Mindy has returned to making handmade jewelry under her own name, to honor herself as well as her father. To empower women to walk through the world fully as themselves, which is her greatest joy and passion.
Mindy Recht is a studio jeweler, designing and crafting expressive, high quality pieces that never go out of style.
About Mindy Recht
Mindy came to the jewelry studio late, having spent her career as a lawyer with stints both as a prosecutor, and in private practice. However, with a lifelong love of jewelry and the arts, while practicing law in New York, she began studying with classically trained jewelers and creative metalsmiths. She immediately fell in love with metal and the process of making jewelry. People kept trying to buy the jewelry she’d made when she wore it. When a woman tried to buy a piece off Mindy’s neck while shopping in Bergdorf’s, she started thinking seriously about following her passion. Soon she decided to quit practicing law and become a studio jeweler.
Mindy starting making jewelry professionally under the name CJ Recht, in honor of her father, who died when she was just 19. He was a lawyer, but he always encouraged her creative pursuits. He often said that Mindy should be a designer, perhaps kiddingly. Regardless, he’d have enthusiastically supported Mindy’s jewelry endeavors.
Mindy had great success under her father’s name, including jewelry industry accolades from the World Gold Council and Jewelers Association. CJ Recht jewelry was featured on the cover of JCK Magazine, the most prestigious jewelry publication, and in other magazines. Galleries and boutiques across the country carried CJ Recht, and Mindy had so many trunk shows in the Soho Bloomingdales that the staff called Mindy the “house jeweler”. CJ Recht developed an enthusiastic following and Mindy created custom pieces for clients. When she (mistakenly) left New York, Mindy went back to practicing law. While she continued working with a few custom clients, she retired the CJ Recht line. Luckily, nothing is irrevocable.
My Purpose:
I believe jewelry has significant power beyond superficial adornment, as it can hold confidence, expression, joy, emotions, memories, and people.
My Mission:
To help people express themselves through
unique, timeless jewelry that celebrates
individual wearers and materials.
The Jewelry
Mindy’s jewelry is a synthesis of her love of metal, design sensibilities, search for unique stones, lapidary work, and craftsmanship. She uses her expertise in metalsmithing, artisanal jewelry techniques, and forms to create every piece. It’s imperative to her that her jewelry not only evokes the hand that created it, but that it invites you to touch, which is why she creates so many intricate surface textures. Her pieces feature unusual shapes and often asymmetrical designs which rebel against the traditional structures of jewelry forms, just as many of her stone choices challenge the idea of which stones are precious.
Each and every creation is personal to her. They’re physical manifestations of her thoughts and ideas. That’s why she spends countless hours choosing the right materials and crafting each piece by hand. With a deep commitment to honoring the individual materials, she believes the metal and stone often have their own ideas while she works, and sometimes one of them has to yield to the other to create a piece of jewelry.
Even when she’s finished crafting a piece, her work is still not done. She believes that no piece of jewelry is truly finished until it rests on a person, because jewelry only comes to life on the wearer. Watching that transformation occur, when someone puts on a piece of her jewelry and lights up, is her most fulfilling joy. Only then is her work done.
MINDY RECHT JEWELRY IS ALWAYS
Made by hand
Made responsibly
Lifetime guaranteed
