Mystique Jewelers

There’s a bit of shopper feedback that Mystique Jewelers‘ Elizabeth Mandros hears time and time again, and she never gets tired of hearing it. “What customers say is “I’ve never seen so many beautiful pieces I love in one place,'” she explains.

Mystique, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary in Old Town Alexandria, is indeed a dream shopping destination for jewelry lovers. Mandros, whose official title is owner/designer/diamond specialist, prides herself in offering necklaces, earrings, rings and more baubles that are both beautiful and wearable for every day. “I’m a blue jean girl,” Mandros says. “I want something that I can wear every day, but I want it to be really pretty and different and something that I feel comfortable layering.” Mystique stocks everything from engagement rings and fine jewelry with large stones to simple gold and platinum pieces starting at around $750. But whatever the price point, Mandros says customers will “always find something unique and different and classic,” she says. “It could be a bit trendy, but it’s something that is timeless.” Not only is this a spot for unique finds, but it’s a space where people can explore, “Mystique has always been about more than jewelry; it’s about the stories and the people behind them,” says Mandros.

Mandros grew up in the Belle Haven section of Alexandria in Fairfax County, and she fell in love with the jewelry industry after she got her start working at a goldsmith. That led to roles in merchandising, custom design, fine jewelry sales, and more gigs within the industry, including with a Belgian diamond company. “Then I decided since I was so crazy about this business to go get my gemology degree,” she says. Soon, she was opening up her own shop in Alexandria on the waterfront.

Today, Mystique’s elegant Alexandria showroom is located in a prime address on Fairfax Street. The shop specializes in bespoke and custom creations, particularly for bridal and engagement rings. “With the 35 years we’ve celebrated, it’s been amazing because there are people that I’ve worked with from the very beginning in 1991,” says Mandros. “When I think of my thirty-five years in Alexandria, it isn’t the jewelry itself that comes to mind first it’s the front door. That door has been the entrance to some of the most pivotal moments in my neighbors’ lives. I think of the young man who came in three decades ago, nervous and clutching a budget he’d saved for months, looking for the perfect engagement ring. I remember the joy of helping him find it.”

With a strong social media presence and word-of-mouth referrals, new clientele find Mystique all the time. In addition to a location in Middleburg, Mandros plans to stay in Alexandria for the long haul and dreams of celebrating another big anniversary here. “One day, we will say fifty years,” she says.

Visit Mystique Jewelers located at 123 S. Fairfax Street Alexandria, Virginia