Today’s Jewelry Collection Story comes from Kim of @estatejewelrymama – I remember the first time I came across Kim’s Instagram page. She had a date ring in one of her photos and at the time, I collected date rings. Not too many people offered them or even cared about them, but Kim had one in her personal collection! It was an instant follow for and have been following ever since (it has been probably ten years strong). I’m excited to share her personal collection story with you all:
“I have been collecting jewelry since I was 5 years old. I grew up in the industry and purchased my first gold filled four leaf clover charm from the Getz Jewelry Store that my dad managed in 1985. Stones and shiny bits I’ve collected ever since I was able to pick them up and not put them in my mouth. I would always find stuff and it really started with rocks and my great grandmas costume jewelry. Collecting is just a facet of who I am, and I collect all different things. Mostly jewelry and oddities, but also keep and date my sons’ hair, teeth and umbilical cord nubs haha!!”
“Sentimental and mourning items are a staple in my jewelry diet. Through repairing and restoring them over the years the complexity of the craftsmanship just blows my mind. I’m completely entranced by hand engravings, all the intricacies and the love that is stored in these amazing little works of art. I’m obsessed with antique snake, eagle, stag and griffon head chains as well. I can’t get enough of them, it’s gotten bad and I know a few who get quite annoyed that I won’t sell them, I know we all have this. Sorry not sorry, we are all allowed “our thing” as dealers that collect. I also LOVE corundum; cornflower blue sapphires and pigeons blood red rubies.”
“Jewelry is ever-changing, through the past and future it grows and develops as a symbolic expression of various emotions. And it’s art, as an artist I’m just naturally very passionate about art. Jewelry just happens to be my favorite form of art. I prefer old jewelry because it has the vast art history; along with the fantasy and wonder of the unknown to go with it.”
“I find jewelry literally everywhere, it could be hidden under layers of grit and I’d find it. To be more serious; I find it in markets, antique malls, estate sales, friends that share this passion and mostly online since Covid. I would love to go back to Europe and do more hunting there. And I love the mom and pop shop good old country style of finding treasures. I prefer salt of the earth people far more than those who *think they are so refined. My dad’s old-timer jewelry friends are my favorite. It’s fun to break down the historical significance and era for these folks, bc it’s great to light a spark in ours interest, always fun to learn from them and get to teach them something new at the same time.”
“I have a few items with traceable historical significance. The first I acquired is the mourning ring for Mrs. Lucy Lutwidge. Lucy was the great grandmother of the well known author Lewis Carol. It’s the first item I had of value, that I was able to keep. I come from very humble beginnings and this item has shown me that with perseverance my dreams were possible.
A little interesting personal story for her and I is that one small gold inside embellishment had fallen off inside this fully sealed ring (sealed copper interior plate even – very uncommon in these items). As a preservationist I didn’t want the little bit to knock around and damage the rest of the interior. So I had to do a deep meditation, open the crystal, reaffix the tiny gold embellishment and seal it shut as fast as possible. So I gave myself just 15 minutes to complete the entire process. I just knew it was important to do it right away and close immediately. I felt as if I was going through the looking glass and needed to make it right and get back out. I often wonder how long this little bit had been trapped in there sliding around, and I’m truly honored to have put just this little bit back to it’s original intended place.”
“I purchased the most amazing ring a few weeks back from my dear friend, Lenore of @Inezstodel_Jewelry. It’s my 18th century “A’ Jamais” French sentimental ring, in English it translate to “forever”. It is so important for me to pass on this symbol of endless love to two my sons, they are my forevers! It also keeps in my mind linked to a triumph of a good over evil, that the past two years have revealed to me more than ever. The absolute importance of the ethical and kind treatment of others that is forever necessary in this always changing world. We all want to be a beacon of light, as my mother would say. This ring is forever this light in my eyes.”
You can follow Kim here —> @estatejewelrymama
