Had a great experience at Erie Basin today. Fantastic service - knowledgeable, considerate, and unrushed. Wonderful selection. Highly recommended. read more

5/5. I've shopped both in store and online and have always had a lovely experience. Beautiful pieces. Russell has a real eye and it shows in his selection. Completely unassuming and super chill in person shopping experience. Skip the rest and make the trek! It's worth it! Thank you! read more

This review is for the online experience only, but have no doubt that the antique and jewelry store is just as wonderful! My boyfriend and I recently purchased my wedding ring from here and am so thrilled I stumbled upon the piece! It was on Pinterest that I first saw a similar ring Russell had created and after doing some digging found Erie Basin's online store. I of course was hesitant purchasing a diamond online having not seen it first, so contacted Russell who took the time to discus my concerns via phone. Once the purchase was made, the resizing took only hours and he shipped it to me overnight. Everything was super smooth and stress less and the ring is exactly what I wanted- vintage, simple, classic. Erie Basin has a customer for life in me! read more

Russell is amazing, and so is the whole process of shopping at Erie Basin. It started when I was searching for the perfect engagement ring. He didn't have exactly what I was looking for at first, but Russell stayed in communication as new things came into the shop and eventually we found one that was absolutely gorgeous. But it didn't stop with just the engagement ring. My wife picked out a vintage band from the shop, and Russell made us two new pieces of jewelry (my wedding band and a wedding day necklace for my wife) out of a family heirloom. They're so beautiful and so special to us. The experience at Erie Basin is really great, and I imagine I'll be buying more jewelry there some time in the future. read more

Sometimes everything about your visit to a place is just right, and the experience takes on an almost supernatural cast. That's what it was like wandering into Erie Basin yesterday afternoon. The sun was falling, the light was perfectly golden, casting long shadows onto Van Brunt Street. The Sunday air was crisp and pregnant with the promise of colder weather on the way. The door to Erie Basin was standing a little bit ajar. My friend and I were just another pair of daytrippers visiting Red Hook from North Brooklyn, where we live. The storefront we wandered into before Erie Basin turned out to be a gallery displaying sort of uncomfortable video art featuring a lot of people in ambiguous distress, and also some sort of slapdash collages. Following that we walked into a place selling straight up ship-in-a-bottle chintz. Erie Basin's elegant dark wood floor and matching display cases were really the last thing I was expecting. The weird, watery hush of Van Brunt Street is the perfect site for a shop like this. If Erie Basin were located in a busier neighborhood it might not feel so special. But even without the perfect context, it's hard to argue with the wares. The selection on offer is understated but totally remarkable. Erie Basin's collection of antique jewelry is incredibly well-curated. Although I wouldn't ordinarily say I'm even a huge fan of this aesthetic, the obvious thought and care that's gone into presenting the selection of goods on offer is impressive and seductive. The objects are arranged roughly by group, and displayed the way you might present a butterfly collection. There's a kind of internal logic at work that's very compelling. The jewelry ranges widely in price. Most of it is quite old and quite expensive, but it's obviously also very special, and so the prices seem fair. There's also something nice about the fact that Erie Basin is a kind of destination unto itself. Making the long-ish trip to the store to buy something for my girlfriend seems like it would make the purchase that much more special. I'll be honest: I feel a little funny writing a review of what is basically a jewelry store when most of my reviews are reserved for either geeky specialty book/record stores or dumb hipster restaurants that have already been positively reviewed a zillion times, but a great place is a great place, and Erie Basin deserves praise. It's one of the most special stores I've been into in New York. read more

Silly me, I bought a beautiful late 1800s engagement ring for my now-fiance months ago from here and totally spaced on a review. They posted said ring on Tumblr, my girlfriend reblogged it, and said that she had to have it. I e-mailed them and the owner, Russell, replied and we were able to work out a payment plan. He was responsive and professional throughout, leaving out no detail, and making me feel confident in my purchase. Payment was easy and convenient. When I received the ring, it is as stunning in person as it was in the photos. I continue to be impressed by the pieces they carry, and my fiance will now forever have a truly unique engagement ring. If you want to impress someone special with a gift, this is the place to go. I would buy from here again for sure, and I certainly plan to. read more

