Stephanie Gottlieb has quickly become a recognizable fine jewelry brand, worn and desired by those throughout the Hamptons and beyond. Many celebrities have been seen showing off their Stephanie Gottlieb customizable pieces, including Taylor Swift at last year’s Super Bowl.
Stephanie’s success and prominence has risen rapidly over the last several years due to her dedication, resilience, and creating a strong following on social media with those who connect to her brand’s style and mission.
She discussed her background, what sets her brand apart, and how she has found such great success. Stephanie also shared her top jewelry buying and style tips for everyday and special occasions, always believing that each day is a time to sparkle!
What is the Stephanie Gottlieb brand all about?
SG: At Stephanie Gottlieb, we believe that every day is an occasion to sparkle, and I love to embody that in my personal life as well.
How would you describe the style of Stephanie Gottlieb Fine Jewelry?
SG: Known for our custom creations and celebrity fans, our jewelry stands at the intersection of elegance and personal style, inviting you to celebrate both the everyday and life’s most cherished moments.
We’re committed to unparalleled craftsmanship and the use of ethically sourced materials and natural diamonds, offering our clients a diverse range of collections, from timeless classics to contemporary designs. From the beginning, I have prioritized providing customers with education and transparency during the diamond selection process.
I design my pieces to be worn daily, allowing you to express your personality through how you style them. I love to layer or stack everyday pieces that have playful accents, whether that’s a pop of color, texture, or some movement.
Formerly known as the Queen of Rainbow, my style has definitely evolved as I’ve matured and softened but still preserving that element of playfulness, color, and innovation.
What sets your brand apart from other jewelry brands?
SG: What sets us apart from other brands is the joy and playful element that we bring to our jewelry, along with our unique twist on classic pieces. For example, our best-selling Tennis Classic choker adds a fun edge to an otherwise traditional piece. Taylor Swift paired this with her custom “87” SGFJ Varsity pendant at this year’s Super Bowl.
In terms of Bridal & Bespoke, our custom capabilities are where we shine. We can create truly any piece a client dreams of, offering much more flexibility than a larger, heritage brand.
Whether you are buying for a loved one or yourself, our pieces evoke emotion with the range of personalization collections and custom capabilities. We’re committed to providing our clients with education and transparency throughout the diamond selection process, ensuring a superior client experience.
Can you talk a bit about your background and how you got started in this business? When and why did you decide to start your jewelry brand?
SG: My start came from working at an esteemed family-run diamond company in the heart of New York City’s Diamond District, where I managed the finished jewelry collection and earned a diamond degree from the GIA. I joined there out of undergrad and stayed for five years, learning the ins and outs of the business and falling in love with natural diamonds
In 2013, I left that company in order to start my own as I felt there was a ceiling to my potential and wanted more autonomy. From a product design perspective, I also wanted to create pieces that felt new and modern and lean into design that spoke to me and my personal brand. Since then, my wonderful social media community has helped me develop a multi-category jewelry collection.
My pieces often honor the origin of the stone and celebrate its natural beauty in a unique and wearable way. From day one, I’ve been committed to advocating for female representation in the bridal jewelry category, and providing customers with education and transparency during the selection process.
Since 2013, the brand has grown phenomenally. Ten years later in 2023, I brought on Morgan Richardson, a dear friend and experienced leader in the luxury retail industry, to serve as our first Brand President and Chief Commercial Officer. Together we’re now leading the brand to new heights.
What are some of the quintessential creations that make up the brand? What are your favorites to create?
SG: One of my newest and favorite collections is Sachet. Sachet offers a stylish way to elegantly display your gemstone(s) of choice, keeping the people or moments who mean the most to you close to your heart, represented by their birthstones. It’s the perfect personal yet unique piece, featuring a beautiful gold cage that holds and displays the encapsulated gemstones. Added bonus is that there are multiple ways to style your Sachet. Whether it’s keeping it on the original chain, doubling it up for a wrapped look, wearing it like a lariat, or adding the charm to another pre-owned piece.
Sachet is inspired by the many clients searching for a way to wear loose gemstones they have from inherited heirlooms or pieces they no longer wear; this becomes a beautiful place for them to live. You can choose from fourteen gemstones, and we also created Sachet bracelet and earrings styles
Slider is another brand icon, and a favorite is our innovative Slider bangle which I designed as a modern-day charm bracelet, allowing the wearer to tell their own unique story.
What’s your go-to piece of jewelry?
SG: My Candy Button diamond ring! I have always loved our Candy Button ring with various colored gemstones, and I was inspired to add a Candy Button engagement ring with a 1.25ct round diamond for our ready-to ship-engagement collection. I absolutely fell in love with it and told my team that if I ever upgraded my round diamond, this is what I would do with it. My husband, Brett surprised me with my new Candy Button engagement ring for our ten-year anniversary.
