If you’re familiar with the railroad-spike bracelet—an über-popular cuff inspired by America’s first transcontinental railroad of 1869—then you are at least somewhat acquainted with the work of Philip Crangi. It is under the Giles & Brother label, founded in 2001, that Philip, along with his sister, Courtney “Giles” Crangi, popularized the style.
While Giles & Brother continues to offer its selection of rustic American jewelry—categorized as fashion, by use of materials such as brass and sterling silver—the brother Crangi embarked on a solo venture in the summer of 2018: Philip Crangi & Co.
That hand-hewn, pioneer quality of the Crangi siblings’ brand is carried over into Philip’s eponymous line, though the latter seeks to explore a higher price point, mixing familiar materials such as brass and sterling silver with diamonds, malachite, and lapis lazuli.
Though comparably more, retail prices on this line are still relatively budget-friendly—the highest-priced item on the brand’s website is the pair of leopard earrings (above) going for $3,200, while many others ring in at under $500.
These jewels have that sought-after vintage vibe, with an upper-crust aura that brings to mind images of a classically decorated New York home: plush, glossy brown leather seating, colonial wood furniture, nautical decor. Not stuffy—casual but rich, as classic as it gets with pieces that have been curated carefully over time.
I probably owe the conjuring of my classic American home to the fact that Philip Crangi & Co. offers a home line in addition to its jewels—drawer pulls, wall hooks, towel rings (some featuring leather or anchor motifs, so it looks like that’s where I got that from), as well as mirrored and brass trays just begging to be graced with a decanter filled with 75-year-old scotch.
The beauty of this brand’s offerings is that one doesn’t necessarily need the deep pockets required to own such a pristinely decorated home as described to procure one (or two) of them. Though most items are currently experiencing backorder status (I am assuming current COVID-19-related restrictions are partially to blame for that), that is not the case for all of them. (It should also be noted that the home items are made-to-order.)
Top: Snake cuff in brass with turquoise, price on request
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