I have been a happy customer of Shibumi Gallery for over 16 years. I have recommended them to friends many times. In all those years I have had wonderful interactions with the owner, April Higashi and all of her staff. I've found everyone at Shibumi to be uniquely creative, collaborative, extremely ethical and fair. I have bought various pieces from Shibumi and had several heirloom pieces redesigned and remade. Stones that are inherited, handed down with love, hold a lot of emotion and meaning. They are also a thing of intrinsic value. I have always had complete trust in April and all her staff. Having good communication and trust in executing a creative idea and working out any of the issues with a special piece of jewelry is what make the process feel collaborative and fun. And yes, it's always been fun. Shibumi is a place I visit sometimes just for a hit a beauty, just to look around and see a beautiful and well curated space and of course incredible jewelry. I've joked that when I've had some jewelry remade I call that having it "Shibumerized". I feel very fortunate that Shibumi Gallery exists - a trusted, beloved and very special place. mb read more

I've not written a review before, but I'm so pissed off right now. I was treated pretty poorly at this place. I've been looking for a statement piece necklace for months now. I stopped in this store today and found what I was looking for. Finally! But the customer service was so incredibly bad I walked out without buying it The woman who opened the door, took one look at me and I imagine decided that I wasn't worth her time. Didn't greet me, ask me if she could help. I stood in front of the piece of jewelry trying to get somebody's attention, but no luck. They just lost a sale. read more

I took my husband to this jewelry shop on Valentine's Day to get some new rings as gifts and I can't believe how absolutely horrific the customer service is in this shop. After gently knocking on the door to be buzzed in, we were "greeted" by a condescending elderly Caucasian woman with pure hatred in her voice asking "how can I help you". My husband quickly responded to her that "We'll let you know if and when we need you" She proceeded to follow us around the store like a hawk. We're both Latino, she did not exhibit this behavior towards the other lighter complexion clientele. I don't know much about jewelry, but my husband didn't seem very impressed with their wares and described their jewelry as "Claire's adjacent" If you're a serious jewelry collector, or a person of color, or queer, I advise looking elsewhere. read more

Cool jewelry by many local artists; bad service. We wanted to buy some cool wedding bands for our elopement. We came in feeling ready to make two beautiful purchases. The sales person was pretty un-excited about us being there. She had very few suggestions and taking things out of cases seemed like a major ordeal. We felt like we didn't belong there, or like we were bothering her. We went to Esqueleto in Temescal instead- and it was an amazing experience. They also have a beautiful selection of rings made by local artists. The person who helped us was not the owner, so it's possible that she is less into making money than the owner would be. read more

I have never posted a review of any kind online before but my experience with Shibumi Gallery was so awful that I want to warn others. The owner, April Higashi, has absolutely no integrity and would not stand behind a $4,500 ring I purchased when I discovered just days after the purchase that the sapphire stone had a crack through it. And in fact she tried to get me to sign a nondisclosure agreement so that I would not be able to share my experience! That tells you a lot about her way of doing business. Below are the details for those who want them. I purchased an 18k gold ring with green sapphires form Shibumi Gallery for $4,675.90. I purchased the ring using a credit card and a store credit in the amount of $571.78. Within 3 days I noticed one of the sapphires in the ring was cracked. I brought the ring back to Shibumi Gallery that same week and at their request left it to be examined. After examination, their goldsmith acknowledged that the stone was cracked and stated it had a "cleave". I did nothing unusual with the ring in the three days before noticing the cracked stone. Thus in my opinion, the ring was defective as the stone was either cracked when I bought it and I had not noticed it or, as the Shibumi Galley goldsmith observed, it had a cleave that caused it to crack and was therefore defective. In either case the ring was defective. I asked for my money back and was told I would only be given 80% back and would have to sign a nondisclosure agreement, which was not acceptable. So, I went to my credit card company to get the amount charged on the card refunded; however, Shibumi will not refund nor restore my store credit in the amount of $571.78. The store owner, April Higashi, stated that the she is keeping my store credit as a "restocking fee", which is outrageous for two reasons 1) you can't restock a defective item, and 2) there is no statement anywhere regarding restocking fees. It seems like she made this up this on the fly to keep the money I'm eniteid to. My store credit originated from the trade-in of gold jewelry my grandmother gave me. By not refunding the store credit or reinstating the store credit the owner is essentially stealing from me. She got the gold I traded-in and I have now nothing for it. (The other option April gave me was to accept her assessment that the cracked sapphire was "stable". She offered to have the jeweler that made the ring examine the ring to confirm that the cracked stone was stable or "fix" it. She would not say what a fix might entailed. She did not say the cracked stone would be replaced. I could not accept such a vague offer with her being the one to determine if the ring was "fixed".) Who pays over $4500 for a ring a cracked stone? Why should I accept that it is "stable" at that price? Ridiculous. April again asked me to sign a nondisclosure agreement and offered to refund roughly $70 of the $571.78 she owes me after I received a refund from my credit card for the amount charged. I would not agree to sign without a full refund. The ability to post and talk about my experience with Shibumi is more important than $70. When April refused to refund or reinstate my store credit, I contacted the Better Business Bureau to report this experience. They reached out to her twice and she did not respond or attempt to resolve the issue. I have tried every avenue I can to reach a fair resolution and have been left with a loss of over $500. I have never heard of a merchant behaving this way. It would have been so much simpler and more productive for her to stand behind her product and keep a customer happy, as I would have loved to purchase more items from her store. I obviously cannot recommend Shibumi Gallery to anyone and suggest steering clear of this business. read more

