Favor- Hot Cakes Design

My favorite thing about this shop is the help! Chelsea Gildea has the best taste in color and design. The POP in the art of this shop cannot get any better. 5 stars! Must see, Get original with coolest jewelry in SF.

Scratch step three.

HORRIBLE, UNFRIENDLY, and UNPROFESSIONAL. Sorry for the ALL CAPS, but that’s how strongly I feel about this store being one of the most frustrating places that I have ever dealt with for as long as I’ve been shopping.
I actually loved this place for about 2 years. Their stuff is totally cute and unique, and I’m not even a jewelry person. I have spent hundreds of dollars here and recommended it to friends (one of them spent almost 300 dollars there!) and customers at the store that I work at.
So, I decided to get my girlfriend a ring at Favor for our anniversary, as she loves the designs, too. I got her a two-​tone resin ring, which she loved. Unfortunately, it cracked completely randomly after she’d had it less than a week. It was a resin ring, as I said, and cracks aren’t that out of the ordinary. No problem, I thought, I’ll bring it back in and I’m sure they’ll be nice enough to fix it. The saleswoman happily agreed to fix it and I was satisfied.
Two weeks later, I still didn’t have my ring. My girlfriend was gearing up to go back east for the holidays and I wanted her to have it for her trip, so I went in and asked when it would be ready. I was given a specific date. The ring was not ready at this date, and my girlfriend went home without the ring. I asked the saleswoman to call the woman who makes the rings and ask when it could be ready by, and she promised that it would be in the store by today (almost a FULL MONTH after I originally brought the ring in to be fixed). It was there and then…
the saleswoman dropped it on the ground. And it cracked. She offered me a kind-​of apology and called the owner (Carmina?) to ask when a new ring could be made by. I asked to talk to the owner and explained, very calmly, the frustrating process that I have been through in trying to get this ring. She said a number of incredibly rude things, including «it was only a 45-​dollar ring.» She and the saleswoman were both INCREDIBLY rude to me. I work in retail, and deal with people who rudely complain about products, and I always respond by being pleasant. The customer is always right, I’ve always been told. Apparently, not at Favor.
Finally, the owner told me that she’d have the ring done a week from today. I was not offered a refund (even though the saleswoman DROPPED and broke the item that I paid for — and I DID NOT PAY to have a ring a month and a half from my anniversary, I paid to have it ON my anniversary), store credit, or anything else to compensate for the fact that they completely screwed me over.
I started walking away, then decided to walk back and ask that my money be refunded until I receive my ring, because I’ve had such bad luck with it. The owner said that they could «refund me and leave it at that» i.e. give me my money back and not give me my ring. Apparently my business is not important to them.
The worst part is that, as someone who works in a store near Favor, I often recommend them to customers and friends. I walked into the store today wearing a hat and necklace that my girlfriend bought me there.
I can almost dismiss the fact that it’s taken this long for me to get this ring, and I certainly dismiss the fact that the saleswoman made an honest (albeit clumsy) mistake in dropping my ring. What I cannot deal with is being treated like complete crap by a store that I have been loyal to since I moved to the area.
Note that this is the first one-​star review that I have EVER given on Unilocal.That’s how bad this is.
Choose jewelery from another local business instead. There is plenty around, and every other College Ave merchant and business owner I’ve ever dealt with has been fabulous to me.
UPDATE: So they closed their Oakland location and are only in Russian Hill now, I guess.
Anyhow, they did make a new ring and get it back to me on time. The owner offered a lackluster, no-​eye-​contact apology.

This is great store to pick up a little something for yourself. A few of my friends have given me a gift from this store, and I have returned the «Favor». If you are looking for something they don’t have on the floor, they may be able to make it for you. The selection is great. The prices are reasonable. The only downside of the jewelry is that the chains for some of the necklaces are pretty flimsy and low grade quality, which I assume is to keep the prices low. I end up throwing the design piece on a necklace I already have. Be forewarned, it is pretty difficult to walk out of the store with only one item. They opened up a store in SF recently, but I haven’t had a chance to check out that location out.

Favor reeks with chic. Local designer, great style. Cutest eclectic jewelry that appeals as much to the goth chicks as the girly girls… seriously — that probably explains why I’m so drawn to it. You can find something to suit any personality — vintage and vintage-​inspired pendants with images from Louise Brooks to Mexican Loteria cards to Japanese floral prints. Get yourself into Favor if you need some serious retail therapy, anytime. If you like Bakelite you’ll like this stuff.
They moved to San Francisco — on Polk St. Too bad.

