Curio and the Art of Collecting

Because it is lived with directly, fine jewelry is one of the most intimate forms of collecting. It sits against the body, it moves with you through your daily life, it marks ceremonies, friendships, losses and reinventions.

A jewelry collection does not need to be large to be coveted, it does benefit however from thought and structure.

Here’s how to begin :

• Start with a Solid Foundation: Begin with pieces that create rhythm and usefulness in your life. A diamond line bracelet, a pair of understated gold hoops, a timeless tank watch, a personalized medallion, a classic pair of natural diamond studs. These are building blocks that will layer with literally anything you collect in the future. Pieces you will reach for again and again. Invest in them.

• Add Pieces that Celebrate or Inspire: Many jewels enter a collection as a marker of a life event: birthday, anniversary, birth, retirement, graduation. Others will arrive through travel or discovery. A trip to Italy would not be complete without a glorious hand made chain - which will then always carry a memory of that place. The key is to choose with care - avoiding souvenir mentality and selecting a keepsake with substance.

  The same applies to milestone jewelry, you do not have to wait for the 50th anniversary to celebrate with gold. You are not beholden to a birthstone if that stone is, in fact, ugly. While designated celebratory materials are fun, they are also arbitrary. Celebrate with what fascinates you. Gather with awe and intention - look for hand crafted, original - they are more than just indicators of occasion, they will be family legacy.

• Go Light on Logos: A curated jewelry wardrobe should not look like it was assembled by a luxury marketing department. There is nothing less inspired and more gauche than an entire collection comprised of mass produced status symbols.

  This does not mean avoiding Major Design Houses entirely. Instead choose a compelling few pieces the highlight the very best of a specific Design House. Think Cartier Panthere or Bvlgari Serpenti. A spectacular piece with design authority and staying power.

• Antiques & Relics: The point is not age for it's own sake, but to select pieces with resonance and a story that moves you. Look for unique pieces like brooches or pendants that haven't taken on too much wear & tear and that don't need sizing or repair.

• Invest in Quality and Take Good Care: Solid precious metals, natural gemstones and diamonds, thoughtful design, expert goldsmithing technique, and proper cleaning and care are the foundation that will allow your pieces to move from possession to legacy heirloom. Your jewelry should be worn as intentionally as it is has been collected... removed for activities like weight lifting and rock climbing, and checked, cleaned, and refurbished regularly.