JUDITH BRIGHT ARTISANAL JEWELRY

By Kathy Fox

For those who love some classy bling, want to enhance an outfit with a trendy piece, or simply love wearing stunning jewelry, then Judith Bright’s artisanal jewelry is for you. Crafted from the highest quality stones and metals, Judith Bright jewelry, from rings to earrings, necklaces, and bracelets, is meaningful handmade jewelry that is exquisite. With retail locations in Franklin and Nashville and an online store, the nationally recognized brand makes jewelry locally one piece at a time, nothing is mass-produced. As a small business in Middle Tennessee, Judith Bright is a 100% female-owned and run business that has continued to rock now for close to 20 years.

Judith Bright’s resume is highly varied and diverse, but one thing that remained consistent over the years was her love for jewelry which started at the young age of six when she discovered her mom’s jewelry box and all the treasures inside. “I have always loved jewelry. From my earliest memories of playing in my mom's jewelry box, I have always loved how jewelry is such an expression of someone's personality and their past,” Bright said. “People are wearing heirlooms and mixing them with newer pieces. No two looks are the same, it's a very individualistic expression and I'm fascinated by how people put things together. You know what Coco Chanel always said, ‘When I'm dressed I look in the mirror and take one piece off.’ Well, when I get dressed, I look in the mirror and put three more on. I love wearing jewelry!”

During her high school years, Bright devoted time volunteering as a candy striper, an experience that influenced her to pursue a career in nursing. After graduating from Vanderbilt University Nursing School, she ventured to Los Angeles, where she worked with AIDS patients at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Ending her nursing career, too exhausted and sad, she landed a job as a production assistant in the late 80s on Growing Pains, the complete opposite of sad, but still exhausting.

In the early 90s, Bright married and finally got serious about work after landing her wonder job with Quincy Jones where she later became the President of Jones’ publishing company. “I absolutely adored working for Quincy. I adored music publishing, which is what I was doing. I was managing and licensing his catalog,” Bright said. During the late 90s, Bright had two sons with the third son arriving in 2001. Shortly after baby number three was born, Bright left Quincy Jones to set out and chase her dream of becoming a jewelry designer.

To help bring this dream to fruition, Bright moved her family to Florence, Italy, in 2003 so she could take jewelry-making classes and learn from the best. “We chose Italy because we knew they loved children. They would whisk my little toe-head boys up and take them to the kitchen and I never saw them until after dinner,” said Bright. “And I was able to find a jewelry school where I took private silversmithing and wax carving lessons. It wasn't until I started making jewelry and taking those classes in Florence when I’d come back home and sit for hours trying to create what was to become my signature style, that I realized I’d never been happier.”

After the gap year in Italy, Bright moved her family to Nashville where she began to lay the groundwork for her dream business. A few years later in 2007, after setting up her Judith Bright jewelry business, spending countless hours sketching designs, and creating jewelry, Bright launched JUDITHBRIGHT.COM. As Bright explained, “I started my business at age 40. I have always believed it is never too late to do something that you are passionate about. Sometimes the timing is not right when you are younger and you need to go through some life before you can settle into that thing that makes your heart happy.”

It was almost 20 years after Bright’s Vanderbilt days when she started her girlfriends' grassroots marketing with Nashville moms opening their doors and inviting all their friends to preview her jewelry. “You know it was amazing. I started out making jewelry for friends and family and when I was out wearing my jewelry people would always ask me what it was. I started doing trunk shows and people embraced me with open arms. One thing led to another, and the glass slipper finally fit,” Bright said.

With the popularity of her brand growing, Bright’s jewelry appeared in television programs Gossip Girls, Samanta Who?, and The New Adventures of Old Christine. It became obvious the timing was now right for Bright to think about a storefront and she opened her Flagship Store in The Mall at Green Hills in 2010. “Something very important to us is that customers, when they come in, feel welcomed, at home, and at ease so anyone can come in and buy something special. We love helping our customers find whatever they're looking for. They may come in thinking they are looking for one thing and then we help them find a piece that is even more meaningful,” Bright commented. That same year her jewelry also appeared in movies The Back-up Plan on Jennifer Lopez and The Rebound on Catherine ZetaJones adding prominence to Bright’s brand image.

As Bright’s business continued to blossom, she opened a store in Atlanta in 2012 and in 2017 moved that store to a space three times larger. In 2014, the Judith Bright store made the move from Green Hills to a house in the 12 South neighborhood in Nashville and this past February celebrated 10 years at that location, a monumental achievement. During the pandemic, Bright made the tough decision to say goodbye to the Atlanta store but persevered and in 2020 opened a store in The Factory at Franklin with the newest location, an open studio concept, located in the Nations neighborhood at L & L Market in West Nashville.

What sets Judith Bright jewelry apart is the extensive collection of gemstones available, more than any other brand that Bright is aware of. These high-quality gemstones are meticulously chosen from reputable suppliers across the globe and no two stones are alike rendering each piece truly unique. Whether customers opt for online purchases or visit a physical store, they can learn the meaning of each gemstone to help them pick a stone that is special to them or the person they are gifting. For instance, amethyst is often associated with inner peace, citrine with prosperity, and tourmaline with unconditional love there is a gemstone for nearly every mood or sentiment.

The components used in the designs are purchased only in the United States and include 14k gold-filled and sterling silver metals. Bright uses these metals because they provide the highest quality at the most affordable price. Bright’s mission when she started the company was to create beautiful handmade jewelry that was also affordable and inclusive so anyone could come in, buy something special, and leave with something that had meaning to them customers can even have a custom piece made on the spot. Bright noted, “Our jewelry is made with you in mind, one piece at a time.”

As Bright continues to expand her jewelry empire, give back to the community, and invest in her employees, Judith Bright has earned noteworthy accolades. The brand has been voted Best Handmade Jewelry, repeatedly voted Top 3 Jewelry Stores in Nashville, and nominated as one of the best places to work in Music City. On a personal level, Bright has been recognized as a Nashville Business Journal Woman of Influence and Most Admired CEO. She serves on the Board of the Entrepreneur Center and The Entrepreneur’s Organization as well as the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing Dean’s Advisory Board. Furthermore, drawing on her nursing expertise, she recently achieved certification as an End-of-Life Doula and dedicates time to volunteering at Alive Hospice, a testament to her servant's heart.

Let your instinct be your guide, your passion be your teacher, and know that it's never too late to start something you love! xoxo Judith Bright

Visit Judith Bright in person or online. Two locations in Nashville and also one at The Factory in Franklin. Visit JUDITHBRIGHT.COM and follow her on social media at @judithbright.