Use a private jeweler for custom designs, not just a big-name brand, for better value and a more personal experience.
The Tailor vs. The Department Store Suit
You can buy a suit from a famous brand at a big department store, and it might be very nice. But it was made for thousands of people. A private tailor, however, will sit down with you, learn your style, and then craft a suit that fits you and only you, perfectly. A private jeweler is your personal tailor. Instead of choosing a ring that was designed for the masses, you get to collaborate with an artist to create a piece that tells your unique story, often getting higher quality materials for the same price because you’re not paying for a massive marketing budget.
Stop buying “fashion” jewelry. Do invest in fine jewelry made with precious metals and genuine gemstones instead.
The Disposable Camera vs. The Professional Camera
Fashion jewelry is like a disposable camera. It’s fun, trendy, and perfect for capturing a fleeting moment, but it’s not meant to last. It will quickly break or tarnish, and you’ll just throw it away. Fine jewelry, made from solid gold and real gemstones, is like a high-quality professional camera. It’s a significant purchase, built with incredible craftsmanship to last a lifetime. It’s a timeless piece of equipment you can use to capture all of life’s important moments and one day pass down for someone else to use and cherish.
Stop thinking of gold-plated jewelry as an investment. Do opt for solid gold for lasting value instead.
A Gold-Painted Rock vs. A Solid Gold Nugget
Imagine you find two “gold” rocks. One is just a regular rock with a thin layer of gold paint sprayed on it. The other is a smaller but solid nugget of pure gold. The painted rock looks big and shiny at first, but with a little wear and tear, the paint will chip away, revealing the worthless rock underneath. The solid gold nugget, however, will be just as valuable a hundred years from now. Gold-plated jewelry is the painted rock; it’s a thin, temporary layer. Solid gold is the nugget—its value is real and lasting.
The #1 secret for getting the best price on a diamond is to buy it loose and have it set by a trusted jeweler.
Building Your Own Custom Computer
You can buy a pre-built computer off the shelf, but tech enthusiasts know the secret to getting the best performance for their money is to buy the individual components—the processor, the graphics card, the memory—and assemble it themselves. Buying a diamond works the same way. The big brand stores are selling you a pre-packaged product with a huge markup. By buying a loose diamond from a reputable wholesaler, you can focus your budget on getting the best possible stone. Then, a local jeweler can set it in the ring of your choice for a fraction of the cost.
I’m just going to say it: The “four Cs” are not the only thing that matters when buying a diamond.
A Person’s Stats vs. Their Personality
Imagine you’re looking for a partner and you only focus on a checklist of four things: their height, their hair color, their age, and their income. You might find someone who ticks all the boxes, but you’ve learned nothing about their personality, their kindness, or their sense of humor. The “four Cs” (cut, color, clarity, carat) are a diamond’s stats on paper. But what really makes a diamond beautiful is its brilliance and life—how it sparkles and plays with the light. Some diamonds with perfect stats can look dull, while others with “imperfect” stats can be absolutely breathtaking.
The reason your jewelry collection isn’t cohesive is because you’re not sticking to a specific metal or style.
A Room with Mismatched Furniture
Imagine decorating a room. If you buy a super modern sofa, a rustic farmhouse coffee table, and a fancy antique armchair, the room will feel chaotic and disjointed. Nothing goes together. Your jewelry box can end up the same way if you buy pieces on a whim. The secret to a cohesive look is to decide on a theme. For instance, “I’m going to focus on delicate, yellow gold pieces,” or “My style is bold, silver, and modern.” This strategy acts as your interior designer, helping you build a collection where every piece works together in harmony.
If you’re still buying jewelry without a proper appraisal, you’re taking a huge risk.
Driving a Car Without Knowing its True Value
Imagine you own a vintage car that you think is worth about $10,000. You insure it for that amount and treat it accordingly. Then, you get it professionally appraised and discover it’s actually a rare model worth $100,000. You’ve been driving around with the wrong insurance and not protecting it properly. An appraisal is a professional document that tells you the true replacement value of your jewelry. Without it, you can’t get the right insurance, and if it’s ever lost or stolen, you won’t have the proof you need to be made whole.
The biggest lie you’ve been told about jewelry is that you need a man to buy it for you.
Waiting for Someone Else to Buy You a Houseplant
Imagine wanting a beautiful plant to brighten up your home, but you believe in an old-fashioned rule that says you have to wait for someone to gift it to you. You’d be staring at an empty corner for no reason! The idea that you need to wait for a man to buy you jewelry is just as outdated. If a piece of jewelry speaks to you and you’ve worked hard for your money, buying it for yourself is a powerful and joyful act of self-love and a celebration of your own success. Don’t wait; buy yourself the flowers.
I wish I knew about the different types of gold (e.g., 14k, 18k, 22k) and their durability when I was younger.
The Difference Between Pure Chocolate and a Chocolate Bar
Pure, 100% cacao is very rich and valuable, but it’s also quite soft and bitter. To make a delicious and durable chocolate bar, you mix it with other ingredients. Gold works the same way. 24k gold is pure and a beautiful deep yellow, but it’s too soft for everyday wear. So, it’s mixed with stronger metals to create alloys. 18k gold has more pure gold, making it richer in color but softer. 14k gold has less pure gold, making it more durable and affordable. Knowing the difference helps you choose the right “recipe” for your lifestyle.
99% of people make this one mistake when buying an engagement ring: not considering the bride’s personal style and lifestyle.
Buying a Great Dane for Someone Who Lives in a Tiny Apartment
A Great Dane is a wonderful dog, but it’s a terrible choice for a friend who lives in a tiny studio apartment and rarely goes outside. The gift, while well-intentioned, doesn’t fit the recipient’s life. The same mistake is made with engagement rings. A huge, high-set diamond might be beautiful, but it’s a nightmare for a woman who is a nurse and wears gloves all day, or for a woman who has a very minimalist and understated style. The perfect ring isn’t the biggest or most expensive; it’s the one that seamlessly fits the hand it’s meant for.
This one small habit of cleaning your jewelry regularly will keep it sparkling and beautiful for years to come.
The Magic of a Clean Window
Your windows can be made of the most expensive, high-quality glass in the world, but if they’re covered in a layer of dust and grime, they will look dull and you won’t be able to see the beautiful view outside. Lotions, soaps, and everyday dirt create a similar film over your jewelry, blocking the light from entering your gemstones and making them look lifeless. A simple, regular cleaning with warm water, mild soap, and a soft brush is like washing your windows—it lets the light back in and restores the brilliant, fiery sparkle your jewelry was meant to have.
Use a professional to check the prongs on your rings every year to prevent losing a stone.
Checking the Lug Nuts on Your Car’s Tire
The small metal prongs that hold your diamond in place are like the lug nuts that hold a wheel on your car. You might drive for years without thinking about them. But if one of them were to become loose, the result could be a sudden and catastrophic loss. Every time you accidentally bump your ring, you risk slightly bending a prong. A jeweler can inspect these prongs under magnification in just a few minutes, ensuring everything is tight and secure. This simple, yearly checkup is the best insurance against the heartbreak of looking down and seeing an empty setting.
