Jewelry Debut — The Cypher™ by Susan Siegel - Gem Gossip

“The paper bears an imprint, of the maker and eventually of the user,

in a way no digital object ever can.

For this reason, those pale, fringed sheets retain

a measure of the time, and sense of self, we are always losing

as we rush heedlessly into the future.” — Nikil Saval

If you ask me, there’s one thing that can stop time — or at least capture a moment, an era, a memory — and that is jewelry. I am continually searching for pieces that inspire me, bring me happiness every time I look at them, are classic, have a sentimental aspect to them and are high quality/great craftsmanship. With that said, I am also constantly curating my personal collection and I’ve been noticing a pattern. The things that I’m letting go of and the jewelry that seems to only grab my attention for a short span of time, are those bought on impulse, often trendy in design, or poor quality…they oftentimes are not comfortable to wear and don’t hold a significant meaning in my life. I’ve vowed to change that this year and I believe I found a piece that is all the things I’m looking for — it is timeless, it is versatile, and it can be super meaningful. That piece of jewelry is called The Cypher™ and is designed by Susan Siegel.

I spotted Susan at the Miami Antique Show and she was so excited about this design of hers and knew I would love it. Susan says, “To me, jewelry captures beauty and engraves memories. I wanted to create something that did just that — something that can evoke a narrative and also actually hold a written word inside in a secretive way. The piece has antique roots and inspiration, as antique jewelry has always been my passion.” And she’s right — if you take a look at The Cypher™ you may recognize the T-bar from Victorian pocket watch chains. It now has been reimagined and transformed into a meaningful amulet — a vessel that holds a special message.

One of the coolest aspects of The Cypher™ that I learned about when talking to Susan is its versatility. You can wear this so many ways! The easy favorite is wearing it on a chain as a pendant, close to your heart. Susan says, “Whatever message you have written inside The Cypher™ already holds such a powerful meaning to the wearer, and when you’re continually reminded of it and wear it close to your heart, it becomes even more powerful.” Some of the photos here show alternative ways of wearing it, with one of my personal favorites being worn on a charm necklace, mixed in with other amulets. I also love it alone, draped around the neck asymmetrically with a unique chain. And speaking of chains, Susan will be launching more pieces, like chains, to mix and match with The Cypher™ all coming soon!

Susan Siegel has been designing as far back as she can remember, with a penchant for accessories. Her love for antiques and antique jewelry comes from her mother and grandmother, as their impeccable taste was passed down. Susan spent a lot of time in Europe, gaining inspiration from flea markets and street style. There she learned that an accessory is more important than clothes in a wardrobe, as she recalls, “I learned so much from walking the streets of Europe and watching these very chic women dress, and how important their accessories were. I have always been drawn to all kinds of accessories however, jewelry is my favorite accessory! ”

If you’d like to get your hands on The Cypher™ you’re in luck because it just launched today! You can purchase via SusanSiegelJewelry.com and you can also customize yours, whether you’d like 14k yellow or rose gold. You can also order a chain or have it on a suede cord, if you don’t already have a chain you have in mind for it. Other customization options include either plain gold, diamond (or other gemstone) end-caps, or pave diamond ends. With Mother’s Day coming up, this would be such a great gift as well (even though I know we all want this for ourselves). Have a granddaughter or grandson write/draw something sweet and roll it up into The Cypher™ — that would be instant tears of joy.