Buffalo Style: Jewelry Fashion

Buffalo artists are turning their love of Buffalo and cool fashionable jewelry into a trendy local business.

By Emily Smith

Unique Style by Megan

www.uniquestylebymegan.etsy.com

When she couldn’t find earrings she liked for a wedding, Megan Speice, founder of Unique Style by Megan, decided she would make her own.  Friends and family urged her to make custom pieces after seeing her work so she decided to start her own line. Starting in December of 2008, later opening her online store in June of 2009, Unique Style by Megan took off.

Speice says, “It’s unique because no two pieces are the exact same. Some of the materials, colors and beads, yes, but every piece has a unique flare… hence the store’s name!” She said the best part about making her own custom jewelry is she can make anything she wants from the colors, the size or the style of beads. “If you have a shirt that you can’t find anything to go with, I could make it.” Her line is also unique because she has expanded it from just jewelry to beaded and gem sun catchers and bookmarks as well as hosting parties at people's homes.

In the future, Speice hopes to create more “out there” pieces that you can’t find anywhere else and to broaden the line with more items that aren’t jewelry. “There are days when this is all I do because creativity strikes me randomly."

Check out her website, www.uniquestylebymegan.etsy.com to see some of her unique pieces, or contact her through the website if interested in ordering a special item.

Petrocy Jewelers

716 Main St.

East Aurora

Located on Main Street in East Aurora, Petrocy Jewelers is a great shop to get high-end jewelry. This store not only offers pieces from collections such as Pandora or Lorenzo, they also offer custom one of a kind designs. Petrocy Jewelers is a family owned business, opened by Peppy Petrocy in 1943. Originally located in Cheektowaga, Tracy Petrocy, son of Peppy moved the store to its current location in East Aurora.

Petrocy said he loves making jewelry, especially rings, for those special moments such as engagements. Down in the basement is where the magic happens, in his studio where he creates all of his works. While most jewelry pieces are made in factories now, Petrocy still does things the original way, making each piece one at a time with patience and careful precision.

In addition to custom jewelry Petrocy also offers watch repair services, something only a few places in the Western New York area still do and a unique value they offer the community.

Wild Things

224 Lexington Avenue

Buffalo

 Wild Things, located off of Elmwood Avenue, was established in 1988 by a couple of friends with humble means and has blossomed into a thriving boutique style shop. Stephanie Robb and Karol Kirberger currently own this gallery of Artisan expression, where they started making jewelry as a hobby. The gallery features hand made and custom designed jewelry in a variety of designs from vintage to contemporary and everything in between.

     Wild Things played a large part in bringing the Elmwood Art Festival to Buffalo and their value of artistic expression is reflected in the store with their commitment to show off local designers along with drawings and ceramics created by local artisans available.!