Endless talk of all things sparkly.

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Jewelry Collection Stories — The Gem Hunter

The Gem Hunter | Gem Gossip

The Gem Hunter | Gem Gossip

The Gem Hunter | Gem Gossip

The Gem Hunter | Gem Gossip

The Gem Hunter | Gem Gossip

The Gem Hunter | Gem Gossip

The Gem Hunter | Gem Gossip

The Gem Hunter | Gem Gossip

The Gem Hunter | Gem Gossip

The Gem Hunter | Gem Gossip

The Gem Hunter | Gem Gossip

The Gem Hunter | Gem Gossip

I’m so excited to get back into regular programming of one of my favorite segments of Gem Gossip, the Jewelry Collection Stories. This is where other jewelry collectors share their personal collections and the stories behind them. Collecting is the most fascinating thing in the entire world to me! I love exploring and understanding what it is that make people tick and what grabs their attention. In today’s feature, we are taking a deep look into the personal collection of Kari of @thegemhunter. Her Instagram always makes me smile and she recently launched her own line of enamel tokens which are inspired by antique jewelry called Haldis. I’ll let her tell you her story:

“My love of jewelry started early in life.  I was one of those little girls who loved to play dress up and make believe.  My mother would find the best vintage gowns, costume jewelry, and shoes at thrift stores and tag sales for me to play with.  But, it was definitely always about the jewelry for me.  I was obsessed with sparkle.  I’d pretend that the rhinestones were real diamonds and emeralds, dreaming of the day when I could finally have the real thing!

Fast forward to adult life when the real collecting began.  I’ve always been drawn to the architectural, geometric lines of Art Deco era jewelry.  One of my favorite rings in my collection is my platinum Art Deco arrow ring.  It’s a piece that I spotted on IG a few years back from @VictorianaJewelry and actually had a visceral reaction to when I saw it.  Heart palpitations and all!   No other piece of jewelry has made me react that way; I knew it had to be mine!  All the elements I love in one ring: uniquely shaped diamonds, Art Deco, and a simple/sleek setting.  I wear it to remind myself to stay pointed in the right direction.

Charms are another favorite in my collection.  My mother started a sterling silver charm bracelet for me as a little girl.  We’d pick up new charms whenever we traveled someplace new as a family.  It was such a fun way to commemorate happy memories of family and travel.  Speaking of which, next time I’m back at my parent’s house on the East coast, I need to find that bracelet!  As for my current charm collection, I collect pieces with personal meaning or visual interest.  An everyday favorite that is always in my neck stack is a love token I designed with the “greater than less than” math symbols meant to signify growing love (romantic and self) along with a lucky gold mano figa charm.  Charms are such a great way to tell a story and I’m always searching for more, especially miniatures that I’ve recently started collecting.  My miniature charm collection is small at the moment but that’s what I love about vintage/antique jewels, the hunt for the next piece!

I’m becoming a reformed jewelry hoarder.   As I get older, I am more selective about the pieces that stay in and join my collection.  My online jewelry shop is the perfect outlet to acquire, appreciate, and pass on incredible antique/vintage pieces to new caretakers.  Only pieces that I truly love and wear stay with me.  That includes classic pinky rings, antique wedding/eternity bands to stack in infinite iterations, uniquely shaped old diamonds, and palmfuls of vintage charms

Antique and vintage jewelry will always be my first love, but, if a piece of modern jewelry speaks to me, it just might end up in my personal collection.  A piece that can bring a smile to your face is always worth the investment!”

Follow Kari on Instagram @thegemhunter