This year is filled with milestone birthdays for some of my closest friends, and there could not have been a more meaningful way to begin the celebrations than with a trip to Vietnam.
We traveled there to celebrate our dear friend Annie’s 50th birthday. For years, it had been a dream of hers to bring her closest college girlfriends—along with our husbands and children—to the place that holds such a special connection to her roots, culture and heritage. To experience Vietnam through Annie’s eyes made the trip feel incredibly personal. We weren’t simply visiting a beautiful country; we were being welcomed into a part of her story.
And that is what milestone moments are really about: celebrating how far we’ve come and creating new memories with the people who have been there along the way.
A Friendship That Began Freshman Year
Our story began in college, when Sukhi, Jackie, Annie, Nitasha and I first became friends. We were five young women at the very beginning of our adult lives, with no idea how much life we would eventually share.
Since then, our friendship has grown and evolved through so many chapters—careers, marriages, children, celebrations, challenges and everything in between. We have each taken different paths and become very different women, but the foundation of our friendship has remained remarkably constant.
Over the years, the circle has grown beyond the five of us. Our husbands have become part of the friendship, our children have grown up knowing one another, and the history that began with a group of college girlfriends now belongs to our families as well.
That made being together in Vietnam especially meaningful. Watching our husbands and children experience Annie’s happy place alongside us felt like another chapter in a story that started more than three decades ago.
Vietnam, Together
Vietnam gave us plenty of new memories to add to the collection.
We bicycled through the rice paddies in the hot, humid air. There was something peaceful about leaving the bustle behind and riding through the lush green landscape, surrounded by fields and small villages as the light changed around us.
But one of my favorite memories was riding scooters through the energy and organized chaos of the city, taking in the sights and sounds from right in the middle of it all and ending with a beautiful sunset. It was exhilarating, a little crazy, and so much fun—one of those experiences that captures the spirit of traveling together. We wandered colorful night markets, where there was always something else to discover—or buy. We ate incredible food, discovered new fruits, drank more café sua da than I can count, and laughed constantly.
Then there was Ha Long Bay. Cruising among its dramatic rock formations felt almost surreal—the kind of landscape that makes you stop for a moment and simply take it all in.
From the quiet beauty of the countryside to the energy of the cities, we experienced so many different sides of Vietnam. But what I will remember most is simply being together.
We laughed. We shared. We ate. We danced. We drank. We explored. We reminisced about who we were when we first met and talked about who we have become. Most importantly, we had uninterrupted time together—something that becomes increasingly precious as life gets busier.
Jewelry as a Reminder
As we celebrated Annie turning 50, I wanted each of us to have something tangible to remember not only this trip, but the friendship behind it. Naturally, for me, that meant jewelry.
We each chose a piece from Sethi Couture’s Black Diamond Collection that felt distinctly personal. I loved that we didn't choose the same piece. Each woman gravitated toward something that reflected her own personality and style—just as each of us has always brought something different to this friendship.
Jackie chose the Black Diamond Channel Set Eternity Band. The continuous circle of diamonds felt like the perfect symbol of a friendship meant to endure. The signature engraving along the side adds another layer—the intricate pattern reminding me of the individual personalities and experiences that make each of us unique.
Sukhi selected our Modern Bezel Black Diamond Huggies as the beginning of an earring stack. She hopes to add a few more piercings, so her piece feels like the start of something that can continue to evolve—much like the way our own stories continue to unfold.
Annie, whose milestone brought us all to Vietnam, gravitated toward the sleek Noir Black Diamond Bead Choker. Chic, understated and effortlessly cool, it couldn't feel more like her.
Nitasha chose the Noir Black Diamond Bead Bracelet accented with gold, which she will layer beside her Sikh kada. I especially love the meaning behind this pairing: different pieces representing different loves and parts of her life sitting side by side—her faith, her heritage and the lifelong friendships she holds close.
And I chose our newest Noir Yin Yang Black Diamond and Gold Bead Necklace. The contrast of black diamond and gold immediately made me think of us.
We are five very different women—with different personalities, styles, interests and paths through life. Yet somehow, those differences have always complemented one another. Beneath them are the things we share: love, loyalty, history and a genuine care for one another that has kept us connected through every stage of life.
That is the beauty of lifelong friendship. It isn't about being the same. It is about growing individually while continuing to find your way back to one another.
Years from now, these pieces will remind us of this milestone birthday and the many years of friendship that brought us here. They will hold the memories of five girls who met freshman year of college, the lives we have built, the families that have become part of our circle, and all the moments we have shared along the way. More than a reminder of one incredible trip, they represent the history between us—and the friendship that continues to grow with every new chapter.
Jewelry has always had the ability to hold memories. A piece can transport you back to a person, a place or a particular chapter of your life simply by putting it on.
For us, these are our friendship pieces—a reminder of where we started, how much life we have shared, and how lucky we are to still be writing the story together.
Each piece a chapter. Together, part of our story.
