When Ali Galgano graduated from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), she was identified to mates – “and mates of mates,” she stated – as “the diamond woman.” 

Small surprise. Galgano has an eye fixed – not only for shimmering stones however for setting them in uncommon methods. Pierced drop diamond earrings give the phantasm of being a number of studs however really require just one gap per earlobe. Tennis bracelets tackle a pastel spectrum with sapphires in several hues and diamonds or a jagged edginess with pear-shaped diamonds organized horizontally. Eternity rings beckon with diamonds in several shapes or half a band of spherical stones. A pear-shaped ruby pendant says “discover me” with the stone offered horizontally as properly. 

This ready-to-wear assortment, one other side of Galgano’s bespoke Serpentine Jewels enterprise, is showcased in her new Serpentine Townhouse in Greenwich, itself a two-story jewel field designed by New York Metropolis-based Danielle Richter with art work usually that includes highly effective, alluring girls curated by Greenwich gallery proprietor Gilles Clement – though it’s arduous to not think about Galgano’s hand in every thing. The inexperienced, gold and black-and-white décor is all Fornasetti show plates, Christian Lacroix wallpaper, lacquered chairs, marble tables, suede sofas and snake motifs, in step with a reputation that signifies fertility/creativity, seduction, knowledge and transformation. 

Galgano sees the month-and-a-half-old Greenwich showroom – she has had a small workplace and convention room in Manhattan for 3 years – as a nexus for luxurious shoppers from Fairfield and Westchester counties in addition to these newly relocated from New York Metropolis. What that clientele – half males, half girls, primarily of their 30s by way of 50s – is on the lookout for are custom-made, one-of-a-kind items that inform a narrative, symbolizing relationships, creating recollections, providing alternatives for legacy and spurring a sort of treasure hunt for the perfect stones and designs. 

“I established my enterprise to fuse the perfect of 47th Road (Manhattan’s Diamond District) the worth, with the perfect of high-end retail, the shopper expertise,” she stated. 

So if you happen to have been in search of an engagement ring – or an improve to an current one – Galgano would work with you to pick out the best stones and design for you. (She offers with a number of manufacturing outlets in Manhattan.) 

Lately – within the season not simply of holidays however of engagements – she’s getting quite a lot of texts from brides-to-be, saying, “Thanks for my ring.” These rings don’t use lab-made diamonds, a scorching development within the business due to their supposed higher environmental sustainability and cost-effectiveness. Nevertheless, Galgano stated they aren’t a part of the luxurious commerce. Whereas lab-made diamonds are cheaper – as a lot as 50% to 75% — she added that they aren’t essentially extra environmentally pleasant, and they don’t recognize in worth. 

“There’s one thing a couple of piece being a product of the earth,” she stated of pure diamonds, “and that you simply seek for the perfect materials. The hunt is a part of it, too.” 

By the use of illustration, Galgano flashes her personal engagement ring, which was designed by her husband, with whom she shares two younger sons and a New Rochelle residence. It’s an oval yellow diamond surrounded by scallops of diamonds and pink sapphires – the versatile sapphire, coming in lots of colours and together with as a class the ruby, having been a preferred various or accompaniment to the diamond for engagements for the reason that days of Princess Diana.  

Galgano’s engagement ring, a diamond tennis bracelet spotlighting three bigger stones (a hexagon and two which can be kite formed), and a pair of drop diamond earrings that create the phantasm of a number of studs complement her outfit – a cream puff of a brocade gown by British designer Sister Jane that belies the jewellery maker’s willowy presence. 

Rising up in Rye, Galgano stated, she was at all times excited by jewellery, taking her inspiration from her mom, who went by way of the manager coaching program at Neiman Marcus’ Dallas headquarters and labored in trend and superb jewellery. After graduating from the Hackley Faculty in Tarrytown and Cornell College, Galgano enrolled within the graduate program at GIA. Through the years, she has seen a generational shift in attitudes towards superb jewellery. Folks like her mom and older generations, she stated, tended to think about such jewellery as one thing to be positioned in a protected, to be worn solely on particular events. Youthful generations need one thing of worth they’ll put on daily. 

“They need one thing that has that means.” 

And Galgano is set to create jewellery that provides them that and extra. 

For extra, go to serpentinejewels.com.