A Tale of Two Jewelers

(NEW YORK) The holiday season predictably results in an influx of jewelry-related events, and this week drew the chic set to cocktails and/or previews at Asprey, Kwiat, Asprey again, Van Cleef & Arpels and (probably) more. Last night, designer Kimberly McDonald unveiled her Ursus Maritimus collection at a raw space on Mulberry Street. "It means 'polar bear,'" one reveller whispered to Stacy London. One of the first designers to incorporate raw geodes into her creations, McDonald dreamed up a new collection inspired by the melting polar icecaps, and 10% of each sale will be donated to Conservation International.

"The white geodes looked like these little ice caves, and I've often given a percentage of sales to charities that help the environment or endangered species," she said. "So I thought this was an opportunity to support a charity I believe in and make cool jewelry. If even a few people start to educate themselves and change their ways, we can do something good." Sophia Bush, the evening's host, was similarly green. "I remember in the sixth grade, my mom being very amused by me trying to start a clean up the beach group with my friends at school. She was like, 'Sophia, none of your friends who are like 11 years old are going to go to the beach with you on a Saturday and pick up trash.'" As the cocktailing continued, Candace Bushnell and chronic geode-wearer Brooke Sheilds dropped by, along with Josh and Jill Schwartz and Jay McInerney.

Much further uptown, ASMALLWORLD and Leviev hosted a cocktail party to preview the new jewelry collection. Hours earlier, Cityfile alerted those beyond the tip sheet that the event would be protested by a group that objects to Leviev's human rights record. As such, the room was comfortable. "I've never heard 'fashionista' and 'socialite' used as a battle cry," mused one frosted guest. The likes of Annie Churchill, Dalia Oberlander, Jennifer Creel, and Gillian Hearst Simmons stayed away--until the private post-event dinner at Serafina, that is--but Cena Jackson, Antonia Thompson, and Lesley Schulhof filled in. ASW's Serena Merriman and Sabine Heller kept guests in good spirits. "Diamonds are a girl's best friend," said the only remaining host Annelise Peterson. "But only for a minute."
ASHLEY BAKER