My coworker and I were drooling over Erie Basin's jewelry on http://www.eriebasin.com/ back when we were just hoping our boyfriends would propose to us. Apparently our hint-dropping worked because we both wound up with beautiful, unique, vintage engagement rings from Erie Basin. Neither of which were terribly expensive considering how gorgeous the pieces are. My fiance used to live in Red Hook and was already hip to this corner boutique. We visited a couple times and love the way the collection is carefully curated, not overwhelmingly packed with dusty old finds. The store has more than just jewelry too -- bizarre old artwork, antique candlesticks, and new jewelry items as well. From what I understand, Russell was super helpful when my fiance went in to shop for the ring. He advised a place to get it refit for my size as well. Now with the wedding just around the corner, I'm hoping to head down there today to pick out wedding bands. read more

What a great selection! You can tell that Russell has an amazing eye and passion for antiques. My fiance got my dream engagement ring here - a 1930s vintage art deco ring. I am so glad to have such a unique piece of jewelry for the same price it would cost for a generic ring at some place like Blue Nile. Their tumblr is worth a bookmark on your browser. read more

Russel has worked with my fiancé's family for many years. After many months of contemplation, I found a design on his instagram and he replicated it. He was able to custom make a ring for me with family diamonds and it turned out absolutely perfect. He kept the stones for months until I decided exactly what I wanted. In addition, he found an old diamond for the center and it fit the design perfectly. Russel was very patient throughout the entire process and always had our best interest at heart. He never tries to up sell you or put on any pressure whatsoever. He is easygoing and more passionate about finding something that fits your lifestyle. I was worried about having the ring custom built, but I wouldn't change anything about it. It is gorgeous!!!! I would recommend him to anyone looking for wedding and engagement rings, but also to someone who appreciates design. He has really awesome vintage pieces that are so unique. read more

In addition to the fact that Erie Basin is near-perfectly curated, with a constant rotation of incredible pieces, Russell is particularly accommodating and helpful. He aided me in finding the perfect engagement ring (a 1920s Euro cut), communicated seamlessly while overseas, met me outside of store hours, and even provided me a ride home back to Gowanus! I look forward to going back very soon to look at wedding bands, and frequently in the future. Whether you're in search of a specific piece like an engagement ring, or you find yourself wandering around Red Hook, Erie Basin is a must-visit. My Erie Basin experience was so positive that I joined Yelp explicitly to post a review. read more

Me and my fiance got my engagement ring here two years back but at the time I didn't have a Yelp account. I had to go back and review this place because I still get compliments on my ring all the time! It is so unique and lovely from the early 1900s and the diamond is of excellent quality European cut. I remember the owner was helpful but not pushy. The prices are very reasonable for the quality of jewelry that you get. The store itself is very cool and I still check out their website just to look at all the beautiful new things that come in. I recommend this place to all my friends who are getting engaged. read more

I guess this is also a review of my fiancé, who has great taste and found my lovely vintage engagement ring at Erie Basin :) I had never been to the store before...and quite frankly was not the kind of girl who was obsessing over engagement rings - but WOW! My fiancé was referred to this place by a friend-of-a-friend who is a jeweler. My ring has a delicate, gorgeous, understated but unique Art Deco setting with a nineteenth century diamond. I get lots of compliments on it. They seem to have a wide range of options depending on your budget. Lots of other cool stuff besides rings, too! If you are concerned about the ethics of buying a new diamond - or just want something classic but unique as opposed to blingy - definitely look at what Erie Basin has. read more

I bought a gorgeous 1930's platinum engagement ring here, and it even came in the original box! Russell has a genuine love for jewelry, and quite the eye (and luck) for snagging some stunning pieces. Please do yourself a favor and follow the blog. He updates it very often with items that are not in the online store portion of the website. Rings usually go pretty quickly once they are posted on the blog. So, be on the ball and check back everyday or so as not to miss out. The blog is here : http://eriebasin.tumblr.com I appreciate all of the help, Russell. Thank you so very much. read more

