I asked Australian creatives for the meaning behind the jewellery they wear everyday
IMAGE VIA @sophiebarkerstylist/INSTAGRAM
Words by Genevieve Phelan
“It all becomes like armour, an aesthetic choice that helps you face the day.”
There is something totally intimate and enthralling about what jewels someone chooses to wear on an everyday basis. Some may as well be soldered to our wrist (a clear trend that has emerged in recent years), while others are only ever taken off for the odd beach swim (at risk of having a Kim K diamond earring conundrum).
To be fair, many of us would likely bawl our eyes out if we lost a signature piece of jewellery in the ocean. It would feel like an irrevocable loss. The memories of people and places that they hold are priceless, regardless of the initial monetary cost.
For more jewellery features, articles and spotlights, check out our Fashion section.
To explore the power of everyday bling, I’ve asked some Australian creatives to talk us through the stories of their greatest talismans. These are the jewels that stay with them, and will likely be inherited by women who come after them.
Chloe Naughton, brand consultant
What are your everyday jewels and where do you wear them?
My solid gold bracelet my grandma got me for my 18th birthday. I wear this on my right-hand wrist. I haven’t taken it off since the day I got it, I absolutely adore it so much. [Also] the Lott Studio engagement/wedding rings that I wear on my left-hand side and [a] Cleopatra’s Bling solid gold custom pinky ring.
Why are each of these pieces special to you?
My grandma is my greatest hero and my biggest inspiration in every aspect of who she is and who I want to become. Her style, her wit, her impeccable taste. My nanny knows exactly what is up. Receiving such a special gift from her is something I will cherish forever.
Secondly my engagement ring and our wedding bands. Lott Studio designed all of these for both me and my husband and we love them. We wanted something simple and structural but with a little art deco detailing. The subtle details of my Asscher cut diamond give it a hint of art deco. Kari, the founder of Lott Studio, was beautiful to work with.
Lastly, my custom solid gold pinky ring was designed by my dearest friend Olivia Cummings who is the founder and creative director of Cleopatra’s Bling. It’s a little bit masculine and absolutely an everyday core essential. I wear it on my right hand alongside my grandma’s bracelet.
Liana Rossi, Head of Culture and Influence at Ogilvy Australia
What are your everyday jewels and where do you wear them?
As an avid accessoriser, I’ve got a lot of jewellery that I wear on rotation. Without fail, I wear my nonna’s wedding ring, a necklace of hers I had made into a choker, and a pendant my partner had made for my birthday by Illoom. I love big earrings – adding colour to my outfits that way. I love my Miro Miro Aura Earrings in silver and gold for everyday wear, Mountain & Moon Kitty Hoops, or these great Covet Goldie pink drop earrings. My jewellery doesn’t differ too much between work and play.
Why are each of these pieces special to you?
I’m a sentimental person so everything’s special in one way or another. My parents gave me nonna’s wedding ring for Christmas last year, and I feel so grateful to have the opportunity to be its custodian. Eventually, I would like to replace the diamond with a ruby and use it as an engagement ring. [It’s] serendipitous that it fits perfectly on that finger. My boyfriend is picking up my not-so-subtle hints.
I am not a practising Catholic, but the influences from my childhood – as well as a general interest in its iconography – led my partner to have our dear friend Fraser from Illoom create a custom Lady of Guadalupe pendant for me which I treasure so much. It makes me feel very connected to the powerful women I was raised by.
Dani Maher, writer
What are your everyday jewels and where do you wear them?
I never feel fully dressed until I’ve put on my collection of rings. I’ve amassed them over a number of years – some new, some old, some precious, mostly sentimental – and gradually they’ve become the final touch to every look. They’re a bit of a hodge-podge of mixed metals and qualities but I love how they look together.
On each of my ring fingers, I wear a gold signet ring. My omi had four of them made for my mum and her sisters when she visited Singapore in 1973, and had each one engraved with their star sign. I ‘borrowed’ my mum’s, engraved with a Leo lion, about 10 years ago; and four years ago when I turned 21 one of my aunties gifted me hers, which features the Sagittarian archer we both share.
