Talking Vintage with The Moonstoned
Elizabeth Potts, the ethereal founder of vintage jewelry source The Moonstoned, tells us what she loves most about jewelry, how she got started and how to navigate the world of vintage jewelry
The promise of vintage jewelry is that it has had many lives. It holds the wisdom of time travel, acting as a silent witness to great moments in history. It is a trusted confidante, guarding the stories of many like a time capsule buried deep in the earth, yet to each new owner it offers the thrill of a future still unwritten.
I believe the same to be true of Elizabeth Potts, founder of vintage jewelry source The Moonstoned. Her youth belies a sense of wisdom, curiosity and generosity undoubtedly gathered throughout many lifetimes.
While her main medium is jewelry, her message extends beyond that. The beautifully lyrical prose that she often includes alongside the deliciously captivating jewelry images on her IG offers a celebration of life, but just as with her jewelry, she adds layers. Layers that make you think more deeply, or see something you thought you knew so well in a new light.
But the jewelry, oh the jewelry. Watch Elizabeth’s Instagram stories and you’ll come out feeling like you’ve taken a jewelry masterclass with all of the tid bits about materials, periods and history that she peppers throughout. Every piece she chooses has personality and purpose.
Not only does she have an impeccable eye for vintage, but she also creates some of her own pieces. Like the Mother necklace, of which the full purchase price contributes to the tuition costs of Black midwives through @badassmotherbirther. Or the Inner Light signet ring, made with reclaimed diamonds, that she auctioned off to raise money to help June Eric-Udorie pursue her Masters in Social Work. All of which helped raise over $50,000 to help causes that support Black lives.
I was introduced to Elizabeth through my beautiful friend @raisareyes. When I reached out to her she so generously answered all of my questions and I’m so glad she did. Read on for more about her story, in her own words.
Elizabeth Potts
What do you love most about jewelry?
I love the weight of jewelry. I love the way it sits on your skin, warming up as you wear it like it's becoming a part of you. I love the way it can symbolize something significant, like a marriage, a birth, an accomplishment. I love the way we layer our bodies with it, because we are our own alters deserving of gems and gold and praise. Above all I love how jewelry tells a story, far after we are gone.
How did you start The Moonstoned?
I've always been into the storytelling and history of jewelry. I would talk to anyone who would listen about my favorite pieces, eras of jewelry and how it made me feel. I think my friends got tired of hearing me talk about it and encouraged me to find a way to make it a business. I had been working in hospitality all my life, but would work on a tiny jewelry bench in my even tinier apartment when I was off of work... I wasn't even sure what 'doing jewelry' for work would even mean. I was in Sydney, Australia in a beach cafe when I finally said fuck it, if I’m not going to dive in full feet now then I’m never going to do it. I signed up for my domain and started to build the website that day. I had almost zero computer savvy so there were sooooo many tears in the next few weeks, then the next two years as I struggled to carve out a place that was all my own in the jewelry world. I wanted to quit so badly. Slowly, but surely the sales started rolling in, people started wanting to share their own stories and be a part of mine as well. Four years later it's the best thing I've ever done, taking that chance and believing in something more than what I was comfortable doing.
What draws you to a piece?
There are quite a few factors when I'm on the hunt for jewelry. Like most creative fields, a lot of it depends on my feelings when I'm sourcing. Some days I feel like I'm craving BIG, BOLD gold. Sometimes it's a really sweet springtime day and all I can think about is light, dainty jewelry that sparkles and shines. Above all, everything goes out the window if I come across something with historical significance. Jewelry a hundred years ago was made with so much more purpose; there were no fast fashion, quick manufacture for the masses kind of situations. Everything was made by hand and would often symbolize an important moment in time or a circulating trend. For instance, Acrostic jewelry of the Victorian Era, which would use gemstones to spell out words. The word "DEAR" would consist of diamond, emerald, amethyst and ruby. "REGARDS" would be ruby, emerald, garnet, amethyst, ruby, diamond and sapphire. And that's just one example of the creativity and sentimental meaning behind jewelry of that era.
What is the most important thing you think people should know about shopping for vintage jewelry?
I think the most important thing is to trust your gut. It's really easy to be bamboozled into a fake vintage item and unfortunately, there are a lot of sellers out there who won't bat an eye. It's even happened to me; everyone makes mistakes. Be sure that you know the person you are buying from or at the very least, ask as MANY questions as you need to. Seriously, it doesn't matter what the item costs, don't spend your money unless you feel totally confident and excited in the piece. If the seller is getting grouchy or rude, not answering your questions or giving you their attention they may not be worth your money. If you are at a fair or estate sale and come across a piece that you love, you can always get the seller’s details and contact them later! I do this all the time. I know that then I can regroup my thoughts and better prepare any questions I have. Always ask if the item has been acid tested for the gold content and if the gems have been tested. This is the mistake I see happen most and it's such a bummer when you've paid for a 14k gold ring only to take it home and it turns your finger green.
How do you know what pieces will hold their value?
Well, personally I live in the merit of sentimental value. I believe that an emotional connection to an item far outshines its weight in gold. With that being said, gold IS a great investment and if you are looking to purchase jewelry for the gold or diamond value just do your research, research, research. DON'T buy new jewelry if you're looking for something that will give you a return. I had a friend who recently tried to resell some beautiful jewelry that she had purchased at a really high brow store a few years ago. Unfortunately she's finding that it's kind of like purchasing a new car; as soon as you drive it off the lot you lose money.
Some antique and vintage jewelry has provenance, which means it was made from a designer of significance, has cultural or historical significance or is of a very rare kind of antique. Again, this requires quite a bit of research and has guidelines around how well preserved the item is.
How can you start to get a sense of what period something is from?
This takes practice, practice, practice my friend and years of research. Even then, everyone makes mistakes, even the self-proclaimed experts. Just start collecting books and diving in! It's an incredible rabbit hole to fall into.
Vintage is inherently sustainable, but as a company do you take any other steps to lighten your environmental impact?
We do! We reuse as much packaging as we can and pack with recycled paper. We also reserve portions of our sales to be donated to charities we feel need the most help. Some weeks it’s environmental, some weeks humanitarian. We also make sure that by keeping our overheads low, like all working remotely from home, we keep conscious of the unnecessary energy behind running a business. I'm always on the lookout for better, easier ways to lessen our carbon footprint!
Need another vintage fix? Check out How to Shop for Vintage Jewelry