A Weeklong Exhibition of Curated Jewels and Fine Art Mastery Benefiting the American Cancer Society
Contessa Gallery Southampton and acclaimed treasure hunter Stephen Silver present “The Art of the Jewel”, a weeklong collaborative exhibition uniting the worlds of fine art and high jewelry.
Featuring a kaleidoscope of diamond and colored gemstones, original high jewelry works, and important blue-chip estate jewelry pieces created or curated by gemstone auteur Stephen Silver, The Art of the Jewel celebrates artistry, rarity, and storytelling through wearable masterpieces, fine art works, and the lens of Contessa Gallery‘s first-ever fine jewelry exhibition. A portion of all proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society.
Image courtesy of Ana Martins Communications anamartinspr.com | @anamartinspr
The event also marks several milestones, including Contessa Gallery’s “silver” 25th anniversary, Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry’s 45 years in business. Together, the partners present a cumulative 70 years in operation and excellence in their respective fields of fine jewelry and fine art.
THE EXHIBITION
The Art of the Jewel was born from the friendship and shared philanthropic vision of three partners, Stephen Silver (CEO and Owner, Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry), Steve Hartman (Co-Owner, Contessa Gallery), and Barbara Sellinger (Chair, American Cancer Society Northwest New Jersey Region Advisory Board). Their joint exhibition reveals the art of the jewel to the Hamptons while harnessing their diverse spheres of influence in fine jewelry, fine art, and philanthropy to inspire and support the American Cancer Society’s life-saving work.
Photos by Petro Onysko | Onysko Photography, courtesy of Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry.
Photos by Petro Onysko | Onysko Photography, courtesy of Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry.
Contessa Gallery has garnered global renown for the daring breadth of its collections, exhibitions, and artistic mediums, and the gallery consistently commands the largest platforms at all art fairs in which it participates, operating on an international stage at the highest levels of the art world. Now, the gallery turns its lens on the fine jewelry sector with its first-ever fine jewelry exhibition.
Photos by Petro Onysko | Onysko Photography, courtesy of Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry.
“As Contessa Gallery celebrates our 25th anniversary, and Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry marks 45 years in business, The Art of the Jewel represents more than just a milestone-it’s a meeting of minds and missions,” said Steve Hartman, Co-Owner of Contessa Gallery. “Stephen and I connected instantly as collectors, connoisseurs, and passionate philanthropists. His creations don’t just sparkle-they speak. Every jewel he designs or curates carries a story of artistry, provenance, and intention, much like the blue-chip works we showcase at Contessa. Together, we bring over 70 years of combined experience in fine art and fine jewelry to this special exhibition-and to a shared cause that’s deeply personal. With the support of the Hamptons community, we hope to give back in a meaningful way and further the American Cancer Society’s vital mission.”
“The Art of the Jewel” is a tribute to shared values: the craftsmanship, legacy, and the stories behind the work,” said Stephen Silver, Founder and CEO of Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry. “Each gemstone carries its own narrative, of geological wonder, human ingenuity, and personal meaning. Like the finest works of art, these jewels are shaped not just by technical mastery, but by emotion and intention. To present them in a gallery setting, alongside a friend and fellow connoisseur like Steve Hartman, is an exciting step toward bridging the fine art and high jewelry worlds in a meaningful new way. That we can do so in support of our dear friend Barbara Sellinger and the American Cancer Society makes this exhibition even more powerful.”
Photos by Petro Onysko | Onysko Photography, courtesy of Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry.
Stephen Silver has worked with ACS since 2019, developing a lasting partnership with longtime ACS supporter and board leader Barbara Sellinger. Their continued collaboration underscores the power of private philanthropy in accelerating breakthroughs, especially for those most affected by cancer.
Photos by Petro Onysko | Onysko Photography, courtesy of Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry.
“This exhibition is deeply personal for me. I’ve devoted much of my life to supporting causes that save lives, and the American Cancer Society is at the heart of that mission,” said Barbara Sellinger, “Stephen Silver has been one of our most committed partners-generous, heartfelt, and hands-on. Seeing Stephen and Steve Hartman unite their talents for The Art of the Jewel, and for a cause we all believe in, means the world. Every jewel sold brings us one step closer to ending cancer for everyone.”
Photos by Petro Onysko | Onysko Photography, courtesy of Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry.
Funds raised through the exhibition will help advance the American Cancer Society’s work across research, early detection, prevention, treatment, and recovery programs, while supporting individuals and families at every stage of the cancer journey.
Photos by Petro Onysko | Onysko Photography, courtesy of Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry.
The exhibition will open on August 26 at Contessa Gallery Southampton and will run through September 2nd, inviting Hamptonites and art lovers across the region to take in the jewelry and fine art works throughout the week by private appointment or walk-in, and at events including a soft opening, Tuesday, August 26, a VIP reception on Thursday, August 28, or the Tumbleweed Tuesday closing party on Tuesday, September 2.
Photos by Petro Onysko | Onysko Photography, courtesy of Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry.
The Exhibition Partners
Photo by Petro Onysko | Onysko Photography, courtesy of Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry.
