Cindy Edelstein was one of those rare individuals, about whom nobody has anything bad to say (nothing, nada, zilch – ask around).  She was an entrepreneur, editor, author, and jewelry industry consultant; who passed away, at the age of 51, in January of 2016.

A staunch advocate for designers, and a mentor to so many, Edelstein co-founded the Jeweler’s Resource Bureau with her husband, Frank; and was an in-demand trade show consultant for COUTURE, JCK, and AGTA.  It was in this roll that I met her, and where she took me under her wing.  Cindy was always the first to comment on a social media post, or to email me some insight about a design-related theory with which I might’ve been noodling.

When I first began attending COUTURE, some designers just wouldn’t make the time to meet with me.  I mean, it happens.  I had to admit that, much to my chagrin, not everyone had heard of me.  But Cindy, an editor herself (who was a fan of both my writing and my moxie), would personally escort me to those booths – with that smile so big she was just curls, glasses, and teeth –  and after a quick intro and a bit of that Cindy magic…  Well, let’s just say that my COUTURE dance-card has been full, ever since.

As this year’s COUTURE approaches (June 2nd – 6th, at Wynn Las Vegas), the Contemporary Jewelry Design Group decided to produce a charity auction, in Cindy’s memory.  Comprised of jewelry donated by the CJDG’s members, the proceeds of the auction will be split between a pair of organizations – Jewelers for Children, that serves kids affected by illness, abuse, or neglect; and the Women’s Jewelry Association, that awards an annual Cindy Edelstein Jewelry Design Scholarship.

You can peruse the auction, now, at Auction.CJDG.Jewelry; and can bid anytime until June 3rd.  And since I was already soaking in it (thanks, Madge!), I figured that I’d curate some of the stand-out pieces in the auction, for your edification.  So, look over my selections; check-out the auction; bid on your favorite items; and lemme know if you concur with my picks.

So, good luck, and happy bidding!

And to Cindy, thank you for everything: You made such a difference. 

Cindy Edelstein Memorial Charity Auction
Contemporary Jewelry Design Group in conjunction with COUTURE
May 15th – June 3rd
Click HERE to view the auction

Get into it!
#CJDG

[Clockwise from top left]

Jennifer Dawes Design – 14k gold necklace featuring a round, rose-cut moonstone (2.50cts), accented with diamonds (0.02cts) – $1,000

Zaffiro – Hand-fabricated, granulated 22k gold element set with a purple sapphire (0.70cts), suspended from an oxidized sterling silver chain – $1,600

Doryn Wallach Jewelry – “Empire” stud earrings featuring diamonds (0.21cts), set in 18k gold with a finely-ribbed satin finish – $1,790

Pamela Froman Fine Jewelry – Bar necklace featuring diamonds (0.16cts), in a “Crushed” setting of 18k gold that fades from yellow to pink and back – $1,760

Julez Bryant – “Skye” pendant featuring diamonds (0.085cts), set on a disk of 18k gold, on a diamond-cut ball chain – $1,550

Dana Bronfman – “Trina” ring featuring ethically-sourced diamonds (0.09cts), set in reclaimed 18k gold with a matte finish, a tapered bar-top, and circular cut-outs on the side – $2,365

Suzy Landa – “Knife Edge” hoop earrings featuring diamonds (0.50cts), set in 18k gold – $3,200

Just Jules – “Brio” pendant featuring a tapered aquamarine (14.00cts) and diamonds (0.30cts), set in a cap of 18k gold – $2,000

Karin Jacobson – “Hyacinth-Fold Origami” necklace featuring a figural bow of recycled sterling silver and 18k gold, on a chain of oxidized sterling silver – $680

Ananda Khalsa – Hand-painted “Plum Blossom” earrings featuring dots and bezels of 22k gold, backed in sterling silver, and suspended from ear-wires of 18k gold – $975

little h by Hisano Shepherd – “Pearl Geode” earrings featuring a halved baroque Tahitian pearl ‘filled’ with black diamonds (1.50cts), set on ear-wires of 14k white gold – $1,780

Vicente Agor Precious – “Slope” earrings featuring sapphires (0.252cts), set in 18k gold – $1,375

TAP by Todd Pownell – Drop earrings featuring inverted diamonds (1.90cts), set on oxidized silver, suspended from ear-wires of 18k gold – $2,240

Pamela Huizenga Jewelry – “Saturn” button earrings featuring Saturn chalcedony (19.20cts) surrounded by diamonds (0.56cts) set in 18k gold – $6,000

Coomi – “Eternity” ring featuring diamonds (1.00cts), set in 20k gold – $6,800

Todd Reed – “Disc” earrings featuring raw diamonds (6.245cts), set with coin-edged bezels, on discs of 18k gold and oxidized silver – $15,620