Motto

This is the kind of charming boutique for elegant older women who condescend to others because their husbands have money. If you are one of them or are buying a gift for someone like this, then this is the place for you.

I’ve been checking in at this store for years and it never ceases to delight me. I like how Kim seems to guess what I’d like. I’m picky and I like unusual, high quality items that seem as if they were made centuries ago or centuries forward into the future that doesn’t exist yet. Motto in Cambridge has what I like when I’m not shopping in Yemen, Turkey or Newton Center MA where I love Folklorica.

This is a pretty store in the heart of Harvard Square with a lovely collection of mostly contemporary one-​of-​a-​kind pieces of jewelry.
I spied some really eye-​catching pieces that would add immeasurably to the knock-​out factor when dressing up.
These are quality pieces with price tags to match.
The day we visited was a busy one but the staff was extremely helpful and accommodating giving us plenty of time to try on a variety of jewelry items from the display cases. No hard sell, no impatience, just good, attentive service.
My cousin ended up with a beautiful long silver necklace interspersed with slices of quartz throughout.
I fell in love with some dramatic earrings (shown in one of the photos) but when I tried them on they felt too heavy for my ear lobes (one lobe ripped once from years of heavy earrings and had to be repaired by a plastic surgeon so I’m not going down that road again) so with a heavy heart I put those beauties back on the shelf.
There is plenty to look at on two floors of space here. There are lots of things to examine and explore on shelves, counters, and behind glass cases all beautifully presented.
You can also find a few other things besides jewelry like hand-​made silk scarves and metal serving pieces. I thought some of the serving pieces would make an excellent hostess gift when traveling to stay with friends for example.
Great place to browse and to find something for yourself or a very special someone else in your life.

This place has a wonderful selection of beautiful contemporary and antique jewelry. The ladies were super helpful and informative, and great to talk with. Their styles are very unique, and definitely worth a visit! They custom make almost everything by request as well!

Pros: Offbeat artisan and upscale designer jewelry. People would want your earrings, if you bought them here.
Cons: Grudging customer service, aversion to the seemingly casual browser. I would buy those earrings, but the gate-​keeping wears on my soul.
Summary: If you don’t mind buying your jewelry in an existential crisis, you will be fine here.

How did I walk by this for 20 years? My new go to place for moderate to pricey house gifts. I’ll pay if it’s hand made and /​or unique. This store has some amazing buying going on!
Gorgeous housewares (bowls, unique utensils, pottery, mirrors, candles), bags, scarves, and yes, jewelry. The two ladies working were more than pleasant — helpful and informative.

After much consideration, I decided to update my review of Motto because my experience the 2^nd time around was so vastly contrasting to the first that I couldn’t leave them with one star and one only. I know a lot of people have reviewed this business positively and a few, not so much. My update has nothing to do with either side of the fence.
I found the person that worked the day after my first visit to be so accommodating as to allow me to purchase the necklace over the phone, but also to research a courier company to have it brought over to me at work. I was able to give my girlfriend her anniversary present on time, and she absolutely loves it. Motto made it possible.

I was so disappointed to go to Motto this weekend and walk out empty-​handed. I was hoping to find a beautiful pair of delicate earrings for my sister, and found nothing of the sort. My wallet was happy, but I was not.

I have purchased my wedding jewels as of 1 hour ago!
After returning some shoes to Urban Outfitters that I bought online, I felt instinctively drawn into Motto. Little did I know that among the wedding jewels on display there was a top secret necklace just waiting for me below the counter. Jewelers only have so much room for so much jewelry and after looking at a piece by the same artist, Kim revealed there was another necklace I might like. It was a string of golden colored pearly beads with a cluster of bright gold pieces that sits a little lower than the base of the neck. It was a little to small for me, so Kim said that she’d talk to the artist and get the to resize the piece and add on an inch of chain so it sat right. On top of that, it only cost $ 25 for the alteration and will be ready to pick up in two weeks.
There are so many lovely options if you need special jewelry for any number of occasions. And the customer service was incredible. I went at 2pm on a Friday, and the shop was empty, though if you went in while they were assisting other customers, I could see how you could feel slighted, but Kim was absolutely lovely. I purchased earrings by the same artist here, too. The total cost, somewhere around $ 350…
so these jewels are best purchased by those who have a little money to burn or a special occasion coming up.
I’ll follow up after the necklace is altered and given back to me!

Very pricey, but stylish, funky, and unique jewelry.
They have several things from one of my favorite jewelry designers: Alexis Bittar — who makes these really cool Lucite necklaces, earrings, broaches, and bracelets.
I asked how frequently they got product from him because I was looking for something they didn’t have. The woman was very friendly and took down my name and number to call me when they got new stock in. It’s too bad one of the reviewers had a bad time with a sales person here — the woman I dealt with was very friendly and helpful yesterday — in spite of the fact that it was over 90 degrees outside, and her AC had been broken all day (and wow was it hot in there).

If you like the treatment you get at High RIse Café (Concord location), then you’ll enjoy buying your jewelry here!
SO so sad, so very very sad…
I might have been able to know my sweetie would visit this place a few times annually.
Their wonderful selection of well made, quality contemporary jewelery makers’ creations hit exactly upon the intersection of our tastes…
UNfortunately I learned that the owner/​manager/​salesperson? was SO snotty to him (a patient, generous man, with sophisticated design sensibilities at that) that he regretted buying even the lovely earrings I had received… and will Never be going back. It’s a stance I support despite the negative impact to my jewelry coffers.
Note to the store:
Get a clue, Take a cue and be as un-​condescending to customers from now on as you are fearless in your design choices.

Very pricey but they have great jewelry. Come here if you want to plurge and get something that will really stand out.
The styles (and prices) are probably geared more for the 35+ female but I (20’s) was still drooling over some of their rings and earrings.

Jude has amazing style.
This is my favorite shop for artisan jewelry.