Indie jewelry shop recommendations, please
August 9, 2022 4:50 PM Subscribe
I'm looking to commemorate a life event with a special ring for myself and overwhelmed by the options (and cruft) on Etsy. Can you point me to US-accessible shops there or elsewhere online?
The only close to indie jewelry shop I know of otherwise is Local Eclectic, and while some of the options are nice generally speaking, they are not quite as modern or abstract in design as I'd like. I'm open to going custom but would rather see what's already out there first. Let's pretend price is little to no object. Leaving the question intentionally vague for variation in answers, but solid gold jewelry setting with lab-created stones such as moissanite and available in sizes 5-7 is a must. Thanks!
The only close to indie jewelry shop I know of otherwise is Local Eclectic, and while some of the options are nice generally speaking, they are not quite as modern or abstract in design as I'd like. I'm open to going custom but would rather see what's already out there first. Let's pretend price is little to no object. Leaving the question intentionally vague for variation in answers, but solid gold jewelry setting with lab-created stones such as moissanite and available in sizes 5-7 is a must. Thanks!
I love White Space Jewelry. Hannah Hoffman is also fantastic. Baleen also has great stuff, but may not be quite as fine jewelry oriented as you're looking for. I've bought things from all 3 of these stores and am super pleased with everything. The owner of white space custom made me a size 4.25 ring and offered to resize for free if it didn't turn out to fit right (it was perfect, so I didn't need to take her up on it). So, highly recommend her customer service!
Not so indie, but Catbird is also very popular and might be worth a look if you don't know them.
For vintage, Chelsea Girl (her Etsy store is empty but she sells on Instagram) might be up your alley as she specializes in gold pieces. The store owner has a second account called Tales From the Junk Pile where she sells vintage gold pieces by weight.
posted by snaw at 5:53 PM on August 9, 2022
Not so indie, but Catbird is also very popular and might be worth a look if you don't know them.
For vintage, Chelsea Girl (her Etsy store is empty but she sells on Instagram) might be up your alley as she specializes in gold pieces. The store owner has a second account called Tales From the Junk Pile where she sells vintage gold pieces by weight.
posted by snaw at 5:53 PM on August 9, 2022
I always recommend going local for this - you can filter Etsy by your location, then cross-reference the shops that come up on Facebook to see who is doing local shows. Or just check for craft, 'flea', indie type festival shows in your area. For example, I bought a gorgeous necklace from Ayesha Safa Jewelry, which is one woman, minimal online presence, who adjusted the length to suit me, after trying on a piece at a winter arts market in town.
posted by cobaltnine at 6:43 PM on August 9, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by cobaltnine at 6:43 PM on August 9, 2022 [2 favorites]
I also buy from local jewelery designers. My favorite here in Buffalo is Bon Fire Craft. Her work is stunning and I love the pieces I have.
posted by RobinofFrocksley at 6:51 PM on August 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by RobinofFrocksley at 6:51 PM on August 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
Two Bay Area places I like are Melissa Joy Manning and Esqueleto - the first is a designer, the second a retailer that carries lots of beautiful stuff by smallish studios (their main shop is in LA).
posted by Lawn Beaver at 7:06 PM on August 9, 2022
posted by Lawn Beaver at 7:06 PM on August 9, 2022
Ooh, jewelry shopping, my favorite!
These signet rings with enamel and diamonds are on my wishlist.
If you like kinetic jewelry, check out Dana C. Fear’s work. There’s more silver than gold here, but you might be able to get something custom.
There are some pretty Art Deco style pieces at A Thousand Joys.
I like the organic and whimsical designs at Sirciam Jewelry.
posted by Maeve at 7:22 PM on August 9, 2022 [2 favorites]
These signet rings with enamel and diamonds are on my wishlist.
If you like kinetic jewelry, check out Dana C. Fear’s work. There’s more silver than gold here, but you might be able to get something custom.
There are some pretty Art Deco style pieces at A Thousand Joys.
I like the organic and whimsical designs at Sirciam Jewelry.
posted by Maeve at 7:22 PM on August 9, 2022 [2 favorites]
People already said some of the things I was going to suggest, like Catbird. A couple of others:
Pieces of Starr -- beautiful, celestial themed, really unique
Also really unique Atelier Narce and more classic looking (with lots of salt and pepper diamonds) -- Midwinter
posted by virve at 9:57 PM on August 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
Pieces of Starr -- beautiful, celestial themed, really unique
Also really unique Atelier Narce and more classic looking (with lots of salt and pepper diamonds) -- Midwinter
posted by virve at 9:57 PM on August 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
I liked NYC-based Ken and Dana Design. Mostly custom wedding/engagement rings, a focus on ethical sourcing & lab-grown stones, designs that are organic and elegant.
posted by hovey at 5:51 AM on August 10, 2022
posted by hovey at 5:51 AM on August 10, 2022
I recently graduated and got a custom class ring made because I didn't like any of the typical offerings for class rings. I went with https://www.custommade.com/.
I love my ring! And the process was awesome.
posted by poppunkcat at 9:47 AM on August 10, 2022
I love my ring! And the process was awesome.
posted by poppunkcat at 9:47 AM on August 10, 2022
We bought our wedding bands from Lolide (she also has her own storefront I buy from now). She really helped us out when we made a slight mistake with sizing, and I've bought numerous other lovely things from her as well. She often works with moissanite.
I am also a fan of Down To The Wire Designs (one of my earliest Etsy faves) who also has his own storefront here.
Both of these shops tend toward modern or eclectic designs, often used mixed metals, and definitely make their own jewelry.
posted by oneirodynia at 7:10 PM on August 10, 2022
I am also a fan of Down To The Wire Designs (one of my earliest Etsy faves) who also has his own storefront here.
Both of these shops tend toward modern or eclectic designs, often used mixed metals, and definitely make their own jewelry.
posted by oneirodynia at 7:10 PM on August 10, 2022
3 Rexes made my wedding set and many other pieces I own, and FireWireWorks made my engagement ring. Gorgeous stuff!
posted by getawaysticks at 7:28 PM on August 10, 2022
posted by getawaysticks at 7:28 PM on August 10, 2022
Bario Neal uses recycled jewelry materials and does custom work. A friend got a gorgeous engagement ring from them.
Erie Basin does interesting modern work in addition to carrying vintage jewelry.
posted by sepviva at 7:25 AM on August 11, 2022
Erie Basin does interesting modern work in addition to carrying vintage jewelry.
posted by sepviva at 7:25 AM on August 11, 2022
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posted by yueliang at 5:41 PM on August 9, 2022 [1 favorite]