I want to share a little story about jewellery….
I adore my jewellery, each piece, costume or precious, holds a special place in my heart. I remember where I bought particular pieces, who gave me jewellery items, and the occasions on which I wore them. I believe that jewellery holds memories and energies of its owner and past owners, making each piece all the more sentimental.
On my 30th birthday my friends bought a beautiful pendant from Merci Maman Boutique, it was engraved with mine and my husband’s name on one side, and my 2-year old daughter’s name on the other side – everything about it meant so much to me.
Then daughter no.2 came along and I had every intention of having her name engraved on the pendant too, just beneath her sister’s name. My problem was that a. There wasn’t really enough space as daughter no.1’s name was written in the centre of the pendant and b. The pendant was hand-engraved – I was worried that the writing would look different to the existing engraving. So, in short, 10 years after baby no.2 was born, I still didn’t have her name engraved on my pendant.
I wore it less and less out of guilt, and then, my husband and I split up and I had no intention of ever wearing the pendant again. Something that had made me so happy in the past, now made me sad and so lay ignored in my jewellery box next to everything I loved.
Then, one day, by complete chance (and on a week that the divorce was causing particular strain), I stumbled across Merci Maman again. The range had expanded in the 10 years from when I was first introduced to it; when I knew MM, it hadn’t long been founded by mother of 4 Beatrice de Montille. Beatrice made the range with motherhood in mind and set about creating beautiful personalised jewellery at her kitchen table with just a £6000 investment. The range was small and simple, and it filled a gap in the market.
Fast-forward a few years and with a little ‘help’ from a certain Kate Middleton (spotted wearing the ‘Duchess’ necklace gifted and personalised for Kate by Pippa) the brand and the range has grown considerably.
The latest range, The Zodiac Collection is due to launch on 4th November and it does not disappoint – in fact it is everything I love. Each piece is not overly delicate, nor bulky, they are defining of their sign and its characteristics. This collection allows you to express a little bit of who you are in the subtlest (and prettiest) of ways, and just in time for Christmas too! If Zodiacs aren’t your thing, I can highly recommend the Solid Gold Collection for an extra special Christmas gift.
As for my pendant (the Signature Disc); I sent my old one back to be scrapped and recycled and I got a brand new one with both of my daughter’s names beautifully engraved on one side. I wear it every day – it feels like a rebirth during one of the toughest times of my life and it brings me so much calm and happiness!
I really do believe jewellery holds energy, but some pieces will always be more poignant than others, just like my pendant, and I am certain that Merci Maman is one of those brands that will hold a special place in so many hearts (just maybe none more so than mine).
The Zodiac Collection from £59 launches on 4th November 2021