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Blue Nile Moves On Beyond Diamonds, To Infinity

Guess who wants to give you a present? Is it Santa? A Tomten? An errant elf who looks uncannily like Will Farrell?

No. Blue Nile, the preeminent online diamond jeweler in the United States. Long known for what we might call their diamond-ring configurator. I confess to having played with it, day-dreaming of engagement rings. An age-independent activity, by the way.

The company now wants to generate awareness for their lower-priced offerings. Their designs are good. Clean. I believe that (as Duchesse has pointed out in the comments here) you can always tell when there’s talent working behind the scenes at a mainstream brand. It has happened at Jessica Simpson, for example, at Sperry, and now Blue Nile.

So here’s what we have for you.

Blue-Nile-Infinity-Bracelet-with-2-Chains

Their silver infinity bracelet. It comes boxed and bowed, with kisses.

Infinity-Bracelet-Giveaway

 

Quite pretty. The company sent me two – one for me and one for a reader. They gave me two options to choose between, each silver. As you may recall, allergies mean I can’t wear the metal. But my daughter can. Guess who chose our prize? And who may be less than surprised at one of her presents this Christmas? Close your eyes, honey!

I like some of Blue Nile’s other moderately priced pieces too. For example, had my daughter not been collecting wrist silver, we would have been talking about this necklace.

43235_mainI also like these, as the rose gold takes them just above ordinary.

Blue-Nile-Small-Rose-Gold-Hoops

And these, as the facets act similarly.

Blue-Nile-Faceted-Gold-Studs

And these, because diamonds are diamonds, no matter how small.

Blue-Nile-Small-Multi-Diamond-Studs

But I digress. Funny how sparkles distract. I’ll announce the winner next Monday, December 9th. Let’s continue the tradition of story-telling, if you would be so kind. Leave us your comment about a specific gift of jewelry, given, received, or hoped-for-and-unrealized. We celebrate imagination more than acquisition, right?

And thanks to Blue Nile. Their brand always reminds me of this song, from the 80s. “Stay, and I will understand you.” Not inappropriate. I think, for gifts of jewelry.

69 Responses

  1. oh, I have one…. My Mom gave me an antique Rose-gold bracelet that belonged to my Dad’s aunt. It’s something that today wouldn’t be made, as it is so opulent. with large chunks of chain-link squares, gorgeous! but alas, its links were so fragile it broke. The only jewelry shop in my home town, back in Israel, was owned by my ex-boyfriend. It seemed that my love for the bracelet was outweighing the awkwardness of dealing with said ex – and with deep breaths and head up high I gave it for him to fix. He did a great job. And yes, he was totally into me, still.

  2. I am lucky enough to have a few pieces that were my mothers…makes me smile every time I wear one of them.

  3. I have a gold ginko leaf, the emblem of my grandmother’s class at Vassar. She gave one to my mother and one to my great aunt and had one herself. After my grandmother died my aunt gave me the ginko on a long gold chain. Its my most loved piece of jewelry.

  4. I inherited all of my grandmother’s jewelry. I cherish every piece, especially the pearls. I sometimes just sit and go through all of it and reminisce :)

  5. Today I’m wearing my grandmother’s wedding band on a chain around my neck, paired with a lapis heart given to me by my best friend who passed away 5 years ago – both extremely sentimental pieces, often brought out when I am in need of cheer.
    -s

  6. When my husband and I got married years and years ago, we could barely afford wedding rings. Gold had shot up up to $800 an ounce right before we decided to get married. So no engagement ring. Later, he said, well, we’re not engaged! I would relate this tale, time and again. He said, do you really want one? Because by this time we could afford one. No, not really, I’d have to worry about it too much.

  7. In high school I hoped and prayed for a Tiffany silver bracelet.
    Imagine my delight to find a Tiffany box waiting for me on my birthday.
    Imagine my dismay to find a silver demitasse spoon with Sagittarius on it instead.
    My mother had begun a collection of demitasse spoons for me because she has a collection of demitasse cups. Still….it was NOT what my 17 year old self wanted. I still have the spoons though and no idea where some of the gold jewelry I had in high school has gone off to. So maybe it was the smarter gift….

  8. My mother died when I was very young, and I have no memories of her, outside photos from my family and a box of her things that my father kept. The simple pearl studs that she was given when she turned 18 walked down the aisle with me, and it made me feel like she was there with us. :)

  9. As a lover of pearls I mentioned to my husband that I’d like a simple strand for my birthday. Imagine my surprise on Valentines Day when instead of flowers he handed me a red velvet case….and inside were the pearls! He didn’t wait the extra two weeks for my birthday so it was quite unexpected.

