Whether a talisman, a gift or a family heirloom, jewellery represents so much more than mere adornment. We asked 11 designers and creatives to share the stories behind their most treasured pieces…
“Without question, it’s the Bertino, a gold necklace, from my jewellery designer father Umberto, which has been in my family for generations. It’s beautifully understated, but it’s the history behind it that makes it so precious. I love the idea that it has been worn, cherished and cared for by those who came before me… antique pieces hold so many stories and have lived so many different lives.”
“There are many pieces I treasure, but the one I hold closest, even if I don’t wear it often, is a rare Victorian bloodstone and gold tri-fold locket containing photographs of my children as babies. It was a gift from my husband and over time it has become far more than a piece of jewellery. It now sits in my dressing room, where I see it every day, a quiet reminder of those early years. Finding a tri-fold locket is incredibly unusual, most were made with space for only one or two images. I love its intimacy… the idea that the people you love can be carried so close to your heart.”
“Andrew Grima used unlikely materials, which is why I love his jewellery. I used to have an antique Grima ring with a D motif, but I lost it in a hotel. Two and a half years ago, I commissioned his daughter to make this piece from carbon fibre, accented with zigzags of gold. I’m not a diamond guy, but she asked to add a few. It’s elegant yet feels quite 1970s and I love the fact that I can flip it. It’s the equivalent of night and day.”
“This antique diamond pendant belonged to my paternal great-grandmother. She was a Holocaust survivor and, after coming to America, she developed quite a jewellery collection. I always think of it as her way of saying, ‘You don’t get to take beauty from me’. The pendant, which I hang on a necklace, was originally one of a pair of diamond earrings and my cousin has the other one. I love that we each ended up with one half – it feels like two branches of the family carrying the same story in different ways.”
“I came across a 1940s belt buckle bracelet at The Couture Show in Las Vegas during the week of my 40th birthday. It’s made from the most gorgeous buttery gold and fits perfectly on my wrist. It’s heavy, beautifully tactile and the ‘tail’ moves when I gesture with my hands. I have
never seen one like this before or since because it’s set with rubies, not diamonds. It takes up a lot of real estate on my skin but feels quite low-key too.”
“I lose everything so, as a defence mechanism, I’ve learnt not to get too attached to things. One piece I do hold onto, though, is this gold chain necklace that I got from my mother. I remember her wearing it when I was young and now I have it. Sure, I also like the look of the gold chain, but it’s more that it transports me to another time – happy times during my childhood with my parents and siblings, when time itself moved more slowly and when it felt as if I had all the
time in the world with my family.”
Ditte Reffstrup, creative director of Ganni
“Two pendants: a little owl I bought at a classic Copenhagen flea market by Thorvaldsen Museum. I bought it in 1999 after passing an exam that I never thought I would! I think it was maths, but it was many years ago. Then, a little wooden heart, which was a gift from my father after he had gone travelling when I was a teenager. I only really started wearing it after he passed away. Even though it’s very simple, it reminds me of him.”
Laney Crowell, founder of Saie Beauty
“I’ve had my eye on a specific vintage Piaget bracelet watch for a long time, and finally found it last spring through a private UK collector. The watch is yellow gold and fully set with brilliant-cut diamonds, the definition of intentional but unfussy, equal parts sculpture and timekeeper. I love to wear it with both evening attire and vintage Levi’s, a fitted tee and heels.”
“One day, my late father bought a plaque home and told my mum it was our family crest. She didn't really understand what it meant, but she kept it in our house. I would always see the plaque and think that when I was old enough, I’d make the crest into a ring for all the members of my family. So far, I’ve only made one.”
Beth Hutches, founder of FoundRae
“An enamel bracelet I acquired in my 20s. It’s a 19th-century souvenir piece from Germany, crafted in sterling silver and enamel. It was this piece that first sparked my enduring passion for enamel work, an appreciation that has stayed with me ever since. When I started FoundRae in 2015, the initial collection centred on vivid enamel in blue, red and green – a direct reflection of that early inspiration. Over the years, I could have had the bracelet restored, but I prefer to preserve its natural patina. It is not especially valuable, but it is entirely one of a kind.”
Sandra Choi, creative director of Jimmy Choo
“A Rolex watch from the 1950s that my husband gave me before he was my husband. It feels both masculine and feminine, refined, understated and effortlessly versatile, making it suitable for any occasion. What means the most to me, however, is the thoughtfulness behind it. My family often says I’m the most difficult person to buy presents for because I value the meaning behind a gift more than the gift itself. I suppose they know me rather well.”
