Jewelry Shopping in Portland, Oregon

Thanks for the great response to my “Observations on Portland” article — so fun! And as I promised, here’s the follow-up post with the jewelry lo-down from the ‘hood. As I mentioned, one of the reasons I went there was to visit Twist. (This store is up in the 23rd Ave. area.) I’ve ordered from them online before, and I was so psyched to see the store in person. Not only was it much bigger than I had envisioned, but they carry items for the home as well. Who knew? The first case that magnetized me was filled with work by Judy Geib. This opal bracelet left me speechless. (There are so many times I wish I had a bottomless wallet…)

judy geib bracelet at twist portland
I was also fascinated with these crystal lockets from Loquet London. You can select from a vast variety of charms to put inside. Such a darling take on the charm theme!

loquet london at twist portland
These lovely studs by Suzanne Kalan with a black diamond halo “sparkled” my attention as well.

suzanne kalan studs at twist portland
Oh, and you can’t help but be intrigued by the signage and light when leaving the store!

twist portland oregon
Only a couple blocks away on 23rd Ave., I visited Gilt. They specialize in both vintage and antique fine jewelry (on the main floor), and vintage costume jewelry and new items from local designers up on the second floor. It was brimming with customers, and I was told that Sundays are a BIG day for engagement ring shopping. (I’m always learning something new!) Given Portland’s eco-conscious attitude, I’m not surprised that vintage rings are a hot commodity. They have a very clever color-coded box system, and the color of box tells you what metal the ring is set in. Here’s a (very small) sampling of their fabulous selection.

gilt vintage diamond rings
They have a large collection of lockets and Native American jewelry as well.

lockets at gilt portland
gilt portland native american jewlery
I did make a little purchase here. It’s a necklace by Amira (a Portland artisan), made of woven nylon thread, glass beads, and brass. It definitely appeals to the boho girl in my soul, and I like the mixed metals. And I just haaad to take home some sort of souvenir, right?!

amira necklace
Walking back towards my hotel downtown, I stopped at Frances May on SW Washington St. They carry some of my favorite clothing designers, and they have a well-edited selection of modern jewelry as well. I liked this large statement necklace by Erin Considine.

erin considine necklace
This necklace by Arielle de Pinto is made from woven metal. Total work of art!

arielle de pinto necklace
During my exploration of the east side, I went to Altar, as recommended by my fashionable bartendress, Emily, from the previous evening. I may have missed this had I not been chatting with her. This establishment features “northwest alternative handmade” items, and it’s definitely worth a stop. This organic wall display of necklaces was awesome!

iron oxide designs necklaces
iron oxide designs jewelry
It turns out that the designer of this line (called Iron Oxide Designs) is Amy Fox, and she is part-owner of the store and was manning the front desk that day. Cool!

These necklaces by Fox Tail Jewelry are very industrial boho, and they fit in perfectly with the Portland aesthetic.

fox tail jewelry portland
I unfortunately failed to note the designer of these tassel necklaces, but I love them!

tasssel necklaces from altar portland
While I tried to really pack in my shopping time during my two-day stay in Portland (and I certainly saw a lot!), these were my jewelry highlights. As you can see, there’s a real range in offerings. To be honest, I found more diversity in the jewelry than I did in fashion. Hope you enjoyed this virtual tour! And please let me know if you have a favorite spot to shop there as well. I always love hearing from you.

12 thoughts on “Jewelry Shopping in Portland, Oregon”

  1. It’s so cool that the younger generation wants to wear vintage and antique engagement rings!! You certainly found a large range of jewelry and so enjoyed “walking” around Portland with you.

  2. Great finds Amy! My fav’s are the black halo studs. If I did have a halo, it would be black diamonds…of course.

  3. Next time you come to Portland you should check out Maloy’s and The Real Mother Goose on SW 10th between SW Morrison and SW Alder.

    Maloy’s has beautiful vintage jewelry and The Real Mother Goose has a huge selection of handcrafted and local jewelry. The Saturday Market probably has a good number of local jewelry as well.

    1. Thanks for the great tips, Emily!! I did hear about the Saturday market, and I’m bummed that I missed it.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *