Notes from Home: Jewelry designer Kim Dunham

I discovered Kim and her beautiful, meaningful jewelry in the NY Times, then met her, profiled her and since then have become friends. Kim is fun, warm, thoughtful and has exquisite taste. Her jewelry–mostly signet rings she designs with her clients, are hand-engraved with symbols that become almost a personal crest. They are pieces of jewelry that tell your story, and the kind of item that resonates no matter what is going on in the world. Here, her Quarantine Questionnaire answers.

What are you wearing often? My usual studio look which consists of worn-in vintage leather pants and cashmere sweaters, a signet ring with an inspiring message, a “Brutus” ring for protection, my “Naga” serpent ring with the inscription “this too shall pass”.

What are you wearing too often? My hair in a “top knot”, silk pajamas and my Sabah babas with shearling.
Your go-to video conference outfit: Conference call, what’s that?
Favorite place at home to sit and work: My studio desk. I’ve always worked from home so fortunately, my current days in quarantine aren’t that vastly different.
Latest read: Holistic Tarot and the latest issue of The Economist.

Online rabbit hole: Pinterest and NYTimes (my forever rabbit holes).
New Insta discovery: I haven’t been spending much time on Instagram but everyday my husband and I check in on “thelesliejordan” for some good, Southern, comic relief. Prior is my go-to account for the ultimate dose of escapism and wanderlust. I’m dreaming of their Egypt trip down the Nile.

Daily ritual you practice: Candle meditation with 3rd Rituals BEL.

Daily ritual you’ve abandoned: Running up to the jewelry district in a mad dash. Can’t say I’m particularly missing the hustle.
New skill you’ve mastered: Well, I’ve hardly mastered it but I’ve been taking tarot classes with Andrea Housey. She’s the real deal and like liquid sunshine. I highly recommend a card reading from her.

Favorite new recipe: My friend, Jessica Raiter’s granola. It’s the bomb.
Mood booster: Governor Cuomo’s daily briefs–he gives me hope. Live IG with Forward Space, Juan Gamboa and D-Nice.
Favorite hour of the day and why: Biking up to Lenox Health Greenwich Village to clap for the healthcare workers at 7pm.
Favorite COVID-related cause: WinNYC and God’s Love We Deliver. I also participated in The Surfrider Hotel’s “Golden Ticket” fundraiser which worked with Front Line foods in Los Angeles to deliver 100s of meals to Cedar Sinai Hospital, healthcare workers and attached gift certificates for a stay at their dreamy, Malibu hotel when it reopens.

Something you love to do that you can share with others: “Gratitude Meditation” which I do at least once a day. I stop myself when I pick up a product and have gratitude for every single person that was involved in bringing it into my world. Take an orange … farmer, irrigator, pollinator, picker, washer, boxer, shipper, driver, loader, unloader, grocery worker, delivery person and everything and everyone in between. It’s a real reminder that We Are All Connected .
How are you looking at your business differently? Honestly, when I started my company I had very clear intentions and going through this pandemic has affirmed the unwavering ethos of my company. I believe that less is more and in creating a single piece that deeply captures my client’s personal narrative. Each piece is created ethically, locally and by the highest skilled engravers. I have the rare opportunity to connect and get to know personally each of my clients. Both the product and business model are deeply rooted in “old world” tradition.

What do you miss most? Nature. Also those afterwork, inspiring conversations in a NYC restaurant with friends and libations. I miss the energy of NYC–it fuels my creativity.

Where will go you on your first post-pandemic trip? It will probably be LA, assuming they resume production first, I’ll have to move my operation there for the interim. Ideally it would be Costa Rica. I’d love to be sitting on a surf board while the sun sets.