My name is Frances and I’m a jewelry addict. This is my origin story – I’ll keep it short and sparkly.
I’ve often wondered where my obsession for all things sparkly came from. Anything from chandeliers and sequin dresses to engraved metals and diamonds. Especially diamonds. I just let my eyes glaze over and am transfixed by the vibrant purples, vivid oranges, blazing yellows, and myriad of other hues. A fellow jewelry nerd once asked me:
“So, when did you get the bug?”
I can’t tell you exactly when, but I do have several significant childhood memories. The earliest was when I was about 5 years old sitting beside my Mom in church. On her left side. Always. Because there, in the warm incandescent lights, I was able to see her engagement ring and eternity band sparkle and dance with a rainbow of fire that captivated me. Now the rings are over 60 years old and showing the patina of life, they humbly represent my parents’ values and story.
A few years later when I was at the dentist, upon the completion of my appointment I was invited to pick a trinket from a drawer full of treasures. There were all sorts of tiny toys, but something sparkly caught my eye… an adjustable 6-prong gold plated ring with a magical purple gemstone. I wore that ring everywhere. Of course it didn’t take long for the gold to wear off and the prongs to snag on sweaters until metal fatigue took its toll. And that was the end of that.
Television was ultimately responsible for taking my obsession to the next level. Starting with the Flintstone diamond, “Oh boy” – this ring forever set my sense of ideal proportions for a diamond ring! A fist-sized diamond precariously topping a wonky gold band… it was truly divine. But nothing can beat soap opera jewelry. Engagement rings would come and go with the turbulence of each relationship. On-screen proposals were always highlights for me – though I never cared about the couples and their stories.
The final push was being given permission to buy jewelry just because you love it. I credit the late 80s and early 90s diamond and gold ad campaigns for enabling me to freely self-purchase – long before the expression “treat yourself” became a female declaration of independence. DeBeers Diamonds of Distinction Awards magazines and ads, ads announcing the emergence of the right hand ring, and ads purely to promote gold – I soaked it all in. Every delicious written word gave you clever reasons why you should possess it.
“Setting and managing expectations can be a useful skill in life.”
Over the years I’ve struggled to reconcile my own expectations with reality. Epic high jewelry is unattainable for me, and that’s ok. I can travel to see and enjoy it without needing to own it. Within my reach, there are talented jewelry designers whose creations speak to me. This is my happy place where I explore and collect.
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