About AJDC

The American Jewelry Design Council is a non-profit educational corporation, which recognizes and promotes the appreciation of original jewelry design as art. AJDC is committed to raising the awareness of the jewelry industry, the art community, the media and the consumer about the aesthetic value of artistic fine jewelry.

Members of the American Jewelry Design Council are dedicated to elevating the caliber of jewelry design through educational activities and to challenging professional jewelry designers worldwide to actualize their creative potential.

Every year AJDC has a retreat, sometimes in the USA or abroad. The members who are able travel great distances for a short period of time, to participate in meetings and leisurely activities. Most important it is a chance for very old friends to see each other again. Friendships have lasted since AJDC's inception in the 1980's. 2017 the retreat is in Santa Barbara hosted by Gregore and Jennifer-Rabe Jewelers. We will be sharing beautiful Santa Barbara. We are sad Cesar is not here to share his cuteness. 

“Essential to every culture, art is the vehicle for expressing emotions and ideas in a personal and creative manner. The American Jewelry Design Council is a non-profit educational corporation, which recognizes and promotes the appreciation of original jewelry design as art.

To that end the AJDC is committed to raising the awareness of the jewelry industry, the art community, the media and the consumer about the aesthetic value of artistic fine jewelry. Members of the American Jewelry Design Council are dedicated to elevating the caliber of jewelry design through educational activities and to challenging professional jewelry designers worldwide to actualize their creative potential.” – AJDC Mission Statement

When Gregore and I were invited to join AJDC we were honored because its members had accomplished a difficult task. They produced art they believed in , art that we loved, and they made a living doing so. It also gave us great pleasure to know we were the first husband and wife team ever to become members. In fact we consider ourselves really lucky to share the  passion of  the art of jewelry and to make a living at it also. 

We also made lots of new, like-minded friends. We can share artistic tips along with business savvy. It has been fun to stretch our ideas into new areas with the assigned yearly projects. As a group we vote on a theme, which we then use as a stimulus to come up with a a jewelry design or an object of art or figurine.

Some years are better than others because it all depends how the voted theme resonates with us. Also some years the timing is off and we need to get work completed. All in all it is just fun to not worry about how a design needs to turn out and to try something out of the usual.

We intend to participate in AJDC events as long as we can because they are stimulating with their variety and we get to share them with wonderful friends.