A Year In Review | Personalized Jewelry That Captures Your Story

As 2024 comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on a year filled with creativity, connection, and countless cherished memories captured in our designs. From exciting new collections to heartfelt milestones, this year has been one for the books.

Here’s a look back at some of the highlights that made 2024 unforgettable for Dune Jewelry.

2024: A Year In Review

This year, our designs continued to celebrate the magic of travel and adventure. The Christine Kesteloo Collection expanded its travel and nature-inspired designs with the Globe Necklaces in Larimar and Malachite stones and Mother of Pearl and Abalone shells, and the launch of the Rock & Tide Collection, blending organic, rock-inspired forms with a touch of elegance.

Rock & Tide Earrings from the Dune Jewelry x Christine Kesteloo collection.

Our beloved collaborator and friend Christine Kesteloo also joined us as we began a new adventure at sea – Dune Travels: Cruises, Stays, and Unforgettable Days. We inaugurated Dune Travels with an unforgettable cruise trip aboard the Holland America Koningsdam ship through Alaska, blending the excitement of overseas casinos with the serenity of the open waters. From scenic glacier views to zip-lining at Icy Strait Point, every day was packed with fun and exploration.

Me and our cruise trip members in Icy Strait Point, Alaska!

At Dune Jewelry, travel is more than just a trip; it’s an opportunity to capture your most cherished memories in fine and demi-fine personalized jewelry that reflects your journey and spirit. So creating Dune Travels was a given – it’s a project that truly embodies that ethos—adventure, connection, and a little bit of luxury all wrapped up into one unforgettable experience.

We also introduced the Mediterranean & Interchangeable Pendants paired with the bold Toggle Necklaces, statement designs inspired by serene coastal escapes, and the highly-anticipated Birth Month Necklaces, which added a personal touch to the stories we tell through jewelry.

Interchangeable Sand Dollar Pendant on the Toggle Charm Holder Necklace.

They make the perfect birthday gift and can be easily stacked with longer, bolder necklaces. Check out this blog I wrote earlier this year on how to layer necklaces like a pro.

For our diamond lovers, we unveiled the Diamond Gradient collections, combining ethically sourced diamonds and your chosen elements. Designed to mirror the significance of life’s most treasured experiences, these collections are as brilliant as the moments they represent. For our customers craving a bit of extra luxury, we launched the 14k Gold Jewelry collection, featuring all your favorite designs and new ones in 14k yellow, white, and classic gold.

Dune Jewelry celebrates a fantastic year with the 14k gold jewelry collection. — 14k Gold Jewelry Collection.

And for the one who just can’t choose their favorite beach (or has way too many to count!) we HEARD you and released the Shell Scapes Collection, meticulously handcrafted designs that embody nature’s artistry with shells sourced from iconic and memorable locations around the globe. These keepsakes are as distinctive as the coastlines that inspired them.

Shell Scapes sea shell designs in sterling silver chains, pearl, sea shells. — Coastal Shell Necklace and Mediterranean Necklace from the Shell Scapes collection.

This year was also marked by exciting collaborations. The Captain Kate Collection and Travel Treasures by Captain Kate both set sail, with silver and gold-vermeil charms and jewelry celebrating the spirit of exploration belonging to America’s First Female Cruise Ship Captain.

America's First Female Cruise Ship Captain, Captain Kate jewelry collection with Dune. — Dune Jewelry x Captain Kate

In July, we celebrated 1 year of The Cove by Dune Jewelry, our Norwood boutique store! Soon after, model, actress and tv host Camille Kostek joined us for a memorable meet-and-greet at Dune Harwich Port, our flagship store, unveiling new Cosmos Hoop Earrings sizes and updated packaging for her collection.

Camille Kostek and Holly Daniels Christensen, Dune Jewelry Founder, at her Meet & Greet at Dune Harwich Port in Cape Cod.