Do the Hamptons inspire your designs?
SG: I would say both the Hamptons and my designs have a casual, upscale elegance. My pieces are fine jewelry but designed to be wearable every day and throughout the day – from the beach, to hanging at home with my family, and out to dinner at night. Our diamonds, while brilliant and sophisticated, can be dressed up or down in a way that complements the relaxed, luxurious vibe of the Hamptons.
I feel inspired by the beach; the calming sounds of the water are almost meditative and help to recenter me. My house also, which we designed to be our oasis and refuge outside the busy city, is my perfect place to relax and recharge after a busy week of work.
What led you to the Hamptons?
SG: My husband and I started going to the Hamptons after college; it became our weekend escape together. We would spend the entire weekend at the beach with friends, and then return back to the city hustle and bustle. Eventually my parents and siblings decided they wanted to spend weekends out there too, so we have friends and family close by, and it’s really become my happy place. I love being able to drive to the beach, even if only for a few minutes, and I love how social my network is when we’re there—it’s a place where I’ve built a really nice community.
What are your favorite pastimes in the Hamptons?
SG: Start off the day with a workout class at Forward Space. Relaxing at home with my kids and taking a dip in the pool. Light shopping at the Monogram Shop in East Hampton. Stopping by the beach later in the afternoon or having a boat day out with friends. Sunset dinner at Duryeas in the summer (Highway during winter). Drinks at Sunset Beach, or if looking for a night out, then Surf Lodge. And most often, topping things off with ice cream with the kids at Fudge Shop Southampton.
What has been the biggest factor in your success?
SG: Social media definitely contributed to our brand’s success for the first decade of our existence, helping us to connect to a broad audience and receive feedback in real-time. With Instagram as my trusty sidekick, I turned my passion for jewelry into a loyal follower network over 500k strong through consistency and authenticity.
Establishing myself as a credible expert has been critical and I heavily lean on the knowledge and subject matter expertise I gained during my years working in the Diamond District and from my GIA diamond degree.
Beyond that, flexibility, resilience, and confidence and surrounding yourself with a great support system of friends, family, and fellow entrepreneurs. Finally, it’s also important to prioritize self-care and stress management techniques to maintain mental health and be sure to celebrate small within your team.
What’s your best advice when it comes to buying and wearing jewelry?
SG: Building your jewelry collection from scratch: If starting from scratch, here are the first pieces I would buy:
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- Tennis: a classic piece that you can dress up or down, and pair with other pieces eventually for your own individualized style.
- Pinky: this can be edgy or modern, it gives a little personality and never has to be taken off.
- Bangle: express yourself with the start of a stack, that you can always build on for future special occasions.
- A gold hoop: an earring that can be worn day to night, at all ages and stages of life.
Do you have any jewelry style tips to share?
SG: Building an everyday all day necklace stack:
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- Start with a simple pendant – I love something heart-shaped that makes enough of a statement that it can be worn alone as your everyday piece, but also small enough that you can live in it. The most popular is a round diamond.
- Next is a tennis necklace- this becomes your day to night piece; layer with your pendant for a more casual look, and wear alone for evening occasions; here’s a good moment for mixing metals, get your tennis pieces in white gold for maximum sparkle.
- A chunky chain is a nice staple, and if you select a 30″ chain, you’ll have the option to wear it long, as a lariat, or even doubled up short; this adds texture to your stack.
- Bracelet stacking tips:
- For me, building the perfect bracelet stack is all about the layering. I love to see an odd number of pieces, so aim to build towards 3 pieces and stick with one style, either soft chain bracelets, or bangles. I particularly love bangles for their bolder look.
- Start with one that has pave diamonds, for a nice pop of sparkle; worn alone this can also be considered an evening look. Add something with some gold or texture to make the stack feel more casual and everyday. And finish with something that has a design element that creates open space—our capri bangle or wave cuff would be my top choices!
- With your chain bracelets, go for a tennis bracelet, the most classic piece in your stack. Add a more delicate chain bracelet with a fun design element that speaks to your personality—think initials, a heart, a nameplate. And finish with a slightly chunkier chain for texture—this could be a simple chain, or maybe something that has diamonds within the design for some more sparkle!
Where can the Stephanie Gottlieb brand be found?
SG: We can be found by appointment in our beautiful 5th Avenue showroom or on www.stephaniegottlieb.com. Reach out to us at [email protected] and our team will be happy to assist you with any of your jewelry needs, whether you’re looking to create something custom or explore our in-stock collections.
