The best details are the ones you almost miss. That idea runs through the new West Town location of Adornment & Theory — a jewel box of a shop where engravings hide in the inner bands of rings and where unexpected stones, like salt-and-pepper diamonds, add an element of surprise. Founder Viviana Langhoff designed the space (she relocated from Logan Square this spring), with the same eye she brings to her jewelry. Her intricate pieces take cues from sights she’s seen on her world travels, like the ornate architecture of southern Spain and northern Africa, and employ centuries-old techniques like milgrain detailing. “I’m a jewelry history nerd,” she says. The shop’s layered aesthetic of walnut wood and red velvet, coupled with an outdoor garden, adds ambiance. Think of it as a jewelry store with a magnifying glass mindset. 1433 W. Chicago Ave., West Town adornmentandtheory.com
Kelly Aiglon is the contributing Found editor for Chicago magazine.