Mineral and Matter

Mineral and Matter names its earrings after moons. The Cressida hoops are named for one of at least 27 moons that circle Uranus, the shop explains, because Cressida orbits in a nearly circular path, much like a hoop. The Salt Lake City jewelry company takes its cues from outer space and nature, and its own team of jewelers makes the house pieces.

Founder Stacey Foster described the idea to City Home Collective in 2016 as "a mix between the grandeur of outer space and the beauty of nature." The shop was then on Pierpont Avenue, with a small studio upstairs where she made many of the pieces. Back then it also took a mobile boutique to local events. It now sits on 900 South, in the stretch of small businesses known as Maven.

The rings are hand-formed in 14k goldfill or sterling silver from 16- or 18-gauge wire, and a Squiggle ring costs $32. The company describes its jewelers as a team of women and says it gives them creative trust in a relaxed shop. It also sells to other shops wholesale.

Not everything on the shelves is made there. The shop also sells vintage jewelry, with new drops every Friday at noon, and stocks goods from other makers. Some earrings are labeled as chosen by the shop rather than made by it, and the product pages say which is which.

There is also a nail bar inside the Maven store. The shop's reasoning is that a new ring deserves an art manicure, and it is hard to argue with.