See them sparkle and gleam: silver, gold and gemstones brighten the holidays and every day.  Glorious jewelry can warm any heart with its beauty.  You can choose pieces with classic elegance or with enough bling to blind the front row.  Jewelry can make a statement, create an image or be just for fun.

When you go seeking a piece as a gift for someone special or as a gift to yourself, Valley jewelry stores have the rings, necklaces and watches to satisfy that craving for bright, shiny, meaningful things.

Roberts Jewelry

Founded in 1922, Roberts Jewelry is the oldest jewelry store in the Valley, and years ago was responsible for synchronizing the watches and clocks of Missouri Pacific and Southern Pacific railroad crews.  Today the Harlingen shop brims with eye-catching contemporary rings and necklaces, colored pearls, selected estate pieces and a stunning sterling bracelet set with opal, onyx and turquoise by Navajo artist Calvin Begay.

“People are shocked when they see what genuine, quality gemstones look like,” said owner Cindy Nelson, whose late husband’s step-grandfather opened the business. The red of a ruby, the blue topaz Texas star, the multi-hued opal, pink tanzanite, sapphires and much more reflect Nelson’s love of colored gems.  On display are classic pieces and new finds like the constant motion diamond, where the gem is suspended in the setting so it always sparkles and catches the light.

While Nelson believes nothing makes you feel as good as gold, diamonds show up so much better in white gold or platinum, she said. “People come in looking for something original.  I like having items that are unique.” Nelson orders gemstones and Roberts jeweler Raul Trevino designs and makes rings to customer’s specifications.

Nelson tracks customer purchases because, “It makes it easier when a husband or boyfriend comes in.”  She’s noticed that men tend to splurge a little more during the holidays. She has dealt with three generations of families and has seen how preferences and sizes of engagement rings change over time.  “But nobody says ‘I do’ like we do.”

Most men wear only a wedding ring or a Texas university ring along with a good watch, Nelson observed. But vintage Rolexes are another story.  Collectors snap them up as soon as Roberts gets one in.

Carats

Three years ago, Carlos Melguizo moved his fine jewelry store, Carats, from its boutique setting within a department store to its stand-alone location on North 10th.  With more space, Carats added fine crystals, exclusive perfumes, and unique gifts, but jewelry remains the heart and soul of the business and its owner.

“One of my goals is to bring the finest pieces from jewelry collections to the Valley,” said Melguizo. “I go and cherry pick (designer collections) and that’s the fun part.”  While his staff chides him about being very picky, Melguizo enjoys offering a curated selection of beautiful jewelry.

At a recent gala, many women came up to Melguizo and pointed at their earrings and said “Carats.”  Necklaces, “Carats.”  Rings, “Carats.” Their pride in the lovely pieces purchased at Carats made Melguizo emotional.  “We’ve been successful because our clients trust us. Our clientele is so loyal.”

The store works for that loyalty. They have an extensive data base of sizes, style preferences, anniversaries and birthday. “What sets us apart is the very personal attention we give.  I’m very proud of my team. They work long hours but are responsive to everything our customers want and also very focused on detail like how