Mother’s Day, Reimagined: What We Choose to Give with Adel Chefridi

Jewelry has always done more than simply adorn its wearer; it has the power to awaken something within. Beauty, love, loyalty, memory, and intention. Jewelry can be a talisman, a standing symbol of human connection and strength. The perfect Mother’s Day gift.

At Adel Chefridi in Rhinebeck, you see that play out every day. The store is a quiet stage for decision-making—partners circling back to a piece they can’t quite forget, daughters guiding fathers toward the right choice, families reworking heirlooms for a new generation. There’s a deliberateness to it, a sense that what’s being chosen will carry weight long after the moment passes.

Founder Adel Chefridi grew up in Tunisia, surrounded by layers of history and craft that still inform his work today. His pieces pull from those influences without feeling nostalgic—they’re modern, precise, and designed to be lived in. But the experience of the store is just as much shaped by the people around him: a team of jewelers and retail specialists who understand that what they’re really helping people choose is meaning.

For this story, we asked Adel and few members of the retail team (Corinne Jacobson, Annie Dye, Emily Patzner) to share what they’re seeing this Mother’s Day—who people are celebrating, how those definitions are shifting, and what it looks like when a gift gets it exactly right.

Who are people shopping for this Mother’s Day – and are you seeing that expand beyond traditional motherhood?

Corinne Jacobson, Co-Founder, Director of Sales + Marketing:  We see this time as an opportunity to focus on all those who mother. We see daughters, grand daughters, and daughters in law coming in to reinvent heirloom jewels to be shared with the next generation. We see caregiver gifting, push presents (a gift given to a new mother by her partner or family to celebrate the birth of a child and mark the transition into motherhood) both in the form of surprises as well as chosen from a wish list.  We see partners coming in with children to engage in selecting a gift for their mother.  We see daughters helping out their fathers in selecting a gift.  And we see mothers scouting for engagement rings for their child’s proposal. We also see mothers gifting themselves a remount of their original engagement ring, a new band to add to their wedding stack story, or an upgrade to their original wedding set.

Are you seeing more clients honoring caregivers, friends, or chosen family alongside (or instead of) traditional motherhood?

Annie Dye, Gallery Manager, Staff Gemologist: Absolutely. The majority of people are part of a blended-family tapestry, and Mother’s Day is the perfect moment to pause and really honor all those who mother and care for us.

The Hudson Valley has such a strong sense of craft and intentional living. How does that spirit show up in the way people choose and wear your jewelry?

Emily Patzner, Marketing & E-commerce Specialist, In House Photographer: Our clientele really appreciate the handmade quality of our work. People connect more when they can recognize the human element in the designs. When you come into our gallery to shop you will hear our jewelers working in the studio in the back. It becomes more precious.

Corinne Jacobson: It feels as if we are in the right place at the right time. For 20 years we traveled regionally selling our jewelry at craft shows, and at the Holiday markets in the city before opening our Flagship Gallery here in Rhinebeck in 2020.

Jewelry has long marked life’s milestones. What do you feel it represents today, emotionally, for the people who come through your doors?

Adel Chefridi, Co-Founder, Designer: It is very personal, from the connection someone feels with a particular piece, stone, or design to the occasion they are choosing to mark. A big career transition or milestone, the loss of a loved one, celebrating a union or a new life, completing a difficult health treatment, celebrating independence or a moment of deep self care. The stories are so individual and deeply personal. We are privileged to be entrusted with some of these stories and to connect with people at such a tender time.

When designing a piece, what details ensure it feels effortless enough to wear every day, yet special enough to become a favorite?

Adel Chefridi: I’d like to see those two elements as one. What makes a piece of jewelry effortless to wear every day is a big reason it becomes a favorite. Whether it is physical elements, ease of use like clasps, absence of sharp angles, smooth contact with skin as in comfort fit rings, smooth prongs, or aesthetics like choice of shapes and colors, I aim to make the piece feel as natural as possible, not forced. Free flow of shapes, harmonious colors, and subtle expressions are important to me. Nothing too loud. And most importantly, I trust feelings more than ideas.

