After moving with her family to Wilton in early 2020, Jill Lynn Brody felt she found a jewel of a town. That’s a perfect fit for a jewelry designer who has opened a new studio and showroom in Wilton Center, Jill Lynn and Co.
The space showcases Brody’s collection of fine jewelry, custom engagement rings and wedding bands, along with an array of top quality gemstones and beads which customers can select for a custom design.
Brody has been designing jewelry for nearly 25 years and owned her own retail stores in Sag Harbor and Easthampton, NY before moving to Wilton.
Even before the pandemic, Brody saw shifting trends in how consumers shop for jewelry and no longer felt tied to a retail store. Seeking a change that would allow her to be closer to New York City for business needs while still enjoying small town life, Brody viewed the move to Wilton as the start of a new chapter in her personal and professional journey.
“I really just wanted more land, more space, and so did my husband. We both realized that we were really open to leaving [eastern Long Island],” Brody said.
As she adapted to life in Wilton with two school-aged children, Brody continued to work with regular customers in New York, with weekly stops in Manhattan.
Brody said she was thrilled to find an ideal studio space at 95 Old Ridgefield Rd. — on the second floor in the building where CVS is located — with its many windows that look out over Wilton Center.
She found Wilton’s close community feel very appealing, unlike the more transient Hamptons market.
“Here you have this beautiful connection. It’s truly lovely. That’s what I think I love so much about here,” Brody said.
Brody speaks passionately about her craft. She has GIA diamond certification, and personally sources gemstones at national and international trade shows.
“My heart is in jewelry. I love it,” she said effusively. “I just love gemstones. And that [love] is what really built this business.”
Brody understands the high-end jewelry business demands a certain trust.
“Integrity is everything in this business,” Brody emphasized.
Brody sees her latest venture in Wilton as “completely different” from traditional jewelry stores, where she says customers might feel limited by what is on display.
“It’s more personal,” she said. “I’m truly like a personal jeweler. I can do just about anything.”
“I do have the classics, like diamond studs, but you know, I just always tailor things a little differently,” Brody said. “I know how to build things better or adjust things. I’m a very creative person.”
She described several examples of her work, such as modernizing a customer’s old jewelry piece, reimagining a simple piece as something more special, or creating a unique gift for a mother from her children. The personal dimension is particularly meaningful to Brody.
“It’s not an easy business to be in. There’s a lot of legwork. There’s a lot of pressure,” she said. “But I get to be part of these beautiful stories. That part makes it worth it.”
“It was never easy to build my business into what it is, but I never gave up,” Brody continued. “Each step was so important. The Wilton studio is perfect for this next chapter of my life.”
Brody is available in the studio three to four days a week. Contact information is available on the Jill Lynn and Co. website. She also emails a monthly newsletter to interested subscribers.