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Getting the light right is not just an art, but a science as well for jewelry stores, which must provide the best light for diamonds and other jewelry as well as being flattering to clients’ faces when they look in the mirror. But when it comes to choosing or creating the perfect centerpiece in the form of a chandelier for the jewelry retail space, that’s where whimsy and self-expression have a place. Here are some standout examples of retailers who employ light fixtures as dramatic focal points in their store.

By Eileen McClelland

The Italian

When reimagining the de Boulle flagship store in Dallas, owner Karen de Boulle found two sparkly, eye-catching chandeliers made in Italy. The airy and inviting design celebrates the arched ceiling that runs down the center of the store. The lighting, too, draws attention to the space. “The chandeliers helped ground everything and they give the cases below a sense of place in the store,” says Laura Loreman, an interior designer with Gensler, the global architecture, design and planning firm in charge of the renovation.

The Carnelian

Barry Peterson’s grand chandelier was handmade in house from red and orange carnelians and is one of a kind, although he is not opposed to creating another one for special customers. The backdrop for the chandelier is a cascading, vaulted ceiling recess made of Malaysian walnut. Peterson last redesigned Barry Peterson Jewelers, on Sun Valley Road in Ketchum, ID, in 2019. He designed the 5,000 square foot space and also served as main contractor, outsourcing as needed to local talent.

The Budget Buster

When Art + Soul owner Debbie Klein of Boulder, CO, designed her new light and airy space, she knew it needed a dash of drama. The key to the whole space for Klein was the chandelier. “In the old location, we had a cool sculptural door that people loved,” she says. “I wanted to take it with me, but it was going to cost me $15,000 to move. So, I found this amazing light fixture by Gabriel Scott that looks like huge diamonds to be my new signature piece. I wanted something interesting, artistic and feminine, and when I saw this — it was a little bit more than the budget, but I knew it was meant to be.” Since then, celebrity Kylie Jenner has installed the same fixture in her kitchen — in purple, which can be seen in the pages of Architectural Digest. But, as Klein points out, “We had it first!”

The Gnarliest

In 2019, Jennifer Farnes of Colorado Springs, CO, bought her building from her landlords while knocking out walls and expanding her business from 1,200 to 4,300 square feet. Still, she had time for another priority, adding something particularly pretty to the ultra-practical expansion plans for Revolution Jewelry Works. “I told my husband I have to have a chandelier, the biggest, prettiest, gnarliest chandelier I can find.” She wound up with a glam 350-pound version of her dream.

The Custom

Classic Creations owner Jordan Freiberg had always wanted a chandelier in the store. But when he told store designer Anna Simone his idea for the new Toronto location, which opened in 2018, she said that a chandelier would take attention away from the jewelry. Instead, Simone designed two custom pieces that represent Classic Creations with conjoined Cs — and they also look like rings. Simone’s vision was to incorporate a European flair while translating the store’s colors of black, gold and white into a modern space. Black wooden fixtures with gold trim pop against a luxurious backdrop of swirling marble walls and floors.

The Wow Factor

At Waterfall Jewelers in Waterford, MI, owned by Tom Brown and Chris Strong, interior designer Leslie McGwire created a figure-eight selling area illuminated with two matching ultra-modern crystal chandeliers that look like shimmering bursts of water droplets. They’re anchored in a cloud fixture fitted with color changeable LED lighting. The lighting showcases the jewelry while also shining through the front and side windows of the store, catching the attention of customers driving by day or night.

The Updated

During a 2018 renovation of Ellis Jewelers of Frankfort in Frankfort, IN, owned by Carolyn Ellis and Michael Ellis, Waterford crystal chandeliers from the 1960s and ‘70s were hung inside rusted metal orbs to give them a contemporary look. Together with the smooth gray walls, recycled barn wood and stacked stone fireplace, they work to create a comfortably elegant ambience.

In the Loupe

The luminescent watch room at The Loupe by JB Hudson in Minneapolis is part of a 400 square foot open and inviting jewelry and watch enclave built in 2018 within Minneapolis’s men’s clothing and lifestyle retailer, Martin Patrick 3.

The Eternal

At Baribault Jewelers in Glastonbury, CT, the inspiration for the family-owned company’s 2018 renovation was light, both natural light provided by wide windows and a glass door, and mood lighting courtesy of a chandelier inspired by a diamond eternity band and discovery at Renovation Hardware.

Wrought Iron Details

At Crocker’s Fine Jewelry in Texarkana, TX, owned by Shane Woodruff, the entry way is accented with two 3-foot-tall gas lanterns scaling the sides of large custom built wrought iron doors, which feature the Crocker’s logo “CJ” in the center. Interior designer Leslie McGwire carried wrought iron details throughout the store in iron chandeliers and wall candles. Gold in the chandeliers and subtle specks of diamonds in wall coverings add to a luxurious effect.

The Glam

At Zorell’s in Bismarck, ND, owned by Tim and Sharon Ell, the Wine & Shine bar area is aesthetically elevated by glamorous, Art Deco-style chandeliers, inspired by classic Hollywood movies of the 1940s and ’50s. The interior was designed by Leslie McGwire.

The Dramatic

This candelabra-style chandelier is a dramatic feature of Burnell’s Fine Jewelry, owned by Robin Lies and partners and known for its custom work. The 2015 renovation included the addition of a design suite, a coffee bar with a TV and green-energy lighting.

Jewelers Shine a Light on Distinctive Fixtures in Stores

Jewelers Shine a Light on Distinctive Fixtures in Stores

Getting the light right is not just an art, but a science as well for jewelry stores, which must provide the best light for diamonds and other jewelry as well as being flattering to clients’ faces when they look in the mirror. But when it comes to choosing or creating the perfect centerpiece in the form of a chandelier for the jewelry retail space, that’s where whimsy and self-expression have a place. Here are some standout examples of retailers who employ light fixtures as dramatic focal points in their store.

By Eileen McClelland