UPDATE: Claudette of Claudette jewelry has very kindly offered to give a discount to WWND readers. I will be posting with details soon, so hold on before you place an order. :)

I've been asked about my jewelry more times than I can count. On this blog, by my friends, randomly on the street. But I seriously don't have any secrets to divulge. I usually buy my jewelry at small independent boutiques. Travelling also affords me diverse jewelry options. I found one of my favorite earrings of all time in Fort Bragg, North Carolina while visiting a friend. I still have a necklace I got in Singapore from a tiny boutique next to my hotel.

I also scour Ebay for unique finds. Sometimes there are great bargains to be had. Just be careful that the material is of good quality when buying. I once bought a necklace without really researching the metal, and after one wear, the gold tone wore off, to reveal the black metal underneath.

I like Shopbop and Pink Mascara for their selection of costume jewelry. I like to support up and coming designers and one of my current favorites is Claudette.

I have this ring by Claudette:


It features green onyx, turquoise and blue topaz. I love bold rings as much as I like dainty ones. The great thing about Claudette jewelry is that everything is done in sterling silver or gold-filled wire and with semi-precious stones at pretty reasonable prices.

Another favorite designer is Nathan & Moe. Sure, some of the stuff are overpriced but there are certain pieces which I absolutely adore. Plus, jewelry should be thought of as investments, specially if it's made of quality materials and precious or semi-precious stones.


Whenever I am at Neiman Marcus, I thoroughly browse their main floor where they stock beautiful 14k gold-filled chandelier earrings and semi-precious necklaces made of peridot and citrine. I also like the costume jewelry sold at stores like Nordstrom in the U.S. and the Bay in Canada. If you are observant, you might find good stuff among the Monet and Miriam Haskell collections carried by Macys. If you are in NYC and have the means, a great place to go is Henri Bendel. They always have a good selection.

For fine jewelry, I am a big fan of Ippolita. I usually place custom orders for fine jewelry. My mom is a big believer of having custom-made fine jewelry sets made, so we have been going to a couple of jewellers' for a long time now.

When looking for jewelry, keep an open mind. If you are someone who never goes to department stores for jewelry, you should check them out, you might be surprised. Never underestimate a hole in the wall boutique, those are the best places to score completely unique gems. Also, try your local Little India or Little Italy or Little China for ethnic, one of a kind pieces.

Now that I've ranted on, it's my turn to ask. Where do you go for your jewelry?