Stop wearing your pearls in the shower or swimming pool. Do protect them from moisture and chemicals to prevent damage.
Watering a Houseplant with Bleach
Pearls are beautiful, organic gems created by a living creature. They are soft and porous, like the leaves of a delicate plant. You would never water your favorite orchid with harsh chemicals like bleach or soap, as it would cause the leaves to turn yellow and decay. Showering or swimming with your pearls exposes them to the exact same danger. The soaps, shampoos, and chlorine will strip them of their natural luster and eat away at their surface over time, turning your beautiful gems into dull, damaged beads.
Stop storing your jewelry in a jumbled mess. Do use a jewelry box with individual compartments to prevent scratches and tangles.
A Toolbox vs. a Drawer of Junk
Imagine a skilled carpenter’s toolbox. Every tool has its own specific slot, keeping it safe, organized, and easy to find. Now imagine a junk drawer where all the tools are thrown in together—the saw blade scratches the hammer, and all the nails are tangled up. A jewelry box with separate compartments is that organized toolbox. Hard diamonds can easily scratch soft gold, and delicate chains can become hopelessly knotted. Storing each piece separately is the only way to prevent your precious items from damaging each other.
The #1 hack for layering necklaces is to use different lengths and textures.
Creating a Beautiful Flower Arrangement
If you want to create a stunning bouquet of flowers, you don’t just use a bunch of flowers that are all the same type and the same height. You choose a variety: some tall, spiky flowers for height, some big, round blossoms for focus, and some delicate, leafy greens for texture. Layering necklaces works the exact same way. You need different lengths to create visual space, like a short, delicate chain, a medium-length pendant, and a longer, chunkier chain. The mix of lengths and textures is what creates a balanced and interesting arrangement.
I’m just going to say it: You don’t need a huge diamond to have a beautiful and meaningful ring.
The Size of the House vs. The Love Inside It
A massive, cold mansion can feel empty and lonely, while a tiny, cozy cottage can be overflowing with warmth, laughter, and love. The size of the house has nothing to do with the happiness of the home. The same is true for an engagement ring. A ring’s true beauty comes not from the size of its stone, but from the quality of its design, the sparkle of the diamond it holds, and most importantly, the love and commitment that it represents. A smaller, well-chosen diamond in a beautiful setting can be far more stunning than a giant, lifeless rock.
The reason your jewelry collection feels dated is because you’re not updating it with a few new, modern pieces.
A Wardrobe Stuck in a Time Warp
Imagine if your closet was filled with only the clothes you wore ten years ago. While some pieces might be classic, your overall style would feel stuck in the past. To keep a wardrobe feeling fresh, you integrate a few new, modern items each season. Your jewelry box needs the same treatment. You don’t have to get rid of your cherished older pieces. But adding a modern layered necklace or a pair of contemporary hoops can breathe new life into your entire collection, making your classic pieces feel intentional and stylish rather than simply old.
If you’re still not considering vintage and antique jewelry, you’re missing out on some of the most beautiful and unique pieces.
The Charm of a Historic Home
You could build a brand-new house, and it might be very nice. But it won’t have the unique character, the handcrafted details, and the sense of history that you find in a beautiful old home from a bygone era. The same is true for jewelry. Modern, mass-produced pieces can be lovely, but they often lack the soul of an antique ring with its hand-cut diamond and intricate, handmade details. Exploring vintage and antique jewelry is like walking through a historic neighborhood—you discover one-of-a-kind treasures with stories to tell.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that you can’t mix metals.
The Salad with Multiple Ingredients
An old, boring rule says you should only have one vegetable in your salad. But everyone knows the best salads are a mix of different colors, flavors, and textures—lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and carrots all together. The old “rule” about not mixing gold and silver is just as outdated. A thoughtful stack of silver, yellow gold, and rose gold bracelets is like a delicious, complex salad for your wrist. The contrast between the metals is what makes the combination so visually interesting and stylish.
I wish I knew how to properly care for my different gemstones when I first started collecting jewelry.
Not All Plants Need the Same Amount of Sunlight
If you were a new plant owner, you might think all plants need the same care. But if you put a shade-loving fern in direct, hot sunlight, you’ll kill it. And if you put a sun-loving cactus in a dark corner, it will also die. Every plant has unique needs. Gemstones are the same. A hard diamond can handle an ultrasonic cleaner, but that same machine could shatter a soft, delicate opal. Learning the specific care instructions for each type of gemstone is like learning the needs of your plants—it’s the only way to ensure they all thrive.
99% of people make this one mistake when buying jewelry online: not checking the dimensions and seeing how it will look in person.
Buying a Sofa Without Measuring Your Living Room
Imagine falling in love with a beautiful sofa online and ordering it, only to have it delivered and discover that it’s comically huge and won’t even fit through your door. Online jewelers often use close-up photography that can make a tiny, delicate pendant look like a large, chunky statement piece. It is absolutely crucial to read the description, note the measurements (in millimeters or inches), and then use a ruler to see how that size will actually look against your own body. This simple step prevents the disappointment of a beautiful piece being the wrong scale.
This one small action of taking off your rings before you wash your hands will prevent soap buildup and keep them looking their best.
The Film on Your Shower Door
No matter how clean the water is, over time your glass shower door will get a cloudy, dull film on it from soap scum. The exact same thing happens to the diamonds and gemstones in your rings. Every time you wash your hands, a little bit of that soap scum gets trapped underneath the stone and in the setting. Over time, this buildup blocks light and completely robs your beautiful ring of its sparkle. Taking your rings off for the 30 seconds it takes to wash your hands is the easiest way to keep them brilliant.
Use a professional to resize a ring, not a DIY kit.
Trying to Hem a Suit with a Stapler
If your expensive new suit trousers were too long, you wouldn’t try to “fix” them yourself with a stapler and some tape. You’d take them to a professional tailor who has the right tools and skills to do the job perfectly and invisibly. A ring is a continuous circle of precious metal that has to be cut, reshaped, and seamlessly soldered back together. A DIY kit is like the stapler—a clumsy, temporary fix that can permanently damage the ring. A professional jeweler is the tailor who can make the adjustment perfectly.
Stop buying jewelry that is too delicate for your lifestyle. Do choose pieces that are both beautiful and durable.
Wearing Stilettos on a Hiking Trail
High-heeled stilettos can be beautiful, but they are completely wrong for a rugged hiking trail. They would be destroyed, and you’d probably injure yourself. You need sturdy hiking boots for that environment. Before buying a piece of jewelry, think about your daily “trail.” If you are very active, work with your hands, or have small children, an extremely delicate chain or a high-set, fragile gemstone is like wearing stilettos on a hike. Choosing a piece with a more secure setting and a sturdier chain is like picking the right footwear—it ensures your jewelry will survive the journey.
Stop thinking of fine jewelry as something that should only be worn on special occasions. Do enjoy it every day.
