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Image via Alexis Bittar
Image via Alexis Bittar

Eleven Shops to Find Superb Jewelry on Any Budget in Chicago

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Image via Alexis Bittar

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The little things in life are what matter. We're not talking about feelings, oh no. Today we're talking about jewelry. Sometimes it's the chunky and dramatic, other times it's the itty bitty gems, morsels of lucite and precious metals. Jewelry shops in this city are far and wide and too many to count; it would nearly impossible to detail every one of them, but here's a start. After the jump we've got a list of jewelry shops and boutiques that have a great selection of these shimmering wearables. Included are notes from the low-end, affordable and moderately affordable right on up to some of the city's finest designer destinations.

Shopping elsewhere? Check out our jewelry guides for New York, Philly, Boston, San Francisco, and LA, as well as online.


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ACE International Trading Co.

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If you plan on going in here to shop for jewelry, you're obviously on a pretty strict budget. But hey, it's worth the exploration. Ace is located smack dab in the strip of stores in Uptown/Ravenswood that are mostly only assessable to business owners with a Tax I.D., though at Ave, if you don't have one they just charge you tax. There are no designer names but literally thousands and thousands of pieces. Rings start out at $3 and tiaras max out at $120
For over a decade, Hazel on Montrose has been purveyor of quirky housewares, cards, locally-made jewelry and internationally recognized accessories. Shop Presh, Karisue, Sara Lenart and Alex Hossler among others.

The Left Bank

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The Left Bank is mostly focused on bridal jewelry, though some styles are convertible for other special occasions or just pretending you're getting married. The range is vast in the statement cuffs and bracelets arena but the boutique also has many earrings, brooches.

Art Effect

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Self proclaimed as the greatest gift store in Chicago, they might just be right. Among the thousands of styles in the store across hundreds of vendors, a top category has always been jewelry. In its 10-year existence, the store has stocked many names from Alexis Bittar, David Aubrey, Melissa Joy Manning to to-name statement costume pieces for under $50. Need a more personal gift? No problem! There boutique also stocks Dogeared necklaces with charms representing the little things in life we commonly forget or want to let everyone know about.
On the North end of the Damen strip Virtu is quietly reeling in stylish clients with the work of more than three dozen of the country's most talented metalsmiths. Shop Saundra Messinger, Dahlia Kanner, Philippa Roberts, Ananda Khalsa, Jennifer Dawes, Rebecca Overmann, Jamie Joseph, Margaret Solow and Anne Sportun among others.

Alexis Bittar

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Bestie to Iris Apfel, Alexis Bittar opened his Bucktown Boutique in March of 2011 to sell his award winning line of lucite creations, vintage finds and insane dramatic neckpieces, pins and gemstone rings.

Love and Pieces

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For two years, just before the recent Bucktown boom, Love and Pieces has maintained a reputation for being that cute jewelry boutique were everything is super accessible and easy to wear. Looking for something custom (maybe bridal) and have a vision for it? The owner Michelle can do nearly anything with her own tools. It's a small shop and easy to miss if you're just strolling by, but solely for the cuteness (and the shop dog) we're telling you this shop is tip top.

The Silver Room

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As one Yelper rhetorically asks, "Where does a dude go for tasteful dude bling?" The Silver Room is a longstanding retailer on the Milwaukee Ave strip and has provided a place of culture for accessory collectors. It has been 16 years of selling watches and jewelry and there are no signs that business is slowing. Shop Nooka watches, Billy Kirk wallets and chicago-based Susan Elizabeth Designs among many more local jewelry designers.

Elements

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Elements is one of those delicious boutiques you just can't help yourself to not try on or try out everything. Yea, you can get a $4,600 pair of Graziela Pantanal 14K Gold Chrysoprase Earrings but you can also get a charm bracelet like this one from The Elements Collection for $46. The range of goods (and quality) is why we're including Elements in this map of amazing jewelry stores.
Representing thousands of SKUs and boasting a range of styles from delicately elegant to adventuresome avant-garde, Ikram on Huron isn't the destination for every day jewelry—though we'd love to wear these morsels every day. Shop Mary Esses, Chrome Hearts, Ten Thousand Things, Loree Rodkin and more.

