A few months after my dad died suddenly, I was searching for a way to keep his memory close to me. Previously I had seen people sporting delicate necklaces with the initials or profiles of their children and thought it was a beautiful idea. While not as happy an occasion as adding a new child to the family, I thought that a similar necklace would be a lovely way to keep something of him with me.
Enter GLDN
GLDN is an American company selling handcrafted, personalised jewellery. They have a wide range with rings, bracelets, necklaces and more, each piece hand made by their staff who are also US based. Their website tells the story of how the company got started:
Chrissy was a single mom, and she wanted to create the perfect personalized gift. She started making handmade, personalized jewelry out of her kitchen, and selling on Etsy. When she had to move into the dining room, she thought she had made it big!
Six years later, GLDN has three workspaces and employs over 85 people. And GLDN makers still use their hands to create high quality jewelry that’s accessible for all and made personal by you.
https://gldn.com/pages/about
The brand focuses on using recycled materials and treating their employees ethically. This really appealed to me, as I’m trying to shop in a way that is better for people and the environment. I also loved the variety of delicate designs and the affordable price point (especially if you gravitate towards sliver as I do).
Selecting and ordering my necklace
The website was super easy to navigate, as was the ordering and payment process. Australian buyers, do note that everything is in US dollars, so you’ll have to check your exchange rate to get the exact price. I was quite happy with the price, considering it’s personalised and hand made.
I selected two sterling silver ‘Vollmund’ disks, one 13mm and the other 9mm in diameter.
The larger disk I personalised with ‘DAD’, while on the smaller one I opted for an engraved bee which has a personal connection for him. I went for a 18-19 inch chain, hoping it would allow me to layer with another necklace I have. Unfortunately, I miscalculated so I can’t quite get the layered look, but that’s on me and my measuring skills.
The necklace came out beautifully
About three weeks later, my necklace arrived in the sweetest packaging. There was a note from the person who had made the piece for me, and a little cloth to polish the silver and keep it bright. The engraving on both disks was perfect and I am absolutely in love with it. I wear it almost every day now, and it is a wonderful reminder of Dad whenever I put it on or touch it throughout the day.
While the designs nailed the significance I was after, they also managed to create a gorgeous piece that I think will be very timeless. It’s simple and suits my style and can be worn with pretty much everything. Being able to adjust the chain by an inch helps with various necklines so it can always sit just so.
How it’s wearing
I’ve had the necklace for a little over three months now and it’s wearing well. There are a few marks, but they’re very minor and consistent with being worn daily. I’m careful to take it off each night and don’t wear it in the shower. I also make sure it doesn’t get perfume or hairspray on it, which probably helps. I have used the polish cloth once to remove the natural tarnish and it came up well with very little buffing.
Overall, I’m impressed by the quality of this necklace and hope it will remain a part of my wardrobe for decades to come.
[…] I love a good Breton, so this was an easy look to pull together. I also noticed for the first time that she’s wearing hooped earrings, which was a nice surprise as I wouldn’t have thought of Audrey as a hoop girl. This just shows you don’t have to stay in your lane! If you’re looking for hoops, I’m a big fan of GLDN. […]