Cece Jewellery’s Once Upon a Time Tells Stories of Light…and Dark

By Karen Dybis | May 20, 2026

“Once upon a time,” that famous opening to fairy tales, is the name of Cece Jewellery’s latest collection, featuring motifs that evoke the feelings, characters, and settings of those beloved yet often moralistic stories we tell children.

“Storytelling has always been at the heart of Cece Jewellery, and Once Upon a Time feels like a natural extension of our world,” Cece Fein-Hughes, the brand’s London-based founder, tells JCK. “It combines our signature enamel craftsmanship, hidden symbolism, and romantic motifs with a more dreamlike, whimsical approach inspired by fairy tales and poetry.”

With Once Upon a Time, Fein-Hughes both embraces and challenges the conventions of fairy tales, exploring themes of love, longing, and the duality of light and dark, the designer says. Jewels that portray the sun’s warmth or a unicorn’s angelic qualities sit alongside pieces bearing a lustful pair of lips or an octopus whose intelligent eyes see through any romantic deception.

Images in the collection’s marketing campaign mix the light and the dark as well, with princesses seemingly in various states of distress—one smoking a cigarette, another appearing wan and about to fall to consumption. There’s also a model who looks like Catherine Earnshaw waiting for Heathcliff in the early days of their…romance. (Read the book; skip the movie.)

Cece anchor necklace — *Once Upon a Time Anchor choker ($14,000) in 18k yellow gold with freshwater pearls, brilliant-cut diamonds, and champlevé enamel*

Vibrant imagery and storytelling, as well as impeccable detailed work, are hallmarks of Fein-Hughes’ work. She was nominated for a 2026 Gem Award in jewelry design, and for her Gem presentation highlighted her Underworld Triptych necklace, whose diamond and enamel pendant opens from a thorn-wrapped heart onto a serpent coiled around a pomegranate, under a full moon. “The swollen fruit, a symbol of life, invites you to celebrate the dark side of nature in all its abundance,” describes the Cece website.

Once Upon a Time’s jewels are handcrafted in 18k gold, with diamonds and other precious gems. Many have champlevé enamel. Prices range from $5,400 to $290,500 (for the He Loves Me antique-style 4 ct. diamond ring).

“There’s a softness and escapism to the collection that feels very connected to summer,” says Fein-Hughes. “Pearls, ocean-inspired pieces, sun-filled love stories, and vibrant enamel colors bring a sense of warmth, freedom and adventure, like stepping into your own fairy tale.”

Here are selections from Once Upon a Time that caught JCK’s attention for their opulence, symbolism, or plain old whimsy.

Cece sun pendant once — *You Are My Sun charm ($10,400) in 18k yellow gold with champlevé enamel and brilliant-cut diamonds*

Cece moon ring once — *Moonlit Sea ring ($6,900) in 18k yellow gold with champlevé enamel and brilliant-cut diamonds*

cece lips pendant once — *Violent Delights charm ($36,900) in 18k yellow gold with champlevé enamel and brilliant-cut diamonds*

cece mirror pendant once — *Fairytale Mirror pendant ($13,200) in 18k yellow gold with champlevé enamel and brilliant-cut diamonds*

Cece octopus ring once — *Deep Sea Octopus ring ($15,000) in 18k yellow gold with champlevé enamel and brilliant-cut diamonds and sapphires*

cece horse ring once — *Fairytale Horse ring ($13,700) in 18k yellow gold with champlevé enamel and brilliant-cut diamonds*

Top: A smoking fairy princess? That’s the kind of duality Cece Fein-Hughes wanted to explore in her latest collection, Once Upon a Time. (Photos courtesy of Cece Jewellery)