Welcome to Gilded Culture

Hi.

My name is Mel Shepherd and welcome to Gilded Culture, a platform dedicated to the appreciation, education and celebration of jewellery and those working in the industry.

As a former jewellery professional I've spent over a decade immersed in retail, marketing and communications for both jewellery and fashion brands.

It's now instinct to explore and evaluate every aspect of jewellery; from the quality and materials used to make a piece of jewellery, the designer and their inspiration, styling, how the jewellery has been photographed, right through to how jewellery brands behave and the types of customers they attract. Every touch point is evaluated, considered, and subconsciously graded to produce an overall feeling or connection to a particular piece.

Often jewellery represents an investment – of time, money and emotions. I find most people consider it an investment designed to outlast most trends and so they consider their jewellery purchases more sharply than an item of clothing or shoes. If you’re going to spend your hard earned cash on an item of jewellery you want to make sure it gives you a sense of pride and joy each and every time you wear it.

I hope these articles inspire thoughts and discussions about jewellery in everyday life for both consumers of jewellery and retailer, and help inform consumers about the options available.

If you'd like to hear more sign up below.

Mel