  10. Most cherished piece is my wedding ring. My dear husband offered to ‘trade in’ the less-than-large diamond on a bigger one for an anniversary present.
    I declined the gracious offer because I love the diamond already in my ring. It symbolizes the wonderful young love I felt when we said “I do!”

  11. I have my great-grandmother’s art nouveau pearl brooch, which we think was a present from the aunt and uncle who raised her after she was orphaned.

    She gave it to my grandmother for her 16th birthday, who then gave it to my mother for her 16th birthday.

    My mother made me wait until I was 21. My eldest is now 16, and she can have it when I’m cold and dead!

    I do actually wear it a lot. Sometimes pinned to a suit, but more often as a pendant.

  12. “diamonds are diamonds no matter how small” has a Dr. Seuss rhythm, maybe the last line of the story? Now that we have the last line, I’m wondering what the rest of the story might be. I hope it’s not too acquisitive.

  13. Our first year married, and with husband in graduate school, I didn’t expect jewelry, but he selected a string of small, lovely pearls that we could ill afford. I love them with all my heart…they protect me. I have them re-strung faithfully, as I’m sure they will become a family heirloom.

  14. I don’t wear jewelry, save my wedding ring – the alloys used in less expensive stuff irritates my skin – and Beloved has been hesitant to buy me anything expensive since I lost the beautiful diamond and emerald necklace he bought me when we first became involved (the clasp came undone and the chain slipped off my neck, unnoticed). I was heartbroken, for the record.

    That doesn’t keep me from coveting all the lovely sparklies I see this time of year, but alas – I always get kitchen stuff. Don’t know why. :P

  15. My husband is an eminently practical man, with no love of jewelry. We went to Costco one day for new tires. He told me to wait in the car while he ran in and made arrangements for the tires. Back he comes to the car with a lovely gold bracelet and says “here’s your new tires”. We did, of course, also get tires.

  16. When we married, my husband and I got matching gold wedding bands. Somehow I lost mine sometime after our son was born. I was devastated to say the least. We couldn’t afford to replace the ring at that time. Years later, we happened to find it tucked into the cushion of my son’s portable high chair as we were getting ready to give the chair to new parents that we knew. What a great find.

  17. When my favorite Uncle passed away he left a little money to my sisters and I in his will. My sister and I knew exactly what he would have wanted us to do with it. Our Uncle always, always, always wanted us to have a 1 carat diamond. I know it sounds silly but he was very specific about it. He grew up dirt poor and THAT was a sign of success to him. So a few weeks later she called me and told me that she had found Uncle Eppie’s diamonds. Two stones that were almost identical and for almost exactly what he had left us in his will. We both wore them as a right hand ring for years. Then when I got engaged I told my Sweetheart that I would like to use it in our wedding ring. So instead of buying me an engagement ring my Sweetheart bought me my dream ring to put it in. Now when I look down at my hand I see the two men that mean the most to me in the world. Uncle Eppie may not have given those diamonds to us himself, but we feel that he picked them out for us.

  18. Three engagement diamonds. My grandmother’s, my mother’s and mine. All reset into a lovely generation ring.

  19. I was strolling the main street and window shopping in Ashland, Oregon, with my not-yet-husband, when I admired a necklace in a shop window and remarked, “Some day I’d like real pearls.” He responded, “Wheelbarrows? We already have two!” Well, “real pearls” or “wheelbarrows” notwithstanding, we’ve now been married over 20 years with three college daughters…and yes, he did eventually present me with a lovely double strand of baroque pearls!

  20. I was named after my great-grandmother, who had wanted a daughter but had lovely sons. She left a few things she asked my grandmother to give to me when I got married. One small box held a card with a note from her, a beautiful pearl and diamond brooch and tiny, engraved gold pin, which is mysterious because we don’t know what it means or where/why she got it or why she wanted me to have it!

  21. My favorite piece of jewelry is my engagement ring. The diamond was my husband’s grandmother’s from her engagement ring which was put into a new setting (I wish I could have kept the old setting, but my finger was too big!) I love to think of the bread that’s been kneaded, dishes washed, shirts ironed, and now software developed in that ring (lol)! I think a piece of jewelry having a history makes it so much more enjoyable.

  22. I didn’t get an engagement ring since we never had an official engagement. We just talked about getting married, discussed with our parents, planned a wedding, and there we were.

