The Insider’s Guide to Timeless Jewellery
In Conversation with Jewellery Expert Veronica of Vejeweled
This post might be to long for your inbox! Open it on the Substack App.
If you’ve been following The Inside Pocket for a while, you know I can’t shut up about jewellery. I truly believe that jewellery is the salt of every outfit—the final touch that makes or breaks a look.
“Un outfit senza accessori è come un cielo senza stelle”
An outfit without accessories is like a sky without stars.
Quote by my dear friend Michi M.
It’s the difference between something feeling flat or feeling like you. Whether it’s a gold chain peeking out from under a knit, a chunky cuff adding a little edge to a white shirt, or a sentimental ring or brooch, jewellery is so much more than decoration. It’s personal. It holds memories. It tells a story.
So naturally, I’m obsessed with learning more about it. And when I came across Veronica’s
newsletter, I was SO hooked. A jewellery specialist with a background in fashion and an eye for the rare and the exquisite, Veronica has built a loyal following by sharing deep dives into everything from investment pieces to the history jewellery. She writes about jewellery with the kind of passion and expertise that makes you want to drop everything and start hunting for the perfect vintage piece. Her recent piece on sourcing jewellery was a goldmine (literally), and I knew I had to talk to her.
We set up a call, and let me tell you, not only she is insanely beautiful but she is SO on it. I asked her all the questions I’ve always wanted to ask a true jewellery insider: red flags when buying, pieces that hold their value, and what makes jewellery timeless. Here’s what she had to say.
So, how did you get into jewellery?
“I’ve been a collector for as long as I can remember—erasers, rocks, Pogs… and, of course, jewellery. As a kid, I was obsessed with Avon pieces. Later, my love for adornment extended to fashion, and by middle school, I was hoarding fashion magazines.
Jewellery, though, became my career almost by accident. After college, I took a receptionist job at a big jewellery-buying firm in New York. It was fast-paced and corporate, but to me, it felt glamorous. I knew nothing about jewellery or the industry behind it, but I was hooked.
Over the next 12 years, I worked my way up through the company, gaining hands-on experience in every aspect of the business. I started by buying from the public, learning how to assess and price pieces, and eventually moved into selling to wholesale dealers. That was the most thrilling part. Many of these dealers came from families who had been in the trade for generations. They could pick up a piece—without even using a loupe—and tell you its market value, whether a signature was legitimate, or if rubies were Burmese or heat-treated. I was amazed. I wanted that knowledge. So I spent hours with them, asking endless questions—Why? How do you know? Show me. Over time, I learned. Handling jewelry of all eras and calibers—from gold-filled lockets to rare fancy colored diamonds—understanding what people once cherished and why, and hearing the stories behind the pieces—it was a privilege.
That experience led me to start
. There was plenty of fashion content on Substack, but not much dedicated to jewellery. My husband encouraged me to just go for it, and here we are. My goal is to educate, but also to make jewellery feel more accessible—it can be such an intimidating world to step into, and I want to change that.”
What’s the biggest red flag when buying jewellery?
“It’s not about a specific material—it’s about who you’re buying from. Transparency is everything. Whether you're spending a little or a lot, you should always feel confident in the seller’s integrity and expertise.
Work through referrals whenever you can, especially for high-value purchases. Trust and reputation matter in this business. If a deal seems too good to be true, or a seller is vague about provenance, pricing, or certification, take that as a sign to walk away.”
What jewellery always holds its value, no matter the trends?
“Branded vintage pieces tend to hold their value better than unsigned ones. Names like Cartier and Tiffany have built-in trust and recognition, making them highly desirable in resale. Designers like Angela Cummings, Elsa Peretti, and Aldo Cipullo—especially their original designs for Tiffany and Cartier—are always in demand.
But don’t overlook artist jewellery! Mid Century designers like Art Smith, Sam Kramer, Burle Marx, and Pol Bury are highly collectible, and more contemporary names like Robert Lee Morris command strong resale prices. These pieces go beyond aesthetics—they’re wearable art, often produced in limited quantities, which makes them even more valuable over time.”
How do you define ‘timeless’ in jewellery? Any unexpected pieces that stand the test of time?
“Timeless means different things to different people. A diamond tennis necklace? Sure—my mother wore one, my grandmother wore one, and I wear one. But how we wear it evolves. Today, we layer a tennis necklace with a chunky chain and a strand of pearls. Mine might be lab-grown, while my mother’s wouldn’t have been—because the technology didn’t exist yet.
Even something as classic as a diamond cut tells its era. My grandmother’s diamonds might be transitional cuts—popular in the 1920s to 1940s—whereas today’s are precision-cut rounds. Timeless pieces adapt, but they always retain their essence.”
What’s your ultimate pro tip for finding the best vintage jewellery?
“Knowing who you're buying from is key. In person, you can trust your instincts, pick up on a seller’s energy, and see how they present their pieces. Online, you have to be extra careful. Some red flags to watch out for:
Blurry photos or vague descriptions. A reputable seller will provide clear images and detailed descriptions.
Stock photos. If they’re not showing the actual piece, run.
Inconsistent reviews. Negative or mixed feedback? Best to steer clear.
Unrealistic prices. If it’s too cheap, it’s probably too good to be true. And if it’s suspiciously high, compare prices across reputable platforms to check its true market value.
A little research goes a long way in spotting a great deal—or avoiding a bad one.”
Is there an underrated era or designer collectors should pay attention to right now?
“I’ve recently fallen in love with high-quality vintage costume jewellery from the ’70s through the ’90s. When I worked in jewellery buying, we only took costume pieces if they were Chanel or Hermès. But now, I actively hunt for designs from Monet, Napier, Trifari, and Robert Lee Morris. The craftsmanship is incredible compared to most modern pieces.
 | A guest post by
|