Stephen Silver, CEO of Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry, is known for cutting the rarest colored gemstones and fancy colored diamonds in the world. In addition, he designs and manufactures some of the most extraordinary high jewelry pieces ever created. He has acquired extraordinary estate jewelry of historic provenance, such as the Cullinan Blue Diamond necklace, which now sits within the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Permanent collection (donated by Silver in 2010.)
(Right) Jared Silver, President of Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry
Photo by Petro Onysko | Onysko Photography, courtesy of Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry.
Ever the treasure hunter, Silver discovered The Pink Promise Diamond, and oversaw the 14.93-carat Fancy Vivid Pink diamond’s daring recut, which yielded a record price per carat at auction.
Steve Hartman, Co-Owner of Contessa Gallery, has been a respected leader in the fine art industry for decades, and is the past President of the Board of Directors for the Fine Art Dealers Association (FADA). An avid collector with an eye for identifying and nurturing new talent as well as curating the best in blue chip fine art. Hartman is also a lifelong patron of the arts and a long-standing philanthropist. Hartman’s stable of artists and works through Contessa spans diverse mediums, eras, and styles, including Salvador Dali, Louise Bourgeois, Chuck Close, Harry Benson, Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, among others.
Barbara Sellinger, Chair of the American Cancer Society Northwest New Jersey Region Advisory Board, is a philanthropic leader with decades of volunteer work and charitable leadership leading and serving on numerous non-profit boards in the role of executive committee member or Chair. Sellinger is most passionate about causes that help save lives.
WHAT:
“The Art of the Jewel” Limited Exhibition at Contessa Gallery Southampton
WHEN:
August 26-September 2, 2025
Exhibition Open Gallery Hours:
MON – SAT, 11 AM – 9 PM, SUN 11 – 8 PM
Special Events:
SOFT OPENING: TUES, AUG 26, 11 AM – 9 PM
VIP RECEPTION: THURS, AUG 28, 5 PM – 9 PM
Tumbleweed Tuesday Closing Party: TUES, SEPT 2, 11 AM – 9 PM
WHERE:
CONTESSA GALLERY SOUTHAMPTON,
9 Main Street, Southampton, NY 11968
RSVP:
[email protected] – Required for Evening Receptions
Gallery is open to Walk-Ins during Daytime Open Hours,
Private Appointments Welcomed
Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry
https://shsilver.com | @stephensilver
Stephen Silver is one of the United States’ premier jewelry houses and timepiece salons. For 45 years, the independent, family-owned company has helped clients in Silicon Valley and abroad to build and steward their collections over the course of generations, offering access to the world’s rarest jewelry, diamonds, and colored gemstones as well as highly collectible timepieces from leading brands and independent watchmakers.
The Silvers’ unsurpassed expertise in gemology and ultra-rare jewelry has led them to acquire numerous historically significant items, among them the famed Cullinan Blue Diamond necklace, which Stephen Silver donated to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History permanent collection, and the record-breaking 14.93 carat Pink Promise Diamond, daringly recut by the Silvers and sold for a record price per carat. Today, the company remains rooted in the SF Bay Area under the leadership of Jared and Stephen Silver, now a vertically integrated wholesale and retail operation of international reach lauded for its curatorial approach, inspired designs, and innovative, tech-forward approach to independent luxury retail.
Contessa Gallery
contessagallery.com | @contessagallery
Founded in 1999, Contessa Gallery is a Fine Art Dealers Association Member (FADA) featuring a variety of artists, including blue-chip, established, and emerging artists, and art acquisition counsel to collectors, museums, and institutions. Contessa Gallery is built on three main principles: passion, integrity, and education. With a strong commitment to service and connoisseurship, Contessa Gallery has developed a notable local, national, and international following and a reputation for integrity and excellence.
The gallery continues expanding its clientele and reputation through its exhibitions at its locations and participating in prestigious art fairs such as Art Basel: Art Miami, Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary, the Armory Show Modern, and the Hamptons Fine Art Fair. At the philanthropic level, Contessa Gallery seeks to make a difference in the community by contributing time, expertise, sponsorship, and educational programming for museums and arts organizations.
The American Cancer Society
New Jersey Northwest Region Advisory Board
cancer.org/~new-jersey | @cancernynj
The American Cancer Society is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting cancer through groundbreaking research, advocacy, and direct patient support. With over $5.5 billion invested in research since 1946 and $34.84 million currently deployed across New York City research institutions alone, ACS is committed to ending cancer as we know it—for everyone. The American Cancer Society aims to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families through advocacy, research, and patient support, ensuring everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. The vision is to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. The mission of the NW ACS Region Advisory Board is to support early detection prevention and cure for all.
All images courtesy of Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry.
Tags: American Cancer Society, art, artistry, Barbara Sellinger, charity organisations, Contessa Gallery, exhibitions, fashion, fine art, fine arts, health, Jared Silver, jewellery, jewelry, jewelry design, Limited Exhibition, New Jersey, New York City, nonprofit organization, Onysko Photography, Petro Onysko, photographer, premier jewelry house, Southampton, Stephen Silver, Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry, Steve Hartman, Top, top jewelers
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