Since launching her eponymous jewelry business in 2017, Calista West has only continued to grow in demand. Last year, the year-round Nantucket resident officially opened a brick-and-mortar space on Main Street, giving those who stop in an experience unlike anything else. Think jewelry service and pieces that go beyond the commodity.

“Many people forget [that jewelry is] historically ritualistic,” West says. “Visit any museum to learn the stories of people through their precious things.” Many of her clients are in tune with this and think of her pieces as talismans and keepsakes. Just in time for the summer season, N Magazine catches up with the jeweler.

How is Calista West different?

We’re not just a regular jewelry store. We’re a full-service space that extends far beyond our walls at our 12 Main Street flagship. We have clients sprinkled around the globe and a large client base in the Boston area where we regularly meet clients in our atelier there. From what my clients tell me, we go pretty far above and beyond what most retail offers. We want to connect with and build lifelong relationships with them. Clients welcome us into their homes and to their weddings. It is not uncommon to travel anywhere from a local beach to hand-deliver a ring to the highlands of Scotland to bring them their finished pieces. We’re helping weave the narratives of families and their valuables, commemorating and celebrating major events. It’s a lot of joy.

Your specialty is in diamonds. Tell me more.

To me, diamonds transcend space and time. They’re literally created from carbon that has undergone extreme heat and pressure, created over the course of billions of years! It’s humbling. Inspiring. Ancient civilizations saw them as an extension of the sun because of their light-filled sparkle. They can be breathtaking. They mean many things to many people: strength, love, commitment. Some cultures believe they protect a person’s aura, balance and tone the body, or even treat allergies and other chronic conditions. I’ve never seen diamonds not complement someone’s beauty by adding light and joy.

The quality of all the diamonds in the store is extremely important to me. We sell only GIA-certified diamonds. (GIA, or Gemological Institute of America, is a nonprofit laboratory that is the frontrunner in diamond education and grading. I studied there.) For each client, we source what we would buy for ourselves, respecting their parameters. Our products run the gamut, anywhere from a few hundred dollars for precious diamond huggie earrings to seven figures for a one-of-a-kind ring. We aim to maintain a space where anyone can come in to buy or create something special.

What are some of your favorite pieces you’ve sold thus far?

So many. One that comes to mind is a ring we made for a client whose father had recently passed. We created a new ring incorporating his birthstone and three diamonds representing each family member. Those types of designs make us feel honored to be included. Commemorating your memories is important to us. It’s sacred.

What’s happening this month and beyond?

We’ll be hosting some fun events. Our piercing parties are very popular, so we’ll continue those and present some art shows by local photographers and trunk shows by independent designers I love and admire, like vintage watches curated by Eric Wind. Education around value is important to us. For example, Eric is one of the world’s leading experts in vintage watches and was a senior specialist at Christie’s for years. Anyone who is interested can sign up for our email list to receive invites and follow us on Instagram. If you like diamonds, Nantucket, and babies, we will not disappoint!