6 Australian creatives share the heirloom jewellery they wear every day

“I wear the cross as a subtle reminder to push forward and go places that might seem a little scary.”

While stacked ear adornments and colourful statement rings are fun, the most precious jewellery is laden with sentimental memories. Heirloom jewellery spans the stories of multiple generations, often taking on new meanings with each wearer. Each inherited piece passes on a little piece of family history, acting as a reminder of extravagant adventures, trying struggles and great love.

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Not all are lucky enough to have pieces passed on to them, but those who do tend to cherish them, wearing that ring, bracelet or necklace every day as a reminder of the person – or place – from which it originated. Below, six Australian creatives share the heirloom jewellery they wear every day.

Laura Liles, Creative Director of Ciao Ciao Vacation and Kinga Csilla

I wear a gold cross that I inherited from my great-grandmother via my nonna. It sits in a stack on my neck of other pieces inherited from my mum or gifted from Zias and cousins. The cross has an inscription on the back [that says] ‘Canton AG 27 & 28 5 38’. It’s [my] great nonna’s initials, plus the date bombs hit a train that she was travelling through [in] Guandong (then known as Canton).

As the story goes, her carriage remained untouched by the blasts and as she was wearing the cross at the time, she attributed it somewhat to her good blessings. Nonna Angela ran hotels in various parts of Asia, including Hong Kong and Manila, where… [she] grew up during the ’30s and ’40s. Pretty boss for a woman of her era. I wear the cross as a subtle reminder to push forward and go places that might seem a little scary.

@laura_liles_

Cait Emma Burke, Editor of Fashion Journal

When I was around 13, this gold Claddagh ring was passed down to me by my grandma. The Claddagh ring is a traditional Irish token of friendship and love, and I was immediately taken with the lore that surrounds it. I was given a piece of parchment-looking paper with the ring that explained what each symbol stands for – the heart represents love, the crown is for loyalty and the clasped hands represent friendship.

As corny as it sounds, these three values are really what guide my life (they’re also what fulfil and uplift me). I wear the ring every day because of this, and the connection it provides to my Irish heritage. I’m also a sucker for gold jewellery – there’s no mixing metals here.

The other thing I really love about Claddagh rings is that there’s a specific way you wear them depending on your relationship status. You’re meant to wear the heart pointing towards your fingertips if you’re single and open to love, and towards your wrist if you’re taken.

@caitemmaburke

Emily Fanner, Director of EF Studios

My love of connection through jewellery and fixation with precious heirlooms started thanks to my nan. When we were young, she would go through her jewellery box with me and my sister and tell us the stories and memories connected to each piece – whether it be a diamond band given to her for a 21st present or her grandmother’s engagement ring.

I loved talking to patients about their jewellery when I was a nurse for this same reason. They could be in one of the darkest times of life but would love the human connection shared in these moments, recounting the stories about their jewels and the emotions behind them.

This was recently given to me by my mum but was originally my nan’s from the ’70s. She bought it from a vintage dealer on a trip to Europe and she would wear it every day, always pointing to it and telling us the stories from that trip and the summer she spent overseas. She wore it like an extension of herself or like a talisman stored with all the good memories for when she needed them.

Since learning to create jewellery, my mum gave me a few pieces to rework into new modern heirlooms to be shared between her, my sister and me. We’re in the process of designing these new pieces which will be modern, unique and bespoke. Each piece will be a one-off and will repurpose the gold and diamonds passed down through generations.

@efstudios_

Joely Malcolm, content creator

I have a lot of heirloom jewellery pieces, but the most precious to me would be the gold necklaces I wear daily. The gold coin was handed down to me by my grandparents. They couldn’t carry much when they moved to Australia, so it is one of the few things I own that links me to my Macedonian heritage.

The other gold pendant was recently passed down to me by my mother. It was the necklace my dad gave my mum as their two-year anniversary present, and since they’re still together and so in love, we see it as a good luck charm. It’s been working for me so far!

@joelymalcolm

Katia Kelso, Co-Founder of Ilio Nema

As children, my sister and I were given baby bracelets, gold charms and the Greek eye (to protect us) from godparents, aunties and uncles, and grandparents. While not as appealing as toys at the time, these items of jewellery are something we still wear today and something we can hand down to the next generation.

Much of the jewellery I wear today has been handed down to me by my mum, yaiyai and godmother. Each piece has its own story and has been loved for years by someone special to me, making the piece even more special than something brand new.

One of my favourite heirloom pieces is a gold sovereign coin necklace. The gold sovereign is from 1889 and was passed down from my dad. For my 21st birthday, my sister had it set into a pendant, which I treasure and wear every day. Because it was my dad’s, and my 21st birthday present, this heirloom is very precious to me.

Another heirloom I love wearing is my maternal great-grandmother’s wedding and engagement rings. They have been in the family since 1909. The design of the engagement ring and cut of the diamonds is typical of the early 20th century. My grandmother inherited the rings in 1970 when my great-grandmother died. After wearing the rings every day for 30 years, my grandmother then gave them to my mum.

For the last three years, my mum has started to share these rings with me and we switch wearing them. These rings have now been on the finger of four generations of Bennell-Miltiades-Kelso women, and one day they will be treasured by another generation.

@ilio_nema

Izzy Wight, Editorial Assistant for Fashion Journal

This gold ring (poorly captured in a hotel bathroom mirror) was handed down to my mum from my grandma, who had it made from a Mexican peso. Originally, the ring was made with the coin the wrong way around, with the head side facing up. My grandma, who was travelling at the time, took it to a jeweller and had it flipped. My mum wore it for years. I always loved the lace-like detailing, delicate coin and thin gold band. She passed it on to me for a birthday a few years ago, and it was a really special moment.

@izzy.wight

For more heirloom jewellery stories, head here.