Today’s Jewelry Collection Story comes from Amie of @roguevintagejewels – I met Amie several years ago when I was actively traveling all across the US visiting stores on my #JewelryRoadTrip. She worked at Alice Kwartler in NYC, one of my favorite stores I ever featured! Sadly the store has since closed, but it will remain as one of the most epic jewel-infested shops I’ve ever been to. Naturally, Amie is drawn to all things shiny and is now selling pieces as her own business – Rogue Vintage Jewels. She is based in NYC and has been doing a lot of shows, with one which happened a few months ago in Nashville which was awesome because I got to reconnect with her and see all her pieces in person! I’m excited to share her personal collection with you today, along with her story:
“How long have I been collecting? Do Ring Pops count? I’ve always been drawn to collecting little treasures—beads, sea glass, anything with a bit of history or charm. My career has always been in jewelry, but about eight years ago, I started seriously collecting. For the past year and a half, I’ve turned that passion into my full-time business.”
“Lately, I’ve been drawn to two very opposite things: engraved signet rings and spinner charms. That’s one of the best things about jewelry—it can be anything you dream of. So far, I’ve collected three or four ‘I Love You’ spinners and one that cheekily says ‘Go to Hell.’
I also have two signet pinky rings, both what I like to call ‘jewelry foster fails.’ One features a knight with a shield and a banner that reads Semper Fidelis. The other is the Montgomery family crest, with a banner below that says Garde Bien.
That last one? You might want to Google it yourself. Let’s just say deciphering the woman holding a severed head isn’t exactly straightforward. Ha!”
“This might sound cheesy, but jewelry has so many facets—literally and figuratively. I’m always learning. There’s science in it, art, history, chemistry, geology, gemology, and more. But above all, it’s the community. I’ve met incredible people from all backgrounds, and our love of jewelry has connected me to some of my close friends.”
“To be honest, I’m absolutely spoiled. At first, I was intimidated, but now I get to treasure hunt in New York City’s 47th Street Diamond District. It’s gritty and tough—I get heckled all the time, asked if I’m buying or selling as I walk up and down the street. Believe it or not, it’s still a very male-dominated space, even though so much jewelry is traditionally made for women.
Over time, I found my way and built trust — huge in this industry. Now, I get to sift through pound heavy bags of gold before it’s about to be melted-(yes, pounds of gold) and also step into offices where the jewels reach seven figures and beyond.
I also love treasure hunting online—eBay, Ruby Lane, and, of course, dreaming over Sotheby’s jewelry auctions.”
“One day, I was sifting through a scrap bag—basically a massive tangle of chains, like a ball of yarn but gold. As I moved a chunk of it, something solid started to peek through—a curved shape, like the top of a flower. I pulled on it, and suddenly, a large clover pendant slipped free from the tangle.
And then I just froze. It wasn’t like any clover I had ever seen—it was engraved with Scorpio symbols. I felt the tears well up instantly. A few years ago, I lost a very close family member suddenly on St. Patrick’s Day—my uncle, who was like a father to me. And he was a Scorpio.
It didn’t feel like chance. It was one of those rare moments where a piece just finds you.”
“May the jewelry gods forgive me—most of my collection ends up in little plastic baggies. Can someone please be The Home Edit for jewelry?
Charms are the hardest to store, probably because they come in so many shapes and sizes. And chains? I can’t even talk about it. I have no clue why organizing them both is such a struggle, but it is. Completely ridiculous.
That said, I do have a few of my special rings in a leather box lined with velvet and floral fabric from @goldenponyworkshop that I absolutely love.”
“My most cherished piece of jewelry isn’t the boldest or the most ornate—it’s a beautifully understated ID bracelet engraved with my daughter’s name.
The journey to have her wasn’t easy. After years of trying, she was born with the help of IVF at the height of the Covid-19 shutdown in April 2020—a time that was both terrifying and life-changing. I wear it everyday.”
You can follow Amie here —> @roguevintagejewels
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