Cool Collectors: Calming Luxury Jewellery to Alleviate Anxiety 

We all feel anxious from time to time, so how do you deal with it? If your go-to self-soothing stim is to fiddle with your hair, snap an elastic band on your wrist, or lean into the healing powers of nature, then we have a few alternative ideas for you from a creative cohort of jewellers dedicated to designing functional, calming anti-anxiety jewellery that doesn’t compromise on looks or luxury. Rachael Taylor dives into the soothing world of jewels that ease a troubled mind…

Charlotte Garnett was in her final year of studies at the legendary London art college Central Saint Martins when she broke down in front of her tutor. The aspiring jewellery designer had been failing to connect with her work and had been diagnosed with anxiety. It had all become too much. After listening to Garnett explain what was troubling her, tutor Naomi Filmer had some sage advice that helped her through those times and continues to inspire her creativity today. “She said, ‘You’ve gone on about how you like to work autobiographically and express your emotions, so why aren’t you doing that?’,” remembers Garnett. “It was like, oh yeah… why aren’t I doing that?”