Doyle and Doyle

I never thought I would get to review a jewelry store, other than Claire's or Cinderella Story, but my recent engagement seems to be paying off in more ways than one.

My fiance went to a little store on Orchard Street called Doyle and Doyle. Run by two sisters, they have a simple goal of making jewelry shopping more egalitarian and stress-free. They carry "a rare mix of pieces from the Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, Art Deco, Art Nouveau and Retro periods, alongside select contemporary designs."

While the front showroom can be dazzling, the sisters have many, many "mountings" in the back: rings without the stones. They will then source the stones for you to make your very own special, custom ring.

I love my engagement ring. It looks like an heirloom from generations back (in fact, the mounting is vintage) and its utterly unique and absolutely perfect.

You can shop online and they had a lot of pieces for $500 or less. I know that the next time I have a big gift to buy for someone, its going to be with Doyle and Doyle.

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Handmade Galleries

I think gift giving can be an incredibly difficult task, especially when that person is of a unique and quirky nature. In other words, going to Crate and Barrel isn't going to cut it for them. These people are into culture and hip things. They go to art shows and see live music on a weekly basis. They have kids who wear black onesies with "Got Goth" on it. They are into Retro appliances and whimsical music boxes. You get the point.

I found a place in Los Angeles, California which can take care of all those needs whether you're looking for something rare or you are looking to get that special someone earrings with Chinese symbols on them. The best part about Handmade Galleries is that everything is original art . They are all diverse pieces with individual style. The store is quite large and in every nook and cranny there is something interesting and distinctive. They have handmade jewelry, stationary, greeting cards, clothing, baby wear, dishes, home decor, etc. A very cool place to find the perfect gift....Christmas will be here before you know it!

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