4 Tips: How to Choose Signature Jewelry

This post is sponsored by Rebecca Mir Grady, creator of contemporary fine jewelry. Her collection features rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces made wth recycled 14k gold and sterling silver, using ethically sourced diamonds, opals, rubies, sapphires and emeralds. Each piece is crafted by hand in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

I have a friend who has long-inspired me by her signature necklaces. She has two or three dainty little chains around her neck that never leave her person. They were gifted or passed on by loved ones and they delicately grace her collar bone each day. They have become a simple part of her everyday look.

I am very inspired by the idea of signature jewelry because it’s often understated and synonymous with its wearer. Think of Mandy Moore in This Is Us and her crescent necklace.

What makes signature jewelry become what it is? What elements lie within that make it worthy of our daily wear? I’ve asked myself this many times, and it comes back to two main elements: the design and the story.

For me to wear something on a daily basis (I have a select few pieces that rarely leave my person) the design has to be just right. I have to love the way it looks and the design has to function well too. It can’t be floppy, loud, or too dangly. It has to be something I can wear while doing nearly anything.

When it comes to the story, I find I connect the most to jewelry when I know how it’s made, who the maker is, and what their inspirations are. The story of how I ended up with the item carries sentiment for me as well. Gifts from my husband often carry the most. But let me get real honest here, I am pretty picky about all things clothing and jewelry related, and most of the time my husband is looking for my input before he ever makes any jewelry purchases for me.

So how do you select an item to be among your treasured signature jewelry pieces? Does it happen by accident over time, or is it something you can be deliberate about? I believe it’s mostly the latter. For this post I’ve partnered with jeweler Rebecca Mir Grady because her work is both modern and timeless. Her pieces are interesting, yet sleek, just the sort of jewelry I love to wear on a daily basis. I am not a heavy jewelry-wearer, and I don’t presume to know all there is about fine jewelry, but I’ve learned a thing or two over the years, and I thought I’d share a few tips I’ve picked up over time.

How to Choose Signature Jewelry:

1  //  Follow your instincts – that inner draw to a certain piece of jewelry usually emerges the first time you lay eyes on it. Don’t deny it, entertain it. But try not to overthink it.

2  //  How does it make you feel? Do you feel elegant? Natural? Overdone? Done up? Do you feel like yourself? Consider how you want to feel, and if that piece of jewelry plays a positive part in that.

3 //  Consider functionality. Can you sleep in it? Can you wear it in the shower? If not, is it easy to get on and off?

4 //  Quality control. Is it made from precious metals like gold or silver? Most often, higher quality metals lend themselves better to daily wear, and you’re less likely to run into discoloration problems.

After you’ve made your selection, wear it to your heart’s content. Layer it with other jewelry, or even under a sweater or top. Others may not see it, but you know it’s there. Embrace it, love it, feel good in it, and again, don’t over think it.

If you’re in the market to send someone a hint for Mother’s Day, or feel ready to treat yourself, the sponsor of this post, Rebecca Mir Grady, invites you to shop her new collection at a special discount. It features fine jewelry, hand-made with recycled precious metals and ethically sourced gemstones. You can use the code SEASONSSPRING to take 20% off your order, from now through May 10th. This post features the Hyalite Diamond necklace, a hammered gold pendant with a small diamond on an 18-inch sterling silver chain.