Beautifully carrying on the family legacy, fine jewelry designer — Vivian Grimes — is bringing everyday luxury back to generational jewelry. Following in the diamond paved footsteps of her grandfather, Vivian launched Henri Noël Jewelry, in his name, to honor her heritage of delivering the highest quality with the most honest value. While jewelry is poetic and held in the most highly respected significance, it is sometimes fleeting. Henri Noël seeks to transcend the times by creating pieces that can be decorated to overcome trends combating the dating styles. 

“Energetic, creative and optimistic” are the three words to describe fine jewelry designer Vivian Grimes, third generation jeweler and off-duty ice cream connoisseur. While being a classified “jewelry designer” seemed like a natural fit for this legacy, the occupation was not always on the table. “I used to work at a venture capital firm where I worked on new and emerging skincare brands, which I loved!” began the designer. “Working with new brands and creating avenues for growth is such a passion of mine. It was not until I created my first piece of jewelry with my dad while at Boston College that I saw the versatility as well as confidence jewelry can provide.” Always a lover of fashion, Vivian laughs with a wave of her perfectly accessorized hand, as she reminisces the number of times she would change in a day as a young girl, “with no care.” “If someone had a negative comment, it didn’t matter,” continues Vivian. “I thought I looked fantastic! It is fun to see how fashion, and my fashion, has evolved. I am such a proponent of timeless pieces that never go out of style.”

Fast forward to today and this style maven has now taken over the family business, but in her own right. While her grandfather opened his own store in 1981, the family fascination and passion for jewelry was never meant to stop there. “His mission was to make simple and timeless pieces at the fairest prices,” notes the young designer. “He had a passion for making his designs accessible to all people and loved seeing his customers walk out of his store with a newfound confidence. It is with that same passion I started Henri Noël, in his name.” Being a third-generation designer, the term “heirloom” has so much more meaning for this family. “My father and grandfather are such inspirations to my work and have truly helped me grow not only within my business, but as a person,” heartens Vivian. “I definitely took my family’s approach of creating timeless pieces, but I added my own flair to each piece, such as the Diamond Drop Station, which can be worn slightly longer or at a choker length for a bit more edge. It’s so important to me that each piece can truly be worn alone or layered with other pieces either from my line, or one’s own collection. I mean it when I say that jewelry should be worn, not stuffed away in a drawer.”

Really valuing the importance of practicality in addition to luxury, this designer takes into account every scenario. A proud active individual, Vivian is the first to raise her hand and embark on any type of adventure. “I really value creating pieces that can be worn every day no matter the occasion,” shares the designer. “Investing in real solid gold and diamonds can be more expensive than vermeil or plated jewelry, but as you wear the pieces on a daily basis and notice their versatility, you start to see the true value. Each piece from our core Diamond by the Inch and Diamond Drop Station collections is signed with a solid 14k Diamond Crown, representing the power, strength, and triumph we all show in our lives each and every day. I also love that jewelry can have such a story to it in terms of the reason why it was purchased. I genuinely feel so happy to be a part of these small moments in life that have an impact.” Being someone with not only generations of knowledge at her disposal, but her own insight to the needs of the women of today, we were eager to uncover the designer’s “do’s” and “don’t’s” for the delicate realm that is timeless and tasteful accessories. “I often have people ask if it’s alright to wear white gold with yellow gold,” shares Vivian — “My answer is always, Yes! Do mix and match your gold colors if you feel comfortable, it will make each piece stand out. One thing to avoid when styling your jewelry is to wear necklaces of different lengths to limit tangling. We recently launched a necklace detangler, helping to solve the problem of your necklaces constantly tangling during wear. If your necklaces are not different lengths or at least varying width sizes they will easily tangle. I encourage you to layer because you can create varying looks with the pieces you have. It is amazing how you can wear jeans and a t-shirt for a few days straight, but if you switch up how you style and layer the timeless pieces, it looks like a completely different outfit each time.”

Taking heed of the advice straight from the source, a well-rounded jewelry box is of equal importance for a well-balanced ensemble. “No jewelry box is complete without that simple Diamond Bezel Bracelet,” notes the designer. “It is a timeless design that lasts forever. Such a dainty piece, but it never goes unnoticed.” Also, “The Diamond Drop Station Necklace — this is my core piece that I am constantly building upon with my layering looks. The best part of the necklace is that it is adjustable up to two inches so if I am working out, I will wear it a bit tighter so it doesn't get caught on my chin. This piece is such a great staple that can be dressed up or down!”

While the tight knit, yet impactful Henri Noël team will be releasing additional necklace options to be added to your layering repertoire, “We will also be doing a few more pop-ups this year, which gives me the chance to meet and connect with others who share an appreciation and love for jewelry,” beams Vivian. A lover of all things fitness and outdoors, the designer values the varying opportunities each day can bring. “Each day is truly different, but that is what makes this job so unique and special. One thing I value is to remain accessible to clients through video chatting, emailing, phone conversations or in-person meetings at my showroom. This is my first priority because purchasing jewelry online can be intimidating and I want people to feel confident and comfortable in their purchase,” shares Vivian. “Another element I spend quite a bit of time on is design work. It can be tedious work because I do a lot of the diamond matching, making sure when making a necklace that all the diamonds are the same color and clarity. I do find myself juggling a few tasks at one time, but I treat it like a workout to be honest and find this mentality helps me to work toward my goals of inspiring others through my pieces. Obviously, I get stressed out — who doesn’t? But finding methods and outlets to decompress are so important.”

Practicing patience on a daily basis and staying true to her creative intuition, Vivian lives by these applications in every aspect. “I say this because I am constantly given advice on the next piece to make — which I love,” says the designer. “I do gather inspiration from friends, family and customers, but sometimes not all the pieces are practical and true to the foundation of Henri Noël. I mention patience because creating each piece can be a lengthy process, but taking the time to ensure each piece of fine jewelry is made correctly for everyday wear is important to me. I didn’t take the most traditional path to get to where I am today, but I could not be more grateful for the people I have met along the way that have helped shape me.” Designing pieces that are ethically sourced and made to last a lifetime, Henri Noël offers the perfect motif for an evening out or casually during the day. “Use our everyday, timeless designs to empower your own unique individualism,” encourages Vivian. “Get creative and have fun with your own layering looks!”