Look Book

24 www.thejewelrybook.com J E W E L R Y I S A L A S T I N G R E M I N D E R O F L O V E E D I T O R ' S L E T T E R JENNIFER HEEBNER Hello, friends! I'm so excited to work the Las Vegas shows! JCK Las Vegas is returning to the Sands Convention & Expo Center—right next to Couture at the Wynn Las Vegas—while the new Premier show takes place nearby at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Here are three phenomenal opportunities to stock up on new styles, talent, and gems. As we all prepare for this marathon in the desert, publisher Nicole Bromstad and I inadvertently had experiences that reminded us of the power of jewelry. While Nicole's moment occurred at a birthday party and involved an heirloom diamond ring, my own happened not long after but in a more somber manner. Our dog Beasty died. Beasty was our adopted stray from West Virginia. We took him in as a young, 95-pound, loveable goofball with a deep bark but a nonexistent bite; he was a perfect combination of a fi erce, wolfi sh- looking creature with a gentle demeanor. The photo on this page shows him relaxing last summer as a fi t senior who still demanded daily walks. On Thanksgiving morning 2018, he suffered a seizure likely caused by a brain tumor, given his age of 15-plus years. Beasty could no longer safely manage stairs, so we lived and slept in our fi rst-fl oor den for fi ve months. Facing a busy travel season (Italy in January, Arizona in February, and Hong Kong and Switzerland in March), we had to secure medical boarding so he would have 24-hour care in my absence. Crazy dog people? Obviously. While challenging and at times stressful, being able to give this dog a comfortable autumn season gave us peace and joy. After all, as pet owners, Beast gave us love, security, laughter, and a soul-nourishing contentment. Pets remind us to live in the moment as people tend to race through them. On the day I was set to hand in this editor's letter, Beast crossed the Rainbow Bridge. I shared the story of his passing and his unique adoption story—friend me, please, to read about it—on Facebook, where the jewelry community rushed to offer condolences. Jewelry designer Alison Nagasue reached out offering her own proprietary sympathies: could she send me a paw pendant engraved "Beast" as a reminder of our life with him? I will proudly wear her necklace in Las Vegas. Alison will not have a booth but look her up at alisonnagasue.com, where you'll see her karat-gold gingko biloba-leaf aesthetic as well as pet-theme treasures. Because of her generosity, I will donate to one of my favorite pet charities, Saving Suffering Strays Sarajevo, where many of the dogs look like Beast and where our next dog will come from. Every piece of jewelry has a story to tell—some intensely personal while others are more lighthearted. Jewelers have such a privilege in taking part in each and every piece sold. When the moments pass, our jewels keep us present in them at a touch or glance. I hope to see many of you at the shows. Jewelry Is a Lasting Reminder of Love The author's nearly 16-year-old dog, Beast, who recently died. A paw pendant necklace with opalized enamel is from jewelry designer Alison Nagasue.

• Cover