Goldstories’ Noz Nozawa Collab Is Loaded With ’90s Nostalgia

By Karen Dybis | February 24, 2025

The 1990s jewelry trend is encapsulated in the new Noz Nozawa x Goldstories collaboration, a trio of statement pieces that could make any Gen Xer feel a rush of sentimentality.

Texture, movement, nontraditional color combinations, and surprise motifs stand out in the two rings and locket created by San Francisco–based jewelry brand Goldstories with interior designer Nozawa.

“Every piece has a sense of discovery, whether it’s a hidden compartment, a nostalgic detail, or a design that invites interaction,” says Goldstories founder and designer Subikksha Balaje.

Goldstories Noz ring — *San Francisco interior designer Noz Nozawa says she is fascinated by jewelry and was eager to partner with Goldstories for a jewelry collaboration.*

All three Noz Nozawa x Goldstories pieces are made from 14k recycled gold. The Skull Ring ($2,000) is a signet cast from a lost-wax ring that Nozawa carved like a memento mori—a reminder of death, or as Balaje jokingly refers to it, YOLO (you only live once)—and it features salt-and-pepper diamonds in the eyes.

The collection’s spherical 90s Locket ($3,700) opens to reveal a space for those tiny dolls like Polly Pocket that Gen X kids loved to collect. The locket is set with a Portuguese-cut citrine and comes on a large bail that can be attached to a favorite chain.

Nozawa describes the Stash Ring ($3,100 ring) as a modern take on vintage poison rings. She and Balaje designed the piece with an interior compartment (beneath its turquoise cabochon) that can fit a beloved photo or anything else the wearer wants to conceal.

Noz Goldstories ring — *Noz Nozawa x Goldstories’ Stash Ring ($3,100) is a cross between a classic signet and a vintage poison ring, set with an Arizona turquoise.*

“This collaboration with Subikksha has brought to life pieces that I have long dreamed of creating,” Nozawa says. “They are weighty, practical, and meant to evoke a very nostalgic-today take on ancient and iconic silhouettes. I hope they feel like home.”

Balaje says she and Nozawak have felt like two old friends coming together to explore their common love of jewelry.

“I’ve always been drawn to jewelry that evokes emotion—and if that emotion is nostalgia, even better,” says Balaje. “We wanted these pieces to feel both familiar and unexpected, rooted in the past but made for today.”

The duo started their collaboration by exploring silhouettes that inspired Nozawa and also felt authentic to Goldstories as a brand. Nozawa is known for her bold design perspective, and Goldstories is based in storytelling and craftsmanship, Balaje says.

Noz Goldstories pendant — *The 90s Locket ($3,700) offers a place to stash a Polly Pocket or another miniature treasure.*

“The Stash Ring is a perfect example. We knew from our signature Kala Ring that this shape resonated with our audience, and Noz wanted to add her own touch, transforming it into a tiny treasure keeper,” Balaje says. “That idea of holding something special became a common thread throughout the collection.”

Both Nozawa and Balaje say the 1990s were a formative period for them, and the decade is definitely back in fashion. The 90s Locket seizes on the trend, tapping into a childhood thrill of tiny treasures—but in solid gold, Balaje says.

“The ’90s were a time for self-expression, and that energy—bold, a little rebellious, and full of sentimentality—really spoke to both Noz and me,” she says. “We didn’t want to do a literal throwback but instead capture the feeling of the decade in a way that feels timeless.”

Top: Interior designer Noz Nozawa and Goldstories founder Subikksha Balaje collaborated on a 1990s-inspired jewelry collection. (Photos courtesy of Goldstories)