(PRESS RELEASE) NEW YORK, NY — Designer and fourth-generation art and antique dealer Rebecca Rau will officially debut her inaugural fine jewelry collection, THEN & NOW, during NYC Jewelry Week (NYCJW), accompanied by the introduction of newly added one-of-a-kind pieces that merge ancient cultural artifacts with contemporary gemstones, precious metals, and modern design. The collection will be unveiled at a launch reception at Jill Newhouse Gallery on Thursday evening, November 20, from 5:00 to 9:00 PM.
“As a longtime fine art gallery owner, we are committed to exhibitions that connect the historical and the contemporary, combining fresh perspectives with a nod to the past. Rebecca Rau’s innovative collection does exactly that we are pleased to being showing this work alongside our gallery’s important drawings and paintings,” says Jill Newhouse.
THEN & NOW combines ancient artifacts dating from 1200 BC to 1880 AD with modern gemstones, lustrous pearls, and precious metals. Each piece is a celebration of human history and craftsmanship, designed to be worn today while carrying forward the stories of the past. The collection ranges from Phoenician gold pendants and medieval Fede rings to Anglo-Saxon fittings and nineteenth-century Italian micromosaics, each transformed into unique contemporary pieces through meticulous preservation, engineering, and gemstone setting.
THEN & NOW marks the official debut of Rebecca Rau Jewels. The brand draws its lineage from her family’s legacy at M.S. Rau, the celebrated New Orleans gallery renowned for museum-grade fine art, exceptional antiques, and historic jewelry. Raised among centuries-old treasures, Rebecca developed an eye for design and beauty that is at once academic and instinctive. After completing her master’s degree at Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London, she spent years traveling through Europe and Asia, sourcing rare jewels and objets d’art while refining her curatorial voice. With THEN & NOW, she channels a lifelong devotion to history into visionary, wearable artworks that exist beyond era or trend.
During NYC Jewelry Week, guests will have multiple opportunities to engage with the collection through a reception, a guided tour, and public viewing hours. Beverages and hors d’oeuvres will be served at the opening event, and private appointments are available by request.
The celebration begins with the collection launch and cocktail reception on Thursday, November 20, from 5:00 to 9:00 PM, at Jill Newhouse Gallery, located at 4 East 81st Street on the Upper East Side. On Friday, November 21, from 2:30 to 3:30 PM, Rau will lead an intimate guided tour of the collection, sharing the histories and transformations behind each jewel. Public viewing hours will continue on Friday, November 21, from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Saturday, November 22, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with walk-ins welcome throughout the exhibition period.
Advertisement
Among the newly added works premiering in New York are the Hand-in-Hand Ring, an exceptionally rare medieval single-hand Fede ring reimagined and reset within an 18 karat gold band with green garnets and an old mine diamond held by the Fede hand; the Granulated Goddess, a Phoenician ceremonial gold votive pendant framed by a large pink sapphire and tourmaline accents; the Charm of the Hexagon, which centers a 1,500-year-old hand carved Sasanian amethyst surrounded by platinum geometry and gems; the Green Flame Necklace, built around a Saxon warrior’s bridle mount and lit with a Lightning Ridge black opal and exceptional mint garnet; and The Good Pope, featuring an Italian micromosaic portrait of Pope Pius VII encircled by spinels, and enhanced by a South Sea pearl and peach sapphire.
Rebecca Rau says, “It’s thrilling to finally introduce these special pieces to the public after slowly dreaming them up and meticulously bringing them to life. I am continually inspired by the creative challenges that come from working with rare historic artifacts—striking a balance between preserving their unique character and crafting jewelry that feels both wearable and unexpected. The collection is a marriage of my passions: history, gemstones, objects, and design. I hope visitors will find a renewed sense of wonder and connection to civilizations of the past with THEN & NOW.”
EVENT DETAILS
- Venue
Jill Newhouse Gallery, 4 East 81st Street, New York, NY
- Collection Launch and Reception
Thursday, November 20, 2025 — 5:00 to 9:00 PM
Complimentary beverages and chef curated bites will be served.
- Guided Collection Tour with Rebecca Rau
Friday, November 21, 2025 — 2:30 to 3:30 PM
- Public Exhibition Hours
Friday, November 21 — 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Saturday, November 22 — 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Open to the public. Private appointments by request.
RSVP on Eventbrite for the NYCJW launch party or collection tour. To view the collection, visit www.rebeccaraujewels.com.
Contact the designer for a private appointment by calling 504-475-4266 or via email at [email protected].
For press inquiries, contact Pietra Communications at 212-913-9761 or email [email protected].
Advertisement