In lieu of a review, here's the note I wrote to April after she designed my engagement ring at Shibumi--she also later designed the wedding bands for both me and my now-husband. (nb: my husband, who wasn't sure he would wear his ring all the time because he works with his hands a lot and isn't a big jewelry guy, LOVES the band April designed and never takes it off). Hi April, I've been meaning to write to you and thank you for working with Adam and me to achieve exactly the engagement ring we wanted. I could not be happier with it. Even though when we first came to you I had all sorts of seemingly conflicting ideas about what I wanted in my engagement ring, you somehow have managed to work all those elements into a beautifully harmonious design. Many of my close friends have commented on how "me" the ring is, and I'm really glad that you suggested choosing 22K gold--the color is beautiful with the ruby. I also really appreciate how open and helpful you were about all of our different concerns regarding ethics and sustainability of the materials, my pragmatic concerns about working while wearing my ring, and our desires around its aesthetics. An engagement ring is such a personal and emotionally significant piece of jewelry, and it was so good to be able to work with someone who understood our perspective on this process. We're really looking forward to working with you on our wedding bands in the near future. Best, ... read more

My fiancé and I had a wonderful experience working with April at Shibumi Gallery. She is truly an amazing artist. April creates distinctive and gorgeous engagement rings and other jewelry. When we began looking for my engagement ring we didn't know where to start... what stone? what setting? what metal? what finish? We checked out designers while we were in New York and some local designers in the Bay Area and got a sense for the various styles and designs out there. During an internet search we luckily stumbled upon the Shibumi Gallery website. Immediately, April's work stood out to us as beautifully designed, original, and well crafted. My fiancé gave April a call and she made time for us right away. From the moment we met with April and looked at her work we knew that we wanted her to design our rings. The best part about working with April is that while she is a talented artist with an exceptional sense of style, she collaborated with us every step of the way. She was very sensitive to my interests and helped guide me through the entire process. It was a really special experience to share with my fiancé. If you want a special and unique engagement ring or wedding band, I highly recommend working with April. read more

My boyfriend (now fiancee!) knows I love Shibumi Gallery, and also knows I am very picky, so when he was thinking about proposing, he brought me to Shibumi to look at rings so he could get a sense of what I liked. The jewelry there was so beautiful (and I was so particular) that he got inspired to have April, the shop's owner, design a custom ring! April has an incredible aesthetic, and yet she really focusses on you as an individual, and in our case, as a couple. She was very helpful, patient, and educated us about each element (stone, metal, setting) and each step of the process. We also really appreciated that she was willing and able to work within a budget (boyfriend is a public school teacher!). I had collected dozens of photos of things I liked as part of the design process, and April was able to translate all that into a beautiful ring that incorporates all my desires, works wholistically as a piece, and also reflects April's artistry and design sense. The ring is somehow both classic and contemporary, and very me. I couldn't be happier with the ring! read more

