It’s that time of year when we ask some of the industry’s most locked-in members to make their virtual Valentine’s Day wish lists.
This year we’re looking to gold, still hot despite the headline-making price. Below, one heart jewel (would it be Valentine’s Day without it?) and one “wild card” piece of each public relations professional’s choosing, from the brands they represent.
Retailers can soak up the selling points these experts share—why the particular jewels are noteworthy, why consumers will love them.
Francesca Simons, Francesca Simons Consulting
“I have long been on a search for the perfect piece of heart jewelry. While I’ve always been drawn to the symbolism of hearts, many designs tend to feel overly dainty or traditionally feminine for my personal style. Spinelli Kilcollin has redefined the heart motif in a way that feels modern, confident, and intentionally designed. Their heart pieces are not simply rings; they feel like narratives worn on the hand. The floating heart charms and linked constructions speak to connection, emotion, and individuality while avoiding anything generic or ornamental. Beyond their symbolism, these pieces are exceptionally wearable. They are thoughtfully balanced, lightweight, and designed for everyday comfort. Their stackable nature allows them to stand beautifully on their own or integrate seamlessly into a layered ring collection. I love to layer my ring stacks—more is more!”
“The new Katkim Crescendo bangle is equally compelling. Its sculptural silhouette, paired with a floating pear-shape diamond, creates a striking yet understated statement on the wrist. The design feels modern and architectural, and the way it contours to the wrist is particularly flattering. What draws me most to this piece is its uniqueness—it feels distinctive and intentional. It is the perfect addition to my growing wrist stack and a piece I see becoming a long-term staple.”
Arianna Clemenza, For Future Reference
“With Valentine’s Day coming up, I think there is nothing more special than pieces that hold meaning—especially ones with a little secret message. That’s why one of the top pieces on my wish list is this Circa 1700 Spinning Orb with the hidden words coup de foudre, or love at first sight, engraved on the back. What makes this piece so fun is that it’s a hidden note to the wearer, needing to be flipped in order to reveal the words and display the enamel red heart. I think it’s so romantic and fun, and would look great clipped onto any style chain.”
“A comfortable pair of small everyday earrings has been on my wish list for a while now—and when Jade Ruzzo launched the Tennessee huggies, they were exactly what I had in mind. I am obsessed with the subtle movement of the fringe diamonds in the earrings and how they hug your earlobe. This would be such a romantic and special gift to open on Valentine’s Day. And the best part: You can wear them every day or save for special occasions only.”
Lauren Maxwell, Lauren Maxwell Public Relations
“Valentine’s Day this year feels like the perfect time for a little bit of self-love and celebration of the accomplishments I’ve achieved over the past year. In other words, it’s time to invest in myself—and my jewelry collection. I’ve never been one for heart motifs. However, this puffy heart charm from Ruth NY strikes the perfect balance of cute and collectible. The rainbow of sapphires are an eye-catching touch that make the charm ideal for everyday wear.”
“In the midst of the ever-rising price of gold, I’ve found myself drawn to two-tone designs. These hoop earrings are classic Lagos, featuring the brand’s iconic Caviar beading with both 18k gold and sterling silver. The diamonds are the cherry on top for a pair of earrings truly worth the investment. Who says you can’t have it all?”
Cameron Tewson, PR consultant
“This Atlas Carré Amore ring is a romantic choice for Valentine’s Day. The classic toi et moi design brings together two iconic cuts—a pear-shape gemstone and a heart-cut diamond—in a mirrored open setting that beautifully symbolizes two souls in connection.”
“The sculptural Bold ring from Smiling Rocks is a powerful choice for Valentine’s Day self-gifting: bold, confident, and unapologetically beautiful. Designed to be worn every day, it’s a modern reminder that love doesn’t have to be given to be meaningful—sometimes the most important commitment is the one you make to yourself.”
Yael Fraynd, Yaya Publicity
“Valentine’s Day has always been one of my favorite days—a day that feels the need to lean into love, crave hearts, and wear them proudly, even if [you’re] not a typical ‘hearts’ girl. For months I’ve had my eye on Type’s multi-stone Leggo necklace. It’s the kind of piece that feels effortless with a classic tee and jeans, yet instantly elevates a dressed-up look. The vibrant stones feel joyful and timeless all at once—girlie, romantic, and just edgy enough to keep things interesting. It almost feels like a more unique take on a tennis necklace that incorporates so many beautiful stones and shapes.”
“A Luis Morais bangle is at the very top of my wish list for Valentine’s Day and beyond. It instantly elevates my everyday bracelet game, bold enough to stand on its own and catch the eye yet effortless when layered with other gold bangles or beaded bracelets. It is the kind of piece that becomes second skin and quietly steals the spotlight. I am drawn to unique pieces that offer texture and unexpected design details, jewelry that feels thoughtful, distinctive, and anything but ordinary. I believe the everyday shopper is moving beyond the basics and gravitating toward jewelry that reflects their individual style while showcasing the unique design elements that make each piece special.”
Sophie Louise Tomlin, Avenue Publicity
“I’m always drawn to classic jewelry with a subtle twist, and these earrings by Sig Ward are such a beautiful way to wear a heart motif without it feeling too literal. From a retail perspective, they’re an easy win—lightweight, incredibly wearable, and perfect from day to night, with just enough romance to make them ideal for both everyday wear and Valentine’s gifting.”
