Downtown Los Angeles: Gigi & Stacey Are Ready To Fix All Of Your Broken Jewelry, Design You Some New Styles And Repair Your Discarded Time Pieces.

It's happened to all of us. We reach for our favorite necklace, the chain breaks, and we have a moment of disbelief followed by an extended period of feeling naked, and then we discard it in a drawer along with half a dozen other broken chains, bracelets, earrings with missing backs, and watches that no longer keep time. Every once in awhile we wonder what to do with all of those almost-but-not-quite-functional items that used to be our wardrobe mainstays but now have absolutely no use. We contemplate fixing them, but, not knowing where to go, we leave them abandoned in the drawer in their sad, snarled and tarnished state.

No more. If you live or work anywhere near downtown Los Angeles then you have absolutely no more excuses. Gigi and Stacey's watch and jewelry repair, located in the top floor of Macy's at 7th and Flower (look for the long glass counter tucked in the back of the housewares department), is your answer. They are chatty and friendly and extremely knowledgeable about gems, jewelry repair and design, precious metals and stones, and watch repair. You can take them your halted watches and broken and/or tarnished chains, bracelets and earrings and they will return them to you repaired and polished to perfection. Their prices are so reasonable that you can even afford to bring them your broken costume jewelry for repair. They've fixed chains for me, re-strung beads, soldered ring bands that had broken from too much wear, repaired earrings, and of course replaced the batteries to my watches. They also can special order particular chains that you may want, charm bracelets, etc., as well as help you with jewelry design. For example, I had set of pearl earrings but no pearl pendant. Gigi and Stacey matched the pearls with one to be used for the pendant, paired it with a chain, and also suggested a neck wire to use for variety in place of the chain (it looks fabulous). Additionally, they design gorgeous jewelry and have some of it for sale in their shop, all of it very reasonably priced and extremely high quality.

But it doesn't end there. Have something that are coveting from a retailer? You can also bring them photos of things that you like and they will make it for you at a fraction of what you would pay a retailer. Yay!

You can find one or both of them at the counter (you might have to ding the bell on the counter once to get their attention) on Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and Saturdays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Telephone: 213-628-9311 X2220. And if you live nowhere near Los Angeles (and don't have a little messenger you can send with your broken bag of accessories), they are so nice and accommodating, they just might consider allowing you to mail them your items for repair. It never hurts to ask!

Photo courtesty of Freedigitalphotos.net. Gigi and Stacey's designs are MUCH cooler!