Today’s jewelry collection story comes from Sarah of @vintagegems_nh who you may know from the Instagram community. Sarah has weekly Instagram live shows alongside her husband Joe aka “Jeaux” where all sorts of hooligan stuff goes down. It is both equal parts funny, chaotic and super sparkly. When Sarah is not schlepping jewels, she is collecting them! I can’t wait to share her personal collection, as well as her story…take it away Sarah:
“I’ve only been seriously collecting fine jewelry for the past decade or so, but my passion for treasures and trinkets started early on. I remember being four or five, losing time in a costume box my grandmother put together for us kids. It was filled with accessories she’d collected over the years—beaded purses, silk scarves, and costume jewelry from the 1920s to ’40s, mostly all Art Deco style. Deco jewelry has become one of my favorite eras to collect, and I believe this magical childhood memory was the spark that ignited my passion.
My ‘unserious’ collecting started as a preteen. If I had money I was spending it at the ’10 for 5′ clearance section at Claire’s in the mall. Y2K Claire’s was an experience—I could dig through those racks of cheap jewelry for hours. It wasn’t about value (or the fact that every pair of earrings turned my ears green)—it was about the thrill of the hunt and finding pieces that felt like ‘me.’”
“I’m drawn to anything that feels like magic. Celestial motifs are a common theme throughout my collection—Lots of opals, moonstones, and other gems with interesting optical phenomena. I love color, whimsy, nostalgia. I have a small but growing number of Aesop’s Fables- and other classic tale-themed charms, as well as an entire section of my jewelry box dedicated to candy and sweets. I like spooky stuff, too. My Halloween charms are some of my favorites. It’s a bit chaotic and all over the place, but every piece has its own meaning and was chosen because, at the end of the day, it just makes my heart happy.”
“Antique and vintage jewelry just check all the boxes for me: history, sparkle, and a good bit of sentiment. I like to think that these pieces were special to someone at some point, making them more than just things. They’re memories. It’s like holding a little piece of someone’s life story, maybe even the last physical reminder of their existence. I find a quiet beauty in that connection, and it’s what inspires me to seek out jewelry that’s well-loved.
I’m especially drawn to pieces that show signs of time—worn details, faded engravings, and patinas that speak to their history. When I come across a piece like that, it feels like a second chance for it to be loved and remembered.”
“In the beginning, Joe and I would take day trips and hit up yard sales, flea markets, and tucked-away antique and pawn shops hunting for jewelry and unique antiques. When Joe grew his business refining precious metals, I started buying up as many antique pieces as I could from him to save them from being melted. Vintage Gems was built on this idea, though I’ll admit, a lot of my “inventory” eventually found its way into my PC.
These days, I’m also inspired by the creativity of the Instagram jewelry community, where I love shopping for unique pieces. It’s always fun to see the jewelry being worn and styled before buying—it makes it much easier to imagine how it might look on me. I’ve made some incredible connections with sellers who have since become close friends, so I like to support them whenever I can. The community is so warm and supportive, and it’s such a good feeling to know the human behind the small business you’re buying from.”
“I was lucky enough to become the keeper of my great-grandfather’s wedding band, and the love story behind it will never get old to me. He and my Vovó immigrated to the United States from São Miguel, Portugal, as teenagers in the early 1900s, settling in my hometown of Attleboro, Massachusetts. At the time, Attleboro was known as ‘The Jewelry Capital of the World’ because of the many manufacturers based there.
My great-grandfather didn’t speak any English, so finding good work was a struggle. He took the only job he could get and worked nights as a cleaner in one of the factories. He and my Vovó were very much in love and wanted to get married and start a family, but they couldn’t afford much. He was set on putting a ring on her finger regardless.
While he cleaned at night, he started taking notice of the minuscule flecks of gold scattered beneath the jewelers’ benches—scraps left behind from the day’s work. What others saw as waste, he saw as opportunity. Over time—a long, long time—he collected enough of those scraps to forge two simple gold bands.
Illegal? Maybe. Romantic? No doubt. Love will find a way.”
You can follow Sarah here —> @vintagegems_nh
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