Today we’d like to introduce you to Krista.
Krista, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My path here wasn’t linear—it was shaped by experience, reinvention, and a necessary reckoning.
I began my career in the corporate world, where I built a strong foundation in strategy, relationships, and decision-making. Over time, I reached a point of real misalignment—personally and professionally. A period of personal trauma forced me to take a hard look at what was truly fulfilling anymore. Something had to give.
That reckoning became the catalyst for Spoleto Designs.
I was drawn to fine jewelry because of its permanence and its ability to hold meaning through transition. Estate and vintage pieces, in particular, reflect lives already lived—stories of love, loss, change, and continuity. I saw how often meaningful jewelry sits unworn not because it lacks value, but because its story no longer matches the life someone is living now.
I founded Spoleto to help people navigate those moments with clarity and care—whether that means selling, redesigning, or simply understanding what they have and what their options are. The work is intentional, discreet, and deeply personal.
That experience reshaped how I lead: resilience, to me, isn’t about pushing through—it’s about making clear, grounded decisions when things are uncertain and holding steady for others in the process.
Today, Spoleto Designs works with individuals, families, and trusted professional partners who value ethics, discretion, and thoughtful guidance. I’ve built the business around trust rather than transactions—treating each piece as personal and each relationship as long-term.
Choosing this path meant letting go of a version of success that looked right from the outside and building something aligned from the inside. That choice continues to shape both the brand and the way I work every day.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t been a smooth road, but the hardest part wasn’t building something new—it was staying in something I had already outgrown.
For a long time, I was doing work that looked right on paper and met external expectations, even as it became increasingly misaligned internally. The tension of knowing something wasn’t right, yet continuing because it felt responsible or safe, was far more difficult than the uncertainty that came with change.
Once I made the leap, the challenges didn’t disappear—but they shifted. Building a business from the ground up requires resilience, patience, and constant decision-making. There were moments of doubt, financial uncertainty, and the weight of doing things the right way rather than the fast way.
But those challenges were energizing in a way the earlier struggle never was. The work felt meaningful. Each obstacle felt connected to something I believed in, rather than something I was simply enduring. That difference made all the difference.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Spoleto Designs is a fine jewelry consultancy and curation studio rooted in trust, discretion, and thoughtful decision-making, serving both private clients and serious buyers.
I specialize in estate and vintage fine jewelry, custom redesign, and curated sourcing for collectors. In addition to working with individuals navigating moments of transition—inheritance, life changes, or evolving taste—I maintain an extensive and continually evolving inventory of fine jewelry available to buyers who value rarity, craftsmanship, and story as much as intrinsic value.
What I do goes far beyond buying or selling jewelry. I help people understand what they have, what they’re acquiring, and why it matters. For collectors and buyers, that means access to distinctive pieces, transparent guidance, and context—not trend-driven recommendations or pressure-based sales.
What sets Spoleto apart is the approach. I don’t operate on volume or hype. Every piece is thoughtfully sourced, every relationship handled with discretion, and every recommendation grounded in long-term value. Whether a client is selling, redesigning, acquiring, or simply learning, the goal is clarity and confidence.
I’m also known for working closely with professional partners—attorneys, wealth and estate advisors—who need an ethical, discreet resource for clients managing fine jewelry assets. That trust-based collaboration reflects how the brand shows up: calm, grounded, and reliable in moments that require care.
Brand-wise, what I’m most proud of is alignment. Spoleto Designs reflects my values—integrity, empathy, and respect for legacy—while offering meaningful access to exceptional pieces. It’s a business built to endure, focused on relationships rather than transactions.
What I want readers to know is this: fine jewelry is more than adornment or assets—it’s history you can wear. My work is about honoring that history while helping people engage with it thoughtfully, whether they’re letting go, reimagining, or collecting something extraordinary.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
While everyone else is chasing the next shiny thing, I’m over here practicing patience—and it turns out that’s my edge.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.spoletodesigns.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spoleto_designs/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Spoleto-Designs-61567701066842
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/spoletodesigns/
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristacavanaugh/
