Shop Distinctive Jewelry From These Boston Craftswomen
Meet five female-fronted jewelers adding a little sparkle to the city, one handcrafted necklace, bracelet, and ring at a time.
Nicole Fichera’s ’80s-inspired “Chill Pill” earrings. / Courtesy photo
For the maximalist
Nicole Fichera
It began as a happy accident. Not wanting to waste materials while laser-cutting coasters as a thank-you gift, former Boston-based architect Nicole Fichera made earrings from the leftovers and posted them on Instagram, much to the delight of her followers. Flash-forward a year, and she’s now selling her colorful, lightweight acrylic earrings online and in the Beacon Hill boutique Ouimillie.
A set of emerald, sapphire, and diamond rings from Millie & Noah. / Courtesy photo
For the individualist
Millie & Noah
Itching to design a shiny keepsake, but don’t know where to start? Bring your ideas to Newton-based Jen Tran, whose background in biotech and passion for baubles turned out to be the perfect wiring to hatch Millie & Noah, a newly launched jewelry website that lets users design their own handmade pieces. Depending on your level of confidence, you can choose to create a set of interlocking rings with the help of the tactile “Design Kit,” available at All Too Human in the Back Bay, dream up baubles online with the “Virtual Atelier,” or collaborate directly with Tran on a fully bespoke masterpiece.
For the soul searcher
Colby Davis
There are times when you welcome your mother’s advice ringing in your ears, but other times, it’s refreshing to hear words of wisdom from someone else’s mom. Enter Colby Davis, a Marblehead-based jewelry line launched five years ago by Lia Lombara and her daughters, Lexi and Taylor. Their collection of popular charm necklaces, available at several stores across the country (including the Back Bay’s Lux, Bond & Green), feature an engraved image on one side and an inspirational message on the other.
A topaz necklace from Amelia Rose’s Chatham collection. / Courtesy photo
For the traditionalist
Amelia Rose
Just like a bouquet of roses, Amelia Deren Steppacher’s Hopkinton-based jewelry line is simple, classic, and full of vibrant color. Pieces typically showcase a single stone on a four-pronged setting, but take a closer look and you’ll notice thoughtful details like a bracelet’s elegant toggled clasp or a necklace’s hand-wrapped beads and pavé crystal accents. The appeal of such effortless design is clear: Steppacher recently announced that the popular bridal brand BHLDN will now sell her earrings.
For the environmentalist
Irina Victoria
Irina Margaitis abandoned her childhood pastime of making jewelry when she became a scientist. But she never forgot her youthful creativity, and in 2014 she took a leap of faith and started her own line of minimalist metal pieces out of her home west of Boston. Since then her work has been spotted on celebrities such as Katherine Schwarzenegger and on popular shows like The Bachelor. Proving that art and science go hand in hand, Margaitis recently made strides toward building a more sustainable business model by working only with precious metals that generate less waste, as well as lab-grown and recycled gemstones.
