Sam Broekema

New York, United States

Editor-In-Chief at Only Natural Diamonds

Former Wisconsinite, pet owner, employee of Harper's Bazaar, accidental buyer of expensive candles

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Articles

A History of Pearls Through a New Exhibition in Paris

1 week ago | naturaldiamonds.com | Sam Broekema

If there is a gem that captures the mood of the Roaring Twenties, it is certainly the mile-long strand of pearls, looped carelessly over a frock shockingly short, made for dancing, and showing off rouged knees. The pearl necklace, when paired with sparkling diamonds, is synonymous with soigné French glamour. An exhibition at L'Ecole des Arts Joaillieurs in Paris ponders the question: Why is Paris the capital of pearls?
Rachel Brosnahan: She's a Rainbow

2 months ago | naturaldiamonds.com | Sam Broekema

EARRINGS Lauren Deyoung, Anita Ko * CHOKER Larkspur & Hawk * NECKLACE Van Cleef & Arpels * RING Beck, Jade Ruzzo * TOP Vivienne Westwood * SKIRT Vintage Maison MargielaPhotographed by: Phoenix JohnsonStyled by: Marissa BaklayanWritten by: Sam BroekemaFrom umber waves and vintage gems in The Marvelous Mrs.
2025 Paris High Jewelry Week Unveils New Masterpieces

Feb 5, 2025 | naturaldiamonds.com | Sam Broekema

It makes sense that the natural world is a recurrent theme in high jewelry and 2025 Paris High Jewelry presentations were no exception. Natural diamonds, gold, and platinum are wonders created by the forces that created our planet and never fail to capture the imagination. High jewelry is, in many ways, the apex of our efforts to master these adamantine materials and bend them with our will to express our imagination.
A Day In The Life Of A Jewelry Designer

Dec 10, 2024 | naturaldiamonds.com | Sam Broekema

Do you live to work? Work to live? Do you work hard and play hard? These questions pervade the discussion about the elusive work-life balance. What if there's another way? Lauren Harwell Godfrey offers a master class on how every day presents an opportunity to take inspiration from the quotidian. She invited Only Natural Diamonds to spend a day in her life in Marin, California, and shared how every moment informs her work as a designer and human.
The Legacy of Iconic Diamond Dealer William Goldberg

Nov 19, 2024 | naturaldiamonds.com | Sam Broekema |Jill Newman

Natural diamond dealer William Goldberg's impact on the industry is showcased in a new book, written by Only Natural Diamonds' editor-at-large, Jill Newman and Jackie Caradonio. The William Goldberg Way is more than a biography, it is a chronicle of how the natural diamond industry in New York grew from a village into a thriving hub of the jewelry community worldwide.
Katey Walker Opens First Store in Connecticut

Jul 19, 2024 | naturaldiamonds.com | Sam Broekema

On a charming stretch of Main Street, USA, jewelry designer Katey Walker has put out the shingle for her first retail store right where she lives in Old Saybrook, CT. As a trained bench jeweler, it was important for her to showcase how her pieces are made while emphasizing that her original baubles are all made on-site. Therefore, the workbench at the back of the open-concept space is the first thing you see when you walk in.
Back To The Future...In Van Cleef & Arpels Natural Diamonds

Jul 10, 2024 | naturaldiamonds.com | Sam Broekema

Over more than a century, Van Cleef & Arpels has reflected cultural mores and in many cases, set the trends for how we wear jewelry. Few houses can claim the brand recognition of so many iconic collections: Alhambra, Frivole, Perlée, the list goes on. Yet, the Maison's strength lies in its ingenuity. The technical feats significant in current collections hearken back to pieces designed in its first years.
Paris High Jewelry's Most Glorious Treasures of 2024

Jul 2, 2024 | naturaldiamonds.com | Sam Broekema

French culture has long been held up as the ne plus ultra for elevating the everyday to the sublime: from bread and butter to personal jewelry. Each year during Haute Couture Fashion Week, the grand Maisons of Place Vendôme take adornment to what can only be described as the next next next level. This July in, anticipation of the Paris Olympics, each designer has truly gone for the gold... and natural diamonds.
The Reza Family Legacy

Jun 12, 2024 | naturaldiamonds.com | Sam Broekema

Surrounding Olivier Reza's desk in New York City are two computer monitors, family portraits in handmade frames, a toy schnauzer, and a tray of the rarest natural diamonds in the world. Add to this an eclectic and considered collection of modern and tribal art and you get it. This juxtaposition of the modern, the sentimental, and the precious is what makes the Maison founded by his father, Alexandre Reza, like no other. Natural diamonds are in his DNA.
Diamond Jewelry Designer Matthew Harris' Journey to Botswana

Dec 13, 2023 | naturaldiamonds.com | Sam Broekema

Words by: Sam BroekemaMinimalism can be the hardest design ethos to maintain; there’s nowhere to hide. Fortunately Jamaican born jewelry designer Matthew Harris of Mateo New York isn’t interested in hiding behind anything. Every piece in his fine jewelry collection is intentionally crafted and serves a specific purpose in the wearer’s collection. This refined vision makes a new launch a real cause for celebration.