Necklace of multicolored shell pearls, $195-$225. At Unique Boutique, Delray Beach.
Casta Flore flower ring with green and pink tourmaline, gold and diamonds, $2,900. At Furst, Delray Beach.
Freshwater ‘soufflé’ baroque pearls; strand with 18k gold clasp with diamonds, $4,500. At Jewelry Artisans, Manalapan.
Photos by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
By Jane Smith
In ancient times, Greeks and Romans revered mothers with special feasts honoring mother goddesses.
But Mother’s Day, as a modern-day holiday, is relatively young.
In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a resolution setting aside a specific day, the second Sunday in May, to honor the role that mothers play in family life — all because of the efforts of Anna Jarvis.
At age 12, she was inspired by her mom to celebrate mothers. She heard Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis say a class prayer to end a lesson on mothers of the Bible: “I hope that someone, sometime will found a memorial mothers day commemorating her for the matchless service she renders to humanity in every field of life. She is entitled to it.”
The daughter never forgot that prayer, vowing on her mother’s Pennsylvania grave in 1905 to devote her life to dedicating a day to honor all mothers, living and deceased.
Jarvis never married and had no children. She gave up her job to focus on writing letters to lobby elected leaders, clergy members, women’s clubs and anyone else she thought could influence the creation of a Mother’s Day.
Fast-forward 99 years to Sunday, May 12. This Mother’s Day will celebrate traditional mothers, as well as honoring all women who nurture us.
True, it is more commercial than the day Jarvis conceived. She valued hand-written letters and white carnations, her mom’s favorite flower.
But spending time contemplating the precise gift to please your mom may ease some of that guilt.
Many mothers are fond of jewelry, perfume or books. But to come to the right decision about a specific piece of jewelry, youngsters and adult children will need to do some detective work first.
What type of metal does she prefer: sterling silver, yellow or white gold, or platinum?
What type of gemstone does she prefer? The American Gem Trade Association lists popular colored gemstones and cultured pearls with lore and background information on its website (www.agta.org).
What is her personal style – modern, traditional, classic or art deco?
Armed with that information, consumers then can successfully navigate a jewelry store. Here are a few coastal jewelers to help with your selection:
At Furst jewelry store, owner Flavie Furst recommends:
• Handmade initial letters in gold or silver with birthstone, $119, suitable for young or older mothers.
• For gold earrings, semiprecious and precious stones, $500-$600, suitable for young or older mothers.
• Diamond stud sitting atop of flower, $600, for moms 25-35.
• Casta flore ring that features green and pink tourmaline on a gold band with diamonds, $2,900, for moms 35-55.
123 NE Second Ave., Delray Beach; 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Mon.-Sat.; (561) 272-6422.
At Harry’s Designer Jewels, owner Harry Vhagia recommends:
• One-inch hand-crafted, heart pendants of sterling silver or 14k or 18k yellow or white gold, with diamonds, semi-precious or without stones, hearts in sterling silver or white gold for moms who prefer silver jewelry, from $200 to $5,000.
300 Esplanade no. 51, Royal Palm Place, Boca Raton; noon-8 p.m. everyday; (561) 393-9899.
At Jewelry Artisans, store manager Emi Evans recommends:
• Large freshwater “soufflé” extra-large baroque pearls, natural colors of peach, white and lavender; strand with 18k gold clasp with diamonds about $4,500.
• 7 carat diamond-encrusted heart pendant, featuring pavé diamonds, in 18k white gold with chain, about $14,700.
247 S Ocean Blvd., Plaza del Mar, Manalapan; 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday; (561) 586-8687.
At Officine Panerai, sales associate Adam Narvez recommends:
• Jaeger-LeCoultre Rendez-Vous watch, rendition of timepiece from 1940s, very feminine, not too large and not too small, starts at $14,000 in stainless steel, then $37,000 in 18k gold. The watch features a sun–moon indicator for day and night.
306 North Plaza Real, Mizner Park, Boca Raton; 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Saturday; (561) 361-2311.
At Private Jewelers, the owner recommends:
• Beautifully detailed stackable rings, one to represent each child. Exquisitely crafted in platinum, white, and yellow gold set with an array of precious gemstones and diamonds, from $475-$2,500.
900 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach; 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday-Friday and 11 a.m.-3 p.m., every other Saturday; (561) 272-9800.
At Unique Boutique, owner Karen Beaton recommends:
• Multicolored shell pearls, in single strands, $195-$225, with magnetic clasps.
• Sterling silver freshwater pearl collars in one-of-a-kind design, $350-$795.
• Collection of Tahitian pearl jewelry (earrings and strands), starting at $1,700.
204 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach; 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. on Sunday; (561) 272-6654.
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