Your love for mom is timeless and her gift should be too

By Patricia Nugent

Buying jewelry—whether for a loved one or yourself—has become more intentional and meaningful than ever.

Angel Mastandrea at Great Lakes Boutique scours the national and international jewelry markets to bring back the most meaningful, emerging, and in-demand lines to Northeast Ohio.

A Boom in Estate Jewelry
One of the fastest-growing parts of the store’s inventory is estate jewelry.

“People appreciate the value of fine lines and pieces,” says Angel. “We just brought in a matching necklace and bracelet set in mesh white gold from Tiffany & Company, and exquisite necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings from John Hardy, Konstantino and David Yurman, in perfect condition, with some retired and vintage styles. It doesn’t make sense to pay full retail prices for something this valuable when you can pay a fraction of the prices here.”

She says their estate department includes a variety of price points, from charms in the $20s to diamond necklaces in the tens of thousands.

A Gift for Every Budget
“One of our hottest new lines is called Ella Stein,” she adds. “Made in Mumbai, India, we are the first in Lake County to introduce it. The necklaces, bracelets and earrings check all the boxes for any age of jewelry lover. The diamonds are real, and it’s a high-end line but with an affordable price point.”

Ella Stein’s new Spring/Summer ’24 collection includes modern designs in pendants, studs and ear climbers. The popular Raise the Bar statement ring features a chunky 3D bar design with .17 carats of tiny diamonds that make a big impact.

For Mother’s Day gifting, Angel reports LOLA Love Locks is one of their most popular lines, which comes in silver and gold, with a variety of enamel accent colors of the bold round pendants.

“We have mother-daughter and mother-son pendants that feature a design of intertwined hearts on one side and the saying ‘A love that has no end,’ for sons and ‘You will always be a part of me,’ for daughters,” she says. “Priced under $100, they come in three different sizes. LOLA stands for ‘love one, love all,’ and comes out of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts.”

And for a price point a little lighter on the wallet, something perfect to thank teachers for a great school year or recognize graduates, Angel says they sell a lot of the Katie Loxton of London line called Littles, which go for less than $25. These darling little silver- and gold-plated stretchy bracelets showcase charms that mark milestones and include inspirational symbols and sayings. A favorite for graduates states, “World is your oyster” and features an oyster charm.

Complementing the jewelry is a fun line called Zodica Perfumery. Shoppers can explore the scent of their own zodiac sign.

And don’t miss the sumptuous Italian leather and suede handbags from Debbie Katz, which feature sharp design elements like fringe and colorful cross-body straps you can switch out.

“Our customers have an eye for unique things, and we cater to that,” she says. “The vibe here is laid-back. Our shoppers appreciate that we want them to come in and stay awhile, try on different things and enjoy the experience. While there may be trends, there really are no set rules. We show people how to mix things up and dress a piece up or down to go from casual to formal occasions.”

Great Lakes Boutique is located within Mentor Corners, at 8920 Mentor Avenue, in Mentor. Repair work is done on the premises by a certified jeweler, and they buy gold and silver. Call 440-266-8900 or visit GreatLakesBoutique.net or its Etsy shop for more information.