At heart, Serpentine Jewels founder Ali Galgano is a maximalist, and her first brick-and-mortar location in Greenwich, Conn., shows off her cosmopolitan design aesthetic, her ready-to-wear jewelry, and the “Serpentine experience” in full color.
The Serpentine Townhouse is a 2,000-square-foot, two-story private salon where Galgano can meet with clients in a homelike setting. Galgano opened the townhouse in November 2022 and says her clients love the way her salon blends an art gallery, a custom-design studio, and a place to gather for jewelry events.
“With an old-world, classic exterior and fresh, modern interior, the townhouse is truly a physical representation of Serpentine and how we love to remix the classics,” Galgano says. “My passion for what I do comes to life throughout the space with jewelry-inspired pieces like malachite wallpaper, a mosaic-framed mirror, and chain-link light fixtures.”
The townhouse developed out of the pandemic as Galgano says she was traveling to clients directly to work with them on their jewelry projects. When she wanted to hang out her own shingle, replicating the comfort of a living room felt like the right design choice.
“Buying jewelry is already an intimate purchase, and being able to do so in a space that feels like it’s your friend’s home makes the whole process less intimidating,” Galgano says.
The townhouse was designed by Galgano and New York City-based interior designer Danielle Richter, who brought in antique and modern furnishings sourced from all over the world, evoking the experience of visiting a reimagined Parisian couturier. The townhouse also includes a rotating collection of art from international artists alongside pieces from local curator Gilles Clement.
The Serpentine Townhouse features a full living room, dining room, and showroom all in one. Each seating area has its own feeling, like the graphic black-and-white furnishings in the dining room or the jewel tones of the couch and diamond-shape chandelier in the living room.
“We believe that designing a bespoke jewelry piece should be a bespoke experience. Many of the designs we bring to life at Serpentine are custom, so it only makes sense that the process should be physically reflected in our space,” Galgano says. “Whether you’re sitting at our dining room table while our designer sketches concepts for you or choosing your stones from the comfort of our plush settee, we pride ourselves on providing a truly unique experience.”
Working in the townhouse is like hosting people daily at the greatest party you’ve ever thrown, Galgano says. Galgano, who founded Serpentine Jewels in 2016 as a destination for bespoke fine jewelry and ready-to-wear staples, says she loves how the townhouse brings people together. For example, some of its well-attended monthly events have included whiskey tastings, gemology classes, or jewelry cleanings.
“Our recent Q&A on the art of jewelry collecting with the Bruce Museum was a particularly big hit,” Galgano says. “The Serpentine Townhouse is so much more than just somewhere to shop—it’s a place where dreams become a reality. Not only have we witnessed the most romantic, heartfelt bespoke designs, we’ve also been host to proposals and surprises we will never forget.”
Top: Ali Galgano says her Serpentine Jewels townhouse is both a place for in-person custom appointments and a gathering place for community events (photos courtesy of Serpentine Jewels).
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