I promised this post many months ago but honestly, life has gotten in the way of actually maintaining and loving this blog but I’m trying to be more intentional about writing and carving out time for it. I rather recently fell in love jewelry which is due to do the fact that I’ve learned about sculptural jewelry. Growing up I wasn’t a huge fan of jewelry, I just didn’t really see the purpose, because I didn’t see anything I loved or that I thought I could actually wear. I bought a lot of things I liked but nothing that I actually loved. Another part of my delayed love of jewelry stems from my metal allergy so anything that’s not gold or silver causes my ears to burn and feel like they’re bleeding, which is no fun. I thought this was normal or that my earrings were too tight until I realized it only happened with some pieces. These two factors combined; I now fully embrace my love of jewelry because I know what inspires me and what I can actually wear.
Below are 10 of my favorite pieces that I own. I also don’t wear these every day or even every other day, I have some standard pieces that I wear regularly but these are the pieces that I go to when I want to cheer up. I buy a lot of my jewelry preloved because jewelry is environmentally taxing. You really should know where and how your jewelry is produced because gold and silver mining are often times detrimental to environment and mining communities; from polluted waterways filled with lead, mercury, and cadmium to deforested areas (source 1//source 2//source 3). These metals can and are recycled which lessens their environmental impact. Then there are the gemstones, everyone knows about diamonds and their impact on humans, but I go into detail about gems’ impact on humans and the environment in a follow-up post.
Satomi Kawatika E7002P pearl with pearl earring jacket: these are my go-to more formal events. I’ve wanted a pair of earrings like this a while because they can pull double time since they consist of an earring jacket.
A pair of vintage onyx earrings: these were originally owned by my mother, who received them as a baby. I don’t really know much about these but they are simple and unique.
Rosey West Drop Diamond Disk Earrings: these were actually one of the first pieces of fine jewelry I ever purchased. I’m a huge supporter of up and coming and smaller jewelry designers and I loved their simplicity and chicness. These are my go-to when I’m meeting new people for work.
Gabriela Artigas Infinite Tusk Earring with Sapphire stone: This is such a simple and edgy piece that can easily spice up my outfit and life my mood. I like how it draws attention downwards.
Hirotaka akoya pearl ear cuff 7/4mm: if it’s not painfully obvious I love pearls. While all gemstones remind me of the earth, pearls remind me of the sea. I’m a sucker for good pearl jewelry, that’s why there are 3 pearl pieces on this list. I love the subtle asymmetry of this ear cuff. It definitely brightens my mood and ties together otherwise too pared down outfits. Hirotaka is also one of my favorite jewelry brands (I’m currently in love with their manta spine ring!). (full disclosure this was a graduation gift from my sister)
Rattlesnake ear climbers: I bought these at a pawn shop like a year ago because they’re incredibly cool. I haven’t worn them in a while because I pierced both of my ears recently and I want them to heal properly. In a few months, I will definitely start wearing these again with either my tiny ruby studs or the emerald studs I bought in Colombia.
Concrete Collective 14k deux pearl earring: when I saw this earring a few months ago, I knew I had to have it. A majority of my jewelry collection is mostly studs but recently I started trying to wear longer/larger earrings, especially structural pieces. This earring is my foray into building a more structural and interesting collection.
Turquoise studs with silver bars: I don’t wear a ton of silver because I don’t like how it looks with my complexion; sometimes, I make some exceptions. I bought these earrings last summer while doing some preliminary research on what turned into one of my two senior capstone projects. I bought these while visiting the Ashiwi tribe near Mescalero, NM. I try my best to support Indigenous communities and I refuse to buy anything “Native inspired”. (similar style here)
Spore gold ring (?): I know zilch about the provenance of this ring. I bought it from a pawn shop, which is a recurring theme. I almost didn’t notice this ring when I while trying on like 10 other rings. I love the sculptural elements of this ring and the fact that the diamonds remind me of mushroom spores in flight, while the wrap-around gold element reminds me of a wisp of wind.
Tiny freshwater pearl stacking ring: I’ve actually lost this ring. When I first started writing this post, I had it but now just a few weeks later it’s missing somewhere in my apartment (it’s probably with my missing Satomi Kawatika tiny ruby stud). Anyways, when I had this ring in immediate possession, I wore it every day and it fast became a favorite. I admired the way it looked paired with my gold stacking rings; I’m definitely going to buy a few more specifically one for my pinkie or thumb. Even though I must admit I was a bit hesitant when I received it because the pearls were much smaller than I expected.
Stay tuned for my next sneak peek into my jewelry collection, which probably will highlight the pieces I wear every day!