What’s your earliest jewellery memory, and why do those tiny objects still shape the way you wear, buy, and keep what you love?

Heather Rajaratnam, Catherine Marche, and Natalia Majewska share the stories that made them jewellery people - from childhood trinkets and first precious pendants to a hilariously over-the-top ear-piercing trauma and the rings they still can’t stop collecting.

Natalia opens up about growing up with parents who didn’t wear jewellery at all, but still left her fascinated by hidden wedding rings, glowing copper wire, and a deep-red piece of glass she mistook for a gemstone.

Catherine recalls a tiny gold heart pendant, a painful piercings-at-the-hospital moment in Djibouti, and the moment she realised jewellery could be both sentimental and social. Heather brings her own stash of treasured pendants, animal charms, bead-shop creations, and the family pieces she still keeps tucked away.

You’ll discover:

• why non-precious objects can feel more magical than fine jewellery
• how childhood memories around craft, colour, and texture become lifelong design instincts
• why some jewellers are drawn to organic, asymmetric forms from the very beginning
• the emotional rules people create around borrowing, losing, and passing on jewellery
• how a single piece can carry family history, identity, and a little bit of mischief

Along the way, the conversation wanders through Soviet-era synthetic stones, mood rings, temperature-reactive tees, handmade bead necklaces, and the strange rituals people invent to make jewellery sparkle more. It’s playful, nostalgic, and surprisingly revealing about what jewellery really means when it stops being just decoration and becomes memory.If you love jewellery, design, collecting, or the stories behind the pieces people never forget, this episode will feel like opening a little box of treasured secrets. Perfect for makers, collectors, and anyone who has ever refused to lend out a favourite pair of earrings.

Episode 1: Holiday Jewellery

Most jewellery lovers are obsessed with gemstones—but few realise how much their choices reveal about personality, mood, and even cultural influences.

In this lively, unscripted conversation, three passionate jewellery enthusiasts—Heather, Natalia, and Catherine—explore the stories, myths, and practicalities behind our favourite gemstones and holiday jewellery habits.

Discover how personal experiences shape our gemstone preferences, from the timeless allure of sapphires to the vibrant versatility of tourmaline. Along the way, you'll gain insights into how gemstone quality, durability, and symbolism influence jewellery choices for travel and special occasions.

You'll also learn practical tips for travelling safely with jewellery, explore the cultural significance of jewellery in different countries, and discover why wearing pieces that make you feel authentic and confident is so important. These conversations reveal the emotional and sentimental layers that transform gemstones into treasured memories.

On a broader level, understanding the stories behind our jewellery empowers us to make more meaningful choices and wear our pieces with greater confidence.

Perfect for jewellery enthusiasts, travellers, and anyone looking to deepen their appreciation of the adornments that tell our personal stories, this episode combines practical advice with fascinating insights.

Whether you're deciding what to pack for your next trip or simply enjoy hearing stories of gemstone adventures, this episode offers a refreshing blend of humour, curiosity, and expertise. Join us and start seeing your jewellery—and yourself—in a whole new light.

Why this episode works

The opening immediately draws listeners in with the promise of personal stories and practical advice. By highlighting specific gemstones, ethical discussions, and travel tips, it sparks curiosity while offering genuine value. The conversational yet informative tone makes this episode especially appealing to jewellery lovers, travellers, and anyone fascinated by the stories behind the pieces we wear.