Catherine Angiel

In 1993, Catherine Angiel opened her first store. She desired a welcoming environment since she was not a fan of walking into jewel shops. It was a rigid and pushy environment that featured pieces with no spark but consumed by an ordinary, cheap shiny ambiance. Catherine wanted to create a cool environment for fine jewelry where the cool factor was emphasized. The designs should breathe in the cool essence without compromising the jewellery store. The creations and the owner's persona needed to exist in harmony with the environment. She found the best location for her vision and store in Greenwich Village. Catherine knew she wanted it in the Greenwich Village area since it is her home in which she is an artist, and so it was a great place to locate a store. The Greenwich Avenue location seemed perfect for her store since there are no jewelry shops in that region and the stores sold items at high prices. The avenue is a rare avenue with the West Village, and it is characterized by a rich history of culture and fashion (Catherine Angiel Jewelry, 2022). The 700 square foot store is appealing, and the handmade designs with exclusive creation (Catherine Angiel Jewelry, 2022). The store is small, but it is an intimate and welcoming place since it has original handmade designs. Catherine Angiel founded the shop, and it was her vision to have a boutique with an intimate and exclusive environment. In her opening event in 1993, she advocated for partners that are in same-sex marriage to be allowed their rights. She was a visionary who wanted a place where people can fight for their rights, such as the right to equality in marriage. There was no place for such people to marry or hold events such as celebrations in jewelry stores. She made the store a place where people would feel proud to be in a marriage since all people could celebrate it. She invented the term "commitment rings" to replace the marriage ring, and this term has been widely used across the globe. Catherine is an artist who is dedicated to quality and design. When one steps into the gallery, rock 'n roll music screams on the stereo, all the lights and shadows, and it is easy to feel the vibe. The experience is refreshing, from the brand and the design to the environment where the gallery is located. The artist is the first female gallery owner to be awarded America's Coolest Store by Instore magazine (Catherine Angiel Jewelry, 2022).  This award demonstrates Catherine's dedication to her dream and this journey. After two decades, in practice, she has transformed her dream into a real business that offers quality jewelry designs. The artist has attracted a large clientele and some of the best artists and poets in New York City to her gallery. Some of her clients include Mary Ellen Mark and Patti Smith, who always visit her shop for this authentic design (Catherine Angiel Jewelry, 2022).

Catherine Angiel receives rave reviews on her customer service, design ability, and how easy and quick was to work with. Clients appreciated the opportunity to be part of the design process, with constant input from Catherine and always knowing what was going on with their orders. People who bought Catherine's rings were amazed at the stunning pieces and said they received a lot of praise for them. Clients were appreciative of how Catherine was able to work their family heirlooms into new pieces of jewelry. So many people praised how the jewelry was unique and really in tune with their tastes. Most said they had more compliments on the jewelry than anything else. Purchasers were also pleased that their orders came earlier than the estimated 6-week delivery window. Most people would recommend Catherine. One young actor found Catherine while on a cruise around the world, and, despite looking at other jewelers in every city he visited, he knew that Catherine was the one he had to buy from. Another couple also told the story of how they came to NYC from Australia to be married. In the midst of the chaos of trying to find the right rings, Catherine's store was there, and the couple was amazed by the warmth and effort Catherine put into making a special day even more special. There are a few repeat customers who always say that they would return. So, the majority of the clients had a great experience with Catherine.