The most I learn about the jewelry industry, the more important it seems to me to recognize the people and the principles behind a brand’s pretty pieces. Today, we’re going to talk about what makes Carelle special before we even take a look at any of their designs.
Carelle was founded in 1977 by the fabulous, charismatic, and talented Chana Regev. Chana’s decision to launch Carelle was a continuation of the family business – she’s a fourth generation jeweler – but with a different focus. Chana’s line would be her own designs, created by a woman, for women to enjoy.
The name of the brand, “Carelle,” actually means because of her in French.
When I visited the Carelle offices, I was greeted like royalty and then immediately absorbed as part of the family. I sat down with Chana, her son, and several of Carelle’s other employees and we spent hours looking at jewelry and talking about anything and everything.
I actually had to send over interview questions after I’d returned home, because we were having so much fun chatting about our lives and families that that I forgot to ask about the brand’s inspiration and history while I was actually on site.
One of the coolest parts of my visit to the Carelle offices was that I actually got to visit the workshop where Carelle’s pieces are manufactured as well…because it’s directly across the hallway from the brand’s lovely, fuchsia-accented offices.
To get from the sunny Carelle conference room to the actual benches where the jewelry is manufactured, I had to walk about 30 feet.
This is highly unusual and totally incredible. It’s one thing to hear that a brand’s designs are manufactured locally, it’s another thing to be able to walk across a hallway and see it happening. Tomer, Chana’s son and my tour guide, greeted everyone in the workshop by name as they let me peer over their shoulders at their masterpieces in the making.
Here’s a brand new bracelet design in the making. It was pulled out from under a microscope so that I could feel its articulation.
Once the bracelet passes quality control, those empty settings will be completed with diamonds.