April 30, 2025 |
“I never leave the house without a piece of jewellery on,” Stellene Volandes says, showing off a stack of Chanel gold bangles and her Belperron pearl earrings. “It’s really like a second skin for me.” As the editor-in-chief of Town & Country, editorial director of Elle Decor, and the author of two Rizzoli books on jewellery, Volandes has a fondness for wearable art that runs deep. She delights in covering the subject, whether delving into specific designs or directing her readers to the best dealers in NYC’s Diamond District. Not surprisingly, Volandes’s personal collection matches her professional enthusiasm. “I’m certainly attracted to the beauty of jewellery,” she says. “But what I really love is the history behind it.”
Volandes’s own appreciation for jewellery can be traced to a trip to Greece, where her family hails from, when she was young and visiting the flagship store of the Athens-based brand Lalaounis for the first time. “There was a book about [the archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann’s 1873] discoveries at Troy on display, alongside some Lalaounis pieces inspired by those ancient jewels. My parents bought me a very simple ring and I thought, this piece means something. That was when I first began to understand the primal need to adorn.”
clockwise from top left: Stellene wears earrings in gold and pearls (Stellene’s own worn throughout) and Spiral Torque necklace in 18k virgin gold and South Sea cultured pearls by BELPERRON. Right arm: Maltese Cross cuff in 18k gold, amethyst, peridots, diamonds and enamel by VERDURA, bracelet by ILEANA MAKRI, mini Coco Crush bracelets in 18k yellow gold, 18k white gold and diamonds and Coco Crush bracelet in 18k yellow gold by CHANEL. Left arm: lion intaglio ring from ANTIQUUS, Sun cuff in 18k yellow gold and platinum and diamonds by VERDURA. Opposite top right: Grain de Café necklace, ring, and bracelet in 18k yellow gold, white gold and diamonds by CARTIER, Raw necklace in 18k Fairmined gold and diamond (in Stellene’s hands) by ANA KHOURI
The ring featured a flint of chrysoprase – “I thought it was an emerald at the time,” Volandes says, laughing – and remains one of the daintiest treasures in her collection, which has grown exponentially as her knowledge of jewellery has expanded. “I know I’m falling in love with a piece when I say, ‘Wait, what is that?’” she continues. “I’m drawn to bold designs and unusual pieces that don’t stick to a formula.” Her style mantra is a take on a famous quote from the memoir (and its film adaptation) Mommie Dearest: “My version of Joan Crawford’s ‘No wire hangers’ [line] is ‘No timid jewellery,’” she says.
“I don’t like delicate pieces. I lean towards a big, yellow-gold aesthetic.” Volandes’s first major splurge, a 30th birthday present to herself, certainly fit the bill. “I bought myself an Elsa Peretti necklace,” she says. “It’s a black silk cord with three lacquer gold beans, and I still wear it regularly. I’m kind of an Elsa Peretti fanatic.”
from left: Ethos Collection Yvonne Frames necklace in 18k yellow gold, aventurine and green gold quartz by SAUER; left arm: Jean Schlumberger by Tiffany Paris Flames brooch in yellow gold, diamonds by TIFFANY & CO., Justine bracelet in 18k Fairmined gold by ANA KHOURI. Right arm: Jean Schlumberger by Tiffany Floral Leaves clip in 18k gold and diamonds, bracelet by ILEANA MAKRI, mini Coco Crush bracelets in 18k yellow gold, 18k white gold, diamonds and Coco Crush bracelet in 18k yellow gold by CHANEL
When she was named editor-in-chief of Town & Country in 2016, Volandes made another milestone purchase. “I wanted to celebrate a pivotal moment in my career with a real investment piece, so I bought myself the Verdura Maltese Cross pendant,” she says. “It’s a true icon of 20th-century jewellery and a symbol of the friendship between Coco Chanel and Fulco di Verdura. It was doubly special because the family that owns Verdura are supportive friends of mine.”
