Designers and Schatzley?s Jewelry Contribute to ACGT?s Mix

Toledo Local Features  |  03/01/2010 7:00 am

Chances are that when Marilyn Monroe sang “Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend”, you knew there was some truth to that statement. And chances are that when you adored your best friend’s custom-made ring with her grandmother’s diamond, you thought to yourself that that her diamond ? no matter how big or small ? represented something much different than what Marilyn could’ve sung about. 

Custom-made pieces of jewelry made to the preference of clients at Schatzley’s Diamond and Jewelry Design Studio represent the emotion and value unique to their owners. “It’s the sentiment we try to preserve,” Jack Schatzley said of the jewelry made for his client’s who request to have their own gems or diamonds remounted or put into a new piece.

On top of doing custom pieces for clients, Schatzley’s has original designs produced by Jack and his daughter Renee, who now does most of the designing. So, naturally, in their quest for original designs and appreciation of unique pieces, opening up to the idea of a local artist challenge seemed like a great idea.

The idea developed in their location on Central Avenue when Jack and Renee wanted to host a competition. It turned into them introducing a challenge to local artists to design a piece of jewelry and submit it to Schatzley’s who would decide the winning piece. Then they decided they would recreate the winning design and donate the piece to the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo’s annual spring fundraiser ? this year called The Mix Twenty10, held on March 20th at the Secor Building downtown. Jack and Renee are donating the piece to the event, giving the ACGT the chance to make some extra money from the bidders. In addition though, Schatzley’s is simply finding a way to mix their talents with other talented artists.

“In the store I have to design to hit more of the masses. I feel unleashed to participate with a group of people with a similar mindset,” Renee said about the chance to recreate a more “artsy” piece instead of designing something for everyday buyers. “My style of design is more on the artsy side. I like big, bold and contemporary.”  Donating a unique piece to a crowd of people who appreciate and support artists is Renee’s preference ? especially as someone who enjoys designing pendants best, often adorning herself in a large black onyx pendant and bold earrings. Renee also appreciates other artistic mediums as she pursues photography as a hobby outside of the jewelry business.

The submissions made by artists didn’t lack quality and creativity. “Overall, we were very impressed by the designs,” Renee said. The design being created has been judged on originality, artistic presentation and salability, according to Jack. The designs not chosen will be on display at The Mix Twenty10 event and attending guests may bid to have one created, with the option to make changes to meet their own preferences, as well.

Transferring other art and other ideas to jewelry are the unique side to Schatzley’s business. Meeting requests of customers is a process they’ve enjoyed in the past. One design includes a wedding band with its 360-degree surface as the scenery of Montana mountains and its surroundings, adapted from a photo of where the groom proposed to his bride. Another request was to create a matching pair of earrings and ring that looked like the half-side of a softball, with the tiniest diamonds imaginable as the stitching of the ball. The piece was for a client whose wife was being inducted to a hall of fame.

Then there are those sentimental pieces that are special to each mother. Renee has made special sketches to the preference of clients with their Mothers Rings to perfectly embrace every stone to the liking of the client. The final product is a piece worth talking about for years to come, just as Jack and Renee hope to continue participating in the ACGT’s fundraiser in the future.

So something new will be added to the ACGT’s Mix Twenty10, in the form of an auction, bringing a sparkle to one happy bidder’s eye. And just as any great artwork is a wonderful conversation piece, so are the unique jewelry designs that come when you mix the talent of local artists and a local jeweler.

To see the winning piece, you can purchase tickets to the ACGT’s The Mix Twenty10 by calling 419-254-2787. For more information on Schatzley’s Diamond and Jewelry Design Studio, visit www.schatzleysjewelry.com.