Nashira Arnó Heirloom Bracelet

THE STORY BEHIND THE DESIGN
This piece was inspired by the MJSA Responsibly Sourced Design Challenge Story

This project felt incredibly personal because I’ve had personal experiences with adoption and passed down family heirlooms. I have an adopted daughter, and I’ve been fascinated with a fourth-generation charm bracelet she inherited. As I was thinking about the right piece to create for Lorna, I returned to a charm bracelet. Symbolic beyond time, it felt like the most fitting piece to create.

With such a strong background in human history and anthropology, I think Lorna would appreciate the ambiguity of these profound trinkets. But the most important aspect is that charms also carry an air of innocence and play—they are almost childish. After all, these two adult women are just now experiencing the sweet joy of having a sister for the first time.

The shape is based on a drawing that Olivia, my daughter, did. The central part of the design is the heart charm, split into two parts. The organic split line represents the fluid connection between the sisters, and when they’re held together, they fit. One half of the charm is on an open link, allowing Lorna to play with its style or pass the charm along to a loved one.

Other elements carry special symbols. The sunstone, a symbol of light, represents Lorna’s mother, just as the light brings everything into being. The two Australian sapphires stacked together represent the journey that Lorna has taken. Just like the placement of the stones, the journey is not linear or perfect, but it takes you where you need to go. The other stones are simply featured separately and represent future things to manifest: a wish and hope.

The ambition is for this charm bracelet to become of eternal significance. I wanted something timeless yet easy enough to bring versatility to any occasion. And while Lorna could wear it as a special occasion piece, it could also be part of her everyday life.

Arnó with daughter Olivia Nashira Arnó is the designer/owner of Nashira Arnó Studio in New York City.