See ‘Radiance and Reverie: Jewels from the Collection of Neil Lane’ in Toledo

Chances are you know Neil Lane from seeing a piece of his jewelry sparkling from the neck or finger of a celebrity on the red carpet. Or you’ve seen him in the final episode of the reality show “The Bachelor,” where he presents the engagement ring for the proposal. You may even own a ring from his line at Kay Jewelers. Fewer people know that the famed jeweler has amassed an enormous collection of jewelry spanning nearly a century, and some of the pieces have been worn by the biggest names in entertainment. 

“Radiance and Reverie: Jewels from the Collection of Neil Lane,” at the Toledo Museum of Art from Oct. 18 through Jan. 18, 2026, features nearly 200 pieces of jewelry from some of the most important European and American
designers.

“You’re going to see extraordinary jewelry that takes you back in time, kind of this historic walk through 100 years of jewelry-making and design,” says Diane Wright, senior curator of glass and contemporary craft at the Toledo Museum of Art, who co-curated the exhibit with Emily Stoehrer, senior curator of jewelry at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. 

The exhibition is organized so visitors experience three cities and eras. It begins in Paris in the 19th century, highlighting Gothic, Renaissance and Egyptian Revival pieces, including a stunning gold bracelet adorned with a bird and clusters of pearl grapes. It then moves into New York City around the turn of the century and focuses on works by Louis C. Tiffany and Tiffany & Co., such as a diamond-studded platinum brooch shaped like a bow. 

Finally, the exhibition moves into Hollywood, featuring items ranging from pieces worn by Golden Age actresses Mae West and Merle Oberon to a diamond cuff bracelet that was on Lady Gaga’s wrist when she accepted her 2016 Golden Globe award. 

“It’s kind of this extraordinary version of the familiar,” Wright says. “I hope you can walk around, see these beautiful objects and just lose yourself in the glamour of it all.”

2445 Monroe St., Toledo 43620, 419/255-8000, toledomuseum.org

For more Ohio arts inspiration, sign up for our Ohio Magazine newsletters.

Ohio Magazine is available in a beautifully designed print issue that is published 7 times a year, along with Spring-Summer and Fall-Winter editions of LongWeekends magazine. Subscribe to Ohio Magazine and stay connected to beauty, adventure and fun across our state.