Remember the time.
Science tells us that our brains are built to remember negative experiences better than positive ones. That’s because when emotions such as fear kick in, they focus our mental resources on enhancing those memories. From an evolutionary standpoint, it all makes sense. (If you can recall, say, the snake that bit you, you may be able to avoid getting bitten again.)
Years from now, however, when we look back on 2020, I suspect most of us will also remember the good: our gratitude for surviving this truth-is-stranger-than-fiction year and our humility over the fact that, despite all the hardships it has wrought, we are better for it.
I say that with a confidence I would not have predicted back in March, when the pandemic seemed less a harbinger of a radically different way of life than a troubling pause in our regularly scheduled programming.
That we’re still here, rolling with the craziest of punches, may explain why we titled our annual Holiday Survival Guide “We Need A Holiday.” Seriously! (We also need the chunky chains, gilded initial rings, and pearl hoops spotlighted in its pages.)
As the year’s jewelry MVP, pearls deserve a lot more than a single product page, so we devoted an entire still life “To All The Pearls We’ve Loved Before,” a collection of of-the-moment baubles expertly curated by JCK jewelry director Randi Molofsky.
We also asked contributor Amy Elliott to explore a compelling microtrend: the dawn of the pearl engagement ring. In “Forever Your Pearl,” she offers a persuasive look at why these notoriously delicate gems are fast becoming trendy center-stone alternatives.
If the price of gold keeps going up, we may soon be looking for alternatives to the yellow metal. But for now, we’re pretty sure the fourth quarter will be a celebration of gold in all its heirloom-worthy glory. Check out an assortment of our favorite new styles in “Gilt To Last,” all selected by our trendspotting managing editor, Melissa Bernardo.
For anyone invested in the yellow metal, “How Good Is Your Gold?” by news director Rob Bates is a must-read. Responsible sourcing in the gold market is no easy feat. Rob does a great job of teasing out the nuances for those of you eager to ensure your sourcing is beyond reproach.
It’s only October, but all I can think about is how I’m going to spend New Year’s Eve (“Bye, 2020, don’t let the door hit you on the way out!”). I wish all of you the best for a prosperous holiday season—and a safe and splendid, if forgettable, start to 2021!
Top: Pearl ID necklace in 18k white gold; $3,990; W.Rosado; 212-243-3234; wrosado.com
(Gomelsky photograph by Nicholas A. Prakas; hair and makeup: Claudia Andreatta/Halley Resources)
