​​Old World, New Rules

By Clinton Kelly
Photograph courtesy of Adel Chefridi 

It’s one of those perfectly crisp days in Rhinebeck when the town looks like it was designed for a Hallmark movie. Or is it Lifetime? I don’t know. I stopped watching cable television when it stopped paying my mortgage. Anyway, you get the idea: lots of cute sweaters on cute people, red bows galore, twinkling lights, and the faint smell of burning wood in the air. The kind of vibe that can soften the scowl of an old curmudgeon like yours truly.

The jewel-box storefront of Adel Chefridi beckons me to come inside and bask in its golden glow. The jewelry cases twinkle with pieces inspired by the designer’s Tunisian upbringing, some delicate, some bold, all intricately detailed. The staff smile and greet me warmly, and I strike up a conversation with Annie Dye, gemologist and manager of the gallery. 

Chefridi founded his brand in 1999, and opened his Rhinebeck studio more than a decade ago. Every piece is crafted either on-site or in his family’s workshop in Tunis, blending Old World artistry with modern design. The pieces feel both organic and refined, not the easiest balance to strike. They don’t scream Look at meeee! They whisper, I see you looking at me, with my quiet confidence and impeccable taste. How could you not?

As Annie and I talk about how much the concept of personal style has changed over the past decade (or even the past year), we immediately agree that the best way to look modern is to delete the old rules from your jewelry playbook. For example:

Save the Good Stuff for Special Occasions

No. Just no. “Jewelry is not supposed to be sitting in a box,” Annie says. “It’s meant to be worn and loved, and to see the light of day. These aren’t just rocks and metal, they’re feelings.” If your most beautiful piece of jewelry makes you feel amazing, don’t pass up the opportunity to feel amazing—even if you’re just running errands. But also, don’t be stupid. “Insure it,” she says, “and wear it.”

“I’m a Gold Person”

Life’s too short to limit yourself to one metal, especially in the Layering Era we’re currently inhabiting. “Layering is the easiest, most interesting way to mix metals,” says Annie, especially if you incorporate some mixed-metal pieces. “We do so many here, warm and cool tones together, and it always works.” If the thought of layering stresses you out, keep it to three necklaces: one long, one medium-length, and one short. Let the middle one be the outlier, metallurgically speaking. 

Classics Should Be Minimalistic

Sure, diamond stud solitaires might be classics, but not all classics are diamond stud solitaires. “They can have interesting shapes, multiple stones, hand engraving,” Annie says, “something you don’t see on everyone.” She shows me her favorite example of this: Chefridi’s Lotus Studs, the settings of which look like tiny flowers. She and I agree that classic needs to be redefined as anything you can see yourself happily wearing ten years from now.

Jewelry Should Be Proportionate to Your Frame

Sure, shows like “What Not To Wear” might have stressed the importance of proportions—and I’d argue there’s still some validity to it—but I love Annie’s approach: “Your attitude should determine the size of your jewelry.” Brilliant. If you’re feeling main-character energy today, go big with a tourmaline cabochon. Hopefully romantic tomorrow? Reach for that subtle heart pendant. In other words, be your own casting agent. —chefridi.com