Jewelry's Shining Stars: The Next Generation

“Jewelry historian, author and writer Beth Bernstein talks about her new book, Jewelry’s Shining Stars: The Next Generation, 45 Visionary Women Designers, which intermixes personal anecdotes with details on these forward-looking artists’ inspirations and aesthetics.” - Rapaport“…giving you a sneak peek at the book through this gallery of some of the irrepressible women designers in this new book and their own words about their collections.” - Instore Magazine“Ultimately, she landed on a stellar lineup of women who have challenged and liberated the conventions of fine jewelry—some reviving age-old design and craftsmanship traditions, others rebelling against them.” - JCK Online“Ms Bernstein said the Victorians’ penchant for festooning their jewels with flowers, insects, swallows, serpents, crescent moons and other symbols rich with meaning first struck a chord with contemporary designers about 20 years ago when more women began buying jewelry for themselves and embraced designs that reflected their beliefs and dreams.” - The New York Times

For the past 20 years, Beth Bernstein has been engaged in two of her passions as careers - writing and consulting about fine jewellery. Her memoir, My Charmed Life: Rocky Romances, Precious Family Connections and Searching For A Band of Gold, was published by Penguin in the summer of 2012. She is working on her second memoir.

Beth has written for both consumer and trade magazines and newspapers on all topics of jewellery including monthly profile stories on international jewellery designers. She has a thriving career as a personal stylist to help private clients build jewellery wardrobes and is also a dealer of fine antique and period pieces. She has given seminars on various aspects of jewellery, has been a judge for jewellery design awards and curated sections of jewellery trade shows. Her consulting company, Plan B, advises on all facets of merchandising, marketing, branding and design for independent jewellers.

She is a member of The American Society of Jewelry Historians and WJA (Women’s Jewelry Association) among other associations. Beth has a few quirky superstitions about jewellery. One example: a talisman necklace with charms from many designers featured in the book, which she slips on during airplane take-offs. She is convinced that it is this weighty concoction of amulets - rather than the well-trained pilots and control towers - that guides her safe landings.

Beth Bernstein lives in Florida, USA.