Just last year, beloved Nashville jeweler Judith Bright celebrated 20 years in business, and the brand shows no signs of slowing down. Grounded in meaning and purpose, Judith Bright continues to thrive thanks to its talented team of artisans, great attention to detail, and thoughtful design philosophy. We sat down with Judith to discuss the studio’s humble beginnings, her design process, and what’s next for the brand.
A Handmade Mission
Judith started her jewelry business in the basement of her home, with no real formal training. “Handmade jewelry was the obvious choice for me,” she says. “Making something with your hands is just so amazing — whether it’s cooking or painting. Anything you can do that brings your mind and hands together to create something is just so special to me.”
With such focus on the craft and details, Judith and her team have complete control over almost everything in the design process — from which gemstones to use to how they’re cut and where they’re sourced from. “It’s like going to the farmers’ market and picking out your vegetables,” she adds. “We know everything that’s going into each piece.”
Behind the Glass: A Look Inside the Studio
While an additional studio has since opened at The Factory at Franklin, the original Judith Bright studio on 12 South offers a truly special experience. From the glass partition that provides an up-close look at artisans hard at work to the studio’s overall vibrant energy, customers feel part of the process from the moment they step inside.
What makes the experience even more special is knowing the care and attention given to the artisans themselves. “A lot of them come to us with no experience, but we teach them all,” explains Judith. “It’s really about who they are as a person and their heart. Positivity, kindness, and not taking yourself too seriously are also important.”
Designing with Intuition & Intention
When designing a new piece, Judith describes the process as entirely intuitive. Unlike other brands and designers who constantly release new pieces every season, Judith doesn’t put pressure on herself or her team to produce jewelry on a scheduled timeline.
“If I dream up something, we will put it in the collection,” she adds. “There’s no rhyme or reason when things are done.”
Other times, people and organizations approach the Judith Bright team with a special idea of their own. Recently, they collaborated with the Tennessee Innocence Project, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to investigating and litigating claims of innocence and wrongful incarceration.
The organization’s logo is a dove, so Judith hand-sketched a version of the symbol, which was then turned into a stamp. The final design is now part of the brand’s growing charm collection.
Whether it’s a collaboration or a piece pulled from a dream, each piece of Judith Bright jewelry reflects the heart and soul of the team behind it. Every purchase includes a notecard with the name of the artisan who crafted it and the definition of Meraki, the Greek word meaning the soul, love, and essence someone puts into their work.
“That’s something we’ve always had as a guiding principle,” adds Judith. “It’s almost like farm to table, but it’s jewelry to person. We have customers in the store all the time watching us work. We also switch out gemstones for them on the spot, make necklaces bigger or smaller, or help them pick out gifts.”
Jewelry That Marks the Moment
When designing jewelry, Judith hopes each piece celebrates life’s major milestones as well as the quieter, everyday moments. Thanks to the wide variety of gemstone offerings, her collection makes it especially easy to find something meaningful.
For example, if someone faces health challenges, they often choose labradorite to symbolize strength and perseverance. For weddings, Judith recommends moonstone to represent a new beginning. And just in time for back-to-school season, a popular gift is jewelry with lolite, which signifies self-confidence — perfect for anyone headed off to college.
What’s Next for Judith Bright
After more than two decades in business, Judith says, “We’re definitely in our groove.” Today, they have time to focus on aspects of the brand they could not before — including revamping their 12 South studio space.
“We’ve done a lot of renovations over in 12 South,” she explains. “We finally hit our stride where we’re able to pick our heads up a bit and look around and make the experience better … One thing I’m closer to now than ever is producing a couple of fine pieces. That’s always been a dream of mine.”
Judith Bright has locations in 12 South (2307 12th Avenue South) and The Factory at Franklin (230 Franklin Road). To learn more and peruse the entire collection, visit judithbright.com.
This article is sponsored by Judith Bright.
Your StyleBlueprint AI Companion
