GREAT GIFTS: “We want to offer clients more opportunities, including quality gifts for  every occasion and at varied price points,” says Anne Russell, Hamilton Home executive vice president for marketing and branding. She is excited about Hamilton Jewelers’ new division, Hamilton Home. Shown is a display of the wide range of items, including home decor and housewarming, entertainment and barware, wedding and baby gifts, and linens, all within a charming setting.

By Jean Stratton

A successful business always finds new ways to remain successful. It offers customers new opportunities, new choices, new items — even a new direction.

Hamilton Jewelers is a case in point. One of Princeton’s most successful businesses, it celebrated its 110th anniversary last year, and is renowned for its selection of high quality and unique jewelry.

Not only that, it is a true family business, with four generations of the Siegel family having been active participants in leading the business to success.

Located at 33 Witherspoon Street, its latest enterprise, Hamilton Home, opened in November of 2022, and offers an extensive array of home decor and gift items.

New Categories

“Hamilton is excited to have a larger space in which to present our home accessories and gift offerings,” says Hamilton CEO and President Hank Siegel. “The new space has allowed us to increase the variety and introduce new categories, while maintaining the beautiful selections we are well known for. Our team looks forward to welcoming everyone.”

“The giftware department at Hamilton Jewelers was always popular,” points out Anne Russell, Hamilton executive vice president, marketing and branding. “We had a year-long
renovation of the jewelry store, and we decided we needed more space for gift items. We also wanted to add new categories, such as soft textiles, linens, tablecloths, and pillows, etc.”

As she explains, this was an addition to the categories of giftware always available at the jewelry store, including china, crystal, silver, and a variety of baby items. The giftware department was always a favorite spot for wedding and anniversary gifts and those for other special events.

Having decided on the need for a new dedicated space for the extensive categories of gifts and more, the owners found the perfect location on Witherspoon Street. The store is filled with light from large picture windows, and the spacious area provides an excellent setting to display the items.

Best Taste

“Launching a new business is exciting, and this is very special for me,” points out Russell, who has been with the Hamilton organization for 16 years. “I started my career at Bergdorf Goodman in New York City as a buyer in home decor gifts. It takes a lot of work and energy to open a new store. There is a lot going on, and I have enjoyed putting the design concepts together. I also love developing my team, and it’s great to see the young people grow and be part of the overall concept.”

Russell also is thankful for the contribution of Denise Siegel, wife of Hamilton’s former owner and president, the late Martin Siegel, and mother of Hank Siegel. “Denise has been wonderfully helpful and very supportive of the new store. She has the best taste, and has helped with the selection and the overall brand strategy.”

Customers will find an extensive display of quality gifts and home items — everything from housewarming, home décor, and hostess gifts to wedding, anniversary, and baby specialties to barware and entertaining needs to intriguing miscellaneous items.

The inclusion of linens, tablecloths, runners, placemats, and pillows (the last in all sizes and styles) has been very popular, reports Russell. “We have a mix of styles, including classic and traditional to contemporary, and people are interested in everything.”

So Needed

“There has already been an outstanding response,” she continues. “Lots of customers from Princeton and the area, and all ages, are coming in. There has been great word-of-mouth. Many are loyal Hamilton shoppers, and we are also getting a lot of new people. There is online and social media response, and some people just walk in, attracted by the store. We are very encouraged. A gift shop has been so needed.”

Once they come in, there is so much to see! Both browsing and buying are engaging options. Gorgeous bowls and pitchers in colors of the rainbow, with blues reminiscent of the sea; handblown glass from California; also the very popular glassware of Simon Pearce from Vermont; and the decoupage of John Derian of New York City. Other items are from Portugal, Italy, and Germany.

Decorative bowls of teak, picture frames in every
possible style and size, dinnerware, clocks, candles and candlesticks, cocktail shakers, cheeseboards, and cut glass decanters — the list goes on.

The baby section — a big favorite with customers — includes charming picture frames, sterling silver cups and rattles, and adorable china piggy banks with fun designs. These “piggies” are so irresistible that many customers are not only buying them for the children, but for themselves as well!

Porcelain Pieces

Important brands at the shop include Baccarat, William Yeoward, Simon Pearce, Juriska, John Derian, and the beautiful Italian porcelain pieces and
dinnerware of Ginori 1735.

Indeed, the store is filled with an amazing display of special items of superior quality.

“We are set apart by our exclusive products,” points out Russell. “The Ginori 1735 line is exclusive to us in Princeton, and Baccarat is exclusive within a 35-mile radius.”

“We think this is an unusually special place,” she adds. “We will also be offering seasonal changes when we will highlight certain
categories at certain times of the year. We will focus on different things, such as flowers and gardening in the spring, for example. We will always be providing something new for the clients.
We also hope to include small workshops later on.”

The community has always been important to Hamilton, she emphasizes. “Community involvement is a priority for us. We not only work here, we live in this community. We have always tried to offer the community something special. Now we are so happy to invite you to see Hamilton Home. This is a fun place, colorful and engaging. Come and see us!”

Hamilton Home is open Tuesday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It offers complimentary gift wrapping and packaging and also gift cards. (609) 375-8003; hamiltonjewelers.com/gifts.