Of course, I had to stop at Tiffany & Co on Oahu! When I was in high school, I watched Breakfast at Tiffanys and fell in love. The first time I went to New York City (2002 or 2003) I went to the famous jewelry shop. (The picture below is not from my first NYC visit). I had saved up enough money to buy something relatively inexpensive as a forever keepsake.

I picked out their Sterling silver charm bracelet with a classic heart charm. I had this charm engraved with NY. Several years later, I went to Chicago with my family for the second time and decided to buy the four leaf clover with IL engraved on it.

The charm was a symbol my family’s Irish heritage, since we were visiting Chicago together. Ironically, this year–2020–I was in Chicago for St. Patrick’s Day, so the charm was almost like a prediction of future travels. Of course, due to the pandemic, many of the festivities were cancelled and we stayed away from crowds, but it was a wonderful trip!

Years after in 2011, Tiffanys in Chicago purchase (pictured above), I was stationed in Monterey for Air Force training. I heard wonderful things about Mayor Clint Eastwood’s town of Carmel, California and there I stumbled upon my favorite jewelry shop. I added a sand bucket and shovel charm engraved with CA.

Flash forward to 2017, I was vacationing in Hawaii and visiting one of my best friends Jen who currently lives there. Jen and I ventured to the shops and walked into Tiffanys. I was immediately impressed with the eager customer service. I took out my bracelet, handed it to the lady, and she lit up like a Christmas tree. Apparently, the sand bucket had not been in Hawaii for 20 years and had eventually been discontinued. It was really exciting to have all the employees gawking at my bracelet as she called them over to look.

I bought a charm that reads “Aloha”, no engraving necessary. I delight in this bracelet as it beholds some of my fondest travel memories with many people I love dearly. It’s definitely about the experience and brand for me. I love Tiffanys!

xo Rae xo