INSTORE Design Awards 2023 – Cindy Edelstein Award

Published

2 years ago

May 30, 2023

INSTORE Staff

Rachel Atherley
Rachel Atherley Jewelry

(845) 594-7399, rachelatherley.com

Rachel Atherley’s fate of becoming a jewelry designer may have been sealed simply by being born in the Treasure State of Montana. Atherley grew up collecting pyrite and quartz from hiking trails, developing an immense appreciation for nature given she was surrounded by the majesty of the Rocky Mountains and its incredible wilderness reserves. That influence combined with her creative sensibilities led her down a path to jewelry design, where she’s clearly doing something right.

In this year’s INSTORE Design Awards, she racked up three First Place wins in the Best Earring Under $5,000, Best Necklace Over $5,000, and Best Pearl Jewelry Under $5,000 categories, as well as the prestigious new COUTURE’s Choice Award for INSTORE for her Talisman Charm Chain necklace. For these wins and her compelling design DNA, she’s also taking the prestigious title of 2023 Cindy Edelstein Emerging Designer.

Her signature style is a tapered line, a simplified repeating pattern that could be taken from any natural element seen on one of her hometown hikes: the curve of a feather, the beak of an owl, the silhouette of a bird’s plume, and of course, any of the rocks and gems found in abundance in her home state.

“My pieces speak to simplicity and quintessential forms in nature,” she says. “That can be seen in my Plumage earrings, where a cascade of gemstones graduates to a point. That design celebrates my love of color and is inspired by the changing colors of a hummingbird’s chest.”

Atherley’s work is in 35 stores nationwide. See her work in person at the August edition of Melee the Show in New York City.

Butterfly Charm Chain necklace in 18K yellow gold with Boulder opal doublets (28 TCW), $9,955 Photo: Emily Patzner

Owl ring in 18K yellow gold with kyanite (3.0 TCW), $770 Photo: Cole Rodgers

Lage Peacock earrings in 14K yellow gold with kyanite (70.0 TCW), $1,675 Photo: Sandy Sun

Ready to Relocate? Wilkerson Makes Your Move Seamless

When Brockhaus Jewelry decided to leave their longtime West Main Street storefront for a standalone building elsewhere in Norman, Oklahoma, owners John Brockhaus and Brad Shipman faced a familiar challenge: how to efficiently reduce inventory before the big move. Their solution? Partnering with liquidation specialists Wilkerson for a second time. "We'd already experienced Wilkerson's professionalism during a previous sale," Shipman recalls. "But their approach to our relocation event truly impressed us. They strategically prioritized our existing pieces while tactfully introducing complementary merchandise as inventory levels decreased." The carefully orchestrated sale didn't just meet targets—it shattered them. Asked if they'd endorse Wilkerson to industry colleagues planning similar transitions—whether relocating, retiring, or refreshing their space—both partners were emphatic in their approval. "The entire process was remarkably straightforward," Shipman notes. "Wilkerson delivered a well-structured program, paired us with a knowledgeable advisor, and managed every detail flawlessly from concept to completion."