Saving Your Best Dishes for Guests Who Never Arrive
Many people have a set of beautiful, expensive china that they keep locked away in a cabinet, saving it “for a special occasion.” But the special occasions are few and far between, so the beautiful dishes are never used. Fine jewelry can be the same. Why save the joy for a hypothetical future event? That beautiful necklace or those diamond earrings were made to be worn and to make you feel good. Make a normal Tuesday a special occasion. Enjoy the beautiful things you own. Use the good china.
The #1 secret for a truly personal jewelry collection is to have pieces custom-made or redesigned.
Building Your Dream House vs. Buying a Model Home
You can buy a perfectly nice house in a suburban development that looks just like a hundred other houses on the block. Or, you can work with an architect to design and build a house that is a perfect reflection of your unique needs and tastes. Creating a custom piece of jewelry is like building your dream house. You get to be the architect of something that is a one-of-a-kind expression of you. Redesigning an old piece is like renovating a historic home—you preserve the sentiment while making it perfectly yours.
I’m just going to say it: The brand name on a piece of jewelry is not as important as the quality of the materials and the craftsmanship.
A Famous Chef’s Name on a Frozen Dinner
A famous celebrity chef might license their name to a line of frozen dinners. But is that mass-produced, frozen meal the same quality as a dish served in their five-star restaurant? Of course not. You’re paying for the name on the box, not the quality inside. The same is true in jewelry. Many famous “brand names” sell beautiful but massively marked-up products. A piece from an unknown artisan that is made with higher quality gold and a better gemstone is always a smarter buy. Focus on the ingredients, not the name on the box.
The reason your jewelry collection is not as valuable as you think is because you’ve been buying based on retail markup, not intrinsic value.
The Price of a Soda in a Vending Machine
A can of soda might only cost twenty cents to make. That’s its “intrinsic value.” But when you buy it from a convenient vending machine in a hotel lobby, you might pay three dollars for it. That extra $2.80 is the “retail markup.” Most jewelry from big-name mall stores has a massive retail markup. The price you pay is not a reflection of what the gold and gems are actually worth. A valuable collection is built by understanding the real, intrinsic value of the materials and buying as close to that price as possible.
If you’re still not insuring your most valuable pieces of jewelry, you’re playing with fire.
Owning a House Without Homeowner’s Insurance
Would you ever own a home and choose not to have homeowner’s insurance? It’s unthinkable. The risk of losing everything in a fire or a disaster is just too great. Your valuable jewelry is like a small, portable house. A significant engagement ring can be worth more than a car. Losing it or having it stolen is not just an emotional heartbreak, but a major financial loss. Insuring it, either as a separate policy or a rider on your home insurance, is a small price to pay for a massive amount of peace of mind.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that you need to spend a fortune to have a beautiful jewelry collection.
A Library Built from a Used Bookstore
You don’t need to buy first-edition, leather-bound copies of every classic to have an incredible personal library. You can build a rich and wonderful collection over time by finding beautiful secondhand paperbacks at a used bookstore for just a few dollars each. In the same way, you don’t need massive diamonds and designer brands to have a beautiful jewelry collection. A thoughtfully curated selection of vintage silver pieces, unique artisan designs, and smaller but high-quality gemstone jewelry can be far more stylish and personal than a few incredibly expensive items.
I wish I knew about the different types of settings for stones and how they affect the overall look and security of a piece.
The Different Ways to Frame a Painting
The frame you choose for a piece of art has a huge impact on how it looks and how it’s protected. A big, ornate gold frame creates a very different feeling than a simple, modern black frame. A “setting” is the frame for a gemstone. A bezel setting, which wraps all the way around the stone, is like a sturdy, protective frame. A delicate prong setting is more like a minimalist frame that lets you see more of the art. Understanding the different styles helps you choose the perfect look and security level for your gem.
99% of people make this one mistake when cleaning their jewelry: using harsh chemicals that can damage the stones and the metal.
Washing a Silk Shirt with Bleach
You would never take your favorite, delicate silk blouse and throw it in the washing machine with harsh bleach. It would be destroyed. You have to use a gentle, special soap for delicate fabrics. Many gemstones, like pearls, opals, and turquoise, are just as delicate as that silk shirt. Using harsh chemicals like ammonia, bleach, or even toothpaste can strip their polish, cause discoloration, and permanently damage them. The safest way to clean almost any piece of jewelry is the simplest: a soft brush, warm water, and a drop of gentle dish soap.
This one small habit of putting on your jewelry last, after your clothes and perfume, will help keep it clean.
Painting the Walls After the Furniture is in the Room
If you were going to paint your living room, you wouldn’t move all the furniture in first and then try to paint around it. You would get paint all over your sofa and rugs. It’s much smarter to paint the walls first, let them dry, and then bring in the furniture. Think of your hairspray, perfume, and lotions as the “paint.” They create a sticky film that dulls your jewelry. By getting dressed and applying all your products first, you let the “paint” dry. Putting your jewelry on as the final touch ensures it stays clean and brilliant.
Use a professional to repair a broken chain, not a pair of pliers.
Fixing a Leaky Pipe with Duct Tape
If you have a leaky pipe under your sink, you could try to fix it yourself by wrapping it with a bunch of duct tape. It might even hold for a little while, but it’s a weak, ugly, and temporary fix that is bound to fail. A professional plumber will actually cut out the bad section and solder in a new piece of pipe, making it stronger than before. Trying to pinch a broken chain link back together with pliers is the duct tape solution. A jeweler has a special laser welder that can seamlessly fuse the link back together, making it strong and invisible.
Stop buying jewelry that you’re not in love with. Do wait for the piece that truly speaks to you.
Adopting a Pet on a Whim
You shouldn’t adopt a pet just because it’s “kind of cute” or because it’s on sale. Adopting a pet is a long-term commitment, and you should wait until you find the one that you have a real, emotional connection with. Jewelry is a similar commitment. These are pieces you will hopefully own for the rest of your life. Don’t buy a necklace just because it’s trendy or on sale. Wait for the piece that makes your heart skip a beat. Wait for the piece you can’t stop thinking about. That’s how you build a collection of true love stories.
Stop being afraid to invest in a statement piece of jewelry. Do see it as a wearable work of art.
The Sculpture in the Center of Your Room
A beautiful statement piece of jewelry is not just an accessory; it’s the centerpiece of your outfit. Think of it like a stunning sculpture that you place in the middle of a room. You design the rest of the room around it, keeping the other furniture simple so the sculpture can be the star. A bold, unique necklace or a dramatic cocktail ring is your sculpture. You can build an entire, elegant outfit around it, and it will express your personality and taste in a way that no simple chain ever could. It is art that you get to wear.
The #1 hack for a unique and meaningful piece of jewelry is to incorporate a family heirloom into a new design.
