s also hosting a holiday promotion to raise funds for this very worthy cause. “My favorite charity is one local to New York City, Pupstarz Dog Rescue,” she explains. “They’re an animal rescue nonprofit that works tirelessly to save dogs in need, both locally and via mass dog transports throughout the United States. They have a special place in my heart, as they never say no to a senior dog in need. We regularly donate to them and are about to launch a fine jewelry raffle to raise funds for them for the holiday season!”

Elizabeth (Beth Anne) Bonanno, The Gems Project & The EAB Project:

Anyone who is lucky enough to know Elizabeth “better known as Beth Anne” Bonanno of The Gems Project and The EAB Project, knows she has the most impeccable taste. While she’s by no means a snob, she has a deep appreciation for excellence in design of all kinds and her eye for exquisite craftsmanship and gemstones is matchless. What most people don’t (yet) know, is that in the past year or so, Beth Anne has immersed herself in the world of fragrances, honing her expertise and sharing her ever-growing knowledge on her TikTok account. Her submission to our Aspirational Advent Calendar combines her love for antique design with her newfound passion for fragrances.

“The experience I am currently coveting is a stay at the most beautiful Hotel Coqui Coqui in Merida, Mexico,” she proclaimed. “By day it is a perfumeria, with a single room that you can rent out. When you check in you pick your favorite fragrance and the scent for each of your amenities (Swoon.) Your suite is sprawling in the Belle Époque style – elegant and antique. Each morning you are served breakfast in a beautiful garden and for your meal you select a honey from their private label with unique flavors. They use regional flavors to make chocolates and the hosts are knowledgeable about all aspects of your dining and fragrance needs. There is a delightful rooftop pool but what I hear is the most elegant surprise is that one night during your stay, they will draw a bath for you after you’ve selected an herbal mix as well as a tea sachet, allowing you to take in the aroma of the rose petals and sip tea while you bathe for hours. When you leave you pack up your fragrances and linen sprays, as well as the memories of a most decant and beautiful experience.”

Emily P. Wheeler, Designer

Designer Emily P. Wheeler’s jewelry evokes a sense of joy, whimsy and jubilance that belies her steadfast commitment to environmental and ethical sustainability. A certified member of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), Emily is fueled by her feelings of responsibility in protecting the earth and the humans impacted by all touchpoints of the jewelry ecosystem. Her desire for fully transparent and ethical practices in all aspects of her business extends to her travels, where she delights not only in garnering inspiration for her prolific collections, but also learning about the good work being done towards protecting the planet and its inhabitants.

“One of my favorite experiences ever was visiting The Brando in French Polynesia,” she tells us. “It’s a stunning setting, and even more important is the resort’s commitment to sustainability. The Brando highlights the earth’s beauty while also doing all it can to preserve it for future generations to enjoy, a mission that deeply resonates with me and my work. I loved going on the nature and sustainability tours that they offer, learning about their efforts and the rehabilitation they do for the area. 

Elana Cutler, The COUTURE Show:

Within about 5 minutes of meeting COUTURE’s Brand Manager, Elana Cutler, a few things become immediately apparent—she has an incredible memory (like, she remembers a scary amount of detail!), she loves sweets, she’s obsessed with jewelry, and she’s passionately devoted to her family. With all of this in mind, we were very curious about what she’d submit to our Aspirational Advent Calendar. Would it be the Sew Your Soul experience she had with artist Lucy Sparrow making felt bagels with her family in Montauk last summer? Or the Gazillion Bubbles Show she took her older son, Myles, to last fall? Or the follow up visit she and Myles made on their mommy/son day to the Hershey Store, stuffing their own Reeses?

Alas, Elana somehow found a way to combine her love for her family with the sentimentality inherent in fine jewelry. Vintage jewelry dealer, Shelly Branch, specializes in 1970’s statement pieces that she sells through her swoon-worthy Instagram account, Particulieres.NYC. She recently posted a “treasure trove” of vintage, zodiac medallions produced by George Lenfant for Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels. Since Elana, her husband and both of her sons are all Aries, it makes perfect sense that she’s dreaming of adding one of these covetable Aries charms to her already spectacular collection of jewels.

Jill Newman, Editor, Storyteller and Content Strategist:

With curriculum vitae that reads like a “who’s who” of fine jewelry coverage, Jill Newman is one of the most celebrated editors of our generation. A genuine storyteller, she has the unique ability of uncovering the nuances of a designer’s creative approach and highlighting the place a designer or maison holds in history. Equally enamored with contemporary, vintage and antique jewelry, Jill is also masterful at showcasing what gives a particular piece its value, even beyond the intrinsic, and her liberally offered insider insight can help anyone become a true collector of the artform.

“My jewelry grail is a set of vintage Couronne cuffs by Suzanne Belperron,” she enthused. “Originally made in 1936, they are forever chic and relevant. It’s a statement jewel but not fussy or formal. I love the way she used tumbled emeralds and sapphires as fringe. She pioneered new proportions, shapes, and textures in jewelry, and expressed a sense of modernity. Today, some of the best and brightest jewelers still reference Belperron as an inspiration for their work. She empowered women with her designs.”

 Baylee Ann Zwart, ĀZLEE:

First inspired to design jewelry while living near Lake Atitlán in Guatemala, the designer behind ĀZLEE, Baylee Ann Zwart, maintains a deep commitment to protecting the environment. Using only 18k recycled gold in her designs, which are all hand-crafted in Los Angeles, the company has made donations to several water-focused charities since launching her collection in 2015. In addition to monetary support, Baylee and her team are not afraid to get their hands dirty in doing the right thing, and we’re thrilled she’s elevating the visibility of her chosen charity with her submission to our Aspirational Advent Calendar.  

