Take a stroll down Cherry Creek’s East 3rd Avenue, and the glimmering windows of a new storefront will catch your eye. But step inside, and you’ll find familiar faces.
Following a months-long relocation and renovation, Element 79 Contemporary Jewelry just opened its doors on September 1 in a brand-new location, mere blocks up the street from its former home. And while the location is as sparkling as the treasures within, the best parts of the Element 79 shopping experience make a welcome return. The new shop boasts everything patrons loved before, but more of it—twice the space, expanded bridal services and a jam-packed calendar of trunk shows.
But owner Carol Ferguson and marketing director and assistant manager Christine Mulcahy didn’t stop there. Some elements are truly brand-new: Services for vintage and estate jewelry, studio space for repairs and custom work, a private consultation room, ten or so new designers and expanded online offerings, including the ability to customize and price out designs online.
“The location is new, but also basically all the work in here is going to be new as well,” Christine explains. “We have some carryover, but we’ve really selected new pieces from designers we already have, so everything is going to feel completely fresh.”
Element 79’s collection boasts designs from 60+ designers, each with their own unique aesthetic.
“They’re special,” Christine says. “You can feel that connection when you wear it. Each designer has their own aesthetic, and there’s something special about why we bring them in the store…If you want clean and modern or hammered and old-world or vintage or art deco – we can help you.”
But it’s not just about the connection between designer and customer. At Element 79, that connection permeates the entire process, from the moment a customer enters to when they hand pieces down to future generations.
“It’s a personal adornment,” Carol explains. “It’s a personal art collection that evolves with your style over time, and we feel really strongly that jewelry is a talisman. It connects you to people, and it connects you to events in your life. It’s really important that people buy fine jewelry with its own intrinsic value. Make it worthy of those moments and that personal collection. Make it worthy to pass down.”
Whether shopping for something new or looking for a solution for an older piece, Element 79’s team has a woman for the job. Carol has more than 20 years of experience as a bench jeweler and custom jewelry designer. Christine is actually a former customer with a long, passionate history collecting jewelry. Vintage specialist Margaret Maggard is an expert on the history of jewelry and previously ran her own vintage jewelry business. Each in a different decade of life, they come to jewelry with different perspectives, tastes and niches of expertise. Anastacia Juarez is the newest member and is herself a passionate metalsmith.
“We do a lot of things here collaboratively,” Carol says. “We all have different perspectives because of our ages, but we all have an interest in the art form. I mean it’s unbelievable, how perfect our situation is.”
To shop Element 79’s collection, visit their new location at 2703 E. 3rd Avenue or find them online at Element79Jewelry.com.