Volandes selected her favourite pieces from the jewellery house for this shoot, along with others from Ana Khouri, Belperron and Lalaounis. She has also handpicked dream collectibles: a smattering of sparkling brooches from Tiffany & Co., pendants from Van Cleef & Arpels, a coffee bean-inspired Cartier necklace and diamond-link collars from Briony Raymond. “All of these pieces have stories to tell and I feel connected to each one,” she says. “They’re also very much indicative of the best 20th and 21st-century jewellery design on the market.”
from left: earrings in gold and pearls by BELPERRON, Cycladic Idol pendant and Neolithic Torque necklace in hand-hammered yellow gold by LALAOUNIS. Right arm: Elsa Peretti Wave ring in 18k gold and diamond by TIFFANY & CO., lion intaglio ring from ANTIQUUS, bracelet by ILEANA MAKRI, mini Coco Crush bracelets in 18k yellow gold, 18k white gold and diamonds and Coco Crush bracelet in 18k yellow gold by CHANEL. Left arm: Justine bracelet in 18k Fairmined gold by ANA KHOURI; clockwise from left: Maltese Cross cuff in 18k gold, amethyst, peridots, diamonds and enamel, Maltese Cross cuff in black jade, 18k gold, rubies, sapphire, pearls and diamonds, and Wing cuff in cacholong, gold and pink tourmaline by VERDURA
Although she has access to exquisite pieces, Volandes is careful about what she may or may not add to her jewellery case. “My advice is to buy with your heart and your head,” she says. “A piece should spark emotion and you should buy something you love so that you wear it. At the same time, if you spend money, it should be on a quality, signed piece [that is authenticated].”
In addition to the Chanel bangles that she “hasn’t taken off in three years” and her go-to Belperron earrings (clip-ons, as her piercings need to be repaired), Volandes never leaves home without at least one piece of Greek jewellery – a talisman that honours her heritage. She typically favours Lalaounis for this but also “feels grounded” wearing a beaded bracelet by her pal Ileana Makri.
The most sentimental item in Volandes’s collection is a ring that belonged to her grandfather. “I never saw him wear any jewellery, not even a wedding band,” she says. “But we found this ring after he died and now I wear it whenever I’m having a challenging day.”
from left: from top: Jean Schlumberger by Tiffany Circle Rope necklace in 18k gold, Elsa Peretti Wave rings in 18k gold, Jean Schlumberger by Tiffany Paris Flames brooch in yellow gold and diamonds, Jean Schlumberger by Tiffany Peapod brooch in yellow gold and cultured pearls, Elsa Peretti Wave ring in 18k gold and diamond, Jean Schlumberger by Tiffany clip in 18k gold and diamonds and Jean Schlumberger by Tiffany Floral Leaves clip in 18k gold and diamonds by TIFFANY & CO.; Zodiaque Cancri necklace in 18k rose gold, blue quartz and Zodiaque Geminorum necklace in 18k rose gold and lapis lazuli by VAN CLEEF & ARPELS, bracelet by ILEANA MAKRI, mini Coco Crush bracelets in 18k yellow gold and 18k white gold, diamonds and Coco Crush bracelet in 18k yellow gold by CHANEL
She fully subscribes to the jewellery-as-armour theory. “There’s this story I love about how Catherine the Great would put on more jewellery before having a difficult meeting with her generals,” she says. “I have no idea if it’s true, but it connects to how I feel about jewellery. It is armour. It is strength. And I feel protected when I’m wearing it.”
There is one piece that she dreams of procuring. “This will never happen, but I would like to own a piece from [the French jewellery pioneer] Suzanne Belperron’s personal collection,” she says. “I believe that jewellery has energy and Suzanne imbued her pieces with courage. Her story [of saving her Jewish partner’s company from the Nazis during the Second World War] is one of such integrity and audaciousness, and I feel that when I wear my Belperron earrings now. Having something that she wore would take things to another level – but some of her pieces just sold at Christie’s in the high six figures, so it’s likely not in my future.”
from left: from top: Estate Mesh Link necklace in 18k yellow gold, Estate Diamond Link collar in 18k yellow gold and diamonds and Estate Diamond Link necklace in 18k yellow gold and diamonds by BRIONY RAYMOND; Raw necklace in 18k Fairmined gold and diamond by ANA KHOURI
For now, Volandes continues to find inspiration in the world around her. “There’s nothing like going into a museum and seeing a pair of bracelets from 300 BC that look like they could be worn out that same night,” she concludes. “Those moments solidify my view of jewellery as one of the few things that remain intact in a world where so much feels disposable. Certain things do last.”
Taken from 10 Magazine Issue 74 – MUSIC, TALENT, CREATIVE – on newsstands now. Order your copy here.
STELLENE VOLANDES: A PRIMAL NEED TO ADORN
Photographer GREG KESSLER
Text SAMANTHA SIMON
Sittings editor IMAN DABBOUS
Hair and make-up SEIYA IIBUCHI
Photographer’s assistant JACKSON VERGES
Production CHLOE MINA
Location THE MARK HOTEL, New York
