Are you a collector? I have strong feelings about Christmas ornaments and I fear it’s a rather unpopular opinion, so you may want to buckle up. While I love a beautiful tree with pretty ribbons and matching ornaments, I think those should be reserved for hotel lobbies. When I go to someone’s home, I want to see a curation of ornaments on your tree that have meaning to you. It demonstrates authenticity and gives a glimpse into who you really are. One of my favorite ornaments is a half-broken vintage glass ornament that was on my childhood Christmas tree before my father passed away when I was young. I want to see pieces of you reflected in your family Christmas tree. 

I have the same opinion about interior design and not surprisingly, about jewelry design as well. I have been designing jewelry under my own brand for 25 years now and am a graduate of Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts in San Francisco. I have seen myriad trends come and go in jewelry and over the years, my philosophy on trends has changed entirely. When I was in middle school, the trendy, cheap earrings caused nasty allergic reactions in my delicate ears. My sweet parents bought me a pair of 14k yellow gold hollow hoop earrings as a consolation. I simply couldn’t wear the “cool” pieces that all of my friends did. And thus began my journey of “less, but better” when it comes to jewelry. 

As you approach your own jewelry wardrobe, my recommendation would be to take on the role of curator/collector. Your jewelry should be a collection of things that you truly love - pieces that tell a story or evoke a special memory or just feel like “you”, just like your Christmas ornament collection. Of course, there is room for a trendy, fun piece here and there to mix in with your quality ones, but on the whole, I wish more people would invest in quality pieces and here’s why. . . 

They last. Not only do they transcend trends, which are, by definition, short-lived, they actually physically last longer and they can be repaired and can be handed down to your children and grandchildren and can be reworked, if necessary, to bring new life to them, ensuring that you leave a beautiful legacy for generations to come. I cherish the pieces handed down to me by my grandmother. Not because they are worth a lot of money (they aren’t) but because they were special to her and so they connect me to her - and I dearly love and miss her. I could tell you countless personal stories about clients whose heirloom jewelry we have reworked into something special that they treasure AND get to wear daily, remembering that special person who gave it to them and maintaining a special connection with them. 

One such story involves stunning pieces from a storied Houston family, reworking beautiful pieces into truly special necklaces that are striking and can be worn every day. Another involves a client in New Orleans who inherited the wedding rings of two grandmothers that were rather dated in style, so we made them into a single ring that she can wear every day. Perhaps one of the most memorable provenances of heirloom jewelry was a client whose family was Austrian royalty. During the occupation of Austria in WW2, she dismantled pieces of her own jewelry and hand-sewed the gems into the lining of her coat before escaping the Nazis. Once the war was over, she had some beautiful pieces made with the gems by a jewelry designer in Paris. One such piece was an exquisite brooch of emeralds and diamonds. My client does not wear pins often, so we remade this piece into a bracelet for her to wear on special occasions. What a treasure for her! Custom pieces are another incredible way to express your personal style. One client of mine made a really fun ring for her boyfriend from an inside joke they shared that fulfilled a childhood dream of his. Another client had me make a custom wedding ring for his fiancée so that no one would have the exact same design as his bride. Each one has a really cool story with their piece. 

To start a collection you love, you simply have to be willing to forget about trendy jewelry and instead buy the things you really love - the ones that stir your soul a bit when you first see them and make you smile each time you put them on. With a few key items like that, the adventure begins. You can then mix and match the pieces, whether that is layering necklaces, stacking up rings, adding charms to diamond huggies or creating an arm party that brings a smile to your face each day. Every day, your ears, fingers, neck and wrists become a fresh palette on which you get to express yourself. You tell a story about who you are, where you have been and this life that you have lived. 

So, the next time you make a wish list for yourself or consider buying a piece of jewelry for yourself, be intentional. It doesn’t have to be overly expensive. It just needs to be classic and timeless and fit well into your jewelry wardrobe so that you have options to play with as you get dressed each day, putting on pieces that make you feel as beautiful outside as you are inside.

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Meet your neighbor Andrea Montgomery Stewart, creator of elegantly simple jewelry and Owner of Andrea Montgomery Designs. Her desire to create timeless jewelry that makes you feel more beautiful each time you wear it. Andrea is blessed to call herself wife and mom in addition to business owner. Her husband and 4 boys are her heart and soul and the highest calling of her life.