‘Once Upon a Time,’ Guzema Debuted Its Holiday Collection

The “Once Upon a Time” collection includes pieces inspired by an enchanted mirror, a magic egg, a bird girl, and the sun, moon, and stars.

New York—Guzema has released a holiday collection based on Ukrainian folklore, titled “Once Upon a Time.”

The collection takes characters and motifs from different regions in Ukraine and reimagines them into jewelry through a contemporary lens.

It is an invitation into a world where memory, imagination, and craftsmanship intertwine, said Guzema.

Each of the 27 pieces feature characters and symbols often found in storytelling, like a magic mirror, and are meant to evoke childlike wonder.

The characters and symbols in Once Upon a Time include an enchanted mirror, a magic egg, a bird girl, and the sun, moon, and stars.

“The idea grew from a longing to step into the world of fairy tales and create a bit of magic with our own hands,” said Valeriya Guzema, founder and designer of Guzema.

“In challenging times, it’s up to us to bring light back into our world—for ourselves and for our children. That’s what inspired us to create a collection with stories that are close to our hearts.”

The “Enchanted Mirror” pieces were inspired by mid-19th century tale from Podillia, Ukraine, where a mirror reveals hidden truths.

It is seen in the collection as drop earrings that feature a bird sitting on a gold oval set with pavé diamonds.

The bird guards the portal while the diamonds create the shimmering surface of a mystical mirror.

The “Magic Egg” locket was modeled after an 1869 story from the Uman region of Ukraine.

Two larks, the king of birds in the story, are perched on the egg-shaped locket that opens like the magic egg to hold a meaningful memory, image, or personal amulet.

The “Bird Girl” pieces are rooted in stories from Zakarpattia in western Ukraine.

This bird motif embodies the resilience of a hero who overcomes trials and restores justice, symbolizing transformation, feminine intuition, and steadfastness, the brand said.

In the collection, it is seen as sculptural bird brooches, earrings, and pendants with and without diamond accents.

The sun, moon, and star motifs are seen together and in their own pieces throughout the collection.

For these motifs, Once Upon a Time looks to a tale from Hutsul folklore in Ukraine.

According to the story, the sun was stolen by devils and hidden under ash, returning to the world when a young hero extinguishes the fire with rain.

The moon was discovered in the sand and tossed skyward when it was recovered after a mythical duel of stone and pillar.

The stars were rescued from beneath a saddle and each placed carefully in their place, including the star that was stolen by a witch.

The sun, moon, and star motifs symbolize renewal, protection, and harmony.

The Once Upon a Time collection includes earrings, rings, necklaces, and brooches in 18-karat white or yellow gold with diamond accents.

The pieces retail from $490 to $22,260.

Guzema also debuted the “Once Upon a Time Mini” collection that is a continuation of the collection as a children’s series.

It was created to become a child’s first talisman worn as jewelry, preserving the symbols of Ukrainian fairy tales.

“Fairy tales accompany us from our earliest days. They teach us to feel, understand, and recognize meanings that stay with us forever,” said Valeriya Guzema.

“This collection is about the warm connections between generations and the gentle ways we pass down what truly matters. About how fairy tales shape our cultural codes and imprint our understanding of goodness, bravery, and love.”

The children’s offerings feature stars, birds, fish, and rabbits.

There are 20 pendants and stud earrings in 18-karat white and yellow gold with diamonds accents seen in the mini “Star” pendants and studs.

The children’s pieces retail from $1,100 to $1,550.