My partner and I got engaged first, and then got rings. The reason: we didn't think we wanted engagement rings. But then, the word "Yes" happens and everything changes. Enter: Erie Basin and Russell. We had visited many other shops but we kept coming back to Erie Basin. Week after week we ran into other customers who got their engagement ring, or wedding ring, or anniversary necklace from Russell and they echoed what we had also figured out: this is a special shop, run by a special guy. We went through a three-month process where Russell sourced numerous stones to ensure that we each got exactly what we wanted. Russell never pressured us, and never got bothered by our indecisiveness. He wanted to help us get to what we wanted too. And he did. My partner and I both got exactly what we wanted: two stunning custom engagement rings. And Russell made the whole process feel so open and easy. Thank you, Russell! read more

The last time I met someone like Erie Basin's Russell Whitmore was when my cousin, a professional surfer, took me to visit a renowned surfboard shaper. He was part samurai, part storyteller, and an artisan through and through. His expertise was of an older world, instinctual and rooted firmly in muscle memory, but, if asked, he generously shared what he knew with others. That's Russell in the world of unique, vintage jewelry and antique pieces. Specifically, Erie Basin (EB) boasts a spectacularly curated collection of jewelry from the early 19th century to custom designs from the EB team itself. As others have mentioned, his blog and website (recently redesigned) are great primers for what awaits in his Red Hook, but it's best to make the trip to the store, if you can, as new jewelry surfaces there all the time. Lastly, a few quick words about Russell's way with customers. I was drawn to a Victorian-style engagement ring early into my visit to EB. Customers came, bought, and left while I stared at the ring for hours, rotating it in the light. Russell offered thoughts, answered my questions, but let me take my time until I was ready to buy. Once I did, the process was seamless, but his service didn't end with my purchase. When my fiancé and I circled back through New York for a few days after getting engaged, he found a way to resize the ring (my strong preference was to use EB only, as this was a 150 year-old ring with an original inscription) for me on the same day so that she could fly out with it and be able to show it to her family upon arriving. Russell thought creatively and let me drop the ring off at his home in Brooklyn that morning to hit our timeline. In short, Russell may not shape surfboards, but he helps shape engagements expertly. Though we live on the West Coast, I hope to find a way to work with Russell and the Erie Basin team to make custom wedding bands. Russell, you're the best! read more

A wonderful local jewelry store with a fantastic Instagram account too! Popped in yesterday and the gentleman there could not have been nicer or more accommodating to help me with a piece of my own jewelry. While I was there I spotted a stunning 1970s opal cocktail ring that looked just right on my hand...sigh. I want it. read more

The collection at Erie Basin is amazing and Russell was incredible to work with through our entire ring buying process. We bought both my fiancee's engagement ring and wedding band from Erie Basin and couldn't be happier with the quality, design, or price/value. We ended up coming to the store a number of times (for purchase, resizing, and then buying the wedding band), and every single time working with Russell was awesome. He's super patient, straight forward, and easy to deal with. He kindly answered all of our questions about different rings without pushing us to close a sale. Highly recommended for anyone buying engagement or wedding rings, or just looking for a really cool store to check out! read more

Erie Basin is a treasure trove of beautiful, quirky pieces, lovingly curated and charmingly displayed. Prices range from $10 for a tiny spoon carved out of bone to $300 for antique jewelry. It's a great place to shop for something special or just browse. I love it. read more

Truly gorgeous wares, but out of my price range for casual jewelry purchases. Word to future brides: if you've got indie style, get your engagement ring here. There are some lovelies. And word to interior designers: if you've got a client with a gloomy manse looking to decorate with a rusty seaside vibe, this place has got you covered. read more

Cute little store on Red Hook's "main drag," Van Brunt Street. Set between a few galleries (Is Red Hook going to be Brooklyn's new gallery mecca? Who knows, after a few years of Ikea's and Fairway's presence...) They offer a plethora of antique jewelry, many from the turn of the century, and some Victorian pieces. read more

I can't say enough good things about Russell and his shop. I've been visiting the shop for years and always found Russell to be incredibly patient, kind and knowledgable. His deep knowledge about the pieces is what sets him and the shop apart from so many other stores. He knows a lot about the history and is happy to share, which makes each item seem so special. I would happily recommend the shop to anyone looking for a beautiful piece of jewelry for an important occasion. read more

