Jewelry truly has the power to last a lifetime—and, as vintage jewelry proves, it can be enjoyed and beloved when it’s many years old just as much as when it was brand-new.
Someday, hopefully, the pieces that we love and wear so faithfully will be worn by a new generation, who can continue to tell its tale.
That’s why quality matters. It’s also why consumers should understand that when jewelry is purchased as an investment, weren’t not necessarily talking financially—it’s not stock they’re buying. What they are investing in is many years of favorable jewelry wear—an heirloom in the making.
Those purchases are so much easier to justify when they’re timeless and versatile. The debut collection from New York jeweler Uniform Object is both—and so much more.
The new line of fine jewelry—beginning with its debut collection, Supernaut—comprises earrings, necklaces, and bracelets with an aesthetic that’s modern yet enduring. The styles are streamlined and well-honed—simple enough to wear every day but luxe enough to feel special.
“When designing Supernaut, that heft was very important to me,” says Uniform Object founder and designer David Farrugia. “We must have gone through five iterations of our Heavy Metal chain to get just the right amount of weight and thickness to the links. The name itself comes partly from my love of heavy metal music, but also in the literal sense that this is a heavy, solid, and substantial necklace. My ethos is always to invest in things that are made to last.”
The line’s durability extends beyond its hefty materials: Crafted as a modular system, each individual piece can be combined with another to create various mix and match combinations—another point for long-lasting wear.
Unisex in nature, the collection may appeal to all genders, another aspect that promises a lengthy life.
“When designing for Supernaut, I wanted to create pieces my partner, Katie, and I could both enjoy,” says Farrugia. “An easy sell for me is something that has multiple uses. When investing in fine jewelry, that practicality is key. Gender/sex–fluid forms combined with modular designs allow our pieces to be extremely versatile.”
Men’s jewelry has always existed, but for so long it’s been pigeonholed into a single case or category—watches, cufflinks, the odd chain. So how do retailers change the narrative and refrain from grouping jewelry according to traditional gender roles?
“Moving away from the traditional divide starts with how a retail environment is configured,” Farrugia says in response to this very question. “Typically, there is a special men’s section. Retailers can eliminate that section and present jewelry without the prescriptive gendering of a collection. Rather, retailers can present the jewelry at face value and allow the consumer to choose their desired style unencumbered.
“Another moment of progression away from the traditional divide sits with customer interaction. We encourage retailers to question customers on what type of jewelry they are looking for instead of just pointing to the lonely men’s case. If we can change the landscape, the consumer will not feel they are breaking ridiculous norms simply by wearing a piece that was labeled ‘For women’ at some point along the way.”
Retailers shouldn’t require more convincing that the new line is a winning one, but just in case, let the designer make his case: “Practicality, substantial design, and visual impact is integral to Uniform Object. Select stores offering Uniform Object will allow their clients to invest in our debut line, and these design templates are limited, giving rarity to a first-edition piece.”
(Top photo courtesy of Uniform Object)
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