Exclusive: Inside Neiman Marcus’s Bejeweled Ball

This October, Neiman Marcus hosted its second annual Bejeweled Ball at the Chateau de Laurel in Beverly Hills to coincide with the release of their Bejeweled Book, which dropped today. The immersive, experiential fete celebrated an extraordinary curation of natural diamond high jewelry and rare timepieces valued at over $100 million. 

This was no stuffy event but rather a shimmering celebration of craftsmanship and self-expression at every turn. During the cocktail hour, bejeweled guests meandered through lush rooms dedicated to each Maison, trying on the best and finest pieces from Buccellati, David Webb, Messika, Piaget, Rahaminov, Patek Philippe, Cartier, Rolex and more. Later in the evening, a multicourse dinner was served in the garden with tablescapes provided by Buccellati and accented with Lalique vases. 

The thoughtful curation reflected the post-pandemic marketplace and emphasized some welcome trends in high jewelry. Most notably, people are eager to celebrate and express themselves with natural diamond purchases instead of waiting for permission or for someone else to ring their bell. “Post pandemic, we’ve seen a renewed interest in high jewelry,” said Tatiana Birkelund, VP, GMB, Beauty, Jewelry, Home, Neiman Marcus Group. “The female consumer is gaining confidence. Important jewelry purchases are being made by women who have made the money themselves. They aren’t waiting for someone to buy them a gift – they feel like they deserve to gift themselves.”  

Customers increasingly appreciate and value craftsmanship, rarity, and realness in one-of-one pieces over brand signaling. The event demonstrated that customers are willing to wait months for a signature piece to be made for them, though they are no longer holding out for a black tie event to don their statement pieces. Now it’s all about rocking high end pieces whenever the feeling strikes. This sentiment is evident in Valerie Messika’s world, where celebration of any moment is behind the design of her modern, versatile pieces. Messika’s 18.05-carat fancy yellow diamond choker necklace is a standout example of this trend, designed so that the diamond pendant can be detached from the necklace for a more informal look. The one-of-a-kind piece is part of the Messika Fantasy Gift for 2024.

Buccellati also suggested high jewelry for anytime wear. The knockout 18k yellow and white gold Mosaico Earrings, set with oval cut diamonds and 468 round brilliant cut diamonds, can be adjusted in length for day-to-night—or night-to-day wear.

At Piaget, the no-need-for-an-occasion attitude continued – along with the insight that now more than pre-pandemic, customers are showing an even deeper appreciation for the heritage and craftsmanship of high jewelry. Details are valued over flash factor, though their Secret Watch, a one-of-a-kind wrist cuff with a cushion cut yellow natural diamond and Marquis white diamonds concealing a timepiece was a highly-coveted  show stopper.

A pivot to vintage also prevailed, a welcome trend, as vintage pieces are the most responsible decision with the lowest carbon footprint. Perhaps as a remedy to the insta-everything of our current world is the hunt for rare one-of-a-kind pieces, having to wait, and wait, and wait some more to unearth the rarest and perhaps most meaningful pieces. “The 80s aesthetic is really where it’s at right now,” said  Morgan Cardet, collector and dealer of vintage watches. “The people coming into their money grew up in that era. People are looking for more unique, interesting things that are a bit nostalgic.” 

The uptick in vintage has been on Luca Buccellati’s radar for a while. Watching the value – and popularity – of his centuries-old namesake pieces continue to rise, he has been buying back his vintage collections as he plans to launch vintage-only boutiques throughout the world starting in 2027. 

Marc Emmanuel of David Webb spoke of his focus on creating timeless, colorful pieces crafted from natural diamonds, emeralds and enamel that can be appreciated for their design and heritage rather than status carried by brand name alone. He remarked that discerning customers place value on passing down jewelry with stories and personal significance. 

Rahaminov’s glorious, flawless 30.27-carat Oval diamond ring and 18-karat white gold “bow” necklace with 29.35-carat Moval-cut natural diamonds were the stars of the show, the kinds of pieces you’d never want to take off once you put them on, and would without a doubt endure as timeless heirlooms. 

The Bejeweled Ball was less a showcase of opulence but more of a learning experience in the pursuit of the extraordinary: extraordinary materials, extraordinary craftsmanship, and extraordinary personal celebrations at any moment, no explanation needed.