A Jewelry District for Sarasota?

A little sparkle brightens stalled Pineapple Square project.

By Carol Tisch

It’s not New York City’s “diamond district” on 47^th Street, but the little pie-shaped wedge of retail shops at the intersection of Pineapple Avenue and State Street is glistening with promise now that three jewelry shops have opened where part of the massive Pineapple Square project would have been.

What’s interesting is that each of the stores focuses on original design—and what’s really fun is spending a morning or afternoon browsing all three shops in search of some great Valentine’s Day bling. We couldn’t wait to see what Maureen Hoyt of Optional Art was doing on Pineapple after closing her boutique on St. Armands Circle last May. Apparently lots of loyal customers couldn’t wait, either—they were popping in to say “hi” during our visit.

Optional Art's Maureen Hoyt.

Optional Art will continue carrying the award-winning names its loyal fans adored (Roberto Coin, Michael Sugarman and Gellner to name a few) in very special limited editions and one-off pieces. “I’m having so much fun and I’m happy to be doing what I love—designing—and not having the responsibility or stress of a big retail operation,” Hoyt told us. Picking up where she left off on the Circle, she is focusing on updating clients’ jewelry—breathing new life into tired pearl necklaces, brooches, rings and more with several options, including the Vario clasp system from the European House of Gellner.

A Gallner Vario clasp.

This unique clasping system does away with the notion of hiding the clasp, and makes their gorgeous clasps the focal point of the necklace. It’s a young, hip way to use existing diamonds and pearls that you no longer wear or that you’ve inherited. The interchangeable Vario clasps range from $900 to $3,000 and can be purchased separately or with neck collars of wire, leather and more to create your own signature look.

For Valentine’s Day, check out the Roberto Coin gold mesh heart necklace (price on request) and a new collection of ceramic rings from Etienne Perret that you can customize with existing gemstones and diamonds you already own (of course you can buy new stones and work with Maureen on your own creation). The ceramic comes in black, white, pink, brown or blue and you can even inset an old wedding band, transforming it into something chic and new.

An Etienne Perret ceramic ring.

Another Etienne Perret ring.

Next door to Hoyt is Bowman Originals, a combination jewelry workshop/retail boutique where passersby on State Street can press their noses against the big bright windows and watch jewelry artist Ned Bowman in action, actually silver-casting his original designs. Ned’s look exudes his personal style (the closest thing to it on a national brand level might be Lagos, but only in terms of substance of the pieces and the detail of metalworking). Everything is unique and original and done in a high grade of silver (he uses 950 sterling instead of the typical 925 or 92.5 percent silver).

Jewelry artist Ned Bowman.

Ned works in old world techniques and deliberately makes his pieces look and feel as if they were excavated from an archaeological site. He has lots of heart necklaces for Valentine’s gifts and I love his Lion Belt necklace, a 44-inch-long sterling lariat style with 63 lion medallions in a continuous strand. You can wear it as a belt, a necklace or a bracelet ($895). Ask to see his add-on necklaces (my name for them). You can create myriad looks adding pendants, hooking on a bracelet as a tassel. The concept has to be seen to be appreciated; it’s really great.

Bowman's original heart necklace.

Wearable Art's Helen Ringus.

And don’t forget Wearable Art. Designer/owner Helen Ringus just opened her second shop in this square/triangle. The apparel store is on State Street and she just opened what she calls her Petite Salon around the corner on Pineapple. “I wanted the jewelry to be separate and more intimate,” Ringus explains. At the new boutique, best-sellers are celestial designs (moon, stars in gold with gems like moonstones and equestrian pieces in gold and enamel). Helen’s classic line: “I’m a stone-aholic” is evident in the vast collection of gemstones in the colorful shop. In June she’ll be traveling to Madagascar with fellow jewelry designers from around the world to visit new mines where they will actually dig for their own sapphires and rubies.