When you’re a bona fide jewelry expert (Rizzoli approached her to write a book on the matter), not to mention the newly minted EIC of one of our all-time favorite magazines, and you’re universally beloved within your (notoriously un-friendly) industry—what do you do to treat yourself? We might say, “Eat an entire pizza while soaking in the tub and binge-watching old episodes of Friday Night Lights,” or perhaps “Grab our two best girlfriends and head to Miami for the weekend.” Stellene Volandes, the editor in chief of Town & Country, has a much, *much* better plan.

When she secured the top spot at T&C and nabbed her book deal, she purchased herself a Verdura Maltese cross necklace, which she now wears every day. With more and more women buying themselves jewelry (a trend we’re 100 percent behind), we can’t think of a better way to celebrate your own accomplishments—otherwise known as treating yourself.

And that cross is in excellent company. From stacks of Sidney Garber rolling bracelets to a pair of Nina Runsdorf opal earrings (apparently opals are just now being used in jewelry again—for over a century they were thought to be bad luck based on a misreading of a 19th century novel...this is the kind of serious jewelry knowledge Volandes spouts), we’ve never seen anything like the contents of her walk-in closet.

Click through to hear about her personal collection, what sets Town & Country apart, and what buying yourself a piece of jewelry can do for you.