    We’ll celebrate two years this coming year, but I’m already hinting about the rock (uh, of aquamarine) I want for our 10th anniversary!

    We also have very simple, ceramic wedding rings. It’s safer for his job and more practical for us. My “wedding ring” is a bangle bracelet of stainless steel with a gold band that his mother gave me at our wedding. I have taken it off only twice – once during a medical procedure when it was required, and once to do my reception henna ;)

  23. A gold and silver cuff that I wear every day. It was found for me in an antique shop by someone special who sadly passed away many years ago. However, wearing does not make me sad, it gives me indescribable joy and memories worth more than any precious metal.

  24. Hi Lisa, This story is more humorous than sentimental. My father, a lawyer, was given a Longines watch by a grateful female client. Unfortunately, it had an embarrassing inscription inside, so he was not allowed to keep it, and I became the lucky secondary owner of a watch with literally a built-in story.

    It’s not jewelry per se, but my great-uncle was a jeweler, and I was given his Carl Zeiss jeweler’s loupe, which I prize very highly.

    I love all the wonderful stories in the comments; what a great idea to request these memories from your readers.
    –Jim

  25. I buy most of my jewelry for myself. I particularly like to pick things up from local artisans while on vacation; it’s a lovely way to remember a place.

  26. I have a gold wishbone, worn often and with love. Once my husband reached over and took it in his hand. I said “Make a wish.” He said “They are all you.”

  27. I gave my teenage daughters Tiffany bracelets a few years ago. They wear them often and I think they will wear them for years to come. Well worth the splurge. These blue nile pieces seem equally timeless….

  28. My family went on vacation to Ireland the summer I turned 16, & my birthday fell during the trip. My parents gave each of their daughters a piece of jewelry for their sweet 16. I was able to help pick the jewelry & got a beautiful antique filagreed diamond & ruby (my birthstone) ring at the large antique mall in Dublin. Unfortunately one of the rubies fell out several years ago. I haven’t been able to wear the ring since then because it needs to be totally rebuilt which is out of our current budget, but I love to see that ring in my jewelry box because it was the first piece of nice jewelry I ever owned & it came with a mysterious history from fingers who had worn it before me.

    1. Kelli, you might want to consider having the stones replaced, using garnets, for example, instead of the rubies. Unless it is an exceptionally ornate design (hmm, filagree, might be), the cost, once you get away from precious stones, may be bearable.

      Also, some jewelers charge much more than others, so if you got a really high estimate from one, it is good to ask another. Now, with the internet, you can also send a photo to get an estimate, if you do not live near jewelers who specialize in restoration of antique pieces.

  29. Several years ago my mother passed down to me her mothers bracelet that had each of my grandmother’s 11 children engraved on individual tab-like links. My grandmother died when my mom was 15 and this bracelet was something my mother cherished but rarely wore. The bracelet was in my jewelry box for a long time. I wore it this Thanksgiving and Mom, always keen of eye, noticed it right away…..”You’re wearing my mom’s bracelet”. Her joy of seeing me wear it will be in my heart forever. It is wearing a piece of family history which has become more important to me as I grow older and my two daughters are on the brink of adulthood.

  30. My sweetie, years and years ago, gave me a wee simple silver ring that has “and on and on and on” repeated in script around it. It’s my favorite. Jeanine Payer is a local jewelry designer/maker who puts quotes and poetry on jewelry with old photos. Some of them make me feel more brave when I wear them :)

  31. Funny you should ask since I just thought of this quite recently. We submitted Christmas lists every year as kids, in part to keep Santa alive for younger sibs. When I was 14, I wrote “sterling silver bracelet,” meaning the ultra slender oval bangle that was in vogue among wanna-be hippies back in the day. I masked my supreme and utter disappointment when I opened the jewelry store box (already a bad sign) and saw a wider ss bangle engraved with a floral motif that my father had thoughtfully picked out with nary a clue about the hip and trendy one I’d actually had in mind. As I aged, I came to appreciate the loveliness and versatility of this classic piece and let it become a staple of my jewelry wardrobe. As I aged, I also came to know the joys and difficulties of being Santa, wanting desperately to please and yet surprise simultaneously. My father passed away in October and I cherish now more than ever the knowledge that he chose this sweet gift for me based only on his genuine desire to bring me happiness in the form of a “sterling silver bracelet.”