Do you ever follow trends, or does everything come from your own creative rhythm and point of view?

Adel Chefridi: I don’t consciously try to follow trends, but I’m present to life as it is right now. I might draw inspiration from the past, but the expression comes out in today’s voice.

“I don’t consciously try to follow trends, but I’m present to life as it is right now. I might draw inspiration from the past, but the expression comes out in today’s voice” — Adel Chefridi

There’s often a story behind every purchase. Are there any recent Mother’s Day moments or requests that have stayed with you or the staff?

Annie Dye:  A lovely woman and her family came to visit our gallery and studio on Mother’s Day last year. She was pregnant with her second child, and she was in search of a very special piece of jewelry to mark and honor this time in her life. Her husband and her son had such a nice time helping her pick out different pieces to try on and play with… it was a full family experience. Ultimately, she fell in love with our Three Stone Cushion Lotus Ring. It made her face light up with joy, and there was an instant connection. It was the perfect match for her and this special time in her life. It will be a cherished heirloom for so many years to come.

You keep wish lists for clients, such a thoughtful detail. Do you have any favorite stories of someone surprising a loved one through that?

Annie Dye: Yes, wishlists are such a great way to give your partner gift-giving confidence! Anyone can come into the Gallery, play dress-up, and create a wishlist, which we’ll keep on file under their name. Then, anytime their partner needs a gift idea, they can shop from your wishlist without you knowing! I had a client come in one day to try on engagement rings with her Mother. We made a wishlist, noted her finger size, and kept it on file for her. She must have mentioned Adel Chefridi to her partner, because one day he showed up, ready to buy her a ring. He was so happy and relieved when I told him we had a wishlist, and her finger size. He was able to completely surprise her with the engagement ring of her dreams!

What’s it like when mothers and children shop together? Does it feel different from other moments in the store?

Emily Patzner: It’s nice to work with families that come in together. Sometimes Mothers are reluctant to receive or treat themselves, but the family is always certain she deserves it. In those moments, you can tell she feels seen and appreciated.

Last year, I created a custom ring for my mom’s retirement gift. She had a long career as a special education teacher, and she’s not someone who would ever buy herself fine jewelry, but she really deserved something special for all her years in the classroom. She picked a gemstone herself (over FaceTime when I was in Tucson for work), a two-carat, oval Tanzanite. She held onto it for a few months before picking out a setting with my sister and me. She landed on our “Summer Rose” ring setting, and she never takes it off.

“Mothering is proof of the endurance of the human spirit, a loving accomplishment so great and complex that it has the power to change the world, one person at a time.” — Annie Dye

If you had to describe Mother’s Day in one feeling or image, what comes to mind?

Annie Dye: Mothering is proof of the endurance of the human spirit, a loving accomplishment so great and complex that it has the power to change the world, one person at a time.

Can you share a moment in the store that reminded you why you do what you do?

Corinne Jacobson: There are so many. It is a real privilege to work with such beauty.  We have many clients who have become dear friends and many others who have shown us so much support and appreciation over the last 25 years.  Last summer, a couple for whom we made an engagement ring 20 years ago came up to Rhinebeck from Long Island for the night just to attend our 25-year anniversary party! This was profoundly touching. In the end, it is all about connection.

For this season, what are your top five Mother’s Day pieces, and what makes each one special?

Emily Patzner: These would be our top 5 pieces.

Two-toned wide band showcases the rich contrast between silver and gold and features meticulous engraving and hand-set natural brilliant-cut diamonds.

Four-star wave earrings. They are graceful and elegant, and feature a soft wave of silver set with our signature four-star diamond motif.

Mosaic ring in multi-sapphire. The rose-cut sapphires and brilliant diamonds combine old-world elegance and intricacy with modern brilliance.

Diamond triple-link bracelet. This remarkable bracelet holds silver and gold in perfect harmony. It’s a treasure trove of handcrafted details.

Our Day Dream pendant is a beautifully timeless piece. It features an intricate pattern of brilliant hand-set diamonds.. a daily talisman with grace and beauty.

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Photos courtesy of Adel Chefridi Studio + Flagship Gallery in Rhinebeck, NY.

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