Jewelry

Mark Patterson, a New York-based custom jeweler, this week announced that its flagship store has moved to Newport Beach, according to a press release. The store, which has opened on East Coast Highway, features certified gemologists, 11 goldsmiths and diamond expert Frank Conforti, according to the release. "All shoppers will find a unique experience at Mark Patterson, whether they are looking to make their first jewelry purchase or to have a custom piece designed around a loose stone they can choose themselves from an exclusive collection of gemstones," the release said.

Two robbers stole a suitcase containing jewelry Tuesday from a man in the parking lot of the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club in Newport Beach, police said. The man had disembarked a boat and was loading the suitcase into the trunk of his vehicle about 9:40 p.m. when he was approached by two armed men, said Newport Beach Police Sgt. Mike McDermott. The gunmen told the man to turn over the suitcase, and he did, McDermott said. The assailants fled in a late model, white Toyota, heading northbound on Bayside Drive, he said.

Newport Beach business owner Ira Israel doesn't have a shop where he can show off his Venetian glass beads, so events like the Gem Faire are vital to his operation. Much of Israel's business is conducted over the Internet. He said he brings his products to about 25 traveling shows per year. The Gem Faire, a three-day bead, jewelry and crystal showcase that visited the Orange County Fairgrounds Friday, Saturday and Sunday, is one of his favorite events.

Mathis Winkler NEWPORT BEACH -- A jewelry industry watchdog group has put up a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of three gunmen involved in a shootout at Fashion Island's Traditional Jewelers on Tuesday, police said. Security guard Rafael Gomez, 41, of Santa Ana, who was wounded during the attack, remained in stable condition Thursday, said Sgt. Steve Shulman, a spokesman for Newport Beach Police Department. No one else was hurt, and the gunmen escaped with no property.

Deepa Bharath Burglars got away with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of jewelry early Sunday morning after they pried open a door to a department store, smashed display cases and stole expensive rings, necklaces and bracelets, Newport Beach police said. Police responded to a burglar alarm that went off at Robinsons-May at about 4:40 a.m. on Sunday, Sgt. Steve Shulman said. "The suspects had already been at the store and had left with the merchandise by the time the police arrived," he said.

Andrew Glazer NEWPORT BEACH -- Four thieves snatched jewels valued at a quarter-million dollars from a parked car Wednesday and sped away before police could catch them. Florida-based jewelry dealers Samuel Keeble and Deborah Brown were making a sales call in Newport Beach at about 5 p.m. when the four suspects broke a window in their rented black 2000 Honda Accord, opened the trunk and took several cases containing pearls and diamond rings and necklaces, police said.

Jewelry and cocktails are a dangerous elixir indeed. The crowd descended on the David Yurman Boutique in South Coast Plaza to enjoy both on behalf of the Camino Health Center. The San Juan Capistrano center is a community health clinic serving the uninsured citizens of South Orange County by providing them with affordable primary medical and dental care. The evening showcased the full line of Yurman creations from his signature jewelry to eyewear, watches and perfume. A portion of the party proceeds were donated to the Camino Health Center.

A woman arrested by Costa Mesa police in September has filed a claim against the city, claiming $2,500 worth of jewelry was not returned to her upon her release from custody. Renee Nam, 23, stated in her claim that after she was taken into custody Sept. 3 her gems were taken into holding, but when her parents arrived at the station to collect her belongings, the jewelry was lost. City officials are investigating the claim, City Atty. Kimberly Hall Barlow said. ?The city will investigate and at some point accept, reject, compromise or take no action on the claim,?

Local jewelry designer Mimi Kim first started creating modern and stylish jewelry for herself and friends. Her classic and chic designs caught the attention of boutique owners. Now her jewelry line has exploded. Kim designs beautiful handmade necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, bridal jewelry and even Mini-Mimi designs for girls. Her delicate designs of natural gemstones, mother-of-pearl and coin pearls are hand-wrapped in sterling silver or 14-carat rolled gold. Mimi's passion for design is apparent in her eye-catching teardrop earrings, multi-faceted briolette dangle necklace and hand-wrapped pretty pink freshwater pearl ring (prices vary from $58 for earrings to $196 for a necklace)

Sometimes a trip is more than just a great escape. That's what happened to Kallie Dovel when she first traveled to Uganda in summer 2007. It was there that she saw what women were going through: little to no education, lack of health care, extreme poverty. But there was one thing they had: paper beads they made by hand and turned into jewelry. Unfortunately, there wasn't a market for them to sell the items. Dovel started thinking. She brought home a box of the Ugandan jewelry and showed it to friends and family, who were amazed.

