Curtis Steiner

Wow. Beyond beautiful… a gallery and shop.
I was so taken with Curtis Steiner’s displays and the selection of items. One display showcased necklaces & pins delicately perched on the tips of old paintbrushes and scrub brushes.
Gorgeous vintage jewelry judiciously mixed with some true contemporary craftsman work. I got a chance to show my daughter a real chatelaine and explain to her what they were used for. The example here was exquisite.
I collect jet jewelry (nothing fancy, mind you) and there are pieces here with lovely carving. They’re not your run of the mill pieces of jet. A very high taste level is at work here.
The gallery show was a series of paper cuts done by a contemporary artist, but very vintage in style — a perfect fit with this shop.
The inspiration drawn from this shop alone is worth a stop… acquiring a treasure from Curtis Steiner is a true Treat.

This place is out of this world gorgeous. The owner/​designer/​artist is beyond words like talent and vision.

Wonderful… until it’s appalling. I was a long-​time loyal customer, own a half-​dozen pieces of Steiner’s jewelry and have generated at least twice that many sales via referrals, including the commission of a special project. I bought a pair of earrings and the super-​delicate clasp, which relied on the tiniest stub of gold to hold everything in place, wore down and stopped working the third time I wore them. I took them for repair, it happened, no problem. Wore them maybe three more times and the clasp broke again, in a different spot. I took them for repair, and then received a phone call saying they were ready and the charge to replace the clasp was $ 60. I said I didn’t think their should be a charge as the clasp design was faulty, too delicate for its own mechanism. I was told I’d need to talk to Curtis about it. Before I went in to do so, I had lunch with a friend and mentioned my errand. He said, «That’s too funny, I was there yesterday and I think I heard him talking to a friend on the phone about it. At any rate he told whoever was on the phone that he thinks one of his clasps is a faulty design. Funny coincidence.» When I got to the gallery Curtis brought out my earrings, acknowledged my message about not agreeing with the charge, and said «That really hurts my feelings.» Flabbergasted, I asked, «How so?» and he launched into a tirade that toggled between saying I shouldn’t expect to «get something for free» and a bunch of hectoring questions like «Do you expect to treat fine silk the same way you treat denim?» (and other remarks basically insinuating I was raised by wolves). Trying to stay calm, I said «I am struggling to see where you are coming from and what you’re saying to me is super condescending.» He replied, «No it’s not!» and went back to lecturing me about expecting something for free. I reminded him that I own several pieces and know how to handle delicate things, and that I don’t expect anything for free but when I pay $ 600 for a pair of earrings I do expect to be able to put them on carefully and secure the clasps without them breaking. After a bit more back-​and-​forth I finally said «Oh don’t be a prima donna,» to which he squealed, «I’m not!» He said «I’ll just refund you then,» I said «fine,» and apparently he did the math before blurting «Oh I’ll just ‘give’ them to you» and literally throwing the earrings at me. Sadly, in the heat of the moment I completely forgot about the conversation my friend overheard the day before. I wish I’d brought that little tidbit into our discussion… but I won’t be going back for any reason, not even for the satisfaction of mentioning that.

Wide world of tiny enchantments and larger wonders. Been a fan/​customer for many years, and high time I said something about it. Whether it’s your eyes or your soul that is aching, they can likely cure it. Have a car friend who’s impossible to shop for. Are you difficult to shop for. Do you need 19^th century jewelry and 20^th carnival props? Just need a beautiful letterpress getting card? Curtis Steiner will make you happy.

All hail Curtis Steiner! Every time I’m in town I stop in to fill my eyes and mind with beauty beyond the imagination. Even if his shop is closed, I cling to the windows trying to take in as much of his most recent displays as I can. Truly inspiring.

Love vintage fashion? I don’t mean hip-​trendy fashion. I mean classy vintage fashion. If yes, come here.
I love Curtis. I bought my partner her one-​year anniversary gift here and she wears it every day.
You really need to be strategic about the time of the year you go. People come and raid the selection during the holidays. But when it’s good, it’s good!
Get here.

Really charming, well curated little shop selling vintage jewelry, antique oddities, as well as new stationary, interesting objets d’art and delicate necklaces. I went in just to have a bit of a wander, but fell in love with a delicate gold Victorian filigree necklace, which I picked up for $ 380. Staff is friendly but not overbearing, and will happily let you try on anything in the case. Definitely worth a look, if your pocketbook can handle a unique impulse purchase!

Curtis Steiner is not only a jewelry and hand-​crafted card designer, he is an purveyor of beautiful things. Walking into this boutique feels like walking into a museum. Every piece is painstakingly placed, stylistically positioned. Drawers are begging to be opened and the owner wants you to. Take your time investigating this man’s treasures and if it feels right, take one home!

It’s like walking into a curiosity shop for women. Love it!

