Leigh Maxwell Marks 5 Years at Couture With Vibrant 'Bauble' Collection

Leigh Maxwell is celebrating a significant milestone—its fifth anniversary exhibiting at the prestigious COUTURE show in Las Vegas. To commemorate this occasion, the brand is launching its new ‘Bauble’ capsule collection, a curated selection of eight one-of-a-kind rings and earrings that showcase some of the most vibrant and distinctive pieces created to date.

A Celebration of Growth and Color

Founder and designer Jennifer Maxwell described the ‘Bauble’ collection as a tribute to the brand’s origins and its evolution. “This collection is a nod to where my brand started and how it has evolved as a celebration of growth, discovery, and having fun with color in a refined, wearable way,” Maxwell stated. The collection prominently features less common gemstones, highlighting Maxwell’s personal favorites and her growing appreciation for stones that offer a unique character.

“Pavé has been part of the collection since day one, so it felt natural to bring that into this collection,” Maxwell explained. “Over the years, I’ve discovered so much about less common gemstones and wanted to highlight some of my personal favorites—stones that feel a little less expected.” While the brand’s designs are rooted in simplicity, the ‘Bauble’ collection elevates this aesthetic with pieces that are clean, effortless, and more expressive.

The color palette of the ‘Bauble’ collection is a key feature, balancing soft, warm tones with vibrant accents. It includes rose zircon, mocha zircon, tanzanite, aquamarine, green tourmaline, and Malaya garnet. “I chose this color palette to create a balance that is soft and warm yet showed some vibrancy,” said Maxwell. She noted her long-standing attraction to stones like aquamarine and tanzanite, alongside a recent fondness for mint tourmaline, which adds cool undertones, while the warmer stones provide depth and richness. “Together, these stones create a palette that feels modern yet romantic, and effortlessly wearable,” she added.

The ‘Bauble’ earrings, highlighted as a Piece of the Week, are a prime example of the collection’s artistry. They feature a substantial 7.72 carats of rose zircons, surrounded by 1.21 carats of diamond pavé, set in 18-karat yellow gold with a distinctive satin finish. The collection’s pieces range in retail price from $21,000 to $35,000, with the featured earrings priced at $22,780.

From Physician to Designer: A Journey of Meaning

Jennifer Maxwell’s path to jewelry design is as unique as her creations. She founded Leigh Maxwell in 2017, after a career as a physician specializing in international health. Her travels to remote villages in Africa, Haiti, and Cambodia, where she purchased jewelry from local artisans, ignited her passion for the craft. These pieces served as commemorations of her experiences and fostered connections with the communities she served.

After designing her first piece, Maxwell apprenticed with jewelry stores in her hometown of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and pursued extensive studies in jewelry making. Her brand, Leigh Maxwell, is known for its “casual luxury” aesthetic, characterized by intentional design and the use of natural, hand-selected gemstones set in 18-karat gold with a signature warm satin finish. All pieces are produced in the United States, either in the Cedar Rapids studio or in downtown Los Angeles, with a commitment to transparency in material sourcing and provenance.

Giving Back: Philanthropy at the Core

Beyond her creative endeavors, Jennifer Maxwell is a dedicated philanthropist. As a survivor of three heart attacks, she is a passionate advocate for heart health, supporting the American Heart Association (AHA) and the Cedar Rapids Go Red Heart Health Lunch. In 2025, she was appointed an AHA ambassador, becoming one of the few women in Iowa to receive this distinction. Her fundraising efforts have been notably successful, with a recent campaign raising over $63,000 for the AHA, making it the top campaign in Iowa and 18th nationally.

Leigh Maxwell also actively supports Gem Legacy, an organization that partners with East African mining communities to foster opportunity and education, and the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, which focuses on wildlife conservation in East Africa. From September 2024 to January 2025, 50% of the net profits from the brand’s ‘Bahati’ collection were donated to the Sheldrick Wildlife Foundation.

Looking Ahead

Reflecting on the brand’s trajectory, Maxwell emphasized a focus on organic growth and maintaining a deep connection to the craft and clients. “Over the next five years, I see the brand evolving with intention rather than speed—favoring organic growth that allows us to stay deeply connected to our craft and our clients,” she stated. The brand will continue to prioritize sourcing high-quality gems, ethical practices, and small-batch production to preserve rarity and ensure meticulous attention to detail, aiming to refine a luxury experience rooted in exclusivity, integrity, and quiet distinction.