Essential Ingredients Podcast 076: Old Gems, New Stories: Turning Heirlooms into Sustainable, Modern Treasures with Ashley Berman
"Sustainability, where you can, is always an important resource to go to first… This earth gives us such precious resources, and it's nice to maintain and take care of the earth as well for your children and children to come." —Ashley Berman
The most meaningful jewelry isn't bought, it's reborn. It carries stories, fingerprints, and memories that outshine anything new. In a world chasing trends, there's power in slowing down, honoring what already exists, and turning what once sat in a drawer into something extraordinary.
For jewelry designer Ashley Berman, the pandemic reshaped everything. When store shelves closed, she opened a new chapter, helping clients transform heirlooms into modern pieces that carry legacy and beauty in equal measure. Today, through Ashley Morgan Designs, she champions beauty built on story, craftsmanship, and sustainability.
In this episode, Justine and Ashley unpack how to build a sustainable jewelry collection, what to ask before buying or recycling gold and stones, and the truth behind lab-grown versus mined diamonds, plus a look into her Holiday Market that celebrates local makers and meaningful design.
Meet Ashley:
Ashley Morgan Designs is a Bay Area-based jewelry design company. Ashley Berman, the creative brilliance behind the growing studio, uses her ability to evoke emotion from jewelry to craft pieces of art that are both reflective of individual style as well as the embodiment of personal histories.
Ashley's custom designs are intended for individuals who wish to express their own unique spirit and beauty. As opposed to fleeting trends, Ashley draws her inspiration from her clients' stories, traditions, and cultures, as well as the natural world, to create her personalized designs.
As a trained goldsmith in San Francisco, Ashley challenges the status quo. She leverages traditional techniques to ensure that all of her unique jewelry designs reflect the beauty and confidence of the people they adorn.
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Episode Highlights:
01:31 Meet Ashley: Ashley Morgan Designs
04:58 Sustainable Jewelry Practices and Client Experiences
08:52 Transparency and Certification in Jewelry
12:49 Lab-Grown Diamonds vs Natural Diamonds
18:08 Timeless Pieces
21:20 The Future of Sustainable Jewelry
26:19 Holiday Market and Community Engagement
29:24 Ashley's Custom Jewelry Services