TechnologyFeb 11, 2026
Gemvision Symposium 2026 Slated for AprilTechnologyMar 11, 2026
Cast Jewelry’s Rachel Skelly on Coming Back Online Only
Skelly shares her plans for reimagining the fine jewelry retailer she re-acquired after it faltered last year.
Cast recently relaunched online with the introduction of a new reversible “Compass” pendant. It’s seen here in the “Voyager” colorway, which is sterling silver and 14-karat gold with malachite, turquoise, and sky-blue topaz on one side and diamonds on the reverse ($3,250 full size, $850 mini).
San Francisco—Less than a year after announcing the closure of its stores and website, California-based jewelry company Cast relaunched its business earlier this year.
Cast, which previously operated three brick-and-mortar stores, is now functioning as an online-only business, owner Rachel Skelly said in an interview with National Jeweler last month.
Its first product drop includes the launch of the reversible “Compass” pendant featuring the brand’s “Flip” design, along with a curated collection of natural diamond and colored gemstone pieces, and new colorways in its “Flip” rings.
Skelly, alongside co-founder and fellow entrepreneur Eric Ryan, launched the business in 2021.
The company originally focused on retail, selling jewelry through its Bay Area stores, as well as collaborating with celebrities like actress Issa Rae on unique collections and partnering with Nordstrom on the in-store activation called “StyleBar.”
Last summer, Skelly posted a video to Instagram announcing that Cast would be closing; operating costs had gotten too high, she told National Jeweler.
She said in the video that she had acquired Cast’s intellectual property, patents, and trademarks and would be relaunching the business.
“It felt like the whole story was cut short, and it was,” she said in the interview.
“There is so much that was working, and I love the product. I love our clients, and there's such a great community. We had been building, and the brand had been resonating, and I, personally, was just not done.”
Related stories will be right here …
Cast, which previously operated three brick-and-mortar stores, is now functioning as an online-only business, owner Rachel Skelly said in an interview with National Jeweler last month.
Its first product drop includes the launch of the reversible “Compass” pendant featuring the brand’s “Flip” design, along with a curated collection of natural diamond and colored gemstone pieces, and new colorways in its “Flip” rings.
Skelly, alongside co-founder and fellow entrepreneur Eric Ryan, launched the business in 2021.
The company originally focused on retail, selling jewelry through its Bay Area stores, as well as collaborating with celebrities like actress Issa Rae on unique collections and partnering with Nordstrom on the in-store activation called “StyleBar.”
Last summer, Skelly posted a video to Instagram announcing that Cast would be closing; operating costs had gotten too high, she told National Jeweler.
She said in the video that she had acquired Cast’s intellectual property, patents, and trademarks and would be relaunching the business.
“It felt like the whole story was cut short, and it was,” she said in the interview.
“There is so much that was working, and I love the product. I love our clients, and there's such a great community. We had been building, and the brand had been resonating, and I, personally, was just not done.”
Skelly is doing a few things differently for “Cast 2.0,” as she calls it.
“I’m fundraising in a very different way. I’m focusing on a smaller raise, looking for people focused on female founders, on consumer brands, and in the fashion luxury space,” she said.
“And I’m also focusing on more angel, early, pre-seed type funding. I'm really trying to raise as little as I need to sustainably get the business up and running,” she said.
The female-founder language is also more at the forefront of Cast’s marketing than it was previously.
“We were primarily female-led, and our crew was mostly women, which I was super proud of, as was [Ryan]. It was a big part of our story, but we also had so many other stories to tell,” Skelly said.
“Now that it’s just me as a founder on my own, and I’m bringing back my team—in bits and pieces, as I can—of all women, I feel really proud of that.”
Before Cast collapsed last year, Skelly served as its chief creative officer, collaborating with designers on pieces exclusive to the brand, and curating limited-time offerings from “guest brands” such as Bea Bongiasca.
Now, she’s doing more of the ideating herself.
The new “Compass” pendant, available in two colorways, each with a “mini” option, is her own design, inspired by her personal journey in bringing the brand back.
The “Compass” pendant in the colorway “Nomad” is made in 14-karat gold and features black onyx, tiger eye, and citrine on one side, and diamonds on the other ($7,950 full size, $1,250 mini).
“I was thinking about my journey and how I’ve just been so focused on like my North Star and not losing sight of that, even when everything else seems like it’s over … The idea of a compass came to me because it’s such the perfect symbol of centering yourself and trusting your gut,” she said.
Her other considerations for the future include finding a way to bring back customization options and exploring an expansion into wholesale.
“In our stores, you could come in and choose exactly the stones you wanted in your ‘Flip’ rings, so you could make your own colorways, and then we would custom make it for you,” Skelly explained.
“That’s something I want to be able to offer online, but it’s a little more complicated.”
“And,” she continued, “because we don't have physical stores, my plan is to also lean in on trunk shows, especially this year as we ramp up, and I hope to get into some small wholesale accounts by the end of the year. I think trunk shows can be a great way for us to get out there in front new customers.”
Skelly comes from a background in graphic design and previously worked in creative direction roles for wellness brands Plum Organics and Olly.
Ownership is an exciting and challenging new venture.
It was her passion for self-expression that ultimately drove her to fight for the brand.
“When I was in high school, I had rings on every single finger, my thumbs, and my second knuckles. I had rings on my toes. I was that girl with a million piercings,” she said.
“There’s something about that self-expression that has always been innate in me, and I think in all of us. We want to share our story. We want to be understood. There’s something we want the world to understand about us, and I feel like fine jewelry is a really amazing and beautiful way to do that.”
