As a jewelry collector, I have an ebb-and-flow relationship with adornment. I buy some pieces, knowing I’m stewarding them until the time comes to pass them on to someone else. Others I’ve cherished for years and years, and they’ll be staying with me for quite some time to come.
It’s true that I’ve been known to gravitate toward a few specific brands like Napier, Schreiner, and Dior, but what I keep for my collection varies widely. Many of the pieces I’ve held onto over time were gifts from loved ones, friends, or folks I’ve had the pleasure of meeting in the costume jewelry industry. Some were purchased as potential inventory, but as I’ve tried them on for size, they’ve become a part of my forever jewelry wardrobe. I could easily highlight a dozen or more, but I’m narrowing it down to five special pieces I’ll cherish forever as the focus of this share.
Tiffany Heart Charm Bracelet
I’ll start with a Valentine’s love story featuring a truly classic bracelet. Shortly after I started dating my husband, we decided to take our first trip together right around Valentine’s Day. After we got settled into our Las Vegas hotel, my handsome boyfriend said he wanted to go to the Forum Shops at Ceasar’s Palace. Vegas shopping was always good for blingy eye candy, so who could say no to that?
As we meandered the shops, I had no clue he was guiding me toward Tiffany & Co. Inside the store, we made our way over to a specific showcase. He asked to see the iconic silver heart toggle clasp charm bracelet and had me try it on. Thoroughly surprised and equally as delighted, I walked out with my first piece of Tiffany jewelry on my wrist and a little blue box to store it in.
If I hadn’t already been in love with him by then, this foray would have sealed the deal. Since then, that bracelet has become my travel lucky charm—I wear it on every trip we take.
Napier 1950s Maltese Cross Necklace
A necklace just like this one was my first jewelry buy as a true collector. With this purchase, I went from dabbling in estate sale finds, which I always ended up flipping, to buying pieces with the intention of keeping them for my own jewelry stash. That was in the late 1980s when vintage Napier wasn’t appreciated as much as it is now, so a $45 investment on one necklace in an antique shop seemed like a lot compared to my other bargain finds. But this Napier necklace ticked off all the boxes as a beautiful and wearable keeper. It’s even more special because it marks the first step down a passionate path brimming with more friendships, learning, and collecting experiences than I could have ever anticipated.
I didn’t realize at the time that I’d end up amassing a very large collection of Napier and bonding over that obsession with my friend Melinda Lewis, who went on to author The Napier Co., but I’m sure glad it was love at first sight.
Chanel Charm Brooch
By the time I purchased my brooch like this one, I’d been buying and selling vintage jewelry for years. This procurement, however, was a step forward in buying luxury brands. For one thing, it wasn’t cheap. I got it from a friend who owned a high-end vintage boutique, and she valued her Chanel. Even though she gave me a good price, and it was fun buying something from her vast collection, it was still quite a splurge. I’d been a fan of charm jewelry forever, though, so this just felt like one of those had-to-have-it purchases.
In all honesty, I thought I might sell this one at some point when I first acquired it, but every time I’ve worn it, I’ve gotten more and more attached to it. As one of those milestone acquisitions in the life of a collector, it’s now one I want to hang onto for the duration.
Joseff Sungod Brooch
This style, designed by Eugene Joseff, was his wife Joan’s favorite piece of jewelry. The original was crafted of 18-karat gold with dangling diamond eyes. When I got a glimpse of that amazing brooch on Tina Joseff’s lapel at a jewelry collectors convention years ago, I knew I had to have one for myself.
Luckily, the company made these in the 1940s of gold-plated metal with rhinestone eyes marked Joseff Hollywood, so I waited until one in amazing condition came up for auction and snagged it for my cache.
Since then, they’ve made versions marked simply Joseff in a distinctive script that are just as lovely, along with necklaces with several Sungods dangling in a row. I own one of those, too, which I bought directly from Joseff of Hollywood. I buy and sell Joseff jewelry frequently, but these Sungod pieces are ones that will be with me for the long haul.
Judith Hendler Athena Necklace
I have a few special Judith Hendler pieces in my collection. Some were gifts from her, others were purchased, and a couple were fundraisers for Costume Jewelry Collectors, Int’l (CJCI). That’s one reason I selected this necklace as a favorite to share among my keepers—it represents generosity and great design.
Hendler developed this limited-edition necklace and another creative design to help bolster the CJCI Education Fund. Each dollar brought in through those efforts was used to populate the CJCI website with resources for those doing costume jewelry research. Several people, including Katerina Musetti and Tina Joseff, showed CJCI the same level of generosity.
Possessing and wearing jewelry associated with some of the many magnanimous people I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know through my hobby is indeed at the heart of my collection.
So, there you have it, five of my all-time favorite jewelry pieces that will be with me for many years to come. They’re not just accessories; they’re esteemed treasures.
Pamela Siegel is a freelance writer and author who has been educating collectors for more than two decades. In addition to three books on topics relating to antiques and collectibles, she frequently shares her expertise through online writing and articles for print-based publications. Pamela is also the co-founder of Costume Jewelry Collectors Int’l (CJCI) and the proprietor of Chic Antiques by Pamela.
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