The Art of Storytelling Through Gemstones with Vickie Riggs

In the second part of our four-week series with jewellery designer Vickie Riggs, we explore how storytelling lives within the shimmer of a gemstone. For Riggs, each stone carries a quiet narrative — a pulse of memory, emotion and history waiting to be revealed. Her work is about more than craftsmanship, it is about connection. Whether she is reimagining a family heirloom or selecting a gem for a new design, Riggs listens for the story within the stone and the person who will wear it. In this conversation for Hinton Magazine, she reflects on how emotion shapes design, why beauty alone is never enough and how jewellery can hold the chapters of our lives as intimately as any diary.

Every stone has a story. Do you choose the gem, or does the gem choose you?

I'm drawn to different gemstones because of their character, be it pattern or color or brilliance or shape! I wonder if it comes from a need within. The question makes me question the process itself. What is it that inspires me to spend time with one stone over another?  I'm instinctively drawn to stones that require further exploration, a closer look, and attention to the details within. It's a journey of discovering their inherent beauty and inspires me to showcase that so others can enjoy a similar journey.

What makes a gemstone more than just beautiful — what gives it soul?

When a person feels the beauty - when they have a literal reaction to the gem, when they want to spend time looking at the piece and enjoying the patterns, or color, or shape; that appreciation is when the soul is ignited. 

You often transform family heirlooms into modern legacy pieces. How do you preserve the sentiment while reinventing the design?

This transformation is one of my favorite aspects of this career. When a person comes to me to redesign a family treasure, they often do it with the hesitancy that they are dishonoring the person, so there needs to be a conversation. I asked them to share their memories, what made that person special to them, what was that person’s style, and what are their memories of when they wore it.  We then evolve into what their style is, what aspects of the piece do they love the most and what piece of jewelry would they like to have that would give them the sense that they are connected to their special person who gifted them their treasured jewelry.

Have you ever had a client share a story so powerful that it completely changed the way you approached their piece?

My client tearfully recounted the story of a ring her father wore. Her love for him and the memories she had of him wearing the ring, led me to create a ring that resonated with her, by keeping many of the elements of the ring similar in style but proportionate for her.  It wasn’t a magnificent makeover, it was serving the client to produce a piece for THEM.  I think my background in running an ad agency taught me to listen carefully to the clients, give them a product they need and want, use my artistic skills to elevate that product in the best way possible but stay true to their vision. I think that's when we let our Art ego go, to serve our client. 

From your perspective as a Graduate Gemologist, what should people look for when selecting a stone that will carry meaning for a lifetime?

One that they treasure! There's a lot to be said for the finest qualities of a gemstone that elevate it in price because of its rare qualities of clarity, color, luster, etc.  But I believe it's a mistake to pick a gem based on its market value alone. An heirloom piece becomes one because of its treasured value, not necessarily its market value.    

Do you think jewelry can act almost like a diary, quietly marking chapters of our lives?

Absolutely! When I was first entering the field, I was drawn into a ‘typical’ jewelry store only because of a very creative piece being showcased in the window. In visiting with the owner, she said something that resonated with me and has been a guiding force ever since. She said, “Your work belongs in resort destinations! My clients come to the store to buy a diamond bracelet or a pair of stud earrings or the like. They won't typically invest in jewelry like yours in my store but when they're traveling, they will buy work like yours to memorialize their trip.” And that has proven to be true.

If gemstones could speak, what would they say about the journeys they’ve been on before landing in your hands?

My most memorable client story was when I was doing appraisal work. This elderly woman brought in a pair of Jade earrings, so rich, and beautiful in color that I thought  “Could they really be Imperial Jade?”  She told the story of being a young girl in China in an extremely wealthy family. Her father sent her to the United States to attend college, and as a girl in the 40’s that was quite progressive. She learned about the upcoming government takeover and got her father and family out before they lost everything. I sent the earrings to a lab known for their expert skill in Jade identification and they truly were Imperial Jade with a rich story to match.

Vickie Riggs sees jewellery as storytelling in its most tactile form. Every gem she touches carries a life of its own, shaped by both the earth and the hands that hold it. She speaks of transformation not just in design but in sentiment, giving new form to family treasures while preserving the memories they represent. Riggs reminds us that true value lies not in rarity but in resonance, in the way a piece makes us feel seen, connected and remembered. This second chapter in our series reveals her gift for turning gemstones into storytellers, each one quietly speaking of love, legacy and time.