Pistachios

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The long history of Pistachios has focused on handmade wearable objects from 120 international artists. The majority of these artists have a contemporary design aesthetic and hail from Asia.

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ACE International Trading Co.

If you plan on going in here to shop for jewelry, you're obviously on a pretty strict budget. But hey, it's worth the exploration. Ace is located smack dab in the strip of stores in Uptown/Ravenswood that are mostly only assessable to business owners with a Tax I.D., though at Ave, if you don't have one they just charge you tax. There are no designer names but literally thousands and thousands of pieces. Rings start out at $3 and tiaras max out at $120

Hazel

For over a decade, Hazel on Montrose has been purveyor of quirky housewares, cards, locally-made jewelry and internationally recognized accessories. Shop Presh, Karisue, Sara Lenart and Alex Hossler among others.

The Left Bank

The Left Bank is mostly focused on bridal jewelry, though some styles are convertible for other special occasions or just pretending you're getting married. The range is vast in the statement cuffs and bracelets arena but the boutique also has many earrings, brooches.

Art Effect

Self proclaimed as the greatest gift store in Chicago, they might just be right. Among the thousands of styles in the store across hundreds of vendors, a top category has always been jewelry. In its 10-year existence, the store has stocked many names from Alexis Bittar, David Aubrey, Melissa Joy Manning to to-name statement costume pieces for under $50. Need a more personal gift? No problem! There boutique also stocks Dogeared necklaces with charms representing the little things in life we commonly forget or want to let everyone know about.

Virtu

On the North end of the Damen strip Virtu is quietly reeling in stylish clients with the work of more than three dozen of the country's most talented metalsmiths. Shop Saundra Messinger, Dahlia Kanner, Philippa Roberts, Ananda Khalsa, Jennifer Dawes, Rebecca Overmann, Jamie Joseph, Margaret Solow and Anne Sportun among others.

Alexis Bittar

Bestie to Iris Apfel, Alexis Bittar opened his Bucktown Boutique in March of 2011 to sell his award winning line of lucite creations, vintage finds and insane dramatic neckpieces, pins and gemstone rings.

Love and Pieces

For two years, just before the recent Bucktown boom, Love and Pieces has maintained a reputation for being that cute jewelry boutique were everything is super accessible and easy to wear. Looking for something custom (maybe bridal) and have a vision for it? The owner Michelle can do nearly anything with her own tools. It's a small shop and easy to miss if you're just strolling by, but solely for the cuteness (and the shop dog) we're telling you this shop is tip top.

The Silver Room

As one Yelper rhetorically asks, "Where does a dude go for tasteful dude bling?" The Silver Room is a longstanding retailer on the Milwaukee Ave strip and has provided a place of culture for accessory collectors. It has been 16 years of selling watches and jewelry and there are no signs that business is slowing. Shop Nooka watches, Billy Kirk wallets and chicago-based Susan Elizabeth Designs among many more local jewelry designers.

Elements

Elements is one of those delicious boutiques you just can't help yourself to not try on or try out everything. Yea, you can get a $4,600 pair of Graziela Pantanal 14K Gold Chrysoprase Earrings but you can also get a charm bracelet like this one from The Elements Collection for $46. The range of goods (and quality) is why we're including Elements in this map of amazing jewelry stores.

Ikram

Representing thousands of SKUs and boasting a range of styles from delicately elegant to adventuresome avant-garde, Ikram on Huron isn't the destination for every day jewelry—though we'd love to wear these morsels every day. Shop Mary Esses, Chrome Hearts, Ten Thousand Things, Loree Rodkin and more.

Pistachios

The long history of Pistachios has focused on handmade wearable objects from 120 international artists. The majority of these artists have a contemporary design aesthetic and hail from Asia.