The love story between Jennifer Greenwood and jewelry took a long time to develop—kind of like a rom-com where the two leads meet but have to work through complications before they come together for good.
Think of that irresistible connection between Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in You’ve Got Mail or Sleepless in Seattle. That’s what grew—sort of—over 20-plus years between Greenwood and metals and gemstones, such as the ones she now works with in her Nantucket jewelry studio and retail shop.
Yup. As if her pull toward jewelry wasn’t cinematic enough, Greenwood works on one of the most beautiful islands in the United States, in a small shop around the corner. You can’t get more meet-cute than that. Her store even looks like a Nancy Meyers movie with layered rugs, wicker baskets, and a seashell chandelier.
“I’ve come to realize that my path has not been all linear, and certainly not a traditional, formal, or expected path to a jewelry career,” Greenwood says. “Although I fell in love with metalwork in my early 20s, I did not take the plunge and open my store until the age of 42. But I’m so happy that I did.”
Tiger-stripe Montana agates are showcased on the Tigris Double Drop Limerence earrings ($2,650), with fancy brown diamonds on the 14k gold toppers.
“I finally launched my website in July—long, long overdue,” she adds. “I’m hopeful that it will help to expand my reach and allow my current customers to stay connected when they are not here.”
Greenwood handcrafts jewelry in her studio from mid-April through December, working four to six days a week depending on the season. During wintertime she works from home and opens the shop by appointment. The only exception? Valentine’s Day week.
And if this “movie” needs another scene: Greenwood spends some of her winter months in Vermont, where she volunteers as ski patrol at Mad River Glen—a job and passion she has had for three decades.
An idyllic life indeed. Greenwood has lived in New England most of her life: She was born in Connecticut and from age 6 grew up just west of Boston, in a farmhouse complete with a weathered 1800s barn and other outbuildings. Her childhood days were spent playing outside, running through the woods, and doing art.
The oxidized sterling silver pendant on Jennifer Greenwood’s Diamond Fan Glyph necklace ($1,650) is based on a Moorish palmette motif and hangs from a 14k gold chain.
“My mother changed her jewelry often, and I was fascinated by the simple hammered gold rounds and cast scallop-shell earrings,” she recalls. “My first real piece of jewelry I can remember was a delicate gold ring with a deep purple amethyst baguette and tiny round diamonds on either side. I treasured it and felt like I had been entrusted with the responsibility of taking care of it.”
Greenwood attended Miss Porter’s School in Farmington, Conn., as a boarding student for four years. There, an art teacher deepened her interest in art. Greenwood tried college, but that was not her path. A year in Cannes in 1994 studying art history was more her direction.
Back from France, Greenwood took classes at various colleges in the Boston area and worked seasonally on Nantucket for several years. “I never did complete a degree,” she says. “But I loved learning, and that extends to all forms and especially lived experience. I believe it is a lifelong pursuit.”
Greenwood’s connection to Nantucket goes back to her family’s summers there when she was a kid (her mother had visited the island when she was a child). The island remained in Greenwood’s heart, and she became a full-time resident in 2005. For the next 12 years, she worked at Nantucket stores, learning the ins and outs of retail.
A key role came with Jessica Hicks, a beloved island jewelry-maker. Greenwood was tasked with organizing production, ordering castings, managing the day-to-day of Hicks’ store. and keeping up with wholesale accounts.
A signature piece for Greenwood, the Diamond Limerence cuff Bracelet ($8,195) is made from hammered 14k gold.
“Prior to working in the store for her, I did some cleanup benchwork of her castings and light assembly at a makeshift bench at home as a side job. This really allowed me to get my hands back into some metalwork and made me realize that it was something I wanted to pursue,” Greenwood says.
From 2014 to 2016, she managed stores for jewelry designers Emilly Brooke Rubin and Susan Lister Locke and worked for Hicks as needed. Each of these women had their own niche on Nantucket, Greenwood says, and all of them taught her customer service as well as encouraged her to start something of her own. Greenwood opened her boutique in 2017.
“When people come into the shop, I am contributing to their Nantucket experience and I always want to make people comfortable and welcome and give them reasons to come back,” Greenwood says. “I love the personal interactions I get to have with my customers. When they enter my shop, I often hear that it feels like they stepped into a personal space or my living room.”
It’s true—her workbench is right there in the shop, her tools sitting near sentimental and family heirlooms. Add in some unruly plants, and you can see why people love visiting Greenwood year after year.
“I do think jewelry becomes a part of a person. The jewelry I make is definitely for the wearer,” she says. “I want it to feel good to the touch and on the body, and bolster their spirit as they move about the world.”
Top: Jennifer Greenwood is a self-taught jewelry designer who makes her home on Nantucket island in Massachusetts. (Photos courtesy of Jennifer Greenwood)
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