Jewelry has always been more than just an accessory—it’s a love language, a way to capture moments, emotions, and connections in something tangible and lasting. Whether it’s an engagement ring symbolising forever, a bracelet passed down through generations, or a necklace gifted as a token of affection, jewelry has the unique power to tell stories. And no one understands this better than Sherifat Mohammed, the visionary behind BOZ Jewellery.
With a background in accounting and human resource management, Sherifat’s journey into the world of fine jewelry wasn’t exactly conventional. But passion has a way of leading us where we’re meant to be. Armed with an Applied Jewelry Professional certificate from GIA and a deep appreciation for craftsmanship, she built BOZ—a brand that merges artistry, storytelling, and timeless elegance. More than just a business, BOZ is a tribute, a labour of love inspired by personal experience, resilience, and the desire to create something meaningful.
This Valentine’s season, as love takes center stage, BOZ Jewellery is redefining the art of gifting. With pieces designed to symbolise affection, connection, and timeless devotion, Sherifat believes jewelry is more than an ornament—it’s a way to keep love alive, to carry memories, and to celebrate relationships in the most beautiful way.
In this interview with Ayo Lawal she takes us through her creative process, the inspiration behind her collections, and why BOZ pieces are crafted not just to adorn but to tell love stories that last a lifetime.
You’ve mentioned that BOZ is a tribute to love and resilience. How does this personal connection influence the way you approach designing jewelry?
Love and resilience are at the core of my story and they shape every piece I design. Having experienced profound loss, I understand the depth of emotions that jewelry can carry. This understanding drives me to create pieces that hold meaning, pieces that celebrate milestones, honor relationships and remind wearers of their inner strength. Every design at BOZ is intentional. I gravitate toward minimalistic fine jewelry because simplicity has a timeless elegance, but more importantly, it allows the wearer to infuse their own story into each piece. Whether it’s a ring that marks a new chapter, a pendant that carries sentimental value or a bracelet that serves as a reminder of resilience, I want every BOZ creation to feel deeply personal.
At its core, BOZ is a tribute to love in all its forms, romantic love, self-love, familial love and the resilience that sustains it through life’s challenges. My approach to design is always guided by this philosophy, ensuring that every piece is not just beautiful but meaningful.
Jewellery has the power to tell stories of love and connection. Can you share a moment where a piece you created carried a particularly emotional story or meaning for someone?
Jewellery is incredibly powerful, it holds emotions, memories and milestones in ways that words often cannot. One moment that stands out to me was when I designed a custom piece for a client who wanted to honor her late sister. She reached out to me with a vision of a delicate pendant that would incorporate her sister’s birthstone, something she could wear every day as a symbol of their unbreakable bond.
We worked together to create a minimal yet deeply meaningful design, a fine gold pendant with a tiny sapphire set in the center, representing her sister’s presence in her life. When she received the piece, she told me that it felt like she was carrying a part of her sister with her at all times. She wore it close to her heart, and every time she touched it, she felt comforted.
That moment reminded me why I do what I do. For me jewelry is not just about aesthetics, it’s about connection. Whether it’s a piece that celebrates love, marks a milestone or preserves the memory of a loved one, I feel honored to create jewelry that becomes a part of someone’s journey. At BOZ, every piece tells a story, and knowing that my work carries such deep emotional value for others is truly fulfilling.
How do you ensure that the jewelry you design captures not just beauty but also the deeper emotions associated with love and meaningful relationships?
We ensure this by focusing on intentional design, personalization and craftsmanship. Each piece tells a story and we incorporate personal touches like initials, birthstones or symbolic elements to make every creation unique to its wearer. By using high-quality materials and skilled artisans, we craft timeless pieces that not only look beautiful but also hold sentimental value, lasting for generations.
You’ve blended your background in accounting, human resource management, and jewelry design. How do these diverse skills help you shape jewelry collections that are both artistically significant and commercially successful?
Blending my diverse skills has given me a well-rounded approach to building BOZ. These skills help me shape collections that are both artistically significant and commercially successful in several ways. My accounting background equips me with the ability to manage costs, pricing strategies, and financial planning. My experience in human resource management has been invaluable in working with and managing people. Designing jewelry is one thing but ensuring seamless production, quality control and customer service requires effective leadership, collaboration and people management. With my jewelry design training, I bring a strong creative foundation to BOZ.
Beyond aesthetics, my business knowledge helps me understand consumer behavior, market trends and branding, ensuring that my collections not only resonate artistically but also meet the desires of my clientele. In all, these diverse skills allow me to approach jewelry design holistically, not just as an art form but as a business.
What role does storytelling play in the designs of BOZ? How do you translate personal emotions or experiences into jewelry that resonates with your customers?
Storytelling is at the heart of BOZ, shaping every design into more than just a beautiful piece of jewelry, it becomes a symbol of love and personal journeys. I believe that jewelry should hold meaning, capturing emotions and experiences in a tangible form.
To translate personal emotions into jewelry that resonates with customers, I focus on symbolism, intentional design and personalization. Each piece is thoughtfully crafted to reflect themes of love and meaningful connection.
I also draw from my own journey, my experiences with love, loss and faith to create designs that feel personal yet universally meaningful. Customers often connect with these pieces because they see reflections of their own stories in them. Jewelry is deeply emotional and by infusing every design with purpose, I ensure that BOZ pieces not only enhance style but also carry heartfelt significance.
