This New Jewelry Collaboration Helps You To Quit Vaping In Style

The first time I saw a Juul, I was pretty shocked to learn that it wasn't a USB drive — though I did lean on this resemblance when my mom once caught me charging it in my room. I was 18 years old at a house party with friends, and someone pulled out the sleek, black device to show off its color-changing, light-up features. Up until that point, the depictions of nicotine that younger generations observed were "Smoking Kills" ads that had been drilled into Gen Z brains as a result of anti-tobacco campaigns. I grew up with a dad who smoked, and the universally recognized scent often clung to his jackets and car interiors, so it never really appealed to me.

But this fruity-flavored, aerodynamically-engineered device? It seemed to make the habit palatable, and I wanted to find out more. Now, years later, I've learned that acquiring a nicotine habit is less than palatable — you know what they say, curiosity killed the cat. I knew I wasn't alone — according to the CDC, as of 2021, 11% of Gen Z individuals ages 18-24 vaped regularly, but many of us struggled to find any "quitting" brands that made kicking the habit appealing. In the same way that the miniature device initially caught my eye due to its almost fashionable design, I was on a journey to find out…could quitting be chic, too?

This is exactly the question that Hilary Dubin and Caroline Huber set out to answer with their brand, Jones. The two developed nicotine therapy mints after their own love/hate relationships with Juuls. They faced the same problems many of us had. The duo immediately wanted to depart from unwelcoming quitting approaches, most of which are wrapped in sterile packaging and marketed towards men. They wanted to show that not only can quitting be fashionable, but it can be done on your own terms.

"We've been best friends since we were eight. We met on a soccer team, went to high school together, both ended up at college together and then separately started vaping right after we graduated," Dubin reflected. "We eventually both wanted to quit and realized that so many people were having the same problem that we were having, but the quitting tools that existed were outdated and embarrassing."

Huber expanded upon this, sharing their vision for creating their own unique "quitting" product. "The more we dug in, the more we learned about nicotine itself and the fact that it's not just about the physiological symptoms of withdrawal that some of the products on the shelves can help you with, but it's also all of the psychological symptoms that are the other half of the battle. None of the existing options offered support for both. So, that's when we decided to dive in and start building Jones."

Their Jones journey began in 2023, when the two lifelong friends teamed up to put the product to market. It comes in the form of small white pills encased in a metal pill box, reminiscent of an old family heirloom.

"We just both really believe fundamentally in beautifully designed products. We've seen cigarette companies, for decades, design stuff that's highly aspirational — tied to fashion and design. So, it makes no sense that quitting products wouldn't similarly have deep roots in design and make people aspire to live healthier lives," Huber shared.

Dubin expanded on the branding and visual strategy of Jones, "When we started Jones, we wanted it to be discreet. We wanted it to be something you could put on the table at a restaurant, and nobody is going to bat an eye. In fact, they're going to look at it and think, 'Oh, what is that? That's so beautiful.' We want people to feel proud of their decision to quit."

Later, the two launched an app, Quit With Jones, that allows users to create healthy habits backed by behavioral science. You can also create communities or groups on the app, so you don’t have to quit alone. Though it's always nice to have support in numbers, the two maintain that quitting is an extremely personal journey. They wanted to foster an understanding, where all phases of that journey are accepted. On the platform, you can track your progress and make shared groups to hold your friends — and yourself — accountable.

They've even tapped into the wider fashion and beauty industries, which are two industries that run rampant with vapers. Attending any fashion show gives you an inside look into just how many people lean on nicotine as a stress reliever. Teaming up with brands like Wiederhoeft for Spring/Summer 2025, many show attendees were gifted their own Jones tins. Now, Huber and Dubin are taking that synergy one step further in collaboration with jewelry brand Monbouquette.

Monbouquette was founded by Lily Monbouquette and her mom, Jenny, who both champion bold expression. Their pieces usually have a functional twist, like 2-in-1 convertible Drop and Hatch earrings or the Petite Maze fidget ring. Not only did the two align with Dubin and Huber's vision of creating aesthetically-intentional products, but the practicality of their designs lent well to this collaboration — they figured, why not make a piece of jewelry that can also help those on their quitting journey?

Huber reflects on the partnership, "We're aware that jewelry and fashion designers are the ones who are really setting the bar in terms of being tastemakers. So, if we want to make an aspirational brand, we should work with the people who are really at the forefront of taste and design."

"There's an element of playfulness in everything they design. We wanted that to come through with the pendant — this doesn't have to be so serious, and there should be something light and fun about this next part of your journey," Huber added.

Lily Monbouquette dove into the visual inspiration as well: "Our pillbox design also taps into a broader vintage revival we're seeing right now, and historically, jewelry often incorporated clever functional elements - from carriage covers and perfume pendants to poison rings. Those are all things my mom and I draw inspiration from at Monbouquette. This piece is our own contemporary spin on vintage cigarette cases and match safes from the 1920s and earlier."

And through this collaboration, it seems the founders have struck the balance they were searching for, inspiring others to feel empowered in their quitting journey, because quitting can absolutely be chic. They've proven it.

"Obviously, smoking can be portrayed in the media as this cool and timeless thing, but the reality of it is that it speeds up your rate of aging. It's terrible for your skin and hair. Making quitting chic is exactly what we're trying to do with Jones. What's chicer than having beautiful skin, hair and a healthier life?" Dubin posited. And as for what's to come? They may have a few more collabs up their sleeves, but first…a new flavor! Huber shared the inside scoop: "Cherry Jones launches in June — and the tin is extremely chic."

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