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Do you have a particular love of delicate jewelry yourself?

I do! I always have. I like to not be fussy so small, easy pieces are, well, easy. I like to leave my jewelry on all the time. #lazystyle 

What advice would you give to a young entrepreneur who wants to start a jewelry company?

1. Start small! Go big only when it counts. 
2. Find your voice. 
3. Trust you gut, but ask tons of questions from every kind of person you have access to - and listen with an open heart and mind. 
4. Listen to every episode of “How I Built This.” 

Oldest Catbird piece that’s still around today? 

Our Classic Hammered Rings (in silver and gold). 

What’s your favorite dinner order?

Greek salad with anchovies and coffee, milk no sugar.

Sweet nothing bracelets on both wrists… any thoughts?

Yes, I love symmetry :) Also a big fan of layering bracelets - Forever & clasped!

Where did you get funding to start Catbird? 

I was - and am still - self funded. When I started in 2004, I used the 16k I had in savings which covered my security deposit and some rent, some merch, and the build-out that we did ourselves with floor panels from Costco. I was scrappy! (See photo!)  At the time 0% credit cards were a thing, so I used those instead of bank loans. It was a different time! 

What's something you had to learn the hard way?

Allowing my fear of confrontation to guide me… When someone is a bad fit, passively waiting for it to get better is a bad idea. Letting it go on too long is damaging to your business and your people.

Is it ok to get jewelry wet? 

I leave all my jewelry on, all the time. But traditionally one should be gentle with pearls and very gentle with opals. We actually have a full jewelry care guide, which you can find here! 

What’s your fave piece?

Here are some of my favorite pieces that I also wear daily: Diamond Pinprick Necklace, Greco Lariat Necklace, Elisa Solomon Viola Ring, Old World Classic Wedding Band, Welded Sweet Nothing bracelet, a threadbare. 

What is your favorite candy?

Ooh what a question! I love caramel and I love coconut. My head is spinning because I don’t know!! Can ice cream be my favorite candy?

Favorite Williamsburg drink or lunch spots? 

We have a whole sheet that we edit fairly regularly about this very subject!

Such a small thing, but the logo is dynamite…

Thank you! Not a small thing at all! I love it too. It was drawn by a wonderful human who is an incredible artist - she was a sales associate for years!! 

How do you manage to continue when you struggle?

Hmm. There are many ways to answer this question. If I am struggling personally, then work is really a respite - where I can solve problems and be busy and it feels good. If I am struggling AT work, that is much harder but there really is no choice but to power through. I am responsible for people’s livelihoods and my troubles just have to be worked out for the greater good. Too bad, me! At those times especially I am so grateful to have such an incredible staff.

Hi - it's Rony (the Founder of Catbird). This is the first time I've ever done an Ask Me Anything, and I'm so excited! We had a LOT of incoming questions on Instagram, so unfortunately I wasn't able to answer them all. But we will definitely do this again -- transparency is a top priority here at Catbird. So stay tuned, and without further ado - let's get to it!

Q: Please tell us the story behind the name “Catbird?”

A:  I was a graphic designer and wanted a name that looked good and could change with time. I got it from this beautiful Audubon poster and thought it was such a sweet name.

Q: How many people work at Catbird?

A: 140 right now – it’s extra because of the holidays!

Q: Is it possible to work at Catbird? Need experience? How can we do it?

A: Check out our careers page! Hot tip - at the bottom it says “If you are interested in joining our team but don’t see a position listed that you are suited for please email us!”

Q: How’d you fund early prospect designs? How’d you get into fine jewelry without training?

Q: How do you balance your personal self with your public and professional image?

A: My personal, public, and professional image are all one and the same. Despite the fact that I don’t really have to put myself up front much, I only have one image. Anything else sounds exhausting!

Q: How the h*ck did you create this incredible company that I feel so much love for?

A: Slowly!

Q: What pieces do you wear every single day?

Q: What advice do you have for someone wanting to quit their job and start their own business?

A: Do your homework before quitting, consider working part-time while you’re starting. I started when I had a rent-stabilized apartment, no debt, no kids - I didn’t have much to lose. But I still worked part time when I started. Prepare for lots of hours and no money.

Q: What would you tell 26 year old you at this point in your life?

A: Relax. Trust yourself more.

Q: How do I get a job as a jewelry maker? 

A: The basic things we look for in a bench test is soldering skills, prong setting skills and following specs. We also require good communication and listening skills, ability to take feedback well and a good interview. A strong portfolio is helpful. Laser skills are great but most people don’t have those coming in. And of course, a lot depends on our current studio needs!

Q: What is your favorite book? Where do you get inspiration from?

A: I don’t have a favorite book but I did just re-read Olive Kitteridge which is sublime. So is The Shipping News. Also, Anne of Green Gables is way up there. 

Inspiration is everywhere! People on the street, songs, overheard snippets, dreams, thunderstorms, everywhere. 

Q: Do you use consignment or wholesale approach for the jewelry you carry from others?  

A: When I started I did almost everything on consignment (even stationery!) but now we buy at wholesale and only do consignment in a few rare cases where it works for the designer as well. 

Q: How did you find Leigh? And how did you know she was the right fit for Catbird’s vision?

