“One way or another I’ve been designing since I was a kid, ”says New York jewelry designer, Bess Heitner. “My mother was a millinery buyer at Bloomingdale’s in the days when no woman of fashion would be seen without a hat, even on a trip to the Post Office. Our home was filled with brightly colored ribbons, flowers, pins, felt shapes, and all the fixings for elaborate bonnets. I discovered I had a flair for combining forms, textures, and colors and before long I was helping my mother concoct her elaborate creations.”

Bess, whose contemporary jewelry designs have been featured on ABC-TV and Japanese television, seeks out the finest stones and minerals from the world’s treasure troves…Peruvian Opal…Brazilian amethyst and tourmaline…Italian branch coral…Indian rubies… just to name a few. She finishes each piece with custom clasps handcrafted from unusual objects or gems set in precious metals. Tiny Austrian crystals and luminous pearls add a subtle sparkle and flattering glow to all skin tones. Her work is available through fashion stylists and image consultants, and in select boutiques in New York, California, and Sydney, Australia. Vivaldi Boutique, chosen as one of Harper’s Bazaar 2005 top 100 American Style Leaders, is an elegant showcase for her work in Manhattan. Now the collection is also available online.

The Museum of Natural History’s Hall of Gems and Minerals inspired Bess to collect unusual stones, objects, and shells on her travels around the world. “What inspires me is the quest for dramatic colors, interesting textures, and unique materials that blend into wearable artwork. I always start with one focal point - a fabulous carved flower, a one of a kind gemstone or mineral, and take off from there.”

Bess has an MA from the University of California (Berkeley) in English with a minor in art. She taught in Japan and at the New School in New York. She worked with her husband, a Japanese TV producer, on documentaries and several feature films where she created wardrobe and costumes. She is also writing a book titled “What Other Colors Does it Come in? Confessions of a Compulsive Shopper.”

Bess says “I consider myself a world-class shopper able to discover great quality at great prices. Now that I’m creating jewelry, I can combine all my strengths into a career I truly love. And I’m thrilled when people who wear my designs get compliments. That’s the best reward of all."

Photography by Steve Meltzer