AGMES: Andrew’s the “AG-” and I’m the “-MES”

Some pieces of jewelry are worn only on holidays, others on special occasions. But every once in a while, there are those pieces you simply never want to take off, because they become part of your everyday life without you even noticing. That’s exactly what sisters Morgan and Jaclyn Solomon create with their brand AGMES: jewelry that feels like a natural part of your personal story.

When Morgan was just starting, she never imagined she’d end up in the jewelry business. It all began long before the brand existed, with childhood memories of wandering markets in Mexico alongside her grandmother, spending hours admiring the handmade pieces by local artisans. That was when she first felt how metal could be more than a cold material; it could be something alive, warm, and soothing to the touch. As an adult, Morgan started spending her weekends at the jewelry bench, eventually realizing that making jewelry was becoming part of her life. This is how the now-iconic Bertrand ring was born, inspired by the Marina City buildings in Chicago, designed by architect Bertrand Goldberg. That moment marked the beginning of the brand. 

The idea for AGMES came about almost by accident during a friendly evening conversation. One night, Morgan’s longtime friend Andrew casually asked, “Why don’t you take this seriously?” The next day, Morgan quit her office job, enrolled in jewelry school, and soon launched her first collection. After Andrew’s untimely passing, his initials became part of the name AGMES – a tribute and a token of gratitude for his belief in her.

“He passed soon after, and I always wanted him to be a part of it. He’s the “AG-” and I’m the “-MES. Anytime I look at anything – even our email addresses or brand messaging, I see him,” Morgan shares.

From the very beginning, Morgan was joined by her sister Jaclyn, who had already built a strong background in fashion design. Together, they began to imagine what their ideal jewelry brand could look like. From the outset, the sisters knew they wanted to create pieces that were not just beautiful, but wearable and long-lasting. This mattered deeply to them: both had grown tired of jewelry that felt uncomfortable, the kind you wanted to take off as soon as you got home. With AGMES, everything is different: the earrings, bracelets, and rings are made to be worn all day, so comfortable you forget they’re even there. 

When the sisters start working on a collection, they find inspiration not only in art and architecture but also in the simple, everyday moments of life. Take the Astrid collection, for example – it reflects their love for New York: its shapes echo skyscrapers, its smooth lines capture the rhythm of life in a big city. It’s like a quiet story of daily joys and small discoveries.

“It’s always a different evolution from seeing something in your mind to creating it in real life. It may not be where the thought started, but that’s how I allow the universe and how I allow my internal guide to go,” says Morgan. 

When it comes to production, the sisters also follow a set of simple, honest principles. Their pieces are made in New York City, in small workshops where they’ve built strong relationships with. Morgan and Jaclyn visit the artisans themselves, discussing the details, brainstorming ways to make the pieces more comfortable and pleasing to the touch. Even the packaging is reused whenever possible, not for the sake of a trendy sustainability claim, but because it aligns with their life philosophy.

The Solomon sisters believe that good jewelry is the kind that becomes part of a person’s life and story. They craft pieces to be worn for years, and maybe one day, passed down. AGMES becomes more than a brand – it’s an idea infused not with pretension, but with sincerity and warmth.