Margot McKinney’s “In Residence” at Bergdorf Goodman Is A Jewelry Haven

This month, Margot McKinney, the venerated fourth-generation Australian jeweler, unveiled her “In Residence” pop-up space within the hallowed Jewelry Salon of Bergdorf Goodman, New York’s bastion of sartorial splendor. This bespoke installation, a meticulous collaboration with the Bergdorf team, transports the essence of McKinney’s Brisbane flagship to Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, offering an enclave where artistry, heritage, and the raw opulence of nature converge.

Here, amidst a curated tableau of exclusive designs crafted for this occasion, McKinney’s signature Australian South Sea pearls, fiery opals, and a kaleidoscope of colored gemstones gleam as testaments to her unerring eye and generational craft. It is a space of commerce and communion—an invitation to traverse the intimate narratives woven into each piece.

The pop-up’s aesthetic is a reverent nod to McKinney’s Queensland roots, its entrance framed by twin doors resplendent in her hallmark Kelly green—a hue distilled from the verdant rainforests of her homeland. Within, the decor unfurls as an ode to eclectic elegance: a Spanish colonial giltwood mirror with mosaic inlays presides over leopard-print carpeting, while ornate bamboo-style sconces cast a golden glow. Display cases, adorned with Chinese ginger jars cherished by McKinney’s forebears, juxtapose fuchsia pink velvet and green Thai silk, cradling her creations in a vivid interplay of texture and tone.

Photo Credit: Courtesy

This mise-en-scène mirrors the vibrancy of the natural world that inspires her—its exotic contours and untamed hues distilled into jewelry that is at once audacious and refined. For McKinney, this residency is a rare privilege, as she confides: “The chance to engage one-on-one with my wonderful collectors in the United States allows me to personally share the inspiration for my pieces, as well as the many fascinating stories of the people and places that have made each one possible.”

Photo Credit: Courtesy

Linda Fargo, Bergdorf Goodman’s Senior Vice President of Women’s Fashion and Director of Store Presentation, heralds the collaboration as a pinnacle of the retailer’s curatorial ethos. “Margot McKinney’s ‘In Residence’ embodies a rare and exquisite artistry, combining the world’s most extraordinary gemstones with an uncompromising eye for detail,” she avers. “As a fourth-generation jeweler, Margot brings a legacy of excellence to every piece, creating treasures that transcend time.” Indeed, McKinney’s work is a dialogue between couture and craftsmanship, where the lustrous depths of Australian pearls and the prismatic fire of opals—gems coveted for their scarcity and provenance—marry her meticulous design sensibility. These are not mere adornments but heirlooms in the making, each bearing the imprint of a lineage that stretches across a century.

Photo Credit: Courtesy

Open through April 30, 2025, this residency at Bergdorf Goodman stands as a luminous bridge between continents and eras, uniting the tropical exuberance of Queensland with the cosmopolitan pulse of New York. McKinney’s presence elevates the Jewelry Salon into a gallery of living heritage, where collectors and connoisseurs alike may partake in the alchemy of her craft.