My goodness, this is a fun place. Everything is so artistic and different and has such authenticity and romance. This shop specializes in the kind of antiques and jewelry I like: kind of spare, minimalist, delicately detailed pieces. They aren't museum pieces but are perfectly suited to modern life. You could invent a story about each piece, or say that it was your great-grandmother's who survived the sinking of the Titanic. (No big gems like Kate Winslet's character, though, thank you). read more

Haven't been to the actual shop, but checking out Erie Basin's online shop is always something to look forward to. They have an eclectic mix of modern pieces made by interesting designers and very carefully chosen antique pieces that look modern despite their age. I got my wedding ring here! If you don't see something you love on the website, be sure to email them because they have a lot of different things that don't make it online. read more

I bought a gift for a friend here and had it shipped. There was a problem with the item when I received it and when I saw their return policy, was very nervous that they would give me a hard time when I tried to return it. But the customer service was amazing, professional, patient, and understanding. The store is beautiful and what they sell is interesting and special. Absolutely THE place to go for unique gifts and quality service. read more

Erie Basin has a beautiful selection of vintage estate jewelry, definitely worth the trip! We had a unique situation - my fiance proposed to me with a family diamond, but we wanted it to be reset to be "my own". Being a big fan of vintage, we scoured the city for shops that would take an existing diamond and fit it into one of their vintage settings. This is apparently really rare to find, but Russell was so friendly and helpful, and he had a good selection of empty settings, ranging from different decades. I ended up falling in love with a complete ring, and Russell agreed to switch out the existing diamond for mine. He arranged all of the sizing and altering, and it came out beautifully. Now I have a 1920's diamond in an authentic and beautifully detailed platinum ~1915 setting. I couldn't be more pleased and am so happy to tell everyone to check out Erie Basin!! read more

My fiancé and I could not be happier with Erie Basin. Russell's taste is superb and his customer service is even better! He patiently answered all of our questions and as a result I have an engagement ring beyond my wildest dreams. Highly recommended! read more

Erie Basin is quickly becoming my favorite store in the universe, and not just because I love history *and* accessories! Before I moved to Brooklyn, I was following owner Russell's tumblr site [http://eriebasin.tumblr.com/] and constantly drooling over the beautiful antique jewels and knickknacks he collects. And I made sure to hop on the B 61 as soon as I could to visit his storefront, which is simply a beautiful space for ogling beautiful things. While I was there, a couple was working with Russell on some wedding ring business, but I was ably helped by his shop assistant, who helped me try on a bunch of AMAZING necklaces at all different price points. That's what's so great -- like others have mentioned, you can get a $2000 antique diamond or a $45 pendant, the selection is simply breathtaking. I still need some convincing on the Victorian hair jewelry, though...but now I know all about vulcanite: did you know it starts to smell when the weather is warm? You didn't? Well, get thee to Erie Basin and check it out! read more

Great for gifts. An excellent selection of jewelry, wedding rings, objects, and other tasteful items. The owner stocks the store with stuff that he finds at antique shows and estate sales, so there's always something unique there. Priced reasonably, so I go back often. read more

I discovered Erie Basin virtually through the Tumblr community, and quickly fell in love with the store. Russell does a fantastic job finding beautiful pieces, and usually has a pretty good understanding of the history/specs/details of each piece. I ordered a beautiful 19th century ring from him, and he was both very communicative and very fast in shipping it to me. I'll continue to browse his blog (where he often lists products that are not listed on his site) and online store, and when the time comes, I hope to get my engagement/wedding rings from him! read more

Erie Basin is a diamond in the "no longer-so-rough" Red Hook neighborhood... Everything about this place is special. It is filled with amazing one of a kind antiques from around the world, and has exceptional customer service that you don't necessarily encounter every day. My fiancee recently purchased a gorgeous ring (beautiful beyond words) from Russel Whitmore at Erie Basin. From the initial "just looking" right on through to the purchase, Russel was super patient, helpful and very accommodating of my partner and his purchase. We will certainly be back to purchase our wedding bands in the future. Check out the tumblr on Eriebasin.com. It displays all of the awesome finds that Russel has collected in his travels. LOVE, love, love Erie Basin! Thank you Russel! read more

