Our stories are definitely striking a chord with our readers especially around jewellery pieces with significant or treasured memories attached. I decided to compile a few short narratives that I’ve come across as it’s such a beautiful and powerful reminder of how our jewellery can connect us all.
They showcase the journey and emotional attachment to certain pieces that were passed down from generations. In most cases, it gives the wearer a sense of comfort and love because these jewellery become an extension of their previous owners. Special jewellery don’t have to be family heirlooms – it could be something you received from a dear friend, or you bought to celebrate key milestones in your life.
In this article by Andreea Muscurel, Anya’s story really stood out for me. She was talking about the ring that was her great grandmother’s wedding ring. It is a replacement ring from her great-grandfather as she had to pawn the original ring during the war. It is a very common thing to hear of women selling jewellery to support their families in times of need. And I can’t imagine her heartbreak when she had to pawn her wedding ring to keep her family warm. Though it won’t be the same, the replacement ring must have meant so much to her great grandmother. Her aunt inherited the ring and when she wanted to pass it on to Anya, Anya’s mom felt as if her sister will leave them soon. That was the last time Anya saw her aunt and Anya is reminded of her aunt every day when she looks at her hand.
And I further found the stories in this Vogue edition to be even more inspiring. Maybe due to the fact that these ladies are designers, we can find traces of how they repurpose the jewellery i.e. how they are adding their own identities and stories to the pieces. The 2 stories that caught my attention are from Gabriella Hearts (a fashion designer) and Tabitha Simmons (a shoe designer).
For Gabriella Hearts, her culture plays a big influence over her chain collection. It started with 5 pieces of charms from her mother, to which she added other trinkets (from her grandmother, husband, mother-in-law and a friend). To her, it symbolises protection – therefore it’s something she not only wears all the time, but also share with her husband when he is travelling.
For Tabitha Simmons, her signature piece is her grandmother’s charm bracelet which interestingly was upcycled from a watch chain that used to belong to her great-grandfather. The watch chain was transformed into 2 charm bracelets for his two daughters and got passed down through generations. Tabitha is looking to continue the tradition and perhaps she has or will add her very own ‘touch’ to the bracelet.
Reflecting on these stories, I am inspired to embed my very own ‘signature’ to my engagement ring. It is a beautiful ring from my husband’s grandmother. When we got engaged, the ring was resized for me, but we decided not to change anything else because we wanted to retain its essence. I’m now really inspired to get creative and explore the possibilities of putting my very own personal ‘stamp’ that will endure through time. So that I might leave my mark in some ways too.