High-end Spanish jewelry line Uno de 50 has arrived at Fashion Island, the Newport Beach shopping center announced Monday. The 440-square-foot store between the koi pond and Pacific Court near Macy's is the jewelry maker's first West Coast location, according to the release. Although Uno de 50 was started under the premise of keeping each collection to 50 pieces or fewer, the line has since expanded production past that quantity with stores in Europe and the U.S. "Our collections don't follow trends or crazes; they are pieces that emit a unique, categorical and timeless design," Emilio Benzadon, managing director of Uno de 50 in the U.S., said in a prepared statement.

Fashion Island has expanded its inventory of luxury denim and high-quality jewelry with the addition of Earnest Sewn and Roberto Coin. High-end denim retailer Earnest Sewn opened a 2,300-square-foot space in the corridor between Macy's and Nordstrom on Oct. 1, said center spokeswoman Jane Gillespie. To commemorate the arrival of its first Orange County location, Earnest Sewn debuted the "Newport" jean at the new store. The limited-edition $198 denim is the first of the "Golden Ticket" line and features 24-karat gold buttons, rivets and a gold foil screen print.

COSTA MESA - The O.C. Fair is a chaotic mass of blaring music, thrilling rides, larger-than-life stuffed animals and deep-fried ecstasy. But after passing the foot-long corn dogs and dodging the chocolate-covered bacon, there is an area where the intensity eases to the speed of window shopping. That is were Eduardo Oliva, 68, can be found. It isn't Eduardo who catches the eye of fairgoers; he is a slight man with a weathered face. The soft-spoken Eduardo has an intensity for his craft that could make customers wanting his attention think they are being intentionally ignored.

Several hundred pieces of jewelry on Wednesday were reported stolen from a Costa Mesa store after a break-in, according to police. Visions and Dreams was broken into sometime between Tuesday evening when workers left the shop, and Wednesday morning when they returned to work, Costa Mesa Police Lt. Bob Ciszeck said Thursday. The suspect appeared to have entered through a boarded-up window in the store. The business is still assessing the value of the jewelry stolen, Ciszeck said.

It all started with a hobby. Gorjana Reidel, a Newport Beach resident, would design jewelry for friends and in 2003, she was surprised to have a Newport Coast boutique offer to sell her pieces. Now her namesake brand, gorjana sells to celebrities such as Jessica Alba and Cindy Crawford. With a staff of 16 in a Laguna Canyon artist's studio, the brand took a philanthropic route in 2008 by incorporating charity. It began with a holiday food drive for the Orange County Rescue Mission, which they now call Team Hunger, at four Laguna Beach grocery stores.

Mark Patterson, a New York-based custom jeweler, this week announced that its flagship store has moved to Newport Beach, according to a press release. The store, which has opened on East Coast Highway, features certified gemologists, 11 goldsmiths and diamond expert Frank Conforti, according to the release. "All shoppers will find a unique experience at Mark Patterson, whether they are looking to make their first jewelry purchase or to have a custom piece designed around a loose stone they can choose themselves from an exclusive collection of gemstones," the release said.

A Newport Beach jewelry store is about to become a hot after-school hangout for moms and their children, who are winners of the "Why Mom Deserves a Diamond" annual essay contest. Charlie Xu, an eighth-grade student from Rancho San Joaquin Middle School in Irvine, and Leah Korenberg, a first-grader from Los Coyotes Elementary School in La Palma, are the winners of the annual contest run by Gallery of Diamonds in Newport. Both children and their mothers, family members and school officials are invited to a special ceremony at 9:45 a.m. this Saturday at the jewelry store, which specializes in loose diamonds, engagement rings and vintage jewelry.

COSTA MESA — Christian Dior lovers now have a new reason to adore Dior. The Christian Dior store at South Coast Plaza celebrated its grand reopening this week complete with flowing champagne, models in the designer's latest dresses and an appearance by actress Eva Mendes, who's been photographed on several occasions with a camel-colored Dior Libertine Hobo bag slung over her shoulder. The store location may be the same, cater-cornered from Hermes in the Costa Mesa über-mall, but the interior has undergone a complete facelift.