Designer Nanse Kawashima's Hidden Red Hook Jewelry Store

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New York City has more stores than anyone could physically tackle, but somehow we always keep returning to the usual suspects. To break out of the rut, we've asked some of the city's shopping and fashion gurus to provide their hidden retail gems—those unique stores around our island (and beyond) that we might not all know about. Cue The Beatles: We're about to get a little help from our friends.

Designer Nanse Kawashima's pick is Red Hook jewelry shop she discovered while riding around Brooklyn on the MTA with no end destination in mind. Erie Basin in Red Hook specializes in pieces from as far back as the Victorian Wra, including gorgeous (and generally affordable) wedding rings.—Yale Breslin

Erie Basin, this amazing antique jewelry store, is a true gem. I came across it when I was on my own, aimlessly riding the B61 bus down to Red Hook, and decided to get off at a random stop right before Ikea.

As I walked around this somewhat isolated/deserted neighborhood, I stumbled upon Erie Basin. What a nice surprise! First of all, it's been handsomely curated. When I am in there, surrounded by beautiful found objects and haunted by long-lost romances, I feel like I've been put under a spell. Most of the jewelry in there ranges from the 18th century to the 20th century. The other fantastic thing about this little store is that the people who work there will go into depth about the history and story of each piece, which makes each purchase that much more special.