I love, love, LOVE this store! I wandered in one day and bought 2 pairs of earrings, a necklace and awesome bracelet. I can’t wait to go back. The jewelry is unique and beautiful and the owner is super nice. I’ll definitely be shopping there again soon.

Holler at the NEW GIRL!!!
Favor is simply one of the best stores I have worked/​shopped at! All of their jewelry is handmade (by myself, Caramia, The Gabster, and Tava). For the amount of work and care that goes into each piece of jewelry the prices are very reasonable. There is something here for everyone, unless you hate jewelry, which in that case you need a serious make-​over.
Besides the line of Hotcakes Designs that we make we also are caring some good from Japan, Paris, Brooklyn, and local jewelry makers. Please come by and say hello (and leave with a bag of delicious jewelry).
xoxoxoxoxoxo

I am afraid to go back into Favor. I have an uncanny attraction to every item in this store and, lucky for my committment to modest expenditure on nonessentials (fabulous food doesn’t count, right?) I happened in there only once, when I was on a walk and sans credit cards.
My friend and I spent an hour looking at the stuff. An hour. In this tiny little shop. Every item is of intrigue.
There is much money I’ve spent on food that I totally should have used to buy that squirrel necklace. Or one of the dramatic black rose beaded numbers. The jewelery doesn’t strike me as marked up much — in fact they must be selling gobs of it to be making a profit. Eep, why do I stay away? Maybe I’m afraid of acquiring a Favor habit? It might have a little to do with a St. Patrick’s day encounter with the shop girl in McNally’s…but that’s a story for another day.

Carmia, the owner of Favor, is the coolest chick to talk to. Every time I go into this store (which is my absolute favor jewelry store around), she’s so upbeat, friendly and interesting to chat with. What’s more, the pieces here are truly unique. She’s had a few celebrities seek her out to buy her goods and she gets special requests to create product for some prestigious museums. I have 4 different pieces (a ring, earrings, bracelet and necklace). Each has special meaning and are truly unique. I really believe we’ll see Carmia’s jewelry on a large scale someday and they’ll be worth a lot more than what they’re going for now. She’s got a one of a kind style and also features other artists that work for her. Definitely worth a trip to Rockridge to soak in some shopping and a cocktail or two on the veranda at the nearby Claremont.

The jewelry here is just my style — funky and chunky!
I get compliments (and double takes) on the matador and bull necklace I often wear — it’s nice to wear something that is both feminine but macho at the same time.
Caramia, the owner, is very personable and gives you space when you shop.

I needed a custom-​designed sputnik necklace for my wife’s birthday.
They made it. It is awesome.

High quality, unique resin jewelry incorporating images both whimsical and beautiful. Whether you are looking for something bold or demure, classic or unconventional, there is something here for everyone.
I own quite a few pieces from her shop, and every time I wear one I get a compliment. The prices are quite reasonable for quality jewelry from an independent shop.
The owner told me she is working with some old Italian guys who used to carve the bead molds for those fabulous costume pieces from bygone days that go for hundreds of dollars to collectors now, to come up with new designs. She knows her stuff, and the quality shows.

Favor makes beautiful jewelry, and the staff are very nice. Much of it is out of my price range, but I still like to go in and admire.

Let’s start by saying that I am a regular guy who loves to shop (being european … maybe not very regular — somebody would say)!!!
Today I stopped by this unique store to buy a little present after reading other reviews on Unilocal. Immefiately I saw few things I liked and within minutes Caramia, the kind owner and main artist on the premises, was helping me out sorting through many nice pieces of jewelry. I ended up purchasing a nice bracelet and I am sure it will be greatly appreciated!
The price range is very good, with nice things starting below $ 30.
The pieces are unique. Most of all have a retro look, but there are also a mix of modern/​antique looking pieces that create a good compromise.
Follow your instinct and not your wallet when you decide to buy a present for a woman, especially when it comes down to jewelry. Caramia or any of the other employees will help you sorting through many different shapes and designs, but you are the one who makes the final call!

