Isn’t it fascinating seeing how the dots in our lives connect over time? “Chance” encounters or “wrong” turns can be the start of a new purpose, occupation or passion.
Have you ever met somebody who took a chance on you, and that made all the difference?
I’m known for creating beautiful multi-purpose jewelry. Behind the scenes, those graceful creations are often highly engineered. I may never have taken this path without the influence of a woman I met in the late 80’s – the matriarch of one of the world’s greatest engineering dynasties.
Bechtel Engineering built the San Francisco Bay Bridge, the Hoover Dam, the Washington DC Metro Rail, the Trans-Arabian Pipeline, the “chunnel” between France and the UK, the Hong Kong Airport…the high caliber projects go on and on.
Mrs. Bechtel was kind, twinkly-eyed and quick to smile. She also pushed me to conceive and create my first multi-use jewelry – pieces that she could interchange and wear many ways so she could take a minimum of jewels and get a maximum of looks during extended global business travel with her husband.
I was young and very green…I didn’t know what I could and couldn’t do. However, Mrs. Bechtel kept nudging me to find solutions specific to her jewelry needs.
I would fly to meet in her gracious Pacific Heights home wearing a sensible pleated skirt and blue blazer from Land’s End and design jewelry for her to wear meeting international leaders – even presidents. She was a lovely and interested person who gave me, a rural girl who raised steers for the county fair, a chance.
Her husband, Stephan Bechtel, passed last week and reading his obituary brought these memories to the forefront though I’ve always been grateful for her giving me a chance in the ring.
Tell me about who made a difference for you..who helped you set a direction in your life?
I knew I would make it in business when Mr. Bechtel called me in 1990 requesting a discount on an exquisite multi-color diamond lily brooch I was brokering. I told him no.
Examples of Interchangeable Necklaces
(Full Custom Design)
Client can wear the same 18 carat Tanzanite in a diamond baguette pendant or the yellow gold “God’s Eye” pendant; client’s initials on back. I think she could also wear the diamond pendant without the gem as a surrealist statement!
Jeweled Medallion (Danburite, Tanzanite, Red Spinel, Tsavorite) can be worn in pendants and on either a black or white cuff bracelet.
Fabulous suite of Peridot and Rhodolite Garnet can be worn as a whole in a necklace; center Peridot can be removed and worn as a single pendant; removeable Rhodolite drop can be worn on necklace or alone on a chain.
Custom gold chain with Rainbow Moonstone Amphora center; amphora can be worn as a brooch; ram’s horn necklace centerpiece can be put in the chain so it can be worn without the amphora; Ametrine Briolette can drop
from ram’s horn center.
Black Pearl and Diamond center can vibe worn as a pearl clasp or as center piece of a gold collar.
Our Interchangeable Progressive Pairs Earring System started Simply…..
The many looks interchanging our Temple Earrings with a pair of pearl studs,
Pea Pod Bridges and Diamond Drop Adaptors.
A custom pair of Blue Sapphire and Diamond earrings
can interchange with client’s Diamond Studs and Pearl Studs.
One of our Most Useful Pieces!
Easy Elegant Interchanging with our Reversible Bale.
Got a question? We’re here to help. Cynthia I have a question…..
