What’s in Your Jewelry Box?
What jewelry is a part of you? These are the pieces that are so special you rarely wear them. Or you wear them every day. Take a peek inside other women’s jewelry boxes and see their forever pieces sparkle, hear their stories, hold them close.
Diamonds are this girl's birthstone & best friend
The summer of my freshman year of college, I wandered into a jewelry store looking for a part-time job. I didn’t know it would spark my career in such a joyful industry. I lucked out when I met my mentor, Marla, who was patient, encouraging, and allowed me to take responsibility from the beginning.
Over the past fourteen years, I’ve lived in different cities, worked for retailers and manufacturers, and enjoyed seeing the many facets of the jewelry industry. I’m most passionate about merchandising and inventory management; I love predicting trends, analyzing sales data, and finding the most exciting pieces to build a retail store’s inventory.
I love the versatility of diamonds. I’ve always been active, and I can run, hike, chase a one-year-old, and wear diamonds without worrying about wear and tear. Diamonds are a hard stone, and while nothing is indestructible, they are ideal for every day. My diamond pieces are staples in my jewelry box that can be worn with jeans and a t-shirt or a cocktail dress. While I also wear funky, unique jewelry, I'll throw on my classic diamond pieces and know they look fabulous if I'm in a hurry.
My everyday style is pretty minimalist: two pairs of different-sized diamond studs set in white gold. My Dad gave me my tiny second hole studs on my sixteenth birthday because I’d always wanted my April birthstone. They are one of my most cherished pieces of jewelry. My Dad is shocked I never lost them.
When I was in high school, my Grandma moved across the street from me and any time I was being a moody teenager and my parents were “stressing me out” I would run away to Grandma’s house. She would bake a pound cake and let me stay up late watching TV. My Grandma passed away years ago, and
I had her diamond set in a simple bezel pendant that I never take off.
My husband is Irish, and on our first big trip together as a couple we traveled to Ireland and drove through the countryside. When we returned home, he collaborated with my coworker to purchase a Claddagh ring to commemorate our trip. It was the first piece of jewelry he gave me, a “just because gift.” The Claddagh represents love, loyalty, and friendship. The ring is made by Solvar, a family-owned Irish brand based in the heart of Dublin, and I wear it every day too.
This vintage Art Deco diamond ring was given to me by my first mentors, Marla and Cary of Kent Jewelers in Blacksburg, VA. I worked at the store throughout college, and Marla, a successful small business owner of two businesses, took me under her wing and taught me how to navigate the jewelry industry. I helped organize a large lot of jewelry for a local estate auction and was just in awe of this stunning ring. Marla’s partner, Cary, attended the auction to purchase the ring for me. It was a huge surprise!
The first piece of fine jewelry I bought myself was a chunky, dated diamond band I was so proud of. I was twenty-two and went to my first wholesale market as a buyer for a retail jewelry store. I wanted to buy something to commemorate the milestone. I was sitting at a sales booth sifting through hundreds of closeout jewelry pieces, and I remember bursting with excitement as I found this diamond band in the massive pile. A decade later, it’s out of style and sits in my jewelry box, but I can’t bear to restyle it. Every time I see it, I smile and remember my first job and feel empowered.
Editor: Samantha Durbin
Wordsmith: Bailey Collins
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