Heirloom Jewelry, Reimagined: Meet Designer Brooke Griffith
Nashville-based jewelry brand Glen & Effie creates heirloom pieces for a new age. Get to know founder and designer, Brooke Griffith! Image: Glen & Effie
This is not your grandmother’s jewelry … or is it? Brooke Griffith, founder of Glen & Effie, designs bespoke pieces that blend old history with a modern edge. She works with reclaimed and antique gems and settings, giving heirloom stones a second chance instead of letting them sit in a box somewhere. The result? Jewelry with a past and a future. We caught up with Brooke to learn more about her signature collection, her love of antiques, and her upbringing in East Tennessee.
Glen & Effie is based in Nashville, but your reach feels much broader. How does location shape your business?
We’re rooted in Nashville, but so much of our clientele is spread across the country, even internationally. As a Tennessee native, I’m a strong believer in the craft and artistry of our region of the world, and I still want to keep as much of our production in the South as possible between our studio and the master craftspeople we partner with.
Historically, jewelry-making was centered in places like New York’s Diamond District, but the pandemic changed the game. There are so many creative movements here, past and present, and it’s exciting to think we’re a part of it.
You’ve talked about growing up on your family’s farm in East Tennessee. How does that inform your work?
Building a business definitely takes hard work and heart. Glen & Effie is named after my grandparents — I spent every summer on our 300-acre cattle farm in East Tennessee, which has remained in our family and is very near to my heart. It’s there that they instilled the values of hard work and attention to detail.
That generation made things to last, which really shaped me. It also inspired our focus on restoring antique jewelry — pieces made with intention and story.
What first drew you to jewelry-making?
It stemmed from my love of antiques in general — the stories behind them, how well they were made, and how unique they felt. You’re holding something that’s lasted 100 or 200 years and has had all these different lives. My mom dabbled in antiques and interior design herself, so I was also inspired by her, and I’ve always loved tiny things, like a magpie.
I started piecing jewelry together in college as an art major at Belmont University, which is when Glen & Effie began, using whatever I could find or afford at flea markets. Over time, I learned from third- and fourth-generation jewelers who taught me restoration, and that naturally evolved into fine jewelry and our signature collection.
Still, my favorite part of this business is taking something like Grandma’s diamond brooch that’s been shoved in a drawer, taking it apart, and resetting it so it feels fresh and wearable today — giving it a new life.
Your work feels modern yet mixed with an antique feel. How do you balance those two worlds?
That’s always been the line we’ve walked. Very vintage and antique, but mixed with bold, unique elements, not thin or minimalist.
Are you excited about jewelry trends this year? Brooches seem to be all the rage right now!
Yes! Stick pins, brooches … I actually love that the men are getting into it and wearing them on their lapels again. We love a dressed-up man with good taste. Wear some diamonds!
Tell us about the debut Signature Collection?
Our signature pieces are a modern interpretation of ancient Roman jewelry, art, and architecture that I’ve seen during my visits to The Met. If I’m going to do stacker rings, I want them to fit together like puzzle pieces. Think arches, domes, and structures you see in places like the Colosseum.
Jewelry has always been a form of language and storytelling. So if we’re creating a signature collection that’s antique-adjacent, why not start with something ancient?
What is a common misconception about antique or heirloom jewelry that you love proving wrong?
One of the biggest is that everything needs to be perfect — especially the “four C’s” in selecting diamonds. I always talk about the fifth C: compromise. You can compromise on color or carat, but you should never compromise on cut.
Antique diamonds, especially old mine cuts from the 1800s, are like snowflakes — they often carry more carat weight because of their irregular shape. Imagine — they were originally hand-cut by candlelight with magnifying glasses. That’s where the romance and beauty really come from.
Do you have a “most meaningful” piece you’ve created?
It’s never “Look at this big diamond” or “Look at this tennis bracelet.” It’s “I was gifted this for my 20th anniversary, and now I want to take apart all these diamonds and turn them into something new for my granddaughter, my daughter, my grandson …”
We have a client we’ve worked with over the years — I’ve met half her family. Our clients come to us understanding it’s not just the ring or the jewelry; it’s what they hope to pass down as remembrance. Sitting down and hearing those stories … that’s the reason I’m in this.
What advice do you have for other creatives or entrepreneurs?
The hardest part is taking the first step. Today, being a creator means putting yourself out there, especially with social media, and risking failure, and that can feel intimidating. But failure is part of the process. You find your identity through it. Growth is messy, but it’s necessary. Just keep going, even if it might not work. That doesn’t make you a failure.
LIGHTNING ROUND!
Three things you can’t live without: First, animals. I always need a four-legged friend. Second, our family farm. No matter how crazy life or business gets, going back grounds me. Third, art and creativity. I’m always sketching, drawing, observing other makers — even outside the jewelry world. We’re not maintaining a legacy brand. We’re building something new. Creativity is how we carve out our place.
What are you currently reading or listening to? I just finished Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara. I loved it. I think business and life are moving so fast that people crave those tangible, human experiences. I also love Amy Poehler’s podcast, Good Hang with Amy Poehler.
Favorite meal in Nashville? I’m a woman of extremes. Either chorizo tacos from the taco truck down the street from our building, or oysters at happy hour at Cafe Roze.
Staple wardrobe item? Jeans and a white T-shirt. Always.
Dream person to design for? Dolly Parton. Hands down. Growing up in East Tennessee — she’s everything.
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Anne Marie Hanna
An Ole Miss alum residing in Nashville, Anne Marie is passionate about telling the stories shaping the South. Outside of work, you’ll likely find her on a porch with a coffee and a good book, gardening, listening to music, or enjoying time with friends and family.