“I love jewelry that carries meaning without being overt, and the Tejen Rock Sugar pavé band does that beautifully: The entwined gold and diamonds feel like a quiet nod to being linked together. All Tejen’s pieces are crafted in 18k Fairmined gold, offering both retailers and clients confidence in knowing where materials come from, particularly at a time when gold prices are surging.”
Amalia Keramitsis, Amalia Keramitsis Consulting
“I love Future Fortune’s Luck N Love necklace for the aquamarines, my birthstone. It’s perfect for a retailer looking for a hero piece because of its rarity, meaning, and strong visual impact in the case. It features 125 total carats of moss aquamarine beads, individually knotted, which is a substantial and increasingly rare amount of aquamarine to find with this level of color consistency and clarity.”
“For retailers, [this ring is] the kind of piece that sparks conversation and appeals to both collectors looking for rare gemstones and clients searching for a modern heirloom they can wear every day.”
Brielle Forman, Brielle PR
“Palm Beach jeweler Claudia Mae’s pink ombre heart ring will forever be a favorite of mine. It captures the romance of Valentine’s Day in its most wearable form. The layered pink blushy tones feel intimate and feminine, while the heart motif celebrates love as something meant to be seen, felt, and worn every day. Layer it or wear it alone—she is such a beauty.”
“Really anything Zome would be a Valentine’s Day win. The designer, Meghna [Biswas], is known for her fearless use of large-scale gemstones, and the Roselle ring certainly does not disappoint. It reminds me of a tiara in ring form. With a captivating pink tourmaline that takes center stage, sitting next to mixed cut tourmalines, spinels, and diamonds, I’d feel like a fairy princess wearing it.”
Jessica Kiraly, Mega Mega Projects
“When it comes to hearts, I tend to gravitate towards a more playful interpretation of the motif, and CCWW Designs’ carved stone stud pendants deliver exactly that. While I usually stick to neutral tones in my jewelry collection, the rose quartz version is currently calling my name.”
“For Valentine’s Day this year, all I really want is gold—don’t we all?—specifically in the form of a pinky ring. I’ve been on the hunt for a while now for one that doesn’t make my pinky look too squished. The Rockaway mini pyramid ring from Statement Paris checks all the boxes: bold and sculptural, and not a squished pinky in sight. Bonus points that it already fits so seamlessly into my everyday stack.”
Duvall O’Steen, Luxury Brand Group and freelance publicist
“I’ve never been a big fan of hearts and heart jewelry, as it tends to feel a bit schmaltzy to me. With the Pierced Padlock, designer Konstantinos Leoussis has found a delightful way to balance edgy and elegant. I love the storytelling in this piece. Let’s face it: Love is not all rainbows and butterflies, as they say—sometimes love hurts. When we get our hearts wounded but continue to open them, we grow and evolve. I think love from a wounded heart is stronger, wiser, and all the more beautiful. And this is one way to make hearts cool—it represents a new interpretation of heart-shape jewelry. It feels personalized because the piercings and the ruby “wounds” can tell the story of love that has endured tough challenges and yet still continues to thrive. It’s also makes a great Valentine’s gift option for customers who scoff at overly sentimental or traditional heart jewelry.”
“True story: I was lucky enough to borrow this [Venezia] necklace during the Couture show in Las Vegas. I wore it on day one of the show, and as the day ended, Joy Haugaard, the designer and founder of Lionheart, encouraged me to keep it and wear it for the evening as well, with the understanding that I would return it the next morning. However, when I dressed the following morning, I put on the necklace, purely for safe delivery back to Lionheart, and surprisingly discovered that it looked equally good with what I was wearing on day two! I decided to wear it all that day, too. End of day, Joy again encouraged me to wear it all evening. Next morning, I dress, and lo and behold, this necklace was the perfect adornment for my day-three outfit, too. My attire across the three days was radically different, and yet this classic and gorgeous chain proved the perfect accessory all three days. My mind was blown. Ever since, it has been on my wish list. Thank you, Lionheart, for helping me discover for myself how truly versatile this chain is. I need it in my jewelry box.”
Jackie LeBental-Jones, Barri Luxury Consulting
“Hearts speak to me. Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve loved heart-shape jewelry. I was gifted a pair of gold hoops with multicolor heart-shape gem charms, and I still wear them. Currently I have my eyes on Onirikka’s Heart Hemline Medallion. The heart shape itself is perfect in size—it’s substantial to wear on its own or layer with other pieces. It has a combination of pavé diamonds and sweet drops of bezel-set emeralds. It’s a piece that has a distinctive look that separates it from other heart pieces out there, but is still classic.”
“One of the many heart pieces I want to add to my everyday is the Jolie slider charm from Imperfect Grace. It has presence. It’s the pop of color that adds happiness. It easily slides on various chains, to be worn with other charms or alone. I love that it is available in multiple gemstone options—it’s available in pink sapphire, emerald, yellow sapphire, blue sapphire, and orange sapphire.”
Top: Pia heart ring in 18k yellow gold with 0.45 ct. heart-shape ruby, $3,900; Spinelli Kilcollin (personal photos courtesy of the publicists)
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