Building a New House with an Old Fireplace
Imagine you’re building a new, modern house, but you salvage the beautiful, antique stone fireplace from your grandparents’ old home and make it the centerpiece of your new living room. You get the best of both worlds: a modern home that fits your style, and a piece of your family’s history and soul. You can do the same with jewelry. A skilled jeweler can take the diamonds from your grandmother’s dated brooch and set them into a stylish new necklace, or melt down an old ring to create modern wedding bands. It’s the perfect blend of past and present.
I’m just going to say it: The most beautiful jewelry is the jewelry that tells a story.
A Passport Full of Stamps
Which is more interesting: a brand new, empty passport, or one that is worn, battered, and filled with stamps from all over the world? The stamped-up passport is infinitely more interesting because it tells a story of adventure and experience. The same is true for jewelry. A generic necklace from a department store is a blank passport. But a locket with a photo inside, a ring that was a gift for a major life achievement, or a bracelet picked up on a memorable trip—these are the pieces that are truly beautiful because they carry the stamps of your life.
The reason your jewelry collection doesn’t feel special is because you’re only buying mass-produced pieces.
A Kitchen Filled with Fast Food
If your diet consisted of nothing but food from big, fast-food chains, you would be fed, but you would be missing out on the joy of a home-cooked meal or a unique dish from a small, local restaurant. Mass-produced jewelry from giant chain stores is the fast food of the jewelry world. It’s made to appeal to everyone, which means it often lacks a unique flavor. To build a collection that feels special, you need to seek out the “local restaurants”—the independent artists and small-studio jewelers who are creating unique pieces with real passion and personality.
If you’re still not exploring the world of colored gemstones, you’re missing out on a rainbow of possibilities.
Living in a World of Black and White Television
Imagine if for your whole life, you had only ever watched television in black and white. You might think it’s perfectly fine. But then, one day, someone shows you a color TV. Suddenly, you see the vibrant green of the grass and the brilliant blue of the sky. Your world is transformed. If you only ever consider diamonds, you are living in a black and white jewelry world. Exploring the world of sapphires, emeralds, tourmalines, and countless other colored gems is like turning on that color TV for the first time. It opens up a whole universe of beauty.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that diamonds are a good investment.
A Brand New Car is a Good Investment
A new car is a wonderful thing to own. It’s useful, it can bring you joy, and it’s a significant purchase. But is it a good financial investment? Absolutely not. The moment you drive it off the lot, it loses a huge chunk of its value. Most diamonds are the same. Thanks to brilliant marketing and massive retail markups, the price you pay for a new diamond is almost always far more than you could sell it for. Buy a diamond for its beauty and its sentimental value, but do not buy it thinking it will make you money.
I wish I knew about the different cuts of gemstones and how they affect their brilliance and sparkle.
The Many Ways to Cut a Piece of Glass
Imagine you have a beautiful piece of crystal glass. If you leave it as a simple, flat square, it’s nice, but it doesn’t do much. But if you cut dozens of precise, angled facets onto it, it suddenly transforms into a disco ball that can catch the light and spray a thousand brilliant sparkles around the room. The “cut” of a gemstone is the art of placing these facets. A well-cut gem, whether it’s round, oval, or square, is designed to be the perfect disco ball—to grab every bit of light and reflect it back to your eye as breathtaking sparkle.
99% of people make this one mistake when buying pearls: not knowing the difference between natural, cultured, and imitation.
Wild Salmon, Farmed Salmon, and a Fish Stick
A natural pearl, formed by a chance irritant in a wild oyster, is incredibly rare and expensive—it’s like catching a wild salmon in the open ocean. A cultured pearl, created by placing a bead inside an oyster at a pearl farm, is still a real, beautiful pearl—it’s like high-quality, farm-raised salmon. An imitation pearl, which is just a plastic or glass bead painted to look like a pearl, is a fish stick. It looks vaguely like the real thing from a distance, but it has no real value. Knowing the difference is crucial to understanding what you are buying.
This one small action of having your jewelry appraised every few years will ensure that it’s properly insured for its current value.
Updating the Insurance on Your House as Prices Rise
Imagine you bought a house for $200,000 ten years ago. Today, the housing market has boomed, and your house is now worth $500,000. Would you keep your homeowner’s insurance at the original $200,000 level? Of course not. If something happened, you would be massively underinsured. The values of gold, diamonds, and gemstones also change over time. Having your jewelry appraised every few years is like reassessing the value of your home. It ensures that your insurance coverage keeps up with the current market, so you’re never caught underinsured.
Use a soft cloth to polish your gold jewelry, not a harsh abrasive.
Wiping Your Eyeglasses with Sandpaper
If your expensive eyeglasses were smudged, you would never try to clean them by rubbing them with a piece of sandpaper. You would obviously scratch and ruin the lenses. You use a special, soft microfiber cloth. Gold, especially high-karat gold, is a very soft metal. Using harsh, abrasive cleaners or rough paper towels is like using sandpaper on your glasses. It will create a network of tiny scratches on the surface that will dull its beautiful, mirror-like shine. A simple, soft polishing cloth is all you need to safely restore its luster.
Stop thinking of your jewelry as just an accessory. Do see it as a form of self-expression and a celebration of your personal style.
A Tattoo for Your Clothes
An accessory is something you add to an outfit to complete it, like a simple belt or a plain scarf. But a piece of jewelry that you love is so much more. It’s like a tattoo. It’s a deeply personal symbol that expresses who you are, what you value, and what stories you carry with you. It’s a form of art that you choose to make a part of your identity. When you start seeing your jewelry as a form of self-expression rather than just decoration, you begin to build a collection that is a true reflection of you.
Stop buying jewelry that you’ve seen on everyone else. Do seek out independent designers and artisans.
Eating at a Chain Restaurant vs. a Local Cafe
You can go to a big chain restaurant that you’ll find in every city and get the exact same, predictable meal as everyone else. Or, you can explore the side streets and find a small, family-owned cafe that serves a unique and delicious dish that you’ll remember forever. Buying jewelry from huge, mass-market brands is like eating at the chain restaurant. To find something truly special and unique, you have to explore. Seek out the independent designers on Etsy, at local art fairs, and in small boutiques to find a flavor that is all your own.
The #1 secret for a truly timeless piece of jewelry is a simple, classic design that will never go out of style.
The Little Black Dress of Your Jewelry Box
Fashion trends come and go in a flash. The puffy sleeves and crazy patterns that are popular today might look ridiculous in five years. But a simple, perfectly tailored little black dress will look just as elegant and stylish in fifty years as it does today. The same is true for jewelry. A super-trendy, oversized, and colorful piece will quickly become dated. But a simple pair of diamond studs, a classic gold hoop, or a delicate solitaire necklace are the “little black dresses” of jewelry. Their clean lines and simple beauty are eternal.
I’m just going to say it: The most valuable piece of jewelry you can own is the one that was given to you with love.
Your Child’s First Drawing vs. a Picasso
A Picasso painting might be worth millions of dollars, but which would you grab from your house in a fire: the Picasso, or the crumpled, crayon drawing of your family that your five-year-old made for you? For any parent, the answer is obvious. The drawing is infinitely more valuable because it is infused with love. The same is true for jewelry. A massive diamond from a stranger is just a rock. But a simple, inexpensive locket given to you by a beloved grandparent holds a value that can’t be measured in money. It’s measured in heartbeats.
