Excellent jewelry is an exercise in curation and articulation. And entrusting a loved one to know what you like when a special occasion rolls around? An almost impossible task. That’s why we’ve tapped cool women with accessory know-how to share their favorite jewelry brands, what they’re adding to a proverbial wish list, and what pieces earn a coveted space in their collections.
Gracie Wiener, Social Media Manager at Air Mail and Founder of Ironic Boat and Tote
“One thing I always look for when purchasing jewelry, whether antique or new, is personality. Antique and vintage jewels do it seamlessly with the stories they have collected over time. With modern pieces, it can be a bit more of a struggle. But the Ben Shoppe does just that. The brand’s vaults, on their face, look like an heirloom passed down from some distant Victorian-era relative, with their ornate detailing on 14k gold. The inside brings a whimsical twist to the locket, a hand-painted enamel wall, a divider engraved with a phrase, and a sculpted symbol on the wall behind when opened, both connected to the sentiment of the vault.”
“When it comes to collecting, I am a sucker for the sentimental—especially when it has to do with love. I realized this when I found myself continuously gravitating to and collecting heart-shaped and love-inspired jewelry. I first discovered Christina Alexiou at Muse, in the West Village, after being drawn to a pair of heart drop earrings from across the shop like a magpie. Christina’s pieces, while fairly simple, fill my dreams. While on the more expensive end, the craftsmanship of her high-carat creations is matchless, making them truly worth their weight. Dare I say it, but Christina Alexiou may be my Desert Island jewelry designer. There is not a piece I would not happily wear with joy. Most recently, I have had my eyes on one of her scarab bracelets to add to my collection of vintage ones I collect.”
Telsha Anderson-Boone, Owner & Buyer of T.A. + Content Creator
“Hoorsenbuhs is a family brand in my household, worn by both my husband and I. For any holiday or special occasion it’s our go-to and a goal of ours to build a collection that mirrors each other. The best part about Hoorsenbuhs is that the brand reflects the beautiful team behind it — unbreakable links that form something beautiful. It’s been three years since I’ve been wearing the brand and I’m excited to continue growing my relationship with the brand and my collection.”
“Spinelli Kilcollin is one of my favorite brands out now. Not only do they offer varying price points for entry into the brand but the design can fit any type of person with an interest in luxury jewelry.”
Laurel Pantin, Author of the style newsletter Earl Earl
“I first met the designer, Danielle Sherman, when I was a magazine editor, then I became a client (I bought myself the medium oval link bracelet back in 2021), and then she and I became really close friends. I love her work because it has a vintage feel and is heavily influenced by the retro period of jewelry (my favorite era), but still feels contemporary. It’s like what you wish you could find in your grandmother’s jewelry box. Her work is so unique, nobody else is making pieces like this with the integrity of hers, but it still feels familiar. It’s timeless and thoughtfully made—it’s more or less all I wear now.”
“I love Kathleen’s work for similar reasons to Danielle’s—her pieces feel timeless and classic but are super unique. My wedding band, which I wear 24/7 is by her; it’s a fully round wire band in the medium width, though I’m hoping to upgrade to the thicker one. Aside from the classics, she makes some really beautiful sculptural pieces that make a statement but are still very easy to wear. Her work is interesting, but not overly novel or ‘edgy’.”
Sara Larson, Found of The Larson Project
I have loved Ilaria Icardi from the moment I was introduced to her pieces a few years ago and have coveted just about everything from her collections. The gold signet cocktail was the first piece I acquired and I wear it everyday. It’s heavy weight and perfect size of signet, makes me feel empowered and in my hustler era. My husband recently surprised me with the carneliean dome ring for our 15yr wedding anniversary, which is super symbolic to our relationship as it’s 49 diamonds and I’d love to be married to him for 49 years! Ilaria is a true artist and her pieces meld the worlds of masculine and feminine in the most effortless way.
Bernard James’ Flora and Pavé Flora collections take me to my childhood growing up in Alaska and picking flowers in the warm summer months by the sea. The New York Botanical Garden played inspiration to the breathtaking curation of these pieces (I want to wear everything from each), with diamond encrusted lilies, daisies and sunflowers. The flowers juxtaposed with the thick, curb chain, are somehow timeless and opulent at the same time. Bernard is also my neighbor in Greenpoint, so I love popping in to see the newest pieces come to life.
Aya Kanai, Creator and Editor
“When it comes to jewelry I am on a constant hunt for newness—something unusual and different but wearable enough to reach for everyday. A beautiful brand to consider for Valentine’s day is Retrouvai. I own the “Anything is possible” flying pig signet ring and I hope to add one of the flying pig earrings to my collection especially because 100% of the proceeds benefit Everytown.”
“For jewelry inspiration I always check out the curation of Alysa Teichman at Ylang23. She combs the market and knows all the interesting designers so exploring her assortment is a great way to shop.”