Okay– I had a big laugh at the reviews that give this store anything less than the 5 star rating… the guy who went on about the necklaces and that the cards, while nice, weren’t funny– (really «dude» your lucky you weren’t thrown out for being such a well «dude») and the lady who was «smirked» by the owner and not «treated like customers” — come on– get real– this isn’t the type of place to go to boost your ego– this is a temple of aesthetics, it is about the sense of thought and sight– not a typical retail experience — for that go to the mall…
This place is something so special that not everyone should like it or understand it– if they did, well then it wouldn’t be so dam special!
And yes I am a long time customer

This is one of the most beautiful stores I’ve ever been to. It’s full of unique antique and vintage jewelry, and lots of other odds and ends. Every time I go in, I see like 20 things that I want. The owner and employees have always been very helpful and knowledgeable.

What a fabulous stop on my Ballard shopping route! When I popped in to check out the goods the current show (Nov, 2011) was from John T Hogan. I was stunned by the beauty of many of his pieces. Everything from tiny delicate black diamond necklaces to sculptures, stationary, and more. It’s almost hard to explain how breathtaking some of the pieces were!
In fact, the way the items were displayed was just as lovely. The necklaces were stretched out in rectangular shapes and strewn across various levels of glass creating a 3 dimensional effect. Layers of glass, gold and diamond beads? Yes please!
Some of the decorative ornaments were just as stunning. I spotted a few pieces that would look fabulous on a bookshelf or coffee table. (Hint hint! It’s almost Xmas people.)
I’d love to pop back in when I’m in Ballard again and see what the next exhibit is. Who wouldn’t love a gallery you can shop in?

A curated store full of gorgeous handmade greeting cards and both antique and faux antique jewelry. It’s worth visiting just to see how everything is displayed. I can’t see how it can make money, but I hope it does, because it’s a treasure.

Who cares if the owner has a talent for collecting pretty doo-​dads? The guy is an insecure, rude little jerk and life is too short. Keep walking.

First they closed and we were all sad. But now they’ve re-​opened just up the street, in the old guitar shop on the corner. Beautiful new space, elegantly designed. Yay!

It’s pretty funny reading reviews that are the exact opposite of my experience.
I purchased a pre-​wedding gift 6 years ago, and my wife still gets compliments every time she wears the necklace.
Yesterday I showed up at 5:45pm, they were closed. I gave a light knock, and the person working there actually came to the door, let me in, and in spite of looking like I couldn’t afford anything in the store, let me in to browse (I had just played hockey, was unshaven, and the shirt I was wearing was 10 years old and had holes in it.)
Anyways, she helped me for 20 minutes, showed me multiple items, and we picked another perfect necklace. As far as jewelry from a serious artist in the Seattle area, this is the best place I know of.
The artist was the original person to sell me a necklace, I believe it was on a Friday afternoon. He was nice from what I remember, but as far as artists go, give me a skilled amazing artist who is rude over a non-​skilled personable person just calling themselves an artist.
As far as the markup mentioned in a previous post, I can’t imagine how many hours it takes to make each piece, but it is well worth it.

WOW!
Every piece of jewelry is well displayed and seems to have a bit of history. But, it wasn’t just the merchandise in store that took me in. It was the stunning window display.
I didn’t expect to find anything like that in Seattle, much less Ballard. Two mannequins dressed in white as snow 18^th century marie Antoinette gowns made of a very fine paper. The details to this were outstanding!
Inside the beautifully lit interior is a floor to ceiling wall of fine handmade cards. Grand white glass tables display the vintage pins, jewels, rings etc. Ah I think I fell in love!
I couldn’t find any price tags on anything, so I generally assume this is a pricey place. Customer service was very good to me as well.
Will come back again to lust after those beautifully crafted items and display!

I think of this place more as a museum than a shop.
Amazing collection of beautiful things. Always great to browse and buy.
I understand the reviews regarding customer service, but Curtis can be precious. :)
Hey, its Ballard not Paris and that’s not our fault

On my annual visit to Seattle, one of the places I always stop by is Souvenir. Curtis has amassed beautiful and interesting items and visiting his shop is a feast for the eyes to behold. On my first trip, I purchased a very nice Victorian/​Edwardian seed pearl and turquoise ring that I love. Everything in his store has a story to tell!
While I’ve read what other Unilocalers have written, I have received nothing but excellent customer service regardless of whether I’ve bought something or not. Curtis even gave us the name of restaurants to try in the area. Now if that isn’t worthy of 5 stars, I don’t know what is!
Great store and great owner — it doesn’t get any better than that!

Simply put: this is the most beautiful store I have ever patronized.
Not only is the merchandising and design of the store gorgeous (oh is it), but the jewelry is exquisite. Go there, even if you’re not shopping for boutique jewelry or cards.
Oh, and when I went, the woman working there was a doll, and her little dog very sweet.