Now you can shop Tenenbaum Jewelers’ full collection of estate and fine jewelry from home at tenenbaumjewelers.com
In New York, you visit Tiffany’s, perhaps while peering wistfully through the window, pastry in hand. But in Houston, you make the pilgrimage to Tenenbaum, the estate and fine jewelry house with roots stretching back to 1975 when the late Louis Tenenbaum opened his shop inside the iconic Warwick Hotel.
Located today in a sleek, natural light-filled location on Westheimer Road, Tenenbaum Jewelers acquires its estate jewelry piece by piece, day by day, and has a reputation for fair and honest pricing that brings the most exquisite finds right to its front door, often stashed in unexpected containers.
“It’s amazing what arrives in grocery bags, cookie tins, and whatever else people keep their jewelry in,” Director of Development Christina Stith says of the acquisition process. Local jewelry aficionados drop in every week between errands to walk the store and glimpse what’s new, beautiful, and rare among the cases.
Flower Editor’s Pick: “I love how the blackened silver contrasts the shiny diamonds and gold in these bloom-shaped earrings. The richness of the finish makes them more versatile and wearable—from blue jeans to ball gowns.” — Margaret Zainey Roux, Contributing Editor. Buccellati Daisy earrings from the Blossom Collection ($740)
Fulfilling the vision of current owner Tony Bradfield, who learned the jewelry business as an apprentice under Louis’s brother in San Francisco, Tenenbaum has expanded its offerings to reach a broader audience both in price and selection. Along with antique and vintage pieces ranging from the Georgian and Art Deco periods to the relatively contemporary designs of the 1980s and ’90s, the store now carries fine jewelry from highly collectible designers such as Buccellati in Milan, Seaman Schepps in New York, and Girard-Perregaux, a manufacturer of much sought-after Swiss timepieces that has been in business since 1791.
At local charity events, the Tenenbaum piece on the fundraising docket is always the item to watch, which happens often. Whether the fundraiser benefits the performing arts community, a museum, or a hospital, Tony is an avid believer in building relationships through community.
FLOWER Editor’s Pick: “We need to bring back the brooch. The gold citrine and blue topaz bee is one bug I definitely would NOT shoo off my shoulder.” — Margaret Zainey Roux, Contributing Editor. Estate 18K Gold Citrine and Blue Topaz Bee Pin, $2,499
Still, for most of us, this veritable candy shop of jewels has remained a destination on our travel bucket list and not an everyday experience. That is until now. This November, Tenenbaum unveiled its new website powered by Shopify, with over 7,500 items available for purchase online.
“We took the opportunity with the shutdown and quarantine and a slower few months to invest in our website, and to make sure that it is a full representation of what you would find in the store,” says Christina. “That allows us to better serve a client that isn’t in our backyard, but might be in Atlanta or Charleston or Wisconsin and looking for that unique piece of estate jewelry.”
Just in time for holiday giving and wish-list making, the news has us humming “O Tenenbaum.” (Are we sure the original song title is “O Tannenbaum”?)
FLOWER Editor’s Pick: “This floral ring is simply chic and will bring a cool vibe to a tailored look. Wear it with a crisp white button down and slim pants. It also doubles as a conversation starter!” — Alice Welsh Doyle, Editorial Director. Vintage 1970s Neiman Marcus French 18k Gold Coral Dome Ring with Flowers and Diamonds, $3,650
THE FLOWER EDITORS SHOP TENENBAUM
Six members of Flower magazine’s editorial team took a virtual shopping trip to Tenenbaum’s new online storefront. Peruse our unique finds that reflect our very different personalities.
By Terri Robertson
This article is sponsored by Tenenbaum Jewelers. Explore the online shop at tenenbaumjewelers.com
