Jewel of the isle

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Jewel of the isle
Nobody can deny that Marco Island is a Florida gem. We live in Shangri-la where, everyday, the gleaming sun sprinkles the gulf's blue-green surface with glittering diamonds. Brilliantly colored flowering trees and shrubs wildly grow, painting a portrait of paradise that is our reality.Year-round and part-time residents — and our repeat vacationers — take pride in our island. Maybe that's why so many women here adorn themselves with Marco Island-motif jewelry.Jewelry stores are not scarce on the island; there are quite a few, all upscale and unique in their island showpieces. Several boutiques and gift shops also sell island-themed jewelry, along with more standard Marco mementos like photographic prints, T-shirts, key chains, stationery, etc.I visited four of our gem denizens (three who design their own collection) to see — and try on — the jewelry created to celebrate Marco Island. As the saying goes, "great minds think alike" and many of the showrooms' products were similar, however, all of them had their own special signature.Schilling Jewelers, owned by Anna and Eric Schilling, has existed at the Shops of Marco for 14 years. They display the work of numerous designers, as well as their own pieces of art. Last year, the Schillings created their notable and original Marco Island Destination Bracelet, which are made in yellow or white gold, sterling silver or a combination of gold and silver.The bracelet's design is deliberate and meticulous. The "M" is encrusted with gold or silver seashells, symbolizing the mounds of shells the Calusa Indians made for protection against hurricane tidal surges.An anchor forms the "I" and denotes the maritime history of the island. And the two-strand solid gold roope is wound around the bracelet 12 times to represent the 24 square miles ofMarco Island. Prices are fair: The bracelets start at $100.The Harbor Goldsmith, "Charms of Marco," manufactured their "Marco Bracelet" in sterling silver, 14-karat gold and a combination of sliver and gold five years ago. Richard Alan, master goldsmith (who began his apprenticeship at age 12) designed two nose-to-nose dolphins to serve as the "M" in Marco, with one mammal doubling as the clasp. Last week, Alan began distributing his newest bracelet design with the initials "MI."Marco EagleOne of the many Marco Island dolphin charms, this is for purchase at the Marco Cat. "We ship them all over the country and to England and Germany," Alan said. "People e-mail or call us to order them. There isn't any state in the union we haven't shipped to." Prices range from $150 to $900.The "Marco Cat" is a common theme among the jewelry stores. A 6-inch crudely carved wooden figure in the shape of a cat was discovered in the mucky soil of what is now Old Marco in 1896 by archeologist Frank Cushing.The carving was attributed to the first island settlers, the Calusa Indians, and has been dated back to 700 A.D. The Smithsonian Institute now possesses the "panther god of the Calusas," along with other artifacts, including a bird resembling a duck, a deer and a tribal mask.Pendants, earrings, pins and rings re-create the Marco Cat. The jewelers I visited had slightly different versions. Marco Island Fine Jewelry's owner, Hank Halbuer, owns the original Marco Cat molds that the previous store owner, Ward Bradeen, had commissioned after seeing the Marco Cat artifact debut on the island.The Marco Cat jewelry produced from these molds were the first to be sold on the island. Besides jewelry, Halbuer has a Marco Cat figurine carved from jasper and petite Marco Cat "fetishes" handcrafted in lemon-ice citrine.Marco EagleThe Marco Cat's wood carving closely resembles the original Marco Cat artifact. Harbor Goldsmith and Schilling Fine Jewelers each create their own rendering. The Marco Cat's emblem is by Anderson Goldsmith, a private jewelry maker whose molds for the Cat are exclusive to owner Carolyn Soulé. (Soulé also sells hand-carved wooden Cat figures that remarkably resemble the original artifact for only $35, as well as many other Marco Cat accessories.)Another commonality is the Marco Angel, a silhouette of the illuminated lawn ornaments found lining the medians on Collier Boulevard at Christmastime. It wasn't clear who created the angel first; nonetheless Harbor Goldsmith and Schilling both have dazzling depictions.Harbor Goldsmith's Alan once custom-made an angel for a customer who requested diamond insets (we're talking a lot of ice) to simulate the lights on the holiday decoration.Palm trees and dolphins, Florida staples, decorate other Marco Island charms. Schilling has a palm scene with sun and sand set in an oval border with the words "Marco Island" and a graceful dolphin comprising the top of a circle joined below by the name of our city. Harbor Goldsmith's palm pendant is also ovate, but their "Marco Island" dolphin is playfully jumping through a hoop.Superb symbols of our nesting place are available at all of these marvelous showrooms, including sea turtles, starfish, seahorses, crabs, conch shells, sand dollars, pelicans, manatees, alligators, lizards, sandals, sunglasses, boats and, one of my favorites, a miniature pail and sand shovel.You name it they've got it.Marco EagleVisitors (and residents) can wear a piece of paradise year-round; available at Harbor Goldsmith. Marco Island Fine Jewelry has the largest variety of beach life charms I have ever seen. Halbuer sells all of those previously listed, plus scuba flippers, a windsurfer, whale's tail and finely finessed fish — snook, tarpon, king mackerel and mahi mahi.The fine jewelry store also exhibits delightful and incomparable pieces, including oversize Florida panther sterling rings smothered with Swarovski crystals in red, blue or silver; a white gold ring with a dolphin emblazoned with diamonds and rubies.Alan has manufactured a vast selection of beach icons, all exceptionally detailed. Harbor Goldsmith has Hawaiian Danny Wong's gorgeous and quirky sea characters, for example, a three-dimensional gold sea turtle emerging from a Tahitian pearl egg. What are even more enchanting are the front legs and head of the turtle are movable!Schilling has some unrivaled sea creature creations: a solid gold octopus with its tentacles wrapped around a giant blue topaz and a true-to-life conch shell exhibiting a glowing pearl, embellished around the perimeter with large diamonds.Certain masterpieces at every store are enhanced with exquisite diamonds, emeralds, rubies or other gems, such as opal and sapphire.The Marco Cat contains the most variety at the most affordable prices. Many of her sea animals are three-dimensional and solid precious metal. An unparalleled sterling silver manatee has an exceptional expression.My favorite is a silver turtle pendant inspired by a storybook belonging to the artist's daughter. The turtle's appearance commands observers' smiles.Visit these fine jewelry stores, choose a Marco Island emblem and be a shining example of our exquisite home. Or buy a piece of paradise charm for those who visit regularly and longingly envision our oasis throughout their gray, frigid winters.We islanders are fortunate indeed.