“Surfrider is an organization that ĀZLEE has been working with for many years,” Baylee explains. “Plastic reduction, ocean protection and clean water are just a few of their mission values. I started volunteering with Surfrider in 2015. Surfrider advocates for cleaner beaches and water to protect our marine wildlife. ‘Rise Above Plastics’ is Surfrider’s education and outreach initiative designed to eliminate the impacts of plastics in the marine environment by raising awareness about the dangers of plastic pollution and advocating for solutions that reduce single-use plastics. We partnered with Surfrider in August 2023 to do an AZLEE sponsored beach clean-up and picked up a total of 81lbs of trash! We hope to continue supporting Surfrider in every way possible and plan on more beach clean ups to come!” 

Gloria Batlle, Onirikka:

Throughout her body of work, Onirikka designer, Gloria Batlle, strives to convey a range of emotions and the unique worldview she’s developed through her life experiences. The name Onirikka comes from Oneiric, which means From Dreams, and is illustrative of the breadth of sentiments she attaches to jewelry. In interviewing Gloria for a Brand Spotlight we wrote in September of 2022, Gloria shared that she was always drawn to jewelry as an artform, in large part because she associated it with the powerful women in her life. Her Aspirational Advent Calendar submission is a gift of jewelry from one of those women.

“My favorite piece of vintage jewelry is a pearl necklace with gold enhancer my grandmother gave to me when I graduated high school,” she explains. “The gift of that charm meant everything to me. It was my grandmother’s hug, approval, motivation and respect all wrapped up in one single act through the gift of a special piece of jewelry that belonged to her mother once. That connection I always felt throughout my childhood until now, the treasure hunting involved in finding the right piece of jewelry; be it custom or fine, is so deep-rooted in me. I know how special that day was to my grandmother, and I know how special it was to me as well, and I look forward to the opportunity when it is my time to gift the piece myself.”

Cem and Can Terzihan, Terzihan Jewelry:

Founded in the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul in 1974 by Murat Terzihan, Terzihan jewelry fuses age-old techniques with a contemporary, unorthodox style. Noting that diversity and adaptation of different cultures in their work is part of the DNA of this family-run business, Cem and Can Terzihan, who serve as Creative and Managing Directors respectively, strive to uphold the mores of their home town of Mardin, one of the oldest cities in the upper Mesopotamia, where Christians, Arabs, Turks, Kurdish Turks and many other small ethnic groups lived in harmony for three centuries. The experience of Mardin is such a powerful influence in their jewelry that they’ve raised it as their Aspirational Advent Calendar submission.

“Murat Terzihan, founder of Terzihan Jewelry, mentions his early years in his hometown Mardin as the most influential experiences in his life,” Cem and Can explain. “He was born in the ancient city of Mardin, also called The Shining city of Mesopotamia, which is safe to say that the city is a geographic center where different cultural and religious beliefs coexist in peace. Besides the historical importance of the city, the home itself that Murat Terzihan was born and raised in was a 4th century built landmark church which is still being actively used by Mardinians after 1600 years. As the 2nd generation of Terzihan Jewelry, we hold strong ties to our roots which are strongly affecting Terzihan’s designs.”  

Lena Agdere, Lord Jewelry: 

Lord Jewelry is the embodiment of the combined vision of celebrated designer Sinork Agdere and his daughter Lena. Sinork is renowned for his impeccable work in enamel, often creating life-like yet ethereal interpretations of birds, flora and fauna. When reading about Lena’s submission to our Aspirational Advent Calendar, we had an “ah ha” moment! The realism and detailed design of these pieces is clearly based on a profound and intimate familiarity with the subject matter, one which could only have been picked up firsthand.

“I’m a biologist turned jeweler, navigating the realms of science and art,” Lena explained. “My standout choice for the Aspirational Advent Calendar is Point Blue Conservation Science, a non-profit close to my heart. With a mission focused on advancing the conservation of birds, other wildlife, and ecosystems through science, partnerships, and outreach, Point Blue is a trailblazer in developing climate-smart conservation science approaches.

“As a former intern at Point Blue’s Palomarin Field Station, I was mentored in this unique educational opportunity, catapulting me into careers in environmental biology. I got an opportunity to witness firsthand the organization’s unwavering dedication to understanding and preserving the natural world. I will always carry the spirit of the wonders of our precious wildlife and ecosystems. As a jeweler, my inspiration is fueled by the invaluable experiences I’ve gained in the field over the years as a biologist, shaping my work with a deep connection to the beauty and significance of the environments I once studied as a biologist.”

Erin O’Donnell, The COUTURE Show:

While Erin O’Donnell, COUTURE’s VP of Marketing, is undoubtedly a brilliant marketer, what really makes her so incredible at her job is her genuine love and appreciation for jewelry as an artform. She is also a veritable superfan of contemporary fine jewelry designers and has a keen awareness of their unique points of view, their creative processes and the singular worldviews that make their work so distinctive. Erin recognizes that women in particular often face challenges in launching, developing and maintaining the infrastructure that fuels the success of their businesses. Her submission to our Aspirational Advent Calendar recognizes these challenges and celebrates those who have been able to successfully navigate the business of fine jewelry design.

“I am honored to submit 100 Women of Jewelry by Linda Kozloff-Turner,” Erin tells us. “This two volume tome features stunning imagery and the intimate musings of 100 remarkable women jewelry designers, many of whom I’m proud to say are members of the COUTURE community. In fact, a good portion of the interviews were conducted during COUTURE, beginning with our 2018 event and culminating during our 2021 event. It’s such a delight to see so many talented women highlighted in such a meaningful way and, I must admit, I never tire of seeing images of their work. The black and white portraits Linda and her team captured of each of the designers are also breathtaking and capture the essence and beauty of each of these noteworthy talents.”