Cecile & Jeanne
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Neighborhood: SoHo Type of Place: Jewelry Description: From here in New York, it's not easy to run off to Europe for a few days. There's airfare, jet lag...and ah, yes, the fact that people expect us to show up for work. But I recently stumbled onto a way for New Yorkers to visit Paris for just a few hours. Cecile & Jeanne, a jewelry shop in SoHo (there's a sister branch on the Upper East Side), offers the spirit of the City of Light to shoppers in need of some extra ooh-la-la. Jeanne (she goes by this name only) is the designer; Cecile is her mother's and her daughter's name. Her brother, Elie, runs the business end of this family affair. Even on her website, Jeanne radiates Frenchness, explaining that her designs stem from a "desire to share emotions with women" and that "each person I meet, music, a scent, are essential and reflect in my creations." In charmingly not-quite-right English (you can almost hear her French accent calling from the text), Jeanne reminds us that "jewelry have an important place in a women life--the contact with the skin is sensual, precious." Jeanne's studio is in "the heart of Paris" (bien sur!), and each piece is handmade there. The lovely earrings I bought at the SoHo shop (sterling silver with enamel) have the company name stamped proudly, in elegant script, on the back, along with a trademark Swarovski crystal. A big fan of proud craftsmanship, I can't help but appreciate these touches. The shop itself is beautiful, and its rich colors and textures complement the jewelry, which has a sense of warmth and unique personality. The European pop playing softly helped me to believe that I might find myself on the Carrousel du Louvre (one of Jeanne's Paris shop locations; and doesn't it sound gorgeous!) when I stepped outside. As for prices, I'll admit that I visited during a sale and so don't have a completely clear idea of how things run. But since Jeanne works more in silver than in gold and tends toward enamel or semiprecious stones, it's not likely that her work is completely unattainable. And in any case, I can imagine Jeanne's take on this subject: "What is money," she'd ask, "when you can have beauty?" Besides, think of how much you're saving by having discovering a little "Parisian vacation" right here at home. - Pamela Grossman
Cecile & Jeanne 436 W. Broadway betw. Spring and Prince New York, NY 10012 (212) 625-3535 http://www.cecilejeanne.com Map Subway
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