Susan Hamilton Meier is a jewelry designer who believes in experiencing something firsthand to truly understand it—whether it’s holding a priceless antique or traveling to Mexico or Florence to witness their artistry. Meier feels that objects carry energy, whether it's a unique antique jewel or a medieval altarpiece made of precious gold. This fascination with how ornaments and jewelry influence their wearers is part of what inspired her to transition from being a marketing expert to launching her first jewelry brand, SunLit Fine Jewelry, in 2023.
Meier says SunLit stems from her childhood obsession with ancient Egypt, sun myths, and the magical feeling of sunlight warming her shoulders. The sun represents hope, light, and transformation—feelings she hopes her charms will evoke for SunLit’s customers.
"Jewelry is my favorite form of art because you wear it. It's so intimate," Meier says. "If you can design something someone wants to wear, it’s a very special relationship."
Meier’s interest in adornment began during her childhood when King Tut’s tomb captivated public interest with a popular exhibition. She visited the Egyptian art exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and for months afterward, she would build pyramids out of sugar cubes and whatever else she could find.
This early exploration of ancient art led Meier to study art history and Italian literature at Dartmouth College, where she also studied abroad in Florence. She says the gold treasures she saw in Italy left a deep impression on her.
“They were so vibrant. You could feel the passion of the artists as they created them. That passion was so intense. They used all that gold to convey their powerful emotions, and that resonated with me,” says Meier.
Her first job after college was in Sotheby’s jewelry and precious objects department. Working alongside seasoned gemologists and being surrounded by gold, gems, and precious materials daily was inspiring, she says.
“I got to hold and see some of the world’s most exquisite jewelry. What’s unique about jewelry is that you can hold it—you can’t usually take a painting off the wall at a museum and hug it,” Meier says.
Meier’s career path eventually veered into a different direction—she earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1998 and began working with consumer brands such as IBM, Whirlpool, Kohl’s, and Snapple. She found satisfaction in creating brands and designing campaigns.
She excelled at unraveling the stories of her clients, which became her professional superpower. Her other superpower? Untangling jewelry. She admits that people often brought her bracelets and necklaces they thought were hopelessly knotted, and she could always untangle them.
During the long days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Meier’s situation began to shift, giving her more time to think about other things, and her thoughts once again turned to jewelry.
“Boredom is good for you—that’s when the creative brain starts working,” Meier says. “I started thinking about the connection between Egyptians, pre-Columbian people, early Christian art and all the imagery surrounding the sun and golden halos.”
She distilled many ideas into one theme: the feeling of sunlight. SunLit Jewelry and all the elements in her collection had to align with her obsession with the sun. Her jewelry had to be wearable, sculptural, and radiant.
“It has to feel like sunlight shining on you,” Meier says. “What does it feel like when you have that first day of spring after a harsh winter, and the sun hits you? It’s that feeling that everything is going to be okay. It’s a powerful but calm feeling.”
The AIDI International Lab-Grown Diamond Association continues its "How I Got Here" series to promote more independent jewelry designer brands. We believe that with the growth of the lab-grown diamond industry, global jewelry brands will become more diverse, embracing small and beautiful creations! We invite Chinese jewelry designers to share their stories by emailing info@aidi.org.