EFFORTLESSLY CHIC

Meeting jewelry designer Joie DiGiovanni for the first time, you wouldn’t know that behind her loveliness and poise is a list of ongoing health issues, the result of a serious car accident that happened just after she graduated from Villanova University. “I went from being an extremely healthy 21-year-old to having every sort of autoimmune disease imaginable,” DiGiovanni explains. Yet, while some people might have crumbled, DiGiovanni built something beautiful. Ultimately, it was this horrific experience that shaped her life and her career.

DiGiovanni’s medical needs meant she couldn’t work a normal desk job so, instead, she followed her love of all things fashion and started working at a clothing boutique. In her spare time, she made jewelry. “I started making some things for myself because it was therapeutic,” she says. Pretty soon, customers at the boutique were buying her jewelry right off of her.

Now, a little over a decade later, DiGiovanni’s stunning and unique designs are shipped around the world; they’re among the top-selling items on luxury e-commerce site Moda Operandi, and are sold at stores across the country, including at Ozmun Home in Highland Park. Many of DiGiovanni’s first designs featured baroque freshwater, South Sea, and Tahitian pearls, and they’re still her signature. “From when you’re a little girl to when you’re an older woman, everyone has a strand of pearls. The problem is, nobody really wears them,” she observes. “I wanted to take something that’s timeless and classic and make it unique. Baroque pearls are each unique, just like people.”

A perfectionist and self-taught gem expert, DiGiovanni typically introduces one or two new collections every year. She currently has nearly a dozen different collections that incorporate round freshwater pearls, fine metals, intricately knotted leather, and gems in a rainbow of colors. But DiGiovanni’s process remains the same as it has since day one: “Nothing is mass-produced,” she says. Every piece is handmade and every stone is hand-set, either by DiGiovanni or by her sister. In fact, partnering with her younger sister has been one of DiGiovanni’s greatest joys. “My sister has Asperger’s,” DiGiovanni explains. “She’s brilliant but she wouldn’t thrive in a typical work environment. Being able to employ her is amazing.” Together, they also give back to charitable organizations that benefit the autism community, as well as many other causes. “I love helping people. It’s one of the most rewarding things I do,” DiGiovanni says.

2022 was an especially noteworthy year for DiGiovanni both personally and professionally. Her barefoot-on-the-beach wedding in Mexico presented an opportunity to launch her bridal line, highlighting custom 18-karat platinum hand-hammered rings, set with flawless diamonds. The nuptials also inspired her collection for men—Guy’s, which is named for her husband.

“One of my favorite stones is Blue Tiger’s Eye because it looks black at first, only in the sun do you see the different navies that come through, so I use that and Red Tiger’s Eye in the Guy’s collection,” DiGiovanni explains.

In addition to the intricate craftsmanship and artistry of her work, DiGiovanni prides herself on the fact that everything she makes is wearable, whether for a special occasion or nothing special at all. “People are shocked when they hear I wear my jewelry to yoga but I do,” she laughs. But the focus on comfort is also a consequence of coping with her illnesses, a part of DiGiovanni’s life that has impacted many of her designs, including her Dope Collection. “I was one of the first people in Pennsylvania to get a medical marijuana license, so I started making pot-themed jewelry,” she says, pointing to the marijuana leaf earring she’s wearing, studded with diamond-cut emeralds.

With wisdom beyond her 35 years, DiGiovanni has learned a lot about people and life. “I understand how difficult and different people’s lives are. No one’s life is perfect, and you don’t always know what they’re going through,” she says. “What I want to do is create something beautiful that makes people happy.” This was particularly true during the height of the pandemic. “That’s when I brought in a whole new set of gemstones. All sapphires, tourmalines, you name it, from chunky and bigger stones to more delicate.” She also introduced gem-encrusted baroque pearls, a fascinating and eye-catching twist on her original designs.

DiGiovanni may have grown up surfing the beaches along the Atlantic Ocean but, after moving to Highland Park two years ago to join her now-husband, she has developed a deep appreciation for Lake Michigan and life on the North Shore. DiGiovanni’s marriage also added four stepdaughters to her life, making Mother’s Day that much more meaningful for her. “Mothers deserve something special and unique,” says DiGiovanni who loves to create personalized pieces for women that incorporate their children’s birthstones. DiGiovanni’s beloved role as stepmom and her North Shore home provide new inspiration, but no matter the design or who it’s for, DiGiovanni says, “every single piece comes from my heart.”

For more information, visit joiedigiovanni.com.