I get compliments on the Favor necklace I own. Every time I wear it.
In fact, sometimes I don’t want to wear it because then people have an irresistible urge to go buy their very own, and then suddenly I’m trendy. Sigh.
Also: the fifth star is for fixing my chain for free after it caught on my scarf and nearly asphyxiated me before breaking, and for always being super-​friendly and talkative and not at all pushy when I go in there.

When I’m crying in a couple of weeks about not affording eggs and milk, you can whup me upside my Favor-​wearing, spendthrift head.
I bought the lil birdy earrings six months ago and wore them every day. Today I bought the matching carved resin necklace (see the photo for the shop)…after dreaming of it for months. Pretty pricey investment for costume jewelry, but then I’m a diamond-​free zone, so it’s ok.

Favor is a wonderful and hip jewelry store. It has something for every gal on your gift list, even Mom. Caramia takes requests but also if you find an image, say, in necklace form but you want it in brooch form, no prob! And the price for that is minimal. Her jewelry is like the modern version of bakelite, which Caramia is very knowledgeable about. You can tell she loves what she does and that enthusiasm is contagious. Go there, you won’t be disappointed.

I just stumbled into this store the other day on one of my unwinding and meditative walks home from UC Berkeley. I must have walked by it many times before but this time the fabulous window display caught my attention.
As other reviewers have said, the store is filled to the gills with charming jewelry bearing well chosen imagery. If you have ever gazed longingly into the jewelry cases at Tail of the Yak in Elmwood, wishing that you had gone to law school or had become a 200 dollar-​an-​hour psychoanalyst instead of choosing a life-​path with no foreseeable financial rewards this store will make you feel better. You will be able to leave with a little something that has been well-​crafted, is aesthetically striking and reasonably priced.
The great thing is that, after looking at the various images in the pieces, I asked if it were possible to bring in your own image (s) and have custom pieces made. It is! Alas, they (Caramia and co.) charge a sort of processing fee, even if you know *how* to do the image/​graphics set up yourself, but it isn’t an exhorbitant (sp?) fee and you will be able to design a one-​of-​a-​kind ring or brooch /​pendant etc. with your own chosen image for less than 75 – 100 bucks in most cases (I think).
So think of how great it would be, for a wedding, birth, graduation, birthday etc. to get someone a ring of their beloved or their pet, or a necklace with images of all their children. The jewelry is really well-​made and I am a picky person on this account.
If you are not intested in the custom route, I have no doubt that you will find something to your liking in the store itself… there are images from maps, postcards and vintage cards: hummingbirds, crows, sparrows the Eiffel Tower, Josephine Baker, eyeballs, hands, bullfights, matadors, Paris, London, girls and boys being naughty, insects: butterflies, beetles… and more, all very cool. I bought a pair of sparrow earrings in sterling with nice professional closures for 35 bucks and a ring that said «Paris» (I was thinking the city and only later realized that people might think I was some «Simple Life» groupie, alas) for maybe 45 dollars? Don’t really remember exact prices, but the ring/​earrings are pretty unique and memorable.
Why buy boring stuff like diamonds that everyone has? Diamonds really are sooo over-​rated, they aren’t even rare, each is probably responsible for some murder somewhere, and they are just compressed coal. You get coal in your stocking when you’ve been BAD! A diamond may be forever but humans aren’t, wouldn’t you rather have something INTERESTING on your finger in your short time on earth?
Also, given the long phone conversation I was privy to I believe the sweet proprietess is looking for someone who can wire-​wrap (beads etc.) so. if you know what this is, can do it well, and want to make some extra cash you might give her a call.
I am rarely impressed but I really like this place and Caramia, the owner, was awfully sweet and helpful.

Awesome stuff! Seriously wall to wall goodness, I want one of everything! You can check out her designs at
. If you like vintage, old bakelite pieces, victorian mourning stuff, etc, you will love her jewelry. It’s hand carved to look like old jet or bakelite, but she also carries modern pieces like the picture bracelets and pendants and earrings set in sterling. Such a fun place to shop!

I discovered this store recently after buying Caramia Visick’s jewelry at Dollybird on San Pablo Ave. After complaining to the cashier about the fact that Dollybird was closing, I was informed that Caramia had opened her own shop on college.
She sells her hand made collage jewelry there, Pieces range from $ 30 to $ 100 and are *very* cool.
I am so jealous of her — she has my dream job!