Collecting came easy to me, curating, was a natural next step…

History

As a child, I would spend hours perusing my grandmother’s jewelry boxes. Silver, gold, sparkly, shiny, delicate, bold, soft, hard, intricate, garish, I was mesmerized by her collection, often revisiting it when spending time with her. She would sit down with me as she sorted them all, telling stories about when she acquired certain pieces, pulling out box after precious box right before my eyes. Whether it was something purchased from where she was living at the time, a token from some fabulous trip she went on, or a gift from her mother or another beloved relative, these moments became our time of sharing. She’d allow me to play and try things on, with drawers and jewelry boxes strewn about the room, sharing what she wanted me to have at certain points in my life to come. Sadly, she passed when I was only 16, but to this day I have her jewelry boxes, and I treasure and wear the pieces I inherited from her.  Her engagement ring, which now also includes stones from my husband’s grandmother’s ring as well, (redesigned by a close friend and me) became my wedding ring. I’d like to think it helps to keep both her and his grandmother close to my heart. (You can see the ring in the photo below, courtesy of Diane Dewey)

Passion

I have been obsessed with buying and collecting vintage and antique jewelry since I was 14. With 40 years as a self-taught jeweler, eventually earning a bachelors degree in jewelry making and metalsmithing, as well as being an experienced teacher, I know how pieces are made, can identify their eras, and have the the skill to make any necessary repairs to allow a piece to live a new life.

As you seek and shop from my ever-changing collection, what you will find comes from my own personal cache, unique pieces I find on my travels, and pieces acquired through antique and vintage dealers as well as from clients. Each piece is inspected, tested, gently cleaned and polished, and guaranteed. If you have something in mind you’re searching for, please let me know, I would love to help you find the heirloom of your dreams.

Legacy

Like my handmade jewelry, with proper care, the vintage and antique jewelry that I sell is guaranteed to last more than a lifetime. Finding meaning in the things that we choose to adorn ourselves with, while contemplating the stories the pieces lived before us, is magical. I hope you find just the right piece, or pieces, that are uniquely you as they become a part of your own story.