  32. In our Eastern Orthodox Christian faith, the wedding is composed of 2 rites: the Rite of Betrothal which takes about 20 mins. which takes place in the back of the Church & the Crowning which is done in front of the icon screen which last over 1 hr, When my Dad suggested to my future husband we marry, (another story in itself), he suggested we do the Betrothal separately to save time. My intended had worn his Russian grandfather’s wedding ring on his right hand (the hand Orthodox & Europeans use) since he 12, so we had my name & date engraved next to that of his grandmother’s. We went to his Mom’s favorite jeweler. She had met the owner on her 1st day in W. Palm Beach in 1960 after spending 24 hrs. in a town named Pahokee. Tatiana, her husband and 2 children had fled Havana 2 days before and she decided she wasn’t going to live in any town in the middle of nowhere surrounded by nothing but sugar cane. So she borrowed a car and drove to West Palm and sold Murray Sperber of Michael’s Jewelers her Mother’s diamond brooch that she had sewn into the lining of her jacket. We looked at wedding bands and I chose a yellow gold double-braided band with three white gold X’s covered with small diamonds across the front. I was afraid to ask the price. I put it in and looked up questioningly into Fernando’s eyes: “I love it!” I looked at Murray, “But how much is it?” He said, “It’s a gift from Tatiana and Fernando. Congratulation!”

  33. My first Mother’s Day as a new mom, my husband bought me the most beautiful opal necklace. Opal is my daughter’s birthstone, and I cooed over it for months before he came clean and admitted he had no idea it was her birthstone. He had just thought it was pretty! I told hi it was meant to be. :)

  34. My long-coveted piece of jewelry is a star sapphire ring, seen on etsy several years ago, and far out of my budget. Currently, my favorite piece of jewelry is my engagement ring, a simple rose gold band. There’s a little bit of a long story (and several months of being engaged before actually acquiring this ring) that goes with it, and makes it more special :)

  35. My favourite piece of jewellery for the longest time I received as a child – I was about four? I think? It was a little yellow gold ring and the whole design looks like little chunks of raw gold where the stones would otherwise be. I first wore it on my thumb, then moved it down right until I couldn’t even manage to slide it onto my pinky finger anymore.

    I love it enough that I toy with the idea of getting it sized up, but I’d probably need a decent amount of gold added to make it wearable again at this point. But oh it’s gorgeous.

  36. When I was twenty-something, my first husband surprised me with an expensive bracelet from Bailey, Banks, and Biddle that we could ill afford. It was a charming tennis bracelet with a bar of alternating rubies and diamonds, hanging on the most interesting braided gold chain. Having child sized wrists meant that I could not wear it without risking losing it. Back it went to the now defunct jeweler. They would not accept a return for anything close to hundreds spent and explained that it was impossible to size due to the woven gold chain. I never believed that, but nevertheless it sits, still in its box in my dresser. I am saving it for my oldest daughter.

  37. My only diamond pendant came from a bracelet that my late mother had reworked into my pendant and earrings for my sister and sister-in-law. I get special enjoyment out of the occasions when we find ourselves together wearing these keepsakes.

  38. I grew up loving my three maiden aunties, two paternal and one maternal, who showed me how to live, forge on, love, style, and drink. I own jewelry from all three of them, and on challenging days I conjure up their spirits by slipping on Marguerite’s big silver cuff, Olive’s turquoise and silver statement necklace, and Alice’s chunky and modern gold and garnet (I know, mixing metals) ring. With their spirits beneath my wings, no meeting, no social anxiety, no moment is too much, for I am never alone. With their jewelry on, they are by my side.

  39. My husband is giving me a piece of jewelry this Christmas. I had a hand in choosing it. Actually, we are having a ring I already own reproduced in gold. The silver ring is a vintage Mexican piece, purchased at a shop on the central California coast. It is simple and flattering on my large hand. I wore it constantly. So, I am excited about having it executed in 18 carat gold. It should be arriving soon, just in time for Christmas.

  40. WWII is over, my father is finally home for Christmas, the first time in dour years. There is a huge box under the tree for my mother, the size of a small suitcase. “Careful!” he says, as he and my teenaged brother drag the box to her. It’s a ruse; the box has been weighted with filled with canned fruit. But nestled near the bottom is a ring box.

    My mother opens the box and slips on the diamond. She has her own surprise for him, wrapped within her, but not ready for another six months: me.

  41. WWII is over, my father is finally home for Christmas, the first time in four years. There is a huge box under the tree for my mother, the size of a small suitcase. “Careful!” he says, as he and my teenaged brother drag the box to her. It’s a ruse; the box has been weighted with canned fruit. But nestled near the bottom is a ring box.