A: I found her in my dreams! Kidding, but it almost feels that way. We met because I carried her beautiful stationery line in 2005. When I had my daughter, I needed people to work in the store and she was one of the people who answered my email. I wasn’t thinking much about the vision then - her role has evolved over 13 years as we’ve grown. I am so so SO happy that I get to work with her every day.  This is a photo of us from when Dore came to visit our studio!

Q: How do you find your ring size?

A: We highly recommend visiting a local jeweler in your area (if you aren't local to New York) to find the best ring size for you! We also have a Ring Sizing Guide on our website and we do sell a nifty little Ring Sizer. If you are in New York, swing by one of our locations and our staff will gladly size you!

Q: Should the fit of a ring be tight or loose? Doesn’t finger size change with seasons?

A: The fit is up to you :) Some people prefer their rings to fit  loose, while others prefer it to be more snug. I personally like my rings to fit loose as my fingers will swell so much in the summer. It’s best to find a happy medium, something that is only a little tight in the summer and only a little loose in the winter. (Tip: You can always add a simple stacking ring on top to hold your ring in place in the winter - if needed!)

Q: What karat gold would you recommend for an engagement / wedding ring?

A: Normally for Wedding & Engagement rings we recommend either 14k gold or 18k gold. Most of our styles are available in both of these karats. We do offer bands in 22k gold, though this karat is a bit too soft for stones, so we do not recommend 22k for engagement rings.

Q: What is the largest size diamond you carry?

A: We carry a wide range of carat sizes starting at  .1 ct and the largest stones clocking in around 1ct. (including Juno the Swan & the Knife Edge Ring by Erstwhile)

Q: What's the difference between Anna & Odette the Swan?

A: The main difference is that Anna the Swan has a brilliant cut center stone and Odette has a rose cut center stone!  Rose cut diamonds have a flat bottom and all of the facets are cut on the top of the stone, making for a softer sparkle. And brilliant cut diamonds are a traditional diamond shape, and have a lot more facets on the inside allowing the light to bounce around so it appears brighter & whiter!

Q: How do thin bands fare as an everyday ring? What's the wear and tear like?

A: Thin bands can absolutely last a lifetime if cared for properly. Gold is a relatively soft metal that will want to mold to the shape of your finger over time. But that is perfectly normal! We generally recommend removing your jewelry if you are going to be going to be doing something that might be hard on your hands like moving furniture or lifting weights or gardening for example.

Q: Do you have engagement rings without stones?

A: Yes of course! There are no rules. We have many wonderful rings without stones. See a few of our favorites here. Click the photos to shop!

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Q: How are customers choosing their rings while keeping the surprise of a proposal?

A:When shopping for an engagement ring people usually take into account the other person's style, maybe take a look at their pinterest boards or their Instagram for ideas. You can usually get some hints from the jewelry they already wear too, like do they more yellow gold or rose gold. Also, talking to their close friend or family member helps because they may have spoken with them about what kind of ring they would like.

Q: Are your diamonds GIA graded?

A: All of our brilliant cut Swans come with a GIA certificate. (They are also all recycled diamonds! Learn more about our recycled diamond program here.) Some other center diamonds can be certified as well. Diamonds in rings by other designers can also sometimes be certified. If you have questions about a specific ring, contact us - we can find out!

Q: What alloy is your white gold / are they plated?

A: Our white gold is not rhodium plated, as we prefer the natural color of white gold to shine through so it’s a little bit more yellow. Our white gold alloy contains pure gold, usually some zinc, copper, silver, and trace amounts of nickel. Some of the designers we carry do plate their white gold, so if you have a question about a specific piece please contact us! :)

Q: What is the best engagement ring metal for someone with a nickel allergy?

A: Generally we recommend platinum because it is a hypoallergenic metal. Gold can have trace elements of nickel or other metals that might cause allergies as it is an alloy of various metals. Many of the wedding an engagement styles we carry can be ordered in platinum - here are some of our favorites.  Click the photos to shop!  ➡️ ➡️

Q: Are emeralds a bad choice for a swimmer? 

A: Emeralds are a bit sensitive, so we highly recommend removing them before going swimming or taking a shower, doing dishes, applying lotions / creams, spraying hairspray etc. Prevention is ALWAYS the best jewelry care! Do you have questions about jewelry care for a different stone? Check out our Jewelry Care Guide or reach out to our concierge team!

Q: Ring insurance. Do people buy it? Is it worth it?

A: People do! We think it is. You never know what might happen. We offer appraisals for insurance companies for all rings purchased with us - if you are interested in getting an appraisal please email us!

Q: How do I keep my diamonds sparkly and clean forever?

A: We have a pretty amazing jewelry care guide on our website (see it here)! If you are local, you can also stop by one of our locations and we would be happy to do a quick cleaning for you, you can also visit a local jeweler. If you want a deep clean at home, we would suggest looking into investing in an at-home ultra-sonic machine. We also sell a Sparkle & Shine Kit for quick clean ups. So many ways to sparkle!

The entire month of September we will be donating 25% of all food charm sales to Food Bank for New York City.

This collective contribution provides warm meals and pantry distribution support for over 1.5 million people across our five boroughs.