Today we’d like to introduce you to Monica De Lemos Negron
Hi Monica, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey into the world of jewelry design is deeply rooted in my heritage. Back home in Puerto Rico, I was surrounded by a lineage of creative women who instilled in me a profound appreciation for handmade craftsmanship. Their dedication to creating beautiful items for our community—from pottery to clothing to jewelry—taught me the value of hard work and fellowship.
In 2003, I officially moved to the United States. And by 2010, inspired by my daughter Gia, I launched my first small business, a venture that specialized in crafting hair accessories and beaded jewelry. Over the span of seven years, I had the pleasure of sharing our creations through different platforms and various boutiques. As Gia grew and her interests evolved from bows to more sophisticated jewelry, it felt natural for my business to transition alongside her.
This evolution led to the birth of M&G Linked Jewelry this past year, where I now focus on designing custom and permanent jewelry. M&G stands for Monica and Gia. I named it after the both of us to celebrate that special mother/daughter bond. Each piece is a reflection of my commitment to that strong bond and my passion for crafting pieces that mean something to my customers.
Parallel to my endeavors in jewelry, I serve as a Family Development Supervisor at a nonprofit organization in Cincinnati. This role amplifies my dedication to supporting the bond between mothers and their children, and contributing positively to our community. The fulfillment I derive from this work seamlessly integrates with my approach to jewelry design, as both avenues allow me to connect with individuals and make a positive impact.
Engaging with customers is what I really love about permanent jewelry. I don’t get to just sit behind a booth, I have the privilege of getting to know my customers as I’m welding their pieces on. Witnessing the happiness that a uniquely designed piece can bring is truly rewarding. At M&G Linked Jewelry, my mission is to create pieces by fostering connections and celebrating a customer’s individuality.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Balancing work, life, and a small business is never a perfectly smooth road, but this time around, the journey has been a lot less bumpy than my first trip into entrepreneurship—how’s that for an analogy? Ha!
With my first business in 2010, time was my biggest challenge. Juggling production while having three kids under four meant countless late nights and very little sleep. But with permanent jewelry, I have the flexibility to schedule bookings around my work and personal life. Since each piece is welded on the spot, my focus shifts from meeting production deadlines to crafting meaningful, high-quality pieces at a pace that works for me. I can be intentional with my time and energy, and be present for my family and my work.
That’s what I love most—creating a piece in the moment. Listening to a customer share their story, learning about what they love, and helping them find the perfect chain and charm to carry a piece of that story with them. To some it may seem materialistic, but there really are no words to describe the feeling you get from getting to wear something you designed yourself that reflects your own story or personality. You can’t get that from getting the same necklace everyone else is wearing. I always compare it to getting a meaningful tattoo.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My business primarily focuses on welded jewelry, commonly known as permanent jewelry. The term “permanent” refers to the style—rather than using a clasp, the chain is seamlessly welded together to create a continuous piece. However, I also offer custom jewelry, where customers design their own pieces, but we add a clasp instead, making them removable. With proper care, these chains are made to last, and I take great pride in extensively researching and sourcing only high-quality materials from reputable suppliers to ensure durability. I also provide detailed care instructions to help customers maintain their pieces for years to come.
One of my favorite parts of this process is involving my now-teenage daughter, Gia, in our own version of durability testing. To her delight, she wore permanent anklets and bracelets throughout her entire high school cross-country season—and she’s still wearing them today. If she could run several miles each day in all sorts of weather, hit the gym, and go to football games and dances without any issues, then anyone with an active lifestyle can wear them too. Customers always enjoy hearing about how accessorized she was running with her bracelet stack.
That brings me to something that, while it may not set me apart—because I’ve met so many incredible women in this industry—is something I take immense pride in: my love for talking and connecting with customers. I truly believe that in this business, you have to genuinely want to get to know the people you meet. You have to be a listener. Because when it comes to designing something meaningful, you need to understand the person behind the piece. Whether it’s a cancer survivor picking an awareness ribbon charm or a grandmother selecting birthstones for all her grandkids, there is no greater privilege than being someone people trust and feel safe with to share their stories with.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I can’t live without my music apps! I have a playlist for every mood and occasion. It all started when my husband and I started making travel playlists depending on where we were going with the kids and then extended to when my daughter began playing travel sports—we’d make a playlist for every destination we drove to. So now, whether I’m heading to work, an event, running errands, or just spending time with my husband or my kids, there’s always a perfect soundtrack to match the moment.
Music keeps me present and helps me stay connected to my heritage as well—when I’m missing home, the right songs bring me right back. It’s also a great tool for connecting with my customers. I choose music for my social media stories and posts to reflect the vibe I want to share, adding a little bit of me to my brand to engage with my customers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mglinkedjewelry.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mglinkedjewelry
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mglinkedjewelry
- Other: https://linktr.ee/mglinkedjewelry
