Kristen Shirley
1. WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A LIVING?
I am the founder of La Patiala, the luxury encyclopedia. I am also a luxury writer for Bloomberg Businessweek, Forbes.com, Robb Report and Travel + Leisure.
2. HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE JEWELRY INDUSTRY?
I started as a fashion editor at Elle magazine where I was always exposed to jewelry on photo shoots, but it wasn’t until I worked at Elite Traveler that I fell in love with jewelry. That’s when I started to write about it and learn more about the craftsmanship, designs and all the special gemstones that are exist.
3. WHERE ARE YOU BASED?
New York City.
4. WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
I’m not really from anywhere since my family moved around a lot growing up but you could say Boston since I was born there. I’ve lived in New York longer than anywhere else, so I consider myself a New Yorker now.
5. WHAT’S THE FIRST PIECE OF JEWELRY YOU FELL IN LOVE WITH?
I always wanted a pair of diamond stud earrings, and my mom had a pair I really loved. Once I graduated from college, she gave them to me as a present and I wear them every day. Funny story, before giving them to me, she had me buy a pair of Swarovski earrings and wear them for a year to prove I wouldn’t lose them.
6. WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT JEWELRY?
I love gemstones; they are so hypnotic and beautiful. I also love the stories behind jewelry pieces.
7. DESCRIBE YOUR JEWELRY STYLE.
Classic.
8. WHERE DO YOU GET MOST OF JEWELRY FROM?
I’m very lucky to work with a lot of amazing designers and I purchase directly from them. If I purchase a stone, I have someone in the Diamond District create something for me.
9. WHO IS YOUR JEWELRY ICON?
My very good friend, Camille Zarsky Jacobs. She has the freshest way of approaching jewelry and she has the best taste and amazing jewelry. She recently opened The Seven in West Village this past fall.
10. DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE STONE
Diamond!
11. DO YOU HAVE A PIECE(S) OF JEWELRY YOU WEAR EVERY DAY AND IF SO, WHY?
I tend to wear casual diamond pieces. My friends call them my casual carats! For special occasions, I have a good amount of emerald jewelry. My every day pieces are:
My diamond stud earrings.
A pendant that belonged to my mom, but she didn’t wear it a lot because she didn’t like the look. When my parents gave it to me, I had it reset in a really simple white gold setting fixed to a chain. Before, it was in a two-tone setting, with a yellow gold bail and white gold prongs.
I have quite a few bracelets I alternate between:
Tiffany & Co Elsa Peretti Bone Cuff in silver which I love! I wear it on my right hand.
Two emerald bracelets from the Gem Place in India. One is a thin emerald line bracelet and the other is also a line bracelet but with alternating oval emeralds and diamonds.
I have a few casual bangles with diamonds.
A Toi et Moi bracelet by Wempe featuring an aquamarine and a diamond.
I took an old family tennis bracelet and created a half bangle as well as three tiny bracelets (white, yellow and rose gold) with bezel set diamonds. I wore these bracelets every day for a decade!
Rings:
Melissa Kaye ring.
A half eternity band which was a family gift, that I reset into white gold from yellow.
A Sutra sapphire ring.
A little ring from Grace Lee
I don’t wear a lot of rose or yellow jewelry but when I wear my yellow gold Piaget watch, I switch out my pieces and wear my yellow gold jewelry.
12. HOW DO YOU WANT TO FEEL WHEN YOU WEAR YOUR JEWELRY?
Shiny.
13. LAST PIECE OF JEWELRY YOU BOUGHT AND LOVED?
My vintage Piaget watch that looks like jewelry. It’s on an 18k gold bracelet with a gray mother of pearl dial, diamonds on the bezel and with mechanical movement. I got it at Bonhams.
14. THE BEST JEWELRY GIFT YOU’VE RECEIVED?
My diamond pendant – I treasure it and I never take it off. It’s very special to me.
15. THE THING YOU ARE COVETING NEXT?
A diamond line bracelet and some relaxing time with my family for the holidays.
16. WHAT IS YOUR SPIRIT ANIMAL?
A really chic cat.
17. FAVORITE FOOD?
Caviar.
18. LEAST FAVORITE FOOD?
Bananas.
19. WINE OR CHEESE?
Wine.
20. COFFEE OR TEA?
Tea.
21. YOGA OR BOXING?
Yoga.
22. FAVORITE SEASON?
Summer.
23. FAVORITE CITY?
New York.
24. SUPERPOWER OF CHOICE?
The Midas Touch…just kidding! We know how that ended! I would say my extreme organization is a superpower, but I’d also like to walk through walls!
25. SECRET SKILL?
I give the best at-home manicure and I can make my nails really long. I once went to JINSoon in Tribeca and the owner (Jin Soon), said “We cannot shape her nails, they are too perfect!”
26. WHEN DO YOU FEEL STRONGEST?
At my Physique 57 workout classes.
27. YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
Something bad happening to my family.
28. HOW DO YOU PICK YOURSELF UP FROM A LOW DAY?
I drink champagne in the bathtub, watch Eddie Izzard: Dress to Kill and eat caviar.
29. WHAT PIECE(S) OF JEWELRY MAKES YOU FEEL HAPPIEST?
My Bulgari Serpenti double wrap watch.
30. WHAT PIECE(S) OF JEWELRY MAKES YOU FEEL STRONGEST?
My Elsa Peretti Bone Cuff - it feels very Wonder Woman…Gal Gadot actually wore it in the film Wonder Woman 1984.
31. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF?
To chill out.
32. WHAT IS ONE THING PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU?
People think I’m very hardcore and unshakeable but I’m actually very sensitive.
33. WHAT DOES ‘JOY’ MEAN TO YOU?
When your heart is so full it’s going to burst - I try to find it in the little moments as well as the big ones.