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.”
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
MajorsOct 19, 2026
The Knot to Acquire Rival Wedding Planning Platform ZolaThe pending acquisition is an “exciting opportunity” for wedding vendors to grow their business, said The Knot Worldwide’s CEO.
SourcingOct 19, 2026
Jewelry Design Competition Show Airs in Thailand"The Secret Gems" features eight Thai jewelry brands paired with a team of young craftspeople who create jewelry together to win challenges.
CollectionsOct 19, 2026
John Hardy Enters the Medallion Chat With Talisman Collection The brand’s “Modern Talisman” capsule collection introduces pendants inspired by the mythology, natural world, and spiritual ethos of Bali.
Brought to you by
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionExperience gemstones with greater precision and comfort than ever before.
IndependentsOct 19, 2026
The Stories of 5 Jewelers Celebrating Their Centennials in 2026Independent jewelers from New Mexico to New Jersey answer the question: What has kept your store in business for 100 years?
Weekly QuizOct 15, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SurveysOct 16, 2026
How Inflation, Gas Prices Will Affect Holiday Sales The NRF is expecting holiday sales to increase this year, but consumers and retailers alike are facing Grinch-like headwinds.
CollectionsOct 16, 2026
Christina Puchi’s Earrings Hold the UniverseOur Piece of the Week gathers the planets, represented by a variety of colored gemstones, in a pair of 14-karat yellow gold earrings.
Brought to you by
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSubmit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.
IndependentsOct 16, 2026
Reeds Jewelers Expands, Relocates FlagshipThe New York-based jeweler is moving its Amherst flagship store to a larger location in nearby Snyder.
MajorsOct 16, 2026
Katy Chen Appointed Executive Vice President of Graff USA Chen, who worked at Cartier and Tiffany & Co., will lead retail sales and operations for the luxury jeweler’s 11 U.S. stores.
IndependentsOct 15, 2026
Retailer Hall of Fame 2026: Amy and Elise Greenberg For 40 years, sisters Amy and Elise Greenberg have helmed their 126-year-old family business, leading with appreciation and integrity.
ColumnistsOct 15, 2026
Peter Smith: What Is the Culture REP?It’s a term Smith coined and felt compelled to share following a bad experience with an aborted flight and an unfeeling flight attendant.
WatchesOct 15, 2026
Stephanie Gottlieb’s New Movado Watches Are Made for Your Wrist StackMovado teamed up with the New York-based fine jewelry designer on a new collection of Movado Museum Velura watches.
SourcingOct 15, 2026
Signet Jewelers, Richemont May Join Bidder for De Beers, Report SaysThe two companies are reportedly in talks to join the Global Diamond Consortium, led by former De Beers CEO Gareth Penny, as per Bloomberg.
CollectionsOct 15, 2026
Wolf x Marla Aaron's New Jewelry Box Is for Some (Not All) of Your ThingsThe “Some of the Things” box follows the two larger “Everything” box designs with the look and function of antique sewing and toolboxes.
IndependentsOct 14, 2026
Retailer Hall of Fame 2026: Coleman and Mitchell ClarkFourth-generation jewelers Coleman and Mitchell Clark exemplify the best qualities of their predecessors: humility, modesty, and confidence.
SourcingOct 14, 2026
Manuel Marcial de Gomar, ‘The Emerald Whisperer,’ Dies at 90The gem hunter, whose 70-year career was defined by adventure and exploration, is remembered for his steadfast faith and sense of wonder.
FinancialsOct 14, 2026
LVMH’s Jewelry Brands Turn in ‘Very Good’ Performance in Q3 Tiffany & Co. continued its full-scale store renovation project while Bulgari’s high jewelry collection generated “record-breaking revenue.”
Events & AwardsOct 14, 2026
Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference Releases 2026 ProgramThis year’s sessions feature leading voices from human rights, legal, and conservation organizations.
MajorsOct 13, 2026
David Webb Owner Purchases Lugano JewelryThe high-end jewelry retailer was sold to private investment firm Middle West Partners and a group of longtime clients.
Lab-GrownOct 13, 2026
Stephanie Gottlieb Takes Lab-Grown Diamond Collection WholesaleThe jewelry designer has partnered with Sofer Jewelry to distribute her 85-piece lab-grown diamond collection.
IndependentsOct 13, 2026
Retailer Hall of Fame 2026: Sean DunnDunn, this year’s Single-Store Independent inductee, is passionate about innovation and telling the story of natural diamonds.
AuctionsOct 13, 2026
Christie's Geneva To Auction 'Bulgari Pink' DiamondThe 24-carat fancy intense pink diamond ring could fetch up to $18 million at the November sale.
IndependentsOct 13, 2026
Greenwich St. Jewelers’ New Candle Smells Like HomeThe “Island Jewel” candle honors New York City and Puerto Rico and raises money for the island’s water relief efforts.
SurveysOct 09, 2026
These Will Be the 10 Busiest Days for In-Store Shopping This Holiday SeasonStores should expect to see the most customers on Nov. 27, and Christmas week is expected to be hectic too, as Dec. 25 falls on a Friday.
CollectionsOct 09, 2026
Elisa Solomon Collabs With Serendipity 3 on ‘Frozen Hot Chocolate’ CharmThe charm, our Piece of the Week, features brown diamond frozen hot chocolate topped with white diamond whipped cream and a ruby straw.
AuctionsOct 09, 2026
8-Carat Blue Diamond Goes Unsold at UK Jewelry Auction The top lot of Elmwood’s recent fine jewelry sale in London was a 1.84-carat, D color Tiffany & Co. solitaire diamond ring.
