The Yelp.com page for Pennyweights jewelry store in New Canaan, Conn., reads like a series of short love letters. “Unique jewelry with style and purpose,” enthuses one commenter. “The best deal in New Canaan!” gushes another. When the store boarded up its doors on Feb. 17, it made local news, with an online reporter reassuring nervous locals that the jeweler wasn’t closing—just undergoing a quickie renovation.

The 1,200-square-foot boutique “hasn’t really been renovated in 20 years,” says co-owner, Kelly Sigg, who took over the 33-year-old shop with her husband, Geoff Sigg, and mother-in-law, Fiona Sigg, in 2000. “We felt like it needed a little freshening up—a little updating.”

Sterling silver drop earrings

Fiona, an interior decorator by trade, conceptualized the renovations, which include a slightly expanded showroom floor (spanning an additional six feet in length on one side), walnut wood trimming on the cases, a newly exposed red brick wall, a skylight, more necklace displays, and an “intentionally weathered” bamboo floor, says Kelly.

Pearlescent light gray wall paint was chosen to offset Pennyweight’s merchandise—chiefly composed of trendy sterling silver jewelry pieces such as “Love” word necklaces and slice gemstone drop earrings. The store caters to “a diverse age range,” says Kelly, but has a strong following amongst local teenagers and twenty-somethings.

Sterling silver star necklace

A pop-up shop featuring a truncated mix of Pennyweight’s selection has been open in a nearby alley since renovations began. The revamped space will debut this Saturday, March 2, with a grand opening celebration from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Emili Vesilind

JCK Senior Editor