For those searching for a protective amulet with a dose of mysticism we released the Moonstone Spirit Necklace, inspired by the ethereal beauty and spiritual energy of the moon and designed in collaboration with renowned spirit medium Tiffany Rice. This gorgeous piece featured a delicate crescent moon adorned with genuine natural Moonstones, each radiating its own unique glow.

Moonstone Spirit Necklace, Tiffany Rice Spirit Medium. Mystical magical jewelry amulets and talismans from Dune Jewelry. — Moonstone Spirit Necklace by Tiffany Rice

We added new sophisticated yet casual designs to our Men’s Collection, such as Lava and other stone Beaded Bracelets, Historic North Star and Trinity Bracelets, and North Star and Bar Necklaces, adding a little something for everyone.

Men's Collection, Men's Jewelry Gifts for him from Dune Jewelry. — Men’s North Star Bracelet handcrafted with sand from the Cliff Walk, Newport, RI.

A Year Marked by Milestones

In August, we launched the Founder’s Necklace and soon after, the Founder’s Ring, a tribute to our humble beginnings at my kitchen table.

The Founder's Ring, with real fragments of wood from my kitchen table where it all began. — The Founder’s Ring, with real fragments of wood from my kitchen table where it all began.

Crafted with melee diamonds, tanzanite, and real fragments of the kitchen table where Dune began, these designs symbolized the journey we’ve shared with our customers and the memories we’ve preserved along the way. Navigating sleepless nights, endless to-do lists, and the trials of raising two daughters, the path was filled with perseverance and determination. Overcoming obstacles and breaking barriers, I not only built a thriving jewelry business but also smashed the glass ceiling in an industry often dominated by big brands & box stores.

Come September 28th, we celebrated 14 incredible years of Dune Jewelry. Thanks to you, together we’ve captured over 1 million memories with Dune – a milestone that fills me with gratitude.

One of our proudest moments happened in May when we were awarded Best Destination Jewelry Brand 2024 by Global Traveler Magazine. This honor reminds us of the impact we’ve made in helping people capture and wear their most cherished memories.

I accepted the award for Best Destination Jewelry Brand by Global Traveler Magazine on behalf of my brand.

Additionally, our partnership with 4ocean continued to thrive, removing over 26,000 pounds of plastic from our oceans.

In early December, we were invited to Florida as corporate partners to work with 4ocean and clean up a beach near Spanish River Park in Boca Raton. Even though this was one of the cleaner beaches in Florida, we STILL found and cleaned 65lbs of plastic from the beaches. We also got to see how 4ocean performs their missions. The impact of plastic is staggering and I’ve been thinking about it nonstop since we were there.

Dune Jewelry collaborated with 4ocean in an incredible beach clean-up in Boca Raton. Eco-friendly sustainable ethical jewelry brands. — Here I was in Boca Raton for an incredible beach clean-up with 4ocean.

This year, we also passed $250,000 in donations to coastal and global causes with our charitable partners.

We couldn’t have achieved so much without our incredible retail partners. This year, we shone a spotlight on their stories through our Find Your Dune blogs, celebrating the diverse ways they bring Dune Jewelry to life in their stores.

Nor could we have done it without our loyal customers, each of whom have a unique story we were lucky enough to capture in their jewelry, from Felicia’s endless collection of endless summer cuffs (9, to be exact) to Leilani’s lifelong global travels (from Hawaii to Spain) captured in our Traveler Bracelet.

We were also given the honor to craft jewelry with our collaborator Jami Santor’s beloved dog’s ashes, which she wore on her wedding day and gifted to her grandmother.

Ashes jewelry from Dune Jewelry, keep their memory close with handcrafted, personalized memorial jewelry. — Photographed by Venturing Vows

Thank You For the Best Year Yet

As I reflect on this incredible year, I’m reminded of the reason we do what we do: to capture life’s most precious moments. Thank you for being part of our journey and for trusting us to tell your stories through our designs.

Reminder for 2025: Live for the moment, then take it with you.

Here’s to our best year yet; join us capturing this next year’s memories in handcrafted, treasures made with your sand, shells, fabric, and other elements from around the world.

With love and sandy hands,