Today’s Jewelry Collection Story comes from Naz of 3 Graces of Gold. I’m excited for Naz to share her collection, as I knew it was incredible, especially after seeing her food charm necklace on Instagram. Something about the uniqueness and chunkiness of each nut, veggie or fruit – she truly nailed it with this collection. Naz has worked a corporate job for most of her life, with an ongoing passion for jewelry. She started her Instagram account in 2020 and about a year ago she was able to quit her job and become a part of the jewelry industry officially full-time! Now she offers pretty bubble bracelets, donut rings and an assortment of vintage and antique jewels. Let’s take a look at her personal stash:
“Seems like for as long as I can remember! But as a kid I loved old shiny pretty things, and I collected any old treasure I could get my hands on. It started with rocks, crystals, old perfume bottles, and costume jewelry. I’d save any money I had to buy these and other old trinkets and thankfully my mom loved old treasures too. We were always hunting at antique stores and garage sales. My appreciation for jewelry grew as I shopped secondhand with her and I observed her express her style through what she wore (she had a bold and colorful style and wore a lot of big statement costume pieces,
“My mom gifted me my first piece of fine gold jewelry when I turned 13, starting with a 14K gold nugget bracelet that I still have which is one of my most cherished pieces. I bought my first piece of fine jewelry around the same time with money I saved up from babysitting. It was yellow 10K gold with a heart cut pink CZ set low and prong set in the center with gold filigree scrollwork on either side. It was $32.50 before tax. I wore it every day until sadly, I left it at a sink in my middle school. As a rule I don’t take off my rings at sinks now! I didn’t fully dive into fine jewelry collecting until I was out of college, had paid off student loans, and felt like I responsibly could. I’ve been out of college now for over 20 years, so I’ve been collecting for decades.”
“I collect a few pretty nuanced motifs — zodiac pieces for 6 signs represented in my family, animal pieces (fish, bugs, snakes, lizards and a scatter of others), and certain food groups, specifically fruits, nuts, and (the new entrant) veggies. Like a lot of people I collect meaningful letter/initial pieces. I have an attachment to the number 3 and I look for that number in celestial pieces and in other motifs (I have a triple horseshoe pendant as example). I also love geometric shapes and orbs. More a style versus a motif – I collect plain antique and vintage gold bands and gold watch chains.”
“I love jewelry for so many reasons! First there’s the history and cultural significance of old gold jewelry that fascinates me. I was an art history major in college and I love thinking about this. These pieces are survivors – they are evidence of what people valued and admired in other eras and kept safe. They’ve been worn on other people’s bodies! Some people might be icked out by that but to me its super special that we can own wearable history like this and carry it forward. The second thing I love about gold jewelry is that preferred styles and taste is so individual and its meaning is so personal. I really believe that our jewelry pieces are a means to connecting to a very deep level of joy and love and a deeper understanding of ourselves. Its very emotive. If you ask someone to tell you about their jewelry collection, you will learn very personal details about them more quickly than you would in most other conversations. Jewelry connects us! Lastly, I love that jewelry is an art form that invites you beyond just using our eyes, as you would with a painting, but to also hold it and wear it. I’m still astounded by its preciousness, the craftsmanship and beauty — playing with it never gets old!”
You can follow Naz here —> @3_Graces_of_Gold