My husband I and I have been going to Shibumi Gallery for over 7 years. My first purchase was my wedding ring by Maya Kini which I absolutely love. April was so kind and helpful and didn't scoff at my price range. Over the years my husband has purchased many bday and Christmas gifts for me from Shibumi. Most of them have been absolutely perfect for me but occasionally I have exchanged items that didn't quite work for me. The staff has always been super helpful making the exchange easy! They want you to be happy with your purchase and will work at helping you to achieve that!! One of my favorite pieces is a coin pearl ring of April's. I hope they will always be around because it's such a unique and special place to find amazing jewelry made by talented artists. Thank you April!! read more

We found Shibumu Gallery after spending weeks online and in jewelry stores looking at the same boring rings over and over again. My hubs said he hated all the rings because they were so interchangeable then discovered Todd Reed. Shibumi had Todd Reed's rings so we were able to try them on and look at them. Loved them but discovered that we really liked April Higashi (the gallery owner and designer). Her jewelry embodied what we liked about Todd's rings (the raw diamonds and quirky settings) but were more along the lines of what I liked aesthetically (clean lines, a simple elegance, having the talent to add no more and no less than what the piece needs). April was very easy to work with, especially as I am not. She was super patient and is very intuitive. I liked that she was able to articulate the issue my husband and I were having about choosing an engagement ring. I also like that she's direct. If she's not clear on something, she will ask until she is. We bought our wedding bands first. Hubs is not a jewelry wearer so it was important that he like his wedding band. He loves it still. It fits well and is comfortable. Mine are comfortable and hardy ( a requirement because I work with my hands a lot). I also love that no one has the same ring as mine. Also, it's inobstrusive--most people don't really notice it but whenever someone who is knowledgeable about fine jewelry sees it, they are immediately intrigued and want to know all about my ring. We've recently returned to the gallery for an anniversary gift. She has a good dozen of designers with beautiful pieces on display but I would highly recommend having April design your important pieces. You won't walk out any less than perfectly floored. read more

My husband and I LOVE Shibumi! There is no better place to buy art jewelry in the Bay Area (and arguably the world!) April Higashi, the gallery owner, is herself a fine artist, and additionally has curated an amazing collection of pieces by various artists, a kind of who's-who of the art jewelry universe. The woman has taste! We have been clients for a few years (yikes -- this review is long overdue), collecting both ready-made pieces as well as having custom work done by April and her talented crew (shout out to Claudia, Kate, Ben, Nina, and Tracey). Not only is April a true artist, but she is also very generous toward her fellow artists, including her own team members, providing them with exposure by highlighting their work in the gallery. She is great to work with when designing custom jewelry, quickly grasping the client's style and working within it, yet adeptly suggesting tweaks and sometimes large changes that ultimately make the piece a more amazing work of art. Judging from other reviews, many others have had the same wonderful custom design and shopping experience. You won't be disappointed! read more

Not only is April an incredibly kind person, but she is an amazing artist. Her designs are not the typical, each piece, one of a kind. She designed my wedding ring, and I love it! I've had people say, "That is the most beautiful ring I have ever seen!" And if you like a small, boutique, shopping experience, Shibumi Gallery is quite literally, a gem! read more

When me & Ray started looking for engagement rings, we had a hard time finding anything very unique in our price range. Lucky for us, we found April at Shibumi Gallery here on Yelp, and she made fantastic custom rings for us. She has a variety of rings in her gallery to either buy or use as a design reference. We loved one of her existing designs and customized it. She helped me work through the decision-making that comes with designing a custom piece. You should know that April is an exceptional person, both a talented artist and a very easy person to work with. She also can read people very well and can use her understanding of your personal style and personality to design your jewelry, if you want her to. I'm normally kind of into having control of aesthetic things--I have a definite style, and opinions--but I've never been very aware of engagement rings. I wanted something special, but I almost wasn't sure what that was. So, after making the basic choices about design, I opted to let her create the details of the ring. The result was a better ring, a beautiful piece of art. Ray also got his band here and enjoyed working with April. She helped him find something that was comfortable for him to wear--he's an athlete and never wears jewelry, so this was an issue. During the process (which took several months for us, because we were out of town and also selected a stone that she had to special order) April was always great at communicating with us. Also, April was very sensitive to our budget and up-front about pricing, which we really appreciated. I hope to go back and get several more pieces from April some day very soon! read more

Shibumi Studio and Gallery is a wonderful place near the fourth street shopping area in Berkeley. Jewelry designer April Higashi and metal artist Eric Powell have created a beautiful, warm and inviting gallery where you can purchase unique treasures. Jewelry from local designers, Ocelot clothing, and metal sculptures by Eric Powell are artfully displayed in this intimate gallery. Most pieces are inspired by organic shapes, and each item you find here is one of a kind. I have purchased jewelry designed by April Higashi, Ocelot clothing, and sculpture at the gallery, and have greatly enjoyed the experience. read more