More on Technology
The Latest
AuctionsMar 11, 2026
‘Spectacular’ 26-Carat Diamond Going Up for Auction in London The largest white diamond to come to market in the U.K. in more than a decade, the VVS1, I-color stone is expected to top $1 million.
CollectionsMar 11, 2026
Pyrrha Highlights ‘The Space Between’ In New CollectionThe collection takes inspiration from the emotional space between people, moments, and experiences.
IndependentsMar 11, 2026
From the Jazz Age to the Information Age: London Jewelers Turns 100In 2026, the jewelry retailer is celebrating a milestone only a small percentage of family-owned businesses survive to see.
Brought to you by
Is This You? Every Jeweler Has This Problem; We Have the Solution.Every jeweler faces the same challenge: helping customers protect what they love. Here’s the solution designed for today’s jewelry business.
IndependentsMar 11, 2026
Virginia Jewelers Raise Nearly $30K for Children’s HospitalThe group of jewelers held a jewelry raffle in support of the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU.
Weekly QuizMar 05, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
FinancialsMar 10, 2026
Signet Jewelers’ Q4 Sales Fall Flat The jewelry giant released preliminary results for the fourth quarter and full year on Monday, with final results slated to come next week.
MajorsMar 10, 2026
Saks Global to Close 15 More StoresThe retailer also gave an update on its vendor partnerships.
Brought to you by
DCA Enters a New Chapter in Jewelry EducationWith refreshed branding, a new website, updated courses, and a pathway for growth, DCA is dedicated to supporting retail staff development.
TrendsMar 10, 2026
Messika Names Julianne Moore as AmbassadorThe award-winning actress is the “epitome of modern allure,” the brand said.
CollectionsMar 10, 2026
Gemstones ‘Bloom’ in Sorellina’s New CollectionThe “Bloom” collection draws from the flower power movement of the 1960s and ‘70s with inlay pendants offered in eight colorways.
Events & AwardsMar 10, 2026
Diamond-Studded Painting Shines at RJO Foundation AuctionThe unique piece was one of the custom works offered at the foundation's recent silent art auction, which garnered nearly $15,000 in total.
TrendsMar 09, 2026
Jake Gyllenhaal Is Bulgari’s Latest AmbassadorBulgari named Gyllenhaal as its brand ambassador for his embodiment of artistic depth, intellectual curiosity, and warmth.
Events & AwardsMar 09, 2026
TJS Announces 2026 Scholarship WinnersAwards were given to four students, one apprentice, and an emerging jeweler.
AuctionsMar 09, 2026
Joanna Carson’s Jewels Lead White-Glove SaleThe top jewelry lot of the late model’s estate sale, hosted by John Moran Auctioneers, was an Oscar Heyman & Brothers for Cartier necklace.
GradingMar 06, 2026
Tom Moses Leaving GIA After Nearly 50 YearsMoses, who started at GIA’s Santa Monica lab in 1976, will leave the Gemological Institute of America in May.
Lab-GrownMar 06, 2026
Charles & Colvard Files for Bankruptcy, Citing Price PressuresIncreased competition, falling lab-grown diamond and moissanite prices, and the rising cost of gold took a toll on the moissanite maker.
CollectionsMar 06, 2026
Zome’s ‘Solara’ Earrings Embody Celestial BeautyThe earrings, our Piece of the Week, feature pink tourmalines as planets orbiting around an aquamarine center set in 18-karat rose gold.
MajorsMar 06, 2026
Pomellato’s 2026 IWD Campaign Spotlights Economic Abuse“The Price of Freedom” campaign video for International Women’s Day confronts the quiet violence of financial control.
Policies & IssuesMar 05, 2026
Tariffs to Increase to 15% This Week, Treasury Secretary Says Also, a federal judge has ordered that companies that paid tariffs implemented under the IEEPA are entitled to refunds.
CollectionsMar 05, 2026
Common Era Honors ‘Difficult Women’ in CollectionThe ever-growing collection, which just expanded with the addition of Olga of Kyiv, features cameos of 12 women from history.
TrendsMar 05, 2026
Engagement Ring Trends 2026: What’s In, and WhyWe asked a jewelry historian, designer, bridal director, and wedding expert what’s trending in engagement rings. Here’s what they said.
Events & AwardsMar 05, 2026
AGS Announces Conclave 2026 Speaker LineupThe annual event will be held in Orlando, Florida, from Sept. 14-17.
TrendsMar 05, 2026
Caitríona Balfe Fronts Only Natural Diamonds CoverThe “Outlander” star modeled for the digital cover of the magazine’s spring issue, which features a story on her relationship with jewelry.
MajorsMar 05, 2026
Registration Opens for CIBJO Centenary CongressThis year’s annual congress, which will mark the confederation’s 100th anniversary, will take place this fall in Italy.
MajorsMar 04, 2026
Michael M Opens First StoreBeverly Hills was chosen as the location for the brand’s first store, designed as a “private residence for modern monarchs.”
Policies & IssuesMar 04, 2026
Luxury Brands Temporarily Shutter Middle East StoresKering, Apple, and other retailers have reportedly temporarily closed stores in the Middle East region in light of the recent conflicts.
EditorsMar 04, 2026
Q&A: Brilliant Earth’s CEO on the New Beverly Hills StoreBeth Gerstein discusses the vibe of the new store, what customers want when fine jewelry shopping today, and the details of “Date Night.”
