People say jewelry is an investment piece, and they are right. With the amount of work exerted to create such items and the rarity of their materials, jewelry is not just a mere decorative object, but a piece that can retain or even increase in value over time.

But beyond the price tag, buying luxury items like jewelry is more of an emotional purchase. People tend to acquire them to mark a certain milestone or moment. There is always a story one wants to immortalize with a piece, making it one of the most personal things in one’s style repertoire.

That is something Marjorie Florete, EVP for Sales and Operations of homegrown fine jewelry brand F&C, understands best: how jewelry can be part of one’s life and storytelling process. As a fourth-generation leader of the brand, she knows the love and passion that go into every piece of jewelry, something she inherited from her parents, Marcelino M. Florete, Jr. and Susan Caperonce-Florete, who founded the brand in 1973 in Iloilo. This familial “love for beautiful things” also stems deeply from her family, particularly her maternal grandmother, Cristina Orian, who lived a life as a skilled alahera from Bulacan.

“We are focused on deepening the curation experience, bringing together timeless craftsmanship and fresh and relevant designs. So our stores remain destinations, not only for jewelry shopping, but more importantly, for self-expression and personal storytelling,” Marjorie says. “We would like to share with you our love and passion for jewelry.”

To help everyone build their jewelry collection with intention, Marjorie shares with Manila Bulletin Lifestyle her tips on selecting pieces that are timeless, versatile, and meaningful.

“Earrings are the first thing people see, even in pictures,” Marjorie said. “You have to have the basics, like diamond studs. They can grow old with you.” Apart from timeless diamond earrings, she also recommends gold ball earrings or hoop earrings that can easily transition from day to night.

Stacking rings can be both maximalist and minimalist. It depends on the pieces you are curating. Chunky rings offer a diverse range of styles, from tubogas-like designs and ribbed elements to sleek finishes, while toi et moi rings and bands with linear designs offer a more dainty approach.

Marjorie loves to mix metals when it comes to jewelry. One way she does it is through her bracelets. Exploring differently colored gems also offers a fun way of styling jewelry pieces.

Marjorie believes in jewelry as a way of honoring one’s love and devotion. Jewelry featuring religious images presents one’s faith, while lockets offer a romantic way to keep your loved ones close to your heart, literally and figuratively.