Modern Heirlooms to Invest In

Beautiful pieces with longevity.

Heirloom Jewelry
(Image credit: Future)

"Heirlooms connote the opposite of fleeting fashion," says Rachel Koffsky, Auctioneer and International Head of Handbags at Christie's. "Instead, the very idea embodies a piece you'll have throughout your life, passed down through the generations," she says. An heirloom can mean something different for everyone. Still, expert craftsmanship, timeless designs, and high-quality materials are unifying factors ensuring an heirloom piece can be worn and shared in the modern world for years. Ahead, signature modern-day pieces to invest in now that will withstand the test of time for future generations.

Heirloom Jewelry

(Image credit: Future)

"There's much research that can go into purchasing a special, luxury handbag," says Anthony Barzilay Freund, 1stDibs' Editorial Director and Director of Fine Arts. "But the investment is well worth it," he notes. Owning and wearing a bag that marks a moment has sentimental value and melds the past with the present. That bag may have only been made in limited quantities, or the designer was symbolic of the era, which makes a unique, emotionally charged accessory even more special.



Heirlooms

(Image credit: Future)

Jewelry is among the most iconic heirlooms to pass down through the generations. It can offer much information about the original owner— from symbols to milestone moments to special bonds. "Jewelry is such a personal thing," says DiSante. Often, modern heirlooms are part of an empowering story of women buying unique pieces for themselves—beloved and enjoyed— and continued through the generations.


Heirloom Jewelry

(Image credit: Future)

"Brooches are a bit more traditional and a little bit of a generational piece, but I think there are modern ways to wear them to make it interesting," says Christie's specialist Jackie DiSante. They're appealing to a younger generation for their whimsy, colorful designs, and can have a transformative effect on any outfit," she says.


Heirloom Jewelry

(Image credit: Future)

“Silk scarves have a long history in the annals of fashion,” says Freund. “In the 20th century advances in production made silk scarves more commercially available as a fashion accessory,” he notes. “Not only are they like wearable artwork, they are easy to collect and store,” says Freund,” And will add a touch of elegance to an outfit or handbag,” he says.


Sara Holzman
Style Director

Sara Holzman is the Style Director for Marie Claire, where she's worked alongside the publication for eight years in various roles, ensuring the brand's fashion content continues to inform, inspire, and shape the conversation about fashion's ever-evolving landscape. With a degree from the Missouri School of Journalism, Sara is responsible for overseeing a diverse fashion content mix, from emerging and legacy designer profiles to reported features on the influence of social media on style and seasonal and micro trends across the world's fashion epicenters in New York, Milan, and Paris. Before joining Marie Claire, Sara held fashion roles at Conde Nast's Lucky Magazine and Self Magazine and was a style and travel contributor to Equinox's Furthermore website. Over her decade of experience in the fashion industry, Sara has helped guide each brand's style point of view, working alongside veteran photographers and stylists to bring editorial and celebrity photo shoots to fruition from start to finish. Sara currently lives in New York City. When she's not penning about fashion or travel, she’s at the farmer’s market, on a run, working to perfect her roasted chicken recipe, or spending time with her husband, dog, and cat. Follow her along at @sarajonewyork