    My mother opens the box and slips on the diamond. She has her own surprise for him, wrapped within her, but not ready for another six months: me.

  42. What great stories, they sent me packing up to The Boxes to unwrap keepsakes from Great Grandma, both Grandmas, great aunties and yet more legends. These ladies went for the gusto. Rings of cocktail size, pins and necklaces; coral and mother of pearl, silver and turquoise. It is a wonderland of color and textures and styles.
    I cut out descriptions on scrap paper with scalloped edge scissors and ploinked the slips into velvety boxes: “Topaz (?) in ribbon rose gold setting, Auntie Helen, Mexico 1940s”
    Now to the present (more or less) day. Time to write out what I know for the family, kids & cousins.
    I love and appreciate all the pretty reminders as I move through the year. Now, how to explain a high school ring from I school I never attended? It serves a reminder of a lady who passed on much too young. One of my favorite writers advised us, through a character in a book, to wear jade against your skin, to keep the colors bright.
    Here in California, there is a freeze warning. Hydrangea is sheltering a fuchsia, both draped with a sheet, tea light warming them in a recycled can. Just ran out to check & I am experiencing…’finger shrinkage’ ~ add a ring to stack and keep on. Thanks everyone for sharing stories.

  43. I love reading these stories. I adore jewelry, one of my favorite memories is playing in my grandmother’s jewelry box. A few years before she died she started giving away her things to her granddaughters. I received her rose gold earrings-shaped as roses and I wear them often. I wore them to my son’s wedding so Grandma could be there. I also have my grandfather’s diamond ring. It is a small ring with a fiery tiny diamond that was my great-grandmother’s ring, his mother. That ring was made for him by my mother.

  44. I have the sweetest little rhinestone bear clinging to a branch – I remember getting it as a very small child and wearing it on a blue dress with a matching bolero when my Dad took me to the movies (in the days when that was still a rare treat and people dressed up to go).

    While I don’t wear him often, I do smile each time I see him (him?) and remember the excitement of going to the big theatre with my Dad.

    Tks for the blog – love it and look forward to each post.

  45. My husband does not share my love for pearls so his gift of pearl pendant and studs was completely unexpected and remains a favorite.

  46. If I win, I will be gifting this to my mother, because I don’t/can’t wear silver. The first piece of jewelry that I ever bought for myself was a silver ring set with a CZ, from a mall kiosk all decked out in the shiniest, prettiest little baubles (hence, irresistible to teenage me). I loved that ring so much I literally wore it 24/7; the hygienic among us are surely horrified. One day, I finally took the ring off – and was mortified to discover a bright green band around my finger. I took soap and water to that sucker like there was no tomorrow – but alas, my skin remained stubbornly green. Being of strong mind and character (more like, my mother forbade me from ever skipping school unless I could prove that I was in my death throes), I still went to school, and my classmates were kind/polite enough to refrain from remarking that my finger looked like it’d been marked for amputation.

    The one good thing to come out of this is that the siren song of Tiffany silver has never held any appeal for me, for which my wallet cannot say thanks enough. However, if we’re talking about platinum and diamonds now …

  47. My story – The Merits of being a Good Sport

    When my mother-in-law passed suddenly my father-in-law (now also departed) decided to do a number of things that would not have met with the approval of his wife. He bought a BMW. He took up rock climbing. And one evening he decided he wanted to take our little family of four to the drag races. He gave us fair warning and also came prepared with hearing protection. (Who knew it would be so loud?) We all patiently made the trek and I decided that on this adventure I would engage in 1). people-watching and 2). eating junk foods of all varieties normally found at a fairgrounds.

    The people-watching was entertaining and the cuisine was forbidden fruits, many of them either fried or sweet or (quelle horreur!) both. I also supported my father-in-law as he kicked this item off of his bucket list. And I enjoyed myself probably because my husband’s father was so very happy.

    The next day my father-in-law showed up with many, many gifts for me. I received all of the Hermès scarves that had belonged to my mother-in-law. I received 4(!) mink stoles and 2 mink coats. And I received a pair of diamond solitaire earrings that are very, very valuable. They are huge (5 carats each) and look fake because they are so large but I knew them to be real. When they were appraised for insurance the value was staggering.

