Do you have a special piece of jewelry that was handed down to you from a cherished relative? What do you do with it, how do you wear it, or how do you incorporate it into the current trends with your style?
My mother cherished her herringbone 24-carat gold chain she bought on QVC in the 80s and she passed it on to me one recent Christmas. I don’t wear gold, so I gave it to my daughter the following year for graduation. It really means alot to my mom to see her granddaughter enjoying her necklace.
"My mother always wore a gold charm bracelet on her left hand. She was a very petite woman and it was full of charms, one for each grandchild," says publisher Lisa Thibault. "When she traveled she would buy reminder charms and over the years her grandchildren would continue to fill up her charm bracelet. I now am the proud owner of this beautiful piece of history which I cherish."
Jewelry is always in fashion, and the latest trends are showing us that brooches are having a moment! Pearls when styled right, or layered with chains in either silver or gold are trends for fall. When looking for vintage, you may want to find something with a name brand attached to it. A Chanel pin is so versatile that it can be worn on a denim jacket or a velvet evening coat.
Women who find themselves marrying for a second time might have jewelry given to them by a previous spouse. Jewels have energy surrounding them, and should be cared for with love and respect for the stone itself, not always the sentiment of the giver! “I have a diamond heart necklace from my first husband. It was the first gift he gave me and out of all the jewelry including my previous wedding ring that is the one item,” says Alicia Burroughs.
"My most favorite pieces were gifted to me by my grandmother and mother," says Elizabeth Tyler of East Cobb. "My grandmother had a beautiful engagement brooch, which was made into a ring featuring a center diamond flanked by sapphires and given to me on my 21st birthday. The second piece I treasure is a pin I created using the timepieces given to me by my mother and namesakes. Each watch face is inscribed with the date of their high school graduation."
Accessorizing with jewelry can mean a little sparkle here or there, or in the case of Coco Chanel, rows and rows of pearls. It does not matter if they are real or imitations, try to collect pieces that are meaningful to you as if inherited from a cherished relative or even objects that you might hand down to your descendants when you are finished with them.
For advice on how to care for your cherished pieces, ask a local jeweler and do shop locally!
Kendra Scott
Shane Co. Fine Jewelers
D. Geller & Son Jewelers