Your jewelry is described as timeless and suitable for everyday wear. What inspired you to create pieces that feel meaningful in both special moments and in daily life?
I believe that fine jewelry should not just be reserved for special occasions, it should be a part of our daily lives, carrying meaning with us wherever we go. Love and personal milestones aren’t just celebrated once, they are lived and experienced every day and I wanted my designs to reflect that.
BOZ jewelry is designed to be effortlessly wearable yet deeply significant. I focus on minimalist fine jewelry because simplicity has a lasting elegance, allowing pieces to be versatile and cherished for years. My goal is to create jewelry that feels as meaningful on an ordinary day as it does during life’s biggest moments.
What do you think makes a piece of jewelry truly timeless? How do you ensure your designs stand the test of time in both style and sentiment?
For me, a timeless piece of jewelry transcends trends and holds lasting aesthetic and emotional value. At BOZ, I achieve this through minimalist and elegant design, ensuring versatility across generations, high-quality craftsmanship, using fine materials for durability and emotional significance, creating pieces that carry deep personal meaning. By combining classic style, durability and storytelling, BOZ jewelry remains both stylish and meaningful for years to come.
In your opinion, what makes jewelry such a powerful medium for expressing love and connection in ways that other forms of art or gifts cannot?
Jewelry is a powerful expression of love and connection because it is personal, lasting and wearable. It carries deep meaning through symbolism and customization, serves as a timeless keepsake and allows the wearer to carry love with them every day. Unlike other gifts, jewelry remains a constant, tangible reminder of special moments and relationships, making it a unique and cherished medium of emotional expression.
Can you share any memorable feedback or reactions from customers who have connected emotionally with a BOZ piece?
One of the most memorable customer stories came from a man who purchased a customized pendant in honor of his late mom. He wanted something valuable and deeply personal, so we designed a picture pendant with gold and diamonds, engraved with a special phrase she used to say to him. When he received it, he told me he was never going to take it off. He shared how touching the pendant brought him comfort.
Another unforgettable moment was from a bride who wore BOZ jewelry on her wedding day. She later sent a heartfelt message saying that her engagement ring and wedding band felt like an extension of her love story, not just accessories but symbols of a journey she would cherish forever.
These moments reaffirm why I create jewelry. BOZ is not just about adornment, it’s about emotion, memory and connection. Knowing that my pieces hold such sentimental value for my customers makes every design even more meaningful.
How do you strike a balance between creating jewelry that is artistically distinct yet still appealing and meaningful to a wide audience?
I find a balance by focusing on designs that transcends time , emotional connection and versatility. Minimalist elegance ensures longevity, while meaningful themes like love and celebration make each piece personally significant.
I also design for wearability, allowing BOZ jewelry to be cherished in both daily life and special moments. This blend of artistry, sentiment, and practicality makes each piece both unique and widely meaningful.
What challenges have you faced transitioning from the corporate world into the jewelry industry, and how have those challenges shaped your designs and business approach?
Transitioning came with challenges, but each one has shaped my design philosophy and business approach at BOZ.
Moving from accounting and HR to jewelry meant stepping into a world where creativity, craftsmanship and consumer trends drive success. I had to learn the technical aspects of jewelry design and production, which led me to pursue my GIA Applied Jewelry Professional Diploma to build a strong foundation.
Unlike a structured corporate job, entrepreneurship required me to wear multiple hats, designer, marketer and business strategist. I had to blend my corporate skills with creativity, ensuring that BOZ was not just artistically strong but also financially sustainable and customer-focused.
Also, coming from a corporate background, I was used to logic-driven decision-making, but jewelry is an emotional purchase. I had to shift my approach to connect with customers on a deeper level, designing pieces that hold meaning and sentiment, not just aesthetic appeal.
These challenges shaped my brand and designs by making me more intentional. I create jewelry that is not only beautiful and timeless but also emotionally resonant and business-savvy, ensuring BOZ thrives both creatively and commercially.
Your brand, BOZ, has a strong focus on creating a legacy of hope, love, and purpose. How do you see the brand evolving in the next few years, and what legacy do you hope to leave behind?
I envision BOZ evolving in reach and impact. I want BOZ to become a globally recognized brand while staying true to its essence. This includes expanding into new markets, collaborations and offering more bespoke pieces that tell individual stories. I am also looking at incorporating more philanthropy. I hope to use BOZ as a platform to give back, whether through initiatives supporting women or grief awareness. Jewelry has the power to uplift and I want BOZ to be a brand that not only creates beauty but also inspires and gives back. I also aim to continue designing pieces that transcend trends and hold sentimental value. My goal is for BOZ jewelry to be passed down through generations, carrying stories of love and life’s special moments.
I want to leave a legacy where BOZ is remembered not just for its jewelry, but for the emotions it captured and the lives it touched.
As a designer, how do you stay inspired and continue to innovate while staying true to the essence of love and meaningful connection that defines BOZ jewelry?
I stay inspired and innovative by drawing from personal experiences, timeless design and customer connections. My experiences with love, resilience and faith shape each creation, ensuring every piece carries deep emotional significance. I blend classic elegance with modern influences, keeping designs fresh yet enduring. Listening to my customers and getting feedback also helps me evolve while staying true to BOZ’s core values.
