Hello! My name is Mirta de Gisbert, and I’m a New York-based jewelry specialist and curator. I work with private clients to help start and grow their jewelry collections with beautiful and meaningful pieces. I hold a B.S. in International Business and Marketing from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business and a Graduate Gemology degree from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). I’m from Spain (specifically the Basque Country), but I grew up in South Africa, after which I lived in Madrid, D.C., London, San Francisco, and New York.

I launched my jewelry advisory and sourcing company in August 2017, focusing on sourcing diamonds and colored stones for engagement rings and bespoke pieces in addition to sourcing designer fine jewelry, vintage jewelry and now watches.  As a gemologist and jewelry specialist, my mission is to provide my clients with a unique jewelry purchasing experience, reminiscent of what jewelry purchasing once was. My aim is to genuinely understand my clients, their needs, and their lifestyles, to provide individually tailored advice and to grow their collections together. This year, I launched my first fine jewelry collection piece, the Kupula ring, as an homage to my late mother and my Basque roots (Kupula means ‘dome’ in Basque).

Mirta wears the Virginie Convertible Midi Dress

The stories—I would repeatedly ask my mom to tell me who the pieces belonged to, how they had been passed down to her and any other memories she had with them. I also loved seeing my mom wear the pieces – she was effortlessly beautiful with impeccable style and the most contagious smile.

Which jewelry pieces would you style with the below Mestiza styles? 

The Lorena Gown

Statement gold drop earrings, statement cuff on the left wrist and peppered with rings on both hands. Ideally, on the right hand, I would wear a statement baroque pearl ring on the pointer finger, double-stacked Kupula rings on the ring finger and a delicate ring on the thumb. A thumb ring is a bold statement but by wearing a thin and delicate gold ring, it creates a juxtaposition that I quite like, especially with this dress style. On the left hand I would wear a pinky ring with a blue stone (think sapphire) and a delicate ring on the pointer.

The Elliana Barong Mini Dress in ivory

For earrings I would choose a pair of diamond studs or a pair of graduated pearl drop earrings. I would style this dress with a watch, two Kupula rings stacked together on the right hand and a pinky ring on the left hand. Depending on the occasion, I would add a delicate pearl and colored stone anklet.

The Etta Scallop Mini Dress in navy/tan

Since this dress has detailed buttons, I would keep the jewelry simple. I would style it with diamond studs, a watch on the left hand and two stacked triple rolling bracelets in mixed metals on the right hand. For rings, I would wear a pinky ring on the left hand and the double-stacked Kupula rings on the right hand.

While I love the storytelling component of jewelry, I prioritize the quality of the piece, the current state of the piece, the design and, when possible, highlighting the symbolism behind the piece, i.e if it’s a snake bracelet (eternal love, loyalty, rebirth) or a crescent moon (a feminine symbol celebrating female empowerment). Some vintage pieces have provenance from noted collectors, which makes the piece more valuable and gives it another layer of life – seeing photos of a previous owner wearing the piece lends to the storytelling element of jewelry that I cherish so much.

Connect with Mirta at mirtadegisbert.com

First and foremost, I have a client intake call or in-person meeting where I look to understand my client's lifestyle, if they have a jewelry aesthetic and what makes them tick. I want to know what they like and dislike, what they already have, what they are wearing and how comfortable they are being pushed out of their comfort zone. I want to know how much they use their hands, how they wear their hair, etc. I also want to know about important dates for them. Jewelry is incredibly personal, so the more information I have, the better. Jewelry for me is about connection and storytelling so at the end of the day, I want to make sure my clients connect with the pieces and above all, wear them! Jewelry should be worn!

I truly can’t because they’re all so special to me for different reasons. From engagement rings where I learn about my clients’ love stories, to clients who have self-purchased significant pieces to treat themselves to clients surprising their husbands with a vintage watch to kick start their collection – they are all so meaningful and I always feel very honored to play a role in such momentous occasions. That being said, I have worked on engagement rings and wedding bands for friends and family whose weddings I’ve attended, and seeing them exchange the wedding bands that I’ve had the pleasure of working on adds an extra layer of emotion for me!

First, to pace yourself and make an ongoing wish list of pieces you love. The wish list allows you to not only see if you have a jewelry aesthetic but also learn if you keep on going back to certain pieces. Sometimes I’ve added a piece to my wish list and a week later wondered what I was thinking! Once you decide to purchase, if the piece is on the more expensive side, ensure the quality matches the price tag. Also, think about how much you’re going to wear said piece. If you don’t think you’ll be wearing it five years from now, but you legitimately can’t stop thinking about it and know you’ll wear it nonstop now, I would still say to get it. When it comes to adding pieces to my personal collection, I’m driven by a combination of head and heart, but above all, I want to connect with the piece. And, of course, if you want expert guidance and someone who is plugged into the industry, work with someone like me!

Let’s play a game of this or that!

Sapphires or rubies? Sapphires.

The Glitzy Bow Earrings and the Emerald Blossom Drop Earrings.

First of all, I want to say how much I love this dress! The quality is phenomenal, I love the weight of the dress and the colors are so beautifully saturated! I wore it for my birthday dinner and I paired it with a pair of yellow gold statement earrings that my brother and I had gifted to our late mother, a few statement rings including my Kupula rings (all my pieces are bespoke but these are my first collection piece that I launched this past Spring and I’m obsessed with them), my pearl and sapphire anklet and a pair of yellow Venetian slippers.