The reason your jewelry collection is not working for you is because you’re not wearing it with confidence.
The Power of a Great Pair of Sunglasses
A great pair of sunglasses can do more than just block the sun; they can instantly change your entire attitude. You put them on, and you suddenly feel a little cooler, a little more mysterious, and a lot more confident. Jewelry has the exact same power. The right piece doesn’t just decorate your body; it can transform your mindset. If you put on a beautiful necklace and then slouch and hide it under your collar, it has no power. But if you wear it with your head held high, it becomes a piece of armor that makes you feel unstoppable.
If you’re still not having fun with your jewelry, you’re not doing it right.
A Spice Rack That You Never Use
Imagine having a kitchen with a huge, beautiful spice rack filled with dozens of exotic and interesting spices from all over the world. But you’re too intimidated to use them, so you just keep making the same bland, unseasoned food every day. Your jewelry box is your spice rack! It’s filled with different flavors and textures that are meant to be played with. Mix your metals, stack your rings, layer your necklaces. Experiment and have fun. The whole point of having these beautiful “spices” is to add a little flavor and joy to your daily life.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that you need to have a “complete” set of jewelry.
The Myth of the Matching Living Room Set
Years ago, people thought the only way to furnish a living room was to buy a perfectly matching set from a showroom—the sofa, loveseat, armchair, and coffee table all in the exact same fabric and style. Today, we know that a much more stylish and personal room is created by mixing different but complementary pieces. The same is true for jewelry. The idea that you need the matching necklace, earrings, and bracelet is an outdated sales tactic. A more interesting look comes from curating a collection of individual pieces that you love and that work together in harmony.
I wish I knew that the best way to build a jewelry collection is to invest in pieces that you can wear in multiple ways.
The Reversible Jacket in Your Wardrobe
A reversible jacket is a smart piece of clothing because it gives you two different looks for the price and closet space of one. When you’re building a jewelry collection, you should look for pieces with the same versatility. A long necklace that can be worn full-length or wrapped twice to create a layered look is a great investment. Stud earrings that can be worn alone or paired with a detachable “earring jacket” give you options. Choosing versatile pieces allows you to create a much bigger range of looks from a smaller, more curated collection.
99% of people make this one mistake when traveling with their jewelry: putting it in their checked luggage.
Packing Your Wallet in Your Checked Bag
Would you ever pack your wallet, passport, and phone in your large suitcase and then hand it over to the airline to be checked? Of course not. You keep your most valuable and important items with you at all times in your carry-on bag. Your jewelry should be treated the exact same way. Checked luggage can be delayed, lost, or stolen. Your jewelry should always be kept in your purse or carry-on bag, where you have complete control over it from the moment you leave your house until you arrive safely at your destination.
This one small habit of taking a photo of your jewelry collection for insurance purposes will be a lifesaver in case of loss or theft.
A Photo Inventory of Your Home
Insurance experts always advise homeowners to walk through their house once a year and take a video or photos of everything they own. This creates a visual record that is invaluable if you ever have to file a claim after a fire or robbery. It’s much easier to prove you owned a specific TV if you have a photo of it. The same is true for your jewelry. Laying out your collection on a plain background and taking a few clear photos with your phone creates an instant, easy, and incredibly useful inventory for your insurance company.
Use a professional to help you sell a piece of jewelry that you no longer wear.
Using a Real Estate Agent to Sell Your House
When it’s time to sell your house, you hire a real estate agent because they are an expert. They know how to price it correctly, how to market it to find the right buyers, and how to handle the complex paperwork. Trying to sell a significant piece of jewelry on your own is like trying to sell your house by yourself. A reputable estate jeweler or auction house acts as your real estate agent. They have the expertise and the client network to get you the fairest possible price for your piece, with much less risk and hassle.
Stop holding on to jewelry that you don’t love. Do sell it and use the money to buy something that you’ll cherish.
The Unworn Clothes Taking Up Space in Your Closet
We all have those clothes hanging in the back of the closet—the ones that don’t fit anymore or are no longer our style. They just take up valuable space and create clutter. It feels so good to clean them out and make room for clothes you’ll actually wear. The same is true for the jewelry in your box that you never wear. Those pieces represent trapped value. By selling them, you can declutter your collection and transform that old, unworn energy into a new piece of jewelry that you will truly love and cherish for years to come.
Stop being afraid to ask questions when you’re buying jewelry. Do be an informed and empowered consumer.
Questioning the Mechanic About Your Car
If you take your car to a mechanic and they tell you it needs a major, expensive repair, you don’t just blindly say “okay.” You ask questions. “What exactly is the problem? Why did it happen? What are my options?” You want to understand what you’re paying for. You should have the same attitude when buying jewelry. Ask about the gemstone’s origin. Ask about the gold content. Ask about the warranty and return policy. A reputable jeweler will be happy to answer your questions. An informed consumer is an empowered consumer.
The #1 hack for getting a good deal on fine jewelry is to shop at a reputable estate jeweler.
Buying a “Certified Pre-Owned” Luxury Car
The smartest way to buy a luxury car is to let the first owner take the massive hit of initial depreciation. You can then buy a “certified pre-owned” car that is only a year or two old, is in perfect condition, and is a fraction of the original price. An estate jeweler is the certified pre-owned car dealership of the jewelry world. They sell beautiful, high-quality pieces that have been previously owned, professionally cleaned, and restored. You can get timeless designs and incredible craftsmanship without paying the enormous retail markups of a traditional jewelry store.
I’m just going to say it: The jewelry industry is full of smoke and mirrors, so do your research.
Navigating a Flea Market in a Foreign Country
Imagine you’re in a bustling flea market in a country where you don’t speak the language. It’s exciting and full of treasures, but you also know that some vendors might try to overcharge you or sell you something that isn’t what they claim it is. To navigate it successfully, you need to be smart and cautious. The jewelry world can be like that flea market. It’s beautiful and wonderful, but there is also a lot of confusing jargon, inflated pricing, and marketing hype. You must be your own best advocate. Do your research, trust your gut, and don’t be afraid to walk away.
The reason your jewelry collection is not bringing you joy is because you’re not connecting with the meaning and symbolism behind the pieces.
A Library of Books You’ve Never Read
A shelf full of beautiful, leather-bound books might look impressive, but if you’ve never opened them to read the stories inside, then you have no emotional connection to them. They are just decoration. The same is true for jewelry. You can own a lot of pretty things, but if you don’t know that sapphires symbolize wisdom, or that a knot motif represents an unbreakable bond, you are missing the story. Learning about the rich history and symbolism of gemstones and designs transforms your collection from a box of trinkets into a collection of meaningful talismans.
If you’re still not learning about the history of jewelry, you’re missing out on a fascinating story.