My fiancée and I looked for rings for a *long* time and went to a number of different jewelers in San Francisco and the East Bay. I'm not a person who has spent their lifetime imagining their engagement ring and wedding, so when we began looking, I really didn't know what I wanted. I'm lucky that my now-husband is a patient man who actually enjoys shopping. Finally, we found April Higashi at the Shibumi Gallery. She has a great collection of modern, chic artists, including her own work. We ultimately had April design rings for us that fit our personalities really well. And the rings look great together. We get compliments on them all the time. read more

A small shop in an unlikely location. They have a lot of rings and other jewelry, beautifully made.

April and the other resident artists have the most gorgeous jewelry - subtle, earthy, and natural. My fiance actually discovered this place and worked with April to design the most beautiful engagement ring with her selection of natural, uncut, colored diamonds. You will definitely not find anything gaudy or tacky here. And being the indecisive person that I am, I asked to get the ring resized TWICE and April was so nice about it both times. In fact, we loved working with April so much that we're getting his wedding band there too! read more

I just got married 3 weeks ago and I cannot tell you how many people have asked me about my wedding ring as well as the band that April made for my husband. I had done quite a bit of online research as well as looking in almost every jewelry boutique in the bay area. I wanted a ring that was modern, artistic, yet had a little bit of a vintage vibe. I really loved the idea of doing oxidized silver as I think diamonds really pop on black. After many months of searching, I located the Shibumi Gallery and the minute I walked into the showroom/gallery I knew that I had found the place. All the jewelry (including the rings ) that April showcased as well as the ones she designs herself were all so unique and not prissy or too overly delicate (something I'm not a fan of.) They just looked well made - like a beautifully crafted piece of furniture - (I'm a designer so this was important to me.) I ended up deciding to have her work with diamonds that I was repurposing from a pendant. We worked together to come up with various design ideas. I sent her many photos of things I already liked, but didn't want to repliciate anything exactly. Once we decided on the design, she did a wax mold. This was a good thing because one i tried on the wax mold, I decided I still wanted to make some design changes. The second mold was a go. I would absolutely recommend the Shibumi Gallery for not only rings but for incredible jewelry. I have already told my husband that if he ever needs a gift for me, anything from this place would be a hit. read more

April Higashi has curated a diverse collection of pieces that both inspire and are to be coveted. If you have an idea or a vision for a unique masculine (Yes, Men's) piece, April works with you to realize it. We have worked together on custom earrings, rings, and my two headed snake bracelet with eyes that follow a victim around the room. Pricing and timing is all very transparent and reasonable for such custom work. Claudia, the gallery manager, and also a talented artist, keeps everything running smoothly and has a great knowledge of all the artists and pieces. read more

My partner and I recently decided to run down to sf city hall to get married. I came upon the Shibumi Gallery website and knew I had found the place I wanted my ring from. I met with April and Anna and both were lovely. April created a ring for me that I LOVE!!! And she did it in time for our ceremony and within our budget. If you are looking for something beautiful, unique, modern, and classic, then go to Shibumi Gallery. I've already got ideas for our anniversary! read more

I have a deep love for jewelry and cannot resist a good piece. That's why I'm grateful that Shibumi Gallery is only open on weekends and by appointment. The limited hours help to keep me safe from over-collecting (if over-collecting is a possibility). But if you are looking for a special piece or you have something in mind that you think you can only dream of - visit Shibumi and spend some time looking at the pieces by an eclectic selection of artists or sit down with April Higashi and make your dream come true. If you love jewelry you must visit Shibumi Gallery. read more

an absolute hidden treasure. if your taste is modern-organic-gorgeous then shibumi gallery will provide you with plenty of eye candy. though i'm not much of a jewelry person, i could not resist picking up a very special pair of april higashi's enamel earrings for myself...a true piece of art. i only wish that shibumi had existed when we were looking for custom wedding rings! read more

there rings are gorgeous and so beautiful that for the past year, I can't stop thinking about them. my husband and i settled on more economic versions for pragmatic reasons, but I am yearning for an anniversary ring from shibumi. thanks for your inspiration, April! read more