excited about...black spot books!

how sweet;  the most personal of gifts, a tiny journal to wear over your heart

wear one, wear several.

antique victorian lace cast into a ring

antique gun trigger necklace  (gun used in a train robbery!)

Margaux Kent, an artist from Philadelphia, makes these amazing little books with thick, hand-torn drawing paper covered in worn leather sourced from ripped old chairs from Holland; boots, shoes and bags collected from all across the country..She has a story behind every piece she makes, which made me want to carry this lovely line of jewelry in our newest store.  I love jewelry with soul..

We are Open!!

what a wonderful first weekend it was!  such an outpouring of support--thank you to all who came to see the new store!

just comparin'

Damen store, empty...

this is the case I was referring to;  see how large it is in here?

we're getting there!

decisions, decisions...

think we'll change the light wall to black-

look how tiny our furniture looks in this giant space!  that brown case on legs against the wall was the checkout area at the damen shop.  now it looks like dollhouse furniture..

unpacking a box;  wondering how we'll fill this place up!

new logo...

front of card

back of card

Gem to reopen before Thanksgiving!

Here is an exterior picture of the shop in Oak Park.

It is located at 108 north marion street.

(the store on the right with the "for lease" sign)

Below is a photo of the south wall with the exposed brick and water pipes.  The ceilings are 18 feet high and the floors are a warm, dark wood.  I was laying out a floor plan with scrap molding that was lying around...

Below right is a shot of the front window.  The store is about 4 times larger than bucktown was..

Bucktown lands trendy national jeweler | News | Crain's Chicago Business

We finally found out who pushed so hard to rent the space out from under us--it is hard to compete with a national brand.  Independent businesses begin in these neighborhoods, such as in soho and bucktown; it's a shame that in the end the street ends up looking like a shopping mall.  We wondered why this tenant wanted our particular space so badly when there was a space available right next door- we have a destination client that wants to buy jewelry and now they will be walking into his store.  We would have been fine with him right next door, as our jewelry is very different.  Alexis Bittar is fashion/costume jewelry for all intents and purposes, while ours is finer.  Perhaps the price point is similar, but the product is very, very different.
We offered to match the rent on our space, but as the story says,  ‘I want a major retailer. You’re a small business, you could go out of business any time,’”


Fortunately, that isn't the case.  We aren't going out of business, we are still growing.  Namaste. ;)




Bucktown lands trendy national jeweler | News | Crain's Chicago Business

Why the store is dark right now...(no, we are not going out of business)

Friends and customers, 

Gem Jewelry Boutique has closed up the shop at 1710 N. Damen Ave., in the Bucktown neighborhood of Chicago. While Gem maintained a solid performance at the location and intended to stay on, the owner of the building shifted his intentions very late in the lease renewal process in favor of a “major retailer”. Unfortunately, due to conditions and restrictions, we were unable to share this information with you until now. At some point our blog will chronicle the episode, if only to educate and entertain current and future independent retailers. At this moment we are negotiating a new address and will be up and open in quick order. We still have our wonderful jewelry available for purchase on our secure commerce website,  www.gemjewelryboutique.com . And you can continue to reach us at 773-384-7700, and at contact@gemjewelryboutique.com.  Thank you so much and see you soon!

Laura and Nick Kitsos,

Gem Jewelry Boutique

We are Moving!

Please stay tuned!

Recent Additions for early fall

18k gold with smoky quartz and green amethyst

14k rose gold and diamond earrings

oxidised silver diamond bangles

pyrite spike bracelet

hamsa bracelet with sapphire eye

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rose cut diamond earrings

More storefronts.

These are pics sent from my friend Lynn who just went to New York for the first time.  I love the cleaners and I just realized that I actually went into the sewing machine "store" and never even noticed the sewing machines in the window.  I just saw the clothes and lost myself..!

Just in from Turkey..

From Turkish designer Gasia, we have just received this beautiful collection of rose gold, blackened silver and rose cut diamond jewelry.  Carrie's moon is the necklace that was recently featured on the latest Sex and the City movie.

New Rings

3.33 carat colored diamond ring set in 18k white gold with pave diamonds  $1850

grey diamond set in 18k gold with brilliant diamond accent

arik kastan 14k rose gold and labradorite ring

raw diamond ring set in 14k gold with brilliant diamond accents

megan thorne 18k gold rose cut sapphire ring and 18k band with sapphire and tanzanite

18k white gold megan thorne nymph ring

18k gold megan thorne diamond ring

gemstone slices

These beautiful gemstone slices are being sent to India to be made into 18k gold delicate stacking rings.  I can't wait to see the final pieces!

pink tourmaline, aquamarine and indicolite ready to be made into 18k slice rings.

peruvian opal, rutilated quartz and labradorite slices