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Renee Cuneo 

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Some of my happiest childood memories begin with long days spent at the beach and hunting the shoreline in search of beautiful shells and unusual rocks. This summer ritual of selecting and collecting little pieces of nature gave me so much joy and a sense of independence. 

 

As I grew older, I recognized nature as a miracle that surrounds and blesses all of us. 

Decades passed and yesterday's seashells evolved into today's pearls, but my passion for seashells, rocks and crystals remains strong.

 

In 2012, I began to study the fascinating myths and the ancient healing properties associated with gemstones, which includes the natural pearl. Once I stepped through this door, an endless path unrolled as I began to understand the history of each stone and my collection expanded with purpose.

 

Many of my designs spotlight natural Fresh Water Baroque Pearls. Their beauty is  timeless; each pearl is unique in shape, size, color and luster, and can stand alone as a centerpiece.         

 

My pieces are one-of-a kind, often designed with a nod to the intrinsic or symbolic meaning of the stones, as  most gemstones are associated with healing, serenity, spiritual growth or love.

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My heart slips into each piece I make and I hope that you will feel beautiful, special and loved whenever you look at it and wear it !

 

 

OR THE LONG VERSION 

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Some of my happiest childood memories begin with long days spent at the beach and taking walks along the shoreline in search of beautiful shells and smooth interesting rocks. This ritual of searching, selecting and collecting little pieces of nature gave me a joyful sense of independence. 

 

​Decades have passed, and while yesterday's fascination with seashells, rocks and crystals remains in my heart, over the last 15 years, it has quietly evolved into my passion for pearls. My first career at Saks Fifth Avenue introduced me to fine fashion, Wall Street was the antithesis, and at 30, I married the love of my life and raised a family, while owning a small design company, Gabriella Di Monte Shawls.

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In 2012, I formed Stones With Spirit, a philanthropic jewery company, that supported local Cancer Care Groups and the Police Athletic League in New York City. ​​This experience ignited an explosion of inspiration as I discovered extraordinary worlds, the mesmerizing natural beauty of the pearl and 22 karat gold! I met real artists!   

 

I studied mythology, the history and traditional purpose of semi-prescious gemstones stone, and I took my next step to begin the study of Jewelry Design in New York. 

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In 2015, I realized how lucky I was to have a very dear friend who was a fabulous Goldsmith, and 3 others (an Angel  ~ Angela North,  "the pearl man",  and Jacquie) who were my mentors and introduced me to the journey​ of the Pearl!

 

Again, I fell in LOVE, specifically, with fresh water baroque pearls. It is so easy to desire a lustrous round South Sea beauty, but the Baroque Pearl,  with it's unpredictable traits opens the magical door to artistic interpretation! Embracing imperfection, these lustrous and unusually shaped pearls are the link between my creativity and human nature.

 

Our bodies, rarely perfect, do not define us. Similar to a pearl’s luster, we are valued for our authenticity and for the genuine energy that radiates from within us. Life is authenticity!​​

 

It is my hope that my jewelry designs  reflect my appreciation of authenticity, beauty and nature. They are an expression of love handmade with the intention of bringing  happiness to those who admire it, buy it, give it or wear it!