    That evening at the drag races I learned the value of being a good sport. It is worth even more than my lovely earrings which I wear every single day. When I put them on, I smile, thinking of that evening at the races and the generosity that came later. I learned the value of just going with the flow and reveling in bringing a simple pleasure to another. And I hope this story brought a smile your way as well.

  48. I bought myself a pair of gold hoop earrings to celebrate an important life milestone. It’s funny that I don’t quite remember the milestone now… maybe getting my citizenship? Or simply deciding to be a happier person? I think of them as my grown-up earrings, in a good way.

  49. What a thoughtful question to ask readers!

    My first set of pearls came from my grandfather for my high school graduation. It consisted of a bracelet of larger cultured pearls and a necklace of tiny freshwater pearls. I’d complained to my mom that they didn’t match. She told me this was the first time he had ever bough a set like this without the consultation of my grandmother, who was a couple years into dementia. Though I’ve since also received a matching set of pearls, I still wear the mismatched pearls from grandpa — sometimes together and sometimes separately.

  50. I have a lovely green tourmaline ring, with the stone set in an elaborate filigree gold setting. My paternal grandfather bought it for my grandmother in NYC around 1920, during their wedding trip. My aunt, her daughter, gave it to me when I turned 18yo.

    I love wearing it.

  51. I received gold twist small hoop earrings for my 16th birthday and wore them daily forever. I lost one and cannot find the same quality. I have been drifting, daily earring-wise, ever since.

  52. A funny thing about possessions is that you often don’t know at their time of acquisition that they will turn into treasured items. For my parents’ 40th anniversary, my brother and I planned a big family trip. (This was back when we had money, sigh.)

    We treated them to a trip to France and spent some time in an amazing rented house in the most perfect town of Uzes. One day after we all spent a fun morning shopping a the outdoor market, I popped into a shop and bought myself a necklace – a simple circle on a pink cord. It was only a $25 purchase, but it has turned into something that I wear very frequently. I always think back to that golden trip my whole family took together when I put it on.

  53. For my 21st birthday my grandfather gave me, as he had each of my sisters, a Mikimoto pearl necklace, with beautifully-sized pearls. I don’t wear it often, but I’m still glad I have it all these decades later.

  54. I grew up very close with my maternal grandmother. She was wise, funny, and tough, with a great sense of style – she understood that it’s really all about projecting confidence. After she died, my mom gave me a necklace of hers: three twisted strands of faux seed pearls (no class privilege in my background; we are common as dirt). Plastic though they are, I find that when I’ve got a really demanding day ahead of me in my successful-corporate-lawyer gig, I turn to that necklace, to get a little of Grammy’s strength behind me.

  55. I have a beautiful rose gold brooch with a topaz in the center…it is from scotland and passed down to the eldest daughter in each generation when she has her first baby. This has been going on for generations. From me it goes to my niece when she has her first baby in February. I love the piece and while I am so happy for my niece…I will be so sad to have it go.

  56. A beautiful gold nugget with a diamond in it from my then-boyfriend’s parents at college graduation.
    It’s a lovely piece – and I think of them every time I wear it.

  57. I’m still in the building-up of my jewelery phase, but one of my favorites is a jade pendant that used to belong to my grandmother. Apparently it was an old button that she converted into pendant. Several years ago the chain broke & I’m afraid I have been rather lax about getting it replaced.

    She passed away when I was in college, but I always think of her when I see it, & it’s special to me as I have very few items from her, the bulk of which went to my aunt & cousins.

  58. I’m late to the party, but I wanted to share my story. To my college graduation, I wore my new strand of pearls, a gift from my parents, and my grandmother’s college ring. She died a few months before I graduated. The pearls have seen me through job interviews, product pitches, first dates, and an ex’s wedding: authority and grace on a thin silk cord. But I cherish the memory of that ring around my finger more- it was a tangible and completely unexpected link not only to my beloved grandmother, but also between the events that took place 60 years and an ocean apart. I never felt as close to her as I did in that moment.

  59. Also late to the party but my grandmother lived in Italy & we visited her every summer. Every summer, she’d bring me to a local jewelry store & let me pick out 1 piece. It was a ritual that let me have some private time with her to bond and remember her by. We weren’t particularly close because of the years, distance & language that separated us, but I’ll always feel like we had something special because of those moments. I also think of her fondly every time I wear anything she bought me and I hope to continue on the tradition when I have daughters & granddaughters of my own.

  60. I love the infinity style bracelet its very elegant. Them rose gold earrings are so pretty I love rose gold as I have a pendent my mother gave me a few years ago and always wear it its my favourite piece of jewellery.

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