I was 100% satisfied with my purchase. Excellent communication via phone and email. Shipping was priced fair and arrived when promised. My girlfriend is all-smiles! I will definitely check out Erie Basin again. read more

Great pieces, nicely priced. Owner is very sweet and knowledgeable and has impeccable taste. Even in NYC, Erie Basin is one of a kind. Bought a diamond engagement ring here after looking for almost a year. Most rings had independent appraisals and papers for the solitaire. Had a great experience and couldn't be happier. I've also purchased smaller gifts in the past, also excellent. If you're looking for something specific, blog is regularly updated with all kinds of stuff which is great. read more

Fantastic Store with Hidden Gems. I have been buying jewelry from Russell for years. He is incredibly knowledgeable, kind and just a wonderful guy to be around. Every piece in his store has a story and a big part of the fun is finding something and having Russell give you a bit of history about a piece, whether it be specific or general or sometimes just learning the fact that there is a bit of mystery there. This is a special place for special pieces of jewelry for special people. read more

Erie Basin is a fantastic example of carefully curated objects from the delicately intricate to the obscurely curious. One of my favorite shops in NYC by far. If you are looking for something unique as a gift for someone else or yourself, please stop by Erie Basin. You will be pleasantly surprised and you'll never disappoint a discerning gift recipient with the delights from this lovely museum-like shop. read more

Erie Basin has incredibly gorgeous vintage jewelry at spectacular prices. When I saw the ring my fiance selected, I was thrilled. Best of all, there's something for every budget. We'll definitely be going back to Erie Basin for our wedding bands. The owner, Russell, is very kind and extremely helpful. This shop is a real gem (ha ha). read more

I've never been inclined to Yelp until I bought my fiancee's engagement ring from Russell. He was very patient in walking me through the process. I first went on a Thursday after seeing the ring on the store's site. As soon as I saw it I knew, but Russell put no pressure on me unlike other places I had been. I told him I'd be back, and sure enough I went in on Sunday and bought it. We talked for a long time, and there was none of the pushiness you encounter in the diamond district. I can't recommend it enough if you're looking for antique jewelery. My only caution is that their selection is...I don't want to say limited, maybe "well-curated"...so their nicest things don't tend to stick around. read more

We traveled from Pittsburgh, PA to visit Erie Basin. My fiance had discovered this great store online some time ago in researching for an engagement ring. I was hesitant to purchase anything without visiting the store, so we traveled to NYC. Russell, the owner, was very friendly and helpful. He showed us multiple engagement rings, some which hadn't made it online yet. We really liked 3 options and I still wanted the ring to be somewhat a surprise to my fiance so we left without purchasing anything. A few days later, I contacted Russell via email, and told him I was interested in purchasing a particular ring. He was very prompt in his response and arranging for payment. Also, I asked for a formal letter describing the ring and stating the value which he provided for me. I paid the difference for overnight shipping which he did for me. My fiance absolutely loves her ring. It was a pleasure dealing with Russell and I have already recommended his store to others. On a side note: I had the ring appraised for insurance purposes and was happy to find out that the price I paid was significantly lower than the appraised value. read more

Check out Art Deco and Victorian rings and necklaces at this Red Hook antiques and jewelry shop.

Russell is the best. My husband bought my 1930s Art Deco engagement ring here, which came with a gorgeous, antique heart-shaped ring box, and surprised me on Christmas morning. Russell had it re-sized for me, very quickly, and also had it fixed when I somehow damaged it shortly thereafter. It's been sparkling on in perfect condition since! We also came here to pick out our wedding bands together -- he has a great collection, just ask to see it. read more

I had the most unfortunate experience at this beautiful little store today. I got to the store at noon, which is when it is supposed to open, but it didn't open until 12:15. The merchandise and layout are amazing but the staff person I dealt with was cold and offensive. She seemed utterly annoyed that there were shoppers in the store and even more appalled when I asked her to try on some rings. I am on the market for a nice ring and could have made a large purchase from her--I actually found one I really liked. Her sour demeanor permeated the space and the very special things on sale. It left me feeling uncomfortable and disappointed so I left. Too bad, Erie Basin, you have soooo much going for you! read more