Life & Work with Bridget King

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bridget King.

Hi Bridget, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
When I was 19 and a student at UCLA, my overprotective parents made me live at home. The commute was 3 hours round trip and I wanted to move closer to school. My father finally relented after much begging on my part and said that I could move out if I can pay my rent. I sold handmade earrings and was able to move out!!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Ask any entrepreneur, and you will hear about all the ups and downs of owning your own business. But most of all, you will hear the pride of achieving something you built. When I first debuted my collection in Hong Kong in 2003, a well-connected friend offered to host a party for me to introduce my line. But my husband encouraged me to present it in a more public venue to get a true read of my designs, which is what I did. I made 70 original designs and was sold out by 10 am. Soon enough, I built a loyal clientele base both directly and also through stores I was selling to.

When we decided to move back to the US in 2013, I had to start all over again. I thought to myself,” No one knows my collection here! I have to start from scratch!!” It seemed like a daunting task. Armed with previous experience, I also chose to grow the brand organically. I wanted people to like my designs, and I believed that word of mouth was the best and most genuine marketing tool. I am very lucky to be where I am today, selling my collection at many boutiques and Neiman Marcus.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a jewelry designer who has a collection of fine jewelry consisting of 14kt and 18kt gold, diamonds, and precious stones. One of the things I focus on is designing jewelry that is versatile and transformative, so the client can make it their own. One of my signature collections is the ICON collection, which consists of different sizes of teardrop earrings that can be worn alone or stacked together to create a bigger look.

The other collection I’m most known for is the BESPOKE collection, which is personalized charm necklaces. The collection came about at the request of my friend, who wanted me to design personalized jewelry. I felt that there were already too many similar lines in the market, but my friend said that she knew I would make it “different”. So I set out to design a personalized collection that was “Charm Necklace for Adults” – modern, sleek, edgy, badass. I love hearing people say how their charm necklace makes them feel “Powerful”. I’m also a crazy dog lover, so I have many dog bone charms in my collection, encrusted with diamonds, of course, also inspired by one of my clients and close friends.

The most meaningful collection would have to be my “Audrey” collection, named after my daughter. I designed the collection as a graduation present for her when she graduated from high school. It was designed with a teenager’s point of view in mind. The jewelry must be youthful and comfortable since teenagers tend to leave their jewelry on 24/7 and with just the right amount of bling.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I always knew I wanted to do something creative. I would take the scrap fabric from my mom’s tailor and make clothes for my Barbie Doll. I made halter tops with matching flared bottoms and matching bags with the same fabric.

I also wrote and illustrated a story and made it into a scroll that rolled through a makeshift TV from a shoe box for my brother. I always loved to draw and make things with my hands. I wanted to tell stories with whatever I created.

Ask me now, and I can tell you the story behind every piece I design.

Pricing:

• $90 Silver Alphabet Pendant
• $990 White Diamond Alphabet Pendant
• $1,850 Open Bar Diamond Huggies
• $2,800 Queen Bee Diamond Ring
• $18,000 Gaga Diamond Choker

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bridgetkingjewelry.com
• Instagram: @bridgetkingjewelry
• Facebook: Bridget King Jewelry