Also among the eight-ring stack is a Najo silver signet ring gifted to me by my best friend a few years ago, which she had custom engraved with a Sagittarius constellation. The remaining five include one gifted from Avant Studio, a local label; and another from Najo, gifted by the same friend, embossed with a duck (my favourite animal as a kid, it’s a funny little piece and I love it for the nostalgia).
Why are each of these pieces special to you?
I suppose what’s special about my rings is that I didn’t buy any of them – they were all gifts, and so they each have stories or remind me of certain people, and yet they’ve come to feel so “me”. There are a few other jewellery pieces that I turn to almost daily. There’s my Sarah & Sebastian Tiny Diamond Cluster earring (an auricle piercing I had done in April, so I literally haven’t taken it off since, not that I mind); a pair of bold gold hoops I bought at a store in Avalon about five years ago; and my Reliquia Gold Star Sign Necklace (yes, I check my Co-Star daily, why do you ask?). I have dalliances with other pieces in my collection, but for their versatility, these are the ones I turn to most frequently.
Sophie Barker, stylist
What are your everyday jewels and where do you wear them? Why are each of these pieces special to you?
Bargain hack: I bought some gold choker necklaces about a decade ago from your everyday plaza jeweller. Baby necklaces = fine jewellery without the price tag. The love heart locket was given to me for my christening! My larger gold hoops I bought as a holiday memento from the gold district in Florence. It’s always a smug response when people ask where they’re from.
The others have slowly been added to the collection with the help of my mum, who contributes to my buying a small piece of jewellery every Christmas. It’s become a little tradition. The studs are Sarah & Sebastian and huggies are Sydney Evan which I lusted over for yonks before buying, from my favourite local boutique Grace.
My nana bought me pearls for my 21st which were knicked at a house party (hide those valuables during kick-ons), so my mum swiftly replaced them with these so she wouldn’t know. I hated them till I didn’t. There is a Dinosaur Designs brass bracelet and a necklace I also wear as a bracelet. I’ve been wearing these knuckle rings since the Kate Moss / Sienna Miller luxe hippy era and I don’t care that the trend is over – they’re another one of those pieces that make you feel like you’ve tried without trying. They’re by Catbird, as is the twister ring.
My Holly Ryan signet ring was bought for me for my 30th by my darling best mates. The onyx ring is also from my trip to Florence. Then, there are multiple thin bands by Catbird which I would treat myself to every time I completed a huge job. The nail ring is by Sydney Evan. My five closest girlfriends and I bought these thumb rings from Goldmark when we were all going in different directions after high school. We’re still friends.
My watch was a 30th present from my beautiful family and makes me feel like a real grown-up even though it still takes me ages to tell analogue time. Last but not least is my incredible Natasha Schweitzer engagement ring, which I proudly went halvies on with my partner after we got engaged. Altogether, it took a small village to build this collection over the last 15 or so years, but it was all purchased with love and hard work. Each piece represents a memory, which I’ll eventually pass on. It sounds ridiculous but it all becomes like armour, an aesthetic choice that helps you face the day.
Lia Georgantis, founder of Girls with Gems
What are your everyday jewellery pieces and where do you wear them?
Around my neck, there’s always an M Jewellers Tennis Necklace, if not two. Depending on my outfit I will also layer Amber Sceats, typically the Maisie necklace. On my wrists, there are two Cartier bangles that I never take off, mixed with some thin By Charlotte chains, a tennis bracelet, a watch and a real gold thin bracelet with 10 different real gemstones, landing at Girls with Gems soon.
I have two fingers spare out of 10 because I LOVE collecting and wearing rings. A mixture of real and costume jewellery, and also a mixture of current pieces, and then my mum and grandmother’s treasures.
Why are each of these pieces special to you?
Every piece of jewellery symbolises a moment in time for me, be it a special holiday, a milestone event that has happened that I celebrated by purchasing a piece of jewellery or even a business milestone. I like to look at each piece I own and be able to reflect on beautiful memories and experiences which I have had.
For more on sentimental jewellery, head here.
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