Based in Charleston, South Carolina, designer Hart Hagerty makes colorful, custom necklaces and bracelets from 14k gold. Rather than just charms, Hart envisions her pieces as talismans to wear with intention. Good luck. Resilience. Motherhood. Courage. Whatever the occasion, a HART necklace or bracelet is a gift of personal storytelling. (Reminder: Mother’s Day is May 12!) Read on for Hart’s gift-giving ideas, her take on trends, and her favorite Chairish finds.
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Shop Hart Hagerty's Chairish Favorites
Shop Hart Hagerty's Chairish Favorites
Tell us a little bit about HART and the inspiration behind the brand. When and why
did you start designing jewelry?
I started my line of jewelry in 2016 with my first design: a simple tassel earring (which we still make today!) and have evolved the collection to focus on custom charm jewelry. Over the years I have fallen in love with jewelry as a tool for self-expression, manifestation and soul-searching. In 2019 I leaned into custom charm jewelry, when I myself wanted a personalized necklace with great quality at attainable prices. Today, I am so proud of our growing team, our incredible quality and personalized customer service.
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What should the Chairish audience know about jewelry right now? And what should they be buying/wearing for this season?
Jewelry is a powerful tool of personal storytelling. The more unique the piece, the better. When buying a piece, my advice is to purchase what deeply resonates with you and feels authentic. This is why I am drawn to the talismanic power of charms—designs seeped in meaning, empowerment, spirituality. I love shiny, pretty things… but it’s all the more captivating to see someone in an heirloom-quality piece that truly reflects their soul and personality. I am always on the hunt for vintage and antique charms. We invite anyone to bring in an heirloom charm to our store and we will gladly rework into a necklace or bracelet along with our own charms and chains.
What trends are you seeing in jewelry? Are we in a “more is more” phase or “minimal mode”?
As many of us begin to tire of the zeitgeist around quiet luxury, I am seeing a shift back toward the playful, personal, and eclectic—especially in jewelry and accessories. I love a “more is more” neck-mess worn with a classic white button down shirt or striped marinière tee. String a fine antique locket on a red leather cord. Find that funky shell or seed bead necklace from your travels. Mix it all together with one of our charm necklaces. I’m over the head-to-toe-anonymous-rich-mom-beige-neutrals and ready to have some fun with more colorful self-expression! Conversely, I love a simple charm necklace mixed with eye-catching dresses by (my cousin) Louisa Ballou.
HART | Photo: Jesse Volk
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With Mother’s Day coming up, of all your beautiful jewelry options, do you have a favorite (or two) that you think would make for a special Mother’s Day Gift?
Because charm jewelry is so personal, we suggest giving a ‘starter necklace’ that the recipient can easily build upon themselves over time. Our ready-to-gift personalized necklaces are amazing. You can easily add initial charms to our best-selling pendants, which makes for a classic and timeless layering piece. I also adore our special gemstone necklaces—candy-colored opals, to rich topaz, to earthy chrysoprase—which give a sophisticated jolt of color and texture to an otherwise neutral outfit. We designed the necklaces to have a special clasp, which can easily hang a charm or two.
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What materials are hot right now? What metals or stones do you want to draw the Chairish audience to?
Each summer I find myself drawn to baroque pearls, shells, and pops of color. We will soon release our Cloud Collection, which features massive cultured pearls on leather cords in bright hues. I am excited by the tension between classic pearls and zippy color.
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What is your main source of inspiration motif wise?
My designs reflect a myriad of inspiration—from Art Deco lockets, ancient talismans, Victorian love tokens, to 80s French vintage costume jewelry, and the palette of my muse Helen Frankenthaler. Most of all, I am endlessly inspired by charms as spiritual tokens. Symbols for letting go, staying strong, trusting the universe, honoring loved ones. These precious little symbols remind me to practice gratitude, stay rooted, and keep evolving. It’s a never-ending journey for self-discovery and I often ask myself, “what charm do I need in my spiritual toolkit?” For example, I recently heard thought leaders discussing the topic of self-worth; feeling truly worthy of what you want to call in, and how we tend to limit our lives based on lack of worthiness. How does that notion come to life as a charm? I am not sure yet… but I know it would be helpful to wear it around my neck everyday!
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What similarities do you see with jewelry and home?
The most captivating—and comfortable—homes authentically reflect the values, style, and interests of its owner. The same goes for jewelry. There’s nothing cooler than seeing someone rocking a mix-mash of inherited gold heirlooms, gorgeous gemstones, a soulful charm necklace… along with humble shell beads and a playful plastic bracelet a child made for them. Similarly, I love homes with personal artwork (like the beach photographs by my brother in law, Anderson Wrangle) and a mix of antiques with modern, sourced from travels with neighborhood thrifts, high meets low. My home design and my jewelry box share that eclecticism and authenticity. My hope is that our customers will create something deeply unique from our myriad of charms—from classic Roman coin reproductions to green enamel memento mori skulls—that reflects their style and deepest heart desires.
Lead Image: Hart Hagerty, Photo: Jesse Volk.
