TrueFacet wants to keep all our shoppers and readers informed of the latest trends and industry news and to introduce you to new opinions and perspectives in the world of fine jewelry and watches. In turn, we’re bringing on board a handful of fresh expert voices, starting with jewelry and watch editor Barbara Palumbo. Stay tuned for interviews with even more industry movers and shakers on The Loupe!
Barbara Palumbo is a rising star in the world of watch and fine jewelry editorial.
After working in the wholesale and retail side of the jewelry industry, then the creative and marketing side for 17 years, Barbara broke out as a jewelry journalist with her blog Adornmentality. Barbara distinguished herself from highly-technical, industry-speak blogs with her no-holds-barred humor and incredibly grounded point of view—and her refreshingly honest point of view quickly caught the attention of more and more readers.
Since then, her writing career has been a juggernaut, earning praise from the Women’s Jewelry Association, who nominated her in the category of Excellence in Editorial Media two years in a row. She was also recognized by Modern Luxury’s publication The Atlantan as one of Atlanta’s five “Women of Style.”
In 2016, Barbara launched her female-friendly watch blog What’s on Her Wrist, effectively challenging the largely male-dominated watch industry with her clear voice and sharp wit. Barbara is also an editor for the quarterly print publication The Jewelry Book, contributing editor for the popular blog Watchonista, and contributor for both InStore Magazine and InStoreMag.com.
We sat down with Barbara to chat about her personal jewelry collection and the item that is still on her wish list and glean a little life advice for aspiring jewelry journalists.
Name: Barbara Palumbo
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Current Residence: Atlanta, GA
Titles and Publications: Founder and editor-in-chief of web-based publications Adornmentality andWhat’s on Her Wrist, contributor at InStore Magazine and InStoreMag.com, contributing editor at Watchonista, editor at The Jewelry Book.
First Fine Jewelry Purchase: The first fine jewelry purchase I can remember making was when I was about 24 years old, not long after I started working in the industry. At the time, the “tin cup” necklace was very popular, and there was one that I saw that was white gold with black pearls. I loved the piece and it was affordable to me, which not many things were at my age, so I bought it for myself and still have it to this day, though I haven’t worn it in years.
Most Prized Purchase: When I was I was pregnant with my second child, my husband and I decided to find out the baby’s gender. Upon discovering that the baby was a girl (we already had a son), I called up a diamond dealer friend of mine and purchased for her a GIA certified one-carat marquise diamond. I still have the diamond, which is still in its original paper, and plan on having a custom mounting made for it one day so that I can present her with it when she graduates from high school.
Your Dream Piece: I have coveted the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso watch for as long as I can remember. People always say to me, “Just buy it!” But the reality is, I have two children, and as a family, we love to travel, so my funds often go toward vacations, which leaves me with little to spend on myself. One day, though. (I’m hoping to find a great deal on a pre-owned one at that super cool website, TrueFacet.com!)
What piece of jewelry do you wear every day? My engagement ring, which is a three-stone Asscher cut engagement ring set in platinum. I’m very good friends with the Asscher family so on top of the fact that I love my ring as much as I did the day my husband asked me to marry him, I also love knowing that the cut of the diamonds ties into friendships that I’ve had for years.
#1 Style Tip for Jewelry Lovers Looking to Cultivate Their Personal Style: Find a happy medium between designer, luxury, and contemporary jewelry, because different situations will call for different jewelry styles.
#1 Tip for Aspiring Jewelry or Watch Journalists: Don’t be a one-trick pony. I write, but I also do social media marketing, and I’m a speaker at many industry trade shows and events. And if all of the above fails me, I’m also one hell of a cook. So, my advice is always to have a backup plan.