In Conversation with Meredith Young

From art history to sculptural fine jewelry, Meredith Young shares the inspiration behind her collections, her creative process, and the stories she hopes each piece tells.

 

Meet Meredith

Originally from Atlanta, Meredith Young founded her namesake fine jewelry brand nearly a decade ago. Working exclusively in 18-karat gold, her collections feature VS-G diamonds, precious gemstones, and rare finds including demantoid garnets, Malaya garnets, Australian opals, moonstones, and an extraordinary selection of sapphires.

Her work is instantly recognizable for its sculptural forms, thoughtful craftsmanship, and collections inspired by nature, science, and the universal human experience.

What first drew you to jewelry, and when did you know it would become your career?

I first discovered jewelry through a metalsmithing program at my high school. At the time, I thought I wanted to become a painter, but I kept coming back to making jewelry.

My parents encouraged me to earn a degree outside of studio art first, so I studied art history. Eventually, I was taking graduate classes and planning to become a professor, but something didn't feel right. I missed creating. I realized I wanted to make art, not just study or critique it. 

I took a corporate job during the day and enrolled in night school for goldsmithing. It was a slow, demanding process—working all day, then spending evenings learning my craft—but the moment I started, I knew I had found what I was meant to do.

"I didn't know exactly what it would become, but I knew it was my forever."

 

How has your background in art history influenced your designs?

Art history is about creating frameworks through which we understand artistic ideas and intentions.

That perspective naturally shaped my brand. Every collection begins with a concept and explores a universal idea—something that connects all of us. Rather than designing individual pieces, I create collections that tell a story.

When you begin a new collection, do you start with a gemstone, a shape, or a feeling?

I always begin with a concept. Usually, it's a universal idea or experience that people continually reflect on throughout life.

For example, my Summit Collection was inspired by the idea that life is a journey—with peaks and valleys along the way.

Living in Park City and Arizona, I'm constantly surrounded by mountains. I studied topographical maps and mountain ranges before translating those ideas into jewelry.

The triangle became the defining symbol of the collection, representing mountains. You'll find upright and inverted triangles, sculptural gold forms, pyramid-like silhouettes, and triangular diamond settings throughout the designs.

Inside each piece, I even incorporated a topographical gallery that quietly references the landscape that inspired it.

"The challenge became expressing life's journey—the peaks, the valleys, and everything in between—in gold."

 

What does a typical day in your studio look like?

I dedicate one day each week purely to creating. That's my time to experiment, sketch, and develop new ideas.

The rest of the week is devoted to running the business.

Inventory management, marketing, planning future collections, communicating with our retail partners, updating the website, preparing social media, and coordinating email campaigns all become part of the creative process.

With gold prices constantly changing, every custom request requires careful attention. We spend a great deal of time ensuring our pricing is accurate while continuing to deliver the highest level of craftsmanship.

 

What do you hope someone feels when they wear one of your pieces?

Confidence.

Of course, I want someone to fall in love with a piece because it's beautiful, but I also hope they connect with the story behind it.

Each collection explores ideas rooted in hope, curiosity, and our shared human experience. Many of my designs are inspired by the natural world and celestial phenomena, so I hope they encourage people to pause and think about those connections.

Where do you find inspiration?

Art and sculpture are constant sources of inspiration.

Many collections begin with a larger concept. For example, Supernova was inspired by the science of star formation.

At the same time, gemstones often guide the creative process. Discovering an unusual cut, an unexpected color, or a rare stone can spark an entirely new direction.

Many of my color stories—Lagoon, Sunset, and Crimson Sky, among others—are inspired by the landscapes and colors we encounter in nature.

"The natural world continues to inspire everything I create."

 

Discover the Collection

Experience Meredith Young's sculptural fine jewelry and explore her latest collection, available now at Squash Blossom.