An editor in the design world loves yellow gold jewelry, statement pieces, and modern takes on classics.

Who is your favorite jewelry designer?

I like the Greek jeweler Ilias Lalaounis because they work in yellow gold, which looks good on me. I also like Amrita Singh, and Amedeo Scognamiglio for his modern takes on cameos set in wood or stone.

What is your first memory of jewelry?

My big jewelry moment was at my aunt’s wedding. She was a traditional Punjabi bride and was just covered in so much bright yellow gold, and being a kid (I was 5), I just remember being mesmerized.

What do you look for in jewelry purchases?

I look for a piece of jewelry that means I don’t have to wear other pieces—earrings that mean I don’t have to wear a necklace. I get distracted if there is too much going on or I spend too much time trying to put [an outfit] together.

Has most of your jewelry been received as a gift or do you buy it yourself?

Sometimes it’s a gift and some I design by taking repurposed stones [from old jewelry] in the family. I have no problem buying for myself.

What piece of jewelry means the most to you?

My engagement ring, because I married

someone completely outside of design, yet he became an expert when he went so outside of his comfort zone and figured out how to design something that was uniquely me. The process and thought means as much as the piece.

What jewelry self-purchase means the most to you?

The Victorian cameo I bought for my mother for her birthday last February. I had been looking for one for years, and I had almost every jeweler I know scouting for the right one and finally found it after 20 years of looking.

What is your favorite jewelry store or place to buy jewelry?

Barneys is amazing, and Van Cleef & Arpels, because their jewelry is beautifully engineered.

If money were no object, what piece of jewelry would you buy?

A long time ago I saw a Patek Philippe watch in a Sotheby’s auction catalog. It had an oval face with minimal letters, in silver or platinum, and the band was a skin dyed in a nonmetallic shade of gray to match the metal.