The Collectors: Beth Hutchens
The founder and creative director of FoundRae sees collecting bijoux from the late 19th century as a quest to preserve memories and stories
For Beth Hutchens, founder and creative director of the New York fine jewelry brand FoundRae, collecting bijoux from the late 19th century is an ongoing quest to preserve memories and stories. “I am attracted to pieces where the meaning lies deeper than the ornamental value,” says Hutchens, whose cache spans Victorian reliquary lockets—incorporating the human hair of a loved one—and Japanese Shakudo beads crafted by artisans who once made samurai swords and armor. “Jewelry, like art, never exists in a vacuum; it is always part of the fabric of society.”
Thrill of the chase: Hutchens sources her jewels anywhere and everywhere. “A real collector leaves no corner unsearched and no box unrifled,” says the entrepreneur, who created a similar experience for her boutiques, where “discovery drawers” contain one-of-a-kind FoundRae jewelry, antique objects, and ephemera. “I don’t go into overly curated high-end stores looking to buy a perfect mix. I love the hunt of unearthing treasured things in uncurated and unexpected spaces.”
A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2026 Late Fall Issue in the section “The Collectors.” Subscribe to the magazine.