Watching a Movie Without Knowing the Backstory
Imagine watching the final movie in a long series without having seen any of the previous films. You might enjoy the action scenes, but you would miss all the inside jokes, the character development, and the emotional weight of the story. The jewelry on your body today is the final movie in a story that is thousands of years old. Learning about how the ancient Egyptians used jewelry, or why a certain style was popular in the Victorian era, gives you the backstory. It adds a fascinating layer of context and appreciation for the pieces you wear today.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that you need to follow the latest jewelry trends.
Chasing Every New Fashion Fad
If you tried to buy a whole new wardrobe every single season to keep up with the latest fashion fads, you would be broke, exhausted, and have a closet full of clothes that look dated in six months. It’s a losing game. The most stylish people don’t chase trends; they cultivate a personal style that is timeless. The same is true for jewelry. Don’t worry about what’s “in” right now. Instead, focus on finding classic, well-made pieces that you genuinely love and that reflect your own unique personality. Personal style will always be more fashionable than fashion itself.
I wish I knew that the best jewelry collection is a reflection of your own personal journey.
A Scrapbook of Your Life
The best scrapbook isn’t one that’s filled with generic, store-bought stickers and decorations. It’s the one that’s filled with your actual ticket stubs, your faded photographs, and your handwritten notes. It’s a tangible record of your unique experiences. Your jewelry box should be the same. It should be a collection of wearable memories. This was the necklace I bought on my first trip to Italy. These were the earrings I wore on my wedding day. This ring was a gift to myself when I got my big promotion. Let your jewelry tell the story of your life.
99% of people make this one mistake when buying a gift of jewelry: not considering the recipient’s metal preference.
Buying a Vanilla Cake for a Chocolate Lover
You could buy the most expensive, beautifully decorated vanilla birthday cake in the world, but if the birthday person truly hates vanilla and only loves chocolate, then you’ve bought the wrong gift. It’s a simple matter of taste. The same is true for jewelry. Many people have a very strong preference for either yellow gold or silver-toned metals (like white gold or platinum). Before you buy a gift, simply look at the jewelry they wear every day. If they only ever wear silver, buying them a yellow gold necklace is buying them a vanilla cake when you should have bought chocolate.
This one small action of writing down the story behind a special piece of jewelry will make it even more meaningful for future generations.
Labeling the Back of an Old Photograph
An old, black-and-white photograph is a beautiful object. But if you turn it over and see a handwritten note that says, “Grandma and Grandpa on their wedding day, June 1950,” it is transformed from an object into a priceless piece of family history. The story is what gives it its true meaning. When you have a special piece of jewelry, take a small card and write down its story. “This was your great-grandmother’s engagement ring. She received it on a park bench in the spring.” This note ensures that the soul of the jewelry is passed down along with the object itself.
Use a birthstone chart to find a meaningful and personal gift for a loved one.
A Personalized Gift is Always Better Than a Generic One
Which is a more thoughtful gift: a generic gift card, or a gift that is specifically tailored to the recipient’s interests and personality? The personal gift always wins. Using a birthstone chart is a wonderfully simple way to make a gift of jewelry feel deeply personal and meaningful. It shows that you took the time to think specifically about the person and the month they were born. It’s a gift that says, “I didn’t just buy you a pretty thing; I bought you a piece of your own story.”
Stop thinking of jewelry as something that is only for women. Do explore the world of men’s fine jewelry.
The Men’s Section of a Clothing Store
Would you ever say that clothes are only for women? Of course not. There is a huge and wonderful world of men’s fashion. The same is true for jewelry. For centuries, kings, warriors, and powerful men have adorned themselves with rings, chains, and emblems as signs of status and style. Today, the world of men’s fine jewelry is more exciting than ever. From classic gold chains and signet rings to modern bracelets and unique pendants, there is a whole universe of style for men to explore and express themselves with.
Stop buying jewelry from a place that makes you feel uncomfortable or pressured. Do find a jeweler that you trust and have a good rapport with.
Finding a Doctor You Can Trust
If you went to a doctor who was dismissive, didn’t listen to you, and pressured you into a procedure you weren’t sure about, you would find a new doctor immediately. You need to have a relationship built on trust and comfort. Your relationship with your jeweler should be the same. This is an expert who is guiding you through major, emotional, and expensive purchases. You should feel comfortable asking questions, and you should trust that they have your best interests at heart. If a store doesn’t feel right, walk away.
The #1 secret for a lifetime of enjoyment from your jewelry is to wear it and create new memories with it.
A Passport That Stays in a Drawer
A passport is an amazing document that holds the potential for incredible adventures all over the world. But if it just sits in a desk drawer, it’s nothing but a sad little book with your picture in it. Its entire purpose is to be used. The same is true for your jewelry. That beautiful necklace or that ring from your grandmother holds the potential to be a part of your life’s greatest moments. It can’t do that from inside a dark box. The secret to enjoying it is to make it a part of your story. Wear it, live in it, and let it collect memories.
I’m just going to say it: The most luxurious piece of jewelry is the one that makes you feel like the best version of yourself.
The Magical Power of a Superhero Cape
A simple piece of red cloth is just a piece of red cloth. But when a child ties it around their neck, it becomes a superhero cape, and it completely transforms how they feel. They stand up taller, feel braver, and believe they can do anything. The most luxurious piece of jewelry has that same magical power. It’s not about the price tag. It’s about the piece that, when you put it on, makes you feel like the most confident, beautiful, and powerful version of yourself. It’s your personal superhero cape.
The reason your jewelry collection is not reaching its full potential is because you’re not taking advantage of the power of layering and stacking.
A Painting with Only One Color
Imagine an artist who only ever uses one single color in their paintings. They might be able to create some nice shapes, but their work will be flat and lack depth. It’s only when they start to layer different colors and textures that the painting truly comes to life. Your jewelry is your paint. Wearing just one single, delicate necklace is like using only one color. But when you start to layer a few different necklaces of varying lengths and textures, or stack a few different bracelets on your wrist, you create a look that is rich, complex, and full of personal style.
If you’re still not considering the ethical and sustainable sourcing of your diamonds and gemstones, you’re not being a responsible consumer.
Asking Where Your Food Comes From
More and more, people want to know the story behind their food. Is this coffee fair trade? Are these vegetables organic and locally grown? We want to know that our purchases are not causing harm to other people or the environment. We should be asking the exact same questions about our jewelry. The mining of diamonds and gemstones can have a massive human and environmental impact. Asking questions about a stone’s origin, and choosing jewelers who prioritize ethical and sustainable sourcing, is how we, as consumers, can make a positive change in the industry.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that you need to have a “perfectly” matched set of jewelry.
Wearing a Perfectly Matching Tracksuit
A tracksuit where the jacket and the pants are the exact same color and material can be comfortable, but it’s not generally considered the height of style. The most fashionable looks come from pairing different but complementary items—like great jeans with a beautiful blazer. The same is true for jewelry. A “matchy-matchy” set of earrings and a necklace can often look dated and uninspired. A more modern and stylish approach is to wear pieces that coordinate and share a similar feeling, but are not an exact copy of each other.
I wish I knew that the best way to find your jewelry style is to try on a lot of different pieces and see what feels right.
You Can’t Find Your Favorite Food by Reading a Menu
You can read a restaurant menu and a dish might sound good, but you’ll never know if you truly love it until you taste it. You have to experiment. Finding your personal jewelry style is the same. You might think you’re a “delicate gold necklace” person, but then one day you try on a bold, silver cuff bracelet and realize it makes you feel amazing. Go to stores, both fine and vintage, and just try things on. See how they feel on your body. You might be surprised by what you fall in love with.
99% of people make this one mistake when buying a vintage piece: not having it checked for any damage or needed repairs.
Buying a Beautiful Old House Without an Inspection
You can fall in love with a beautiful historic house, but you would never buy it without first hiring a professional inspector to check for a leaky roof or a cracked foundation. A vintage piece of jewelry is that beautiful old house. It may look stunning on the surface, but it could have worn-out prongs, a hairline crack in a stone, or a clasp that’s about to fail. Before you buy, you must have your own trusted jeweler inspect it to see what, if any, repairs are needed to make the piece secure and wearable for years to come.
This one small habit of storing your silver jewelry with an anti-tarnish strip will save you a lot of time and effort in cleaning.
A Magnet for Dust
Imagine if you could put a special little magnet in your house that would pull all the floating dust out of the air and trap it, so you never had to dust your furniture again. That’s exactly what an anti-tarnish strip does for your silver jewelry. Tarnish is caused by sulfur in the air. These small, inexpensive paper strips are like a magnet for that sulfur. They absorb it from the enclosed space of your jewelry box, so it can’t react with your silver. It’s a tiny, simple action that dramatically reduces how often you have to polish your pieces.
Use a professional to restring your pearls every few years to prevent them from breaking.
The Aging Suspension Bridge Cables
The beautiful string of pearls in a necklace is like the suspension cable on a bridge. For a long time, it does its job perfectly. But over time, the silk thread is exposed to friction, moisture, and chemicals from our skin and perfume. It slowly stretches and weakens. You might not even see the damage until it’s too late. Having your pearls professionally restrung every few years is like replacing the aging cables on the bridge. It’s a preventative measure that ensures your precious cargo will never come crashing down.
Stop thinking of your jewelry as a fragile object. Do enjoy it, but be mindful of its care.
Driving a Classic Car
You wouldn’t buy a beautiful classic sports car and then use it to haul firewood down a bumpy dirt road. But you also wouldn’t leave it locked in the garage forever. You would drive it carefully on nice days, enjoying the experience while being mindful of its special nature. You should treat your fine jewelry the same way. Don’t wear your delicate rings while gardening or moving furniture. But don’t keep them locked in a box either. Wear them, enjoy them, and simply be mindful of taking them off when you’re about to do something rough.
Stop buying jewelry that is a poor imitation of a more expensive piece. Do save up for the real thing or find a beautiful alternative in your price range.
The Fake Designer Handbag
A fake designer handbag might look like the real thing from a distance, but up close, the poor quality of the materials and the sloppy stitching are always obvious. It will fall apart quickly and will never give you the same feeling of pride as owning the authentic piece. It’s always better to buy a beautiful, well-made leather bag from a lesser-known brand than it is to buy a cheap imitation of a famous one. The same is true for jewelry. Choose quality and authenticity within your own budget.
The #1 hack for a truly unique look is to mix and match different styles and eras of jewelry.
An Art Gallery with a Diverse Collection
The most interesting art museums are not the ones that only show one type of art from one specific year. They are the ones that have a diverse collection—a modern sculpture in one room, a classic oil painting in another, and an ancient artifact down the hall. Curating your personal jewelry look is like being the director of your own art gallery. Pairing a modern, minimalist bracelet with a vintage, ornate ring, or a classic pearl necklace with edgy silver hoops, creates a look that is dynamic, personal, and far more interesting than sticking to a single style.
I’m just going to say it: The most stylish people are the ones who are not afraid to be different.
The Person Who Wears the Bright Red Coat
In a crowd of people all wearing sensible black or grey coats on a winter day, the person who walks by in a vibrant, bright red coat is the one you notice. They are the one you remember. They are the one who exudes confidence. The same is true for jewelry. Playing it safe with the same simple pieces as everyone else is fine. But the truly stylish people are the ones who are not afraid to wear a bold, unusual piece that expresses their personality. Don’t be afraid to be the red coat in a sea of grey.
The reason your jewelry collection is not as interesting as it could be is because you’re not taking any risks.
A Vacation to the Same Place Every Year
Going to the exact same beach resort for your vacation every single year can be comfortable and predictable. But it’s also a little boring. You’re missing out on the thrill of exploring a new city, trying a new food, or having an unexpected adventure. If you only ever buy the same “safe” style of jewelry, your collection is like that predictable vacation. To make it more interesting, you have to take a small risk. Try a piece that is a little outside your comfort zone. You might just discover a new favorite place.
If you’re still not exploring the world of art jewelry, you’re missing out on some of the most creative and innovative designs.
The Difference Between a Portrait and a Modern Sculpture
A classic, beautiful portrait painting is a wonderful thing to have on your wall. But the world of art is so much bigger than that. There are also wild, imaginative, and thought-provoking modern sculptures. “Art jewelry” is the modern sculpture of the jewelry world. It’s made by artists who are not just focused on traditional beauty, but on pushing the boundaries of design and materials. It’s wearable art that is meant to be a conversation starter. Exploring it opens up a whole new dimension of creativity beyond the traditional.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that you need to be a certain age to wear a certain type of jewelry.
The “Age-Appropriate” Haircut
Have you ever heard the ridiculous, old-fashioned “rule” that women over a certain age shouldn’t have long hair? It’s absurd. The best haircut is the one that makes you feel happy and confident, regardless of your age. The same is true for jewelry. The idea that pearls are only for older women or that big, bold hoops are only for young people is just as silly. If a piece of jewelry makes you feel beautiful and expresses your personality, then it is absolutely “age-appropriate” for you. Wear what you love.
I wish I knew that the best way to pass down a piece of jewelry is to also pass down the story that goes with it.
A Family Recipe with a Story
A simple, handwritten recipe card for your grandmother’s apple pie is a nice thing to inherit. But if, on the back of the card, she wrote a little note about how she used to bake this pie every Sunday and how your grandfather always tried to steal a piece before it cooled, the recipe is transformed. It’s no longer just a set of instructions; it’s a piece of your family’s heart. When you pass down a piece of jewelry, pass down its story too. That story is what gives the cold metal its warmth and its soul.
99% of people make this one mistake when buying a gift: not thinking about the recipient’s daily activities and if the piece will be practical for them.
Gifting a Silk Blouse to a Gardener
A beautiful, delicate, dry-clean-only silk blouse is a wonderful gift. But it’s a terrible gift for your friend whose greatest passion is spending her weekends digging in her garden. The gift, while lovely, is completely impractical for her life. The same logic must be applied to jewelry. A ring with a high, sharp setting is a bad idea for a new mother who is handling a baby all day. A pair of long, dangling earrings is a poor choice for a doctor who has to wear a mask. The most thoughtful gifts are not just beautiful, but are also practical.
This one small action of creating a “wish list” of jewelry pieces will help your loved ones know exactly what to get you for special occasions.
A Wedding Registry for Your Life
When people get married, they create a registry. It’s a helpful guide that takes the guesswork out of gift-giving and ensures they receive things they truly want and need. Why not have a registry for your own life? Keeping a running “wish list” of specific jewelry pieces you love—with links or photos—is a gift to your loved ones. When your birthday or anniversary comes around, they are not left stressing about what to get you. They can confidently choose something they know you will absolutely adore.
Use a professional to create a custom engagement ring that is a true reflection of your love story.
Writing Your Own Wedding Vows
You could recite the standard, traditional wedding vows, and they would be perfectly lovely. But writing your own personal vows makes the ceremony infinitely more meaningful and unique to you as a couple. A custom engagement ring is the physical embodiment of those personal vows. Instead of choosing a ring that was designed for thousands of other people, you get to create a one-of-a-kind symbol that tells the story of your specific love, your shared memories, and your future dreams. It’s a ring with a soul.
Stop thinking of jewelry as a frivolous purchase. Do see it as an investment in yourself and a celebration of life’s special moments.
A Bottle of Champagne on a Special Day
Is a bottle of champagne a “frivolous” purchase? Or is it a tool for celebration, a way to mark a special moment and create a lasting, joyful memory? Fine jewelry should be seen in the same light. It’s not just a sparkly trinket. It is a way to commemorate life’s biggest achievements—a graduation, a promotion, a personal milestone. It is a tangible reminder of your strength and success. It is an investment in your own happiness and a way to carry your proudest moments with you every day.
Stop being afraid to wear your “good” jewelry. Do let it see the light of day and bring you joy.
The Guest Room That No One Ever Uses
Many people have a “guest room” in their house that is perfectly decorated, always clean, and almost completely unused. It’s saved for hypothetical guests, so the family never gets to enjoy it. Don’t let your “good” jewelry become the guest room of your life. Those beautiful pieces were acquired to bring you joy and make you feel special. They can’t do that from the darkness of a safe deposit box. Life is happening now. Wear the beautiful things. Use the guest room.
The #1 secret for a jewelry collection that you’ll love forever is to fill it with pieces that make you happy every time you put them on.
A Playlist of Your All-Time Favorite Songs
A great music playlist isn’t one that’s filled with songs that are just “okay” or songs that you think you’re “supposed” to like. It’s filled with the songs that make you want to dance, the songs that you sing along to at the top of your lungs, the songs that give you goosebumps. Your jewelry box should be your playlist. It shouldn’t be a collection of “shoulds.” It should be a curated collection of your greatest hits—the pieces that, every single time you put them on, make your heart sing.
I’m just going to say it: The ultimate luxury is having a piece of jewelry that was made just for you.
A Custom-Painted Portrait vs. a Poster
You can buy a beautiful poster of a famous painting, and it can look lovely on your wall. But imagine commissioning an artist to paint a portrait of your own family. That painting is not just art; it’s a piece of your soul. It is a one-of-a-kind treasure that holds more meaning than any mass-produced print ever could. A custom-made piece of jewelry is your personal portrait. It’s a collaboration between you and an artisan to create something that is a unique and tangible expression of your own story. That is a luxury no brand name can match.
The reason your jewelry collection is not making you feel beautiful is because you’re not wearing it with the right attitude.
The Difference Between a Costume and an Outfit
When you put on a costume for a party, you often feel a little silly or self-conscious. But when you put on a great outfit that you love, you feel confident and powerful. The difference is not just in the clothes; it’s in your attitude and your sense of ownership. If you wear a piece of jewelry thinking, “this is too fancy for me” or “I hope no one looks at me,” you are wearing it like a costume. To feel beautiful, you have to wear it like it’s a part of you. Own it. Let it be an extension of your own inner sparkle.
If you’re still not taking the time to learn about the different meanings of gemstones, you’re missing out on a layer of depth and significance.
Knowing the Lyrics to Your Favorite Song
You can enjoy a song just for its catchy melody. But when you take the time to learn the lyrics and understand the story the songwriter is telling, the song becomes a hundred times more powerful and meaningful. Gemstones have lyrics. They have a rich history of symbolism and meaning that has been built over thousands of years. Learning that amethysts are associated with calmness or that garnets symbolize love adds a beautiful, hidden layer of poetry to the jewelry you wear. It allows you to connect with your pieces on a much deeper level.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that you need to have a huge collection of jewelry to be stylish. A few well-chosen pieces are all you need.
A Master Chef’s Knife Kit
A master chef doesn’t need a hundred different gadgets in their kitchen. They can create a masterpiece with just a handful of extremely high-quality, perfectly sharpened knives. They choose quality over quantity. The same is true for a stylish jewelry collection. You don’t need a massive, overflowing jewelry box. A few carefully chosen, high-quality, and versatile pieces—like a great pair of hoops, a classic watch, and a meaningful necklace—can be far more impactful and stylish than a hundred cheap, trendy trinkets.
I wish I knew that the best way to find a great jeweler is to ask for recommendations from people whose style you admire.
Finding a Great Hair Stylist
How do you find a great new hairdresser? You don’t just pick a random name from the phone book. You stop a friend, or even a stranger, who has amazing hair and you ask them, “Who does your hair?” It’s the most reliable way to find someone truly talented. Finding a great jeweler works the exact same way. If you have a friend or colleague who always wears beautiful and unique jewelry, ask them where they go. A personal recommendation from someone with great taste is worth more than a thousand online ads.
99% of people make this one mistake when buying a piece of jewelry with a clasp: not making sure that it’s secure and easy to use.
The Zipper on an Expensive Jacket
You can buy a beautiful, expensive winter coat, but if it has a cheap, flimsy zipper that is constantly getting stuck or popping open, the coat is useless. The small, functional details are just as important as the overall design. The clasp on a necklace or bracelet is its zipper. It’s a critical piece of engineering. Before you buy, test it out. Is it secure? Can you open and close it yourself without a struggle? A beautiful piece with a frustrating or insecure clasp will end up living in your jewelry box instead of on your body.
This one small habit of keeping your jewelry in a safe place when you’re not wearing it will prevent it from getting lost or stolen.
Always Parking Your Car in the Same Spot
Imagine if every time you came home, you just left your car in a random spot on the street. The chances of you forgetting where you parked it, or of it getting stolen, would be much higher. That’s why most people have a designated spot—a garage or a specific place in the driveway—where the car always goes. You should have a designated “parking spot” for your jewelry. Whether it’s a jewelry box on your dresser or a small dish by your bed, having one specific, safe place where your jewelry always goes when you take it off dramatically reduces the chances of it getting lost.