Good As Gold
Charleston’s AL&EM crafts custom fine jewelry with restrained elegance
By Ariel Blanchard
“Jewelry-making is the one thing I didn’t study,” says Alex Klaes, goldsmith and fine jewelry designer, about his formal education. Yet, ten years ago, he and his partner in life and business, Emily Hill, began their custom jewelry business, AL&EM, and they marked the milestone in their new permanent storefront location in Charleston’s Hampton Park Terrace neighborhood.
Alex studied photography at Furman University but ultimately decided that wasn’t the profession for him. “As an introvert, making photography my business was never attractive to me,” he says. “I am very happy to sit in a room by myself for eight hours and make something.” What was attractive was the prospect of turning a craft into a viable business. “I’ve also always been very interested in small business, and I saw a business opportunity.”
Emily Hill and Alex Klaes, founders of AL&EM in Charleston, South Carolina; photograph by Alex Klaes
That interest ultimately led Alex to Australia for a jewelry apprenticeship. Having met Emily at a Folly Beach New Year’s Eve party, it wasn’t an accident that he reconnected with her while she worked as a nanny for a family in Australia. They fell in love, and the couple headed back to Charleston 12 years ago for what they thought would be a short-term stay. “We had big-city energy, and then our roots got so strong here,” Emily says.
Starting an accessory business together seemed the obvious next step. Emily, an extrovert, was the perfect complement to Alex’s introverted nature. Their original concept was to offer sustainable jewelry and accessories that were gender-neutral using chunky silver and brass. While they developed the brand, Alex finished teaching himself the remainder of the jewelry-making skills he didn’t learn in Australia.
While the aesthetic of his chunky, custom gold pieces hasn’t evolved much, the way AL&EM does business has changed. Alex predominantly works with gold and diamonds these days, and their clients have guided their next steps.
The artisan draws inspiration from architecture, Brutalist specifically, and the natural elements themselves. Taking the stance that fine jewelry should be enthusiastically worn and not stored away in a box also influences the design of a piece. “Function and material are the main aesthetic elements over decoration,” Alex says. With more than 20 custom projects in the works to close out 2025, the couple is looking forward to imparting more creative freedom in their work. “We’re in the moment doing what we want to do,” Emily says. “The more customers trust us, the more free and fun we can be with our designs.” V
AL&EM, 37 Cleveland St, Unit 102, Charleston, SC; xoalem.com
This story appears in our Winter 2026 Issue.
