Jewel Salon opened up just prior to Christmas in the storefront at 425 Elmwood, between The Wine Thief and Tabree. Formerly, it was Karl Salon, where Karl Radetich styled hair in the back of the shop and showed the jewelry designs he made up front. Presently, Ann Forrester has taken up jewelry store operations, sending Karl upstairs to ply the hair biz.
“We offer everything from faux to fabulous,” Forrester says, “with prices that range from $10 to the thousands.” Along with jewelry, you’ll discover gifts, accessories, some antiques, men’s silk ties and an odd piece of furniture or two that may make it to the selling floor.
“One never knows,” Forrester says in reference to what a shopper might find at Jewel Salon on any given day, “but all of it is unique. Some of the jewelry is dainty, and some is quite bold. There’s so much to choose from…and we use some local designers besides Karl.”
And then there are the pearls. Karl has a special affinity for pearls, and because he still goes to New York City to style hair a few times per month, he spends his free time scouring the jewelry wholesalers for components for his next designs. And he loves pearls of every kind, shape and color.
“I hand-pick these between 46th and 48th street usually,” Karl says. He pulls out a bag and shows me yet-to-be-strung pearls in the palest of pink, perfectly round, and about 10mm in circumference. “I’ll do these any way a client wants,” he says. “Knotted, with a gold clasp, or silver if they don’t want to spend that much.” Seeing my delight, he pulls out unstrung rubies, emeralds, labradorite. “The sapphires are coming,” he teases.
His prices are quite low. “You obviously haven’t priced your labor,” I say.
“Since when have you priced gems before wholesale?” Karl asks. He’s got me there. On top of passing the savings on to clients, Karl’s designs are beautifully unique. But that’s what he does. “I’ve been doing design stuff for years,” he says. Other than hair, he did the inside of La Tee Da Restaurant on Allen Street. He also owned an antique store back in the day. Want to see the gold-lined Versace dishes?
Karl plans on getting deeper into bridal jewelry-making as well as pre-made bridal accouterments. In the meanwhile, even if you’re not planning the big day, he’ll help you design anything, from cast rings to strung pearls. “If a client wants something in particular,” Karl says, “I can find it.” And then he’ll make it up, just for you.
The shop and its keepers are warm and friendly, and the wares are affordable and precious. “We have every price range,” Forrester says. “We’ll help you find what you want.”
Jewel Salon
425 Elmwood Ave
716.885.0500