J. Ruth Jewelry
Our Story
I’ve loved jewelry for as long as I can remember.
As a little girl, some of my favorite afternoons were spent rummaging through my Nana’s jewelry collection, trying on everything I could get my hands on. Many of those pieces are still part of my own collection today — like her oval onyx ring and a pair of vintage Dior earrings I repurposed into pendants.
Looking back, I think that’s where I first learned that the best jewelry is about so much more than how it looks.
Jewelry has this incredible way of outliving us. It gets passed from mothers and grandmothers, tucked away in jewelry boxes, rediscovered years later and worn all over again. A ring or necklace can instantly remind us of a person, a place, a moment, or simply how someone made us feel. I’ve always loved that.
How It Started
My own path to making jewelry started in art classes, where I fell in love with working with my hands through sculpture and wheel throwing, and eventually learned jewelry making, wax carving and lost wax casting. I continued studying art at the University of Vermont and later spent time studying in Florence, Italy.
I still remember walking into my first jewelry shop on the Ponte Vecchio and being completely awestruck. Surrounded by incredible goldwork and gemstones, I was a kid in a candy store — or, more accurately, a woman in a jewelry store. I remember thinking,
How could I ever make something this beautiful?
For a long time, I didn’t think I could.
Then I moved to Florida and decided there probably wasn’t going to be a perfect time to start. So I just started.
And J. Ruth Jewelry — named simply for me, Jenna Ruth — was born.
At first, I started making the things I wanted to wear but couldn’t always find. And honestly, that’s still how I design today: I make what I love.
What I love just happens to change from day to day.
I love a big, unapologetic statement ring just as much as a simple stacking band. I love unexpected, one-of-a-kind pieces and classic jewelry you’ll still want to wear twenty years from now. J. Ruth isn’t one particular look, and I’ve stopped trying to make it one. Jewelry is personal. It can be bold one day and understated the next. It doesn’t have to be either/or.
One At A Time
Today, I make most J. Ruth pieces one at a time or in very small batches. I also spend an arguably unreasonable amount of time hunting flea markets and estate sales for vintage treasures with a whole life behind them — pieces I can collect, reimagine or breathe new life into.
My hope is simply to create and find jewelry that feels special the instant you put it on — something you’ll wear because you love how it looks today, and maybe someday, someone else will treasure because it reminds them of you.
Materials
Made to be worn every day.
- — All J. Ruth jewelry is made with sterling silver or hypoallergenic gold-plated stainless steel
- — Stones sourced from independent suppliers, never bulk wholesale
Come See Me
Find me at a market.
You can find me throughout the year at markets around Florida, follow along on Instagram to see what I’m working on next, or arrange a private jewelry viewing. You can also book the J. Ruth Charm Station for private parties and events.
And because so many pieces are one of a kind or made in very small batches, once they’re gone, they’re often gone. But if you fall in love with something that’s already found a home, send me a message. I’m always happy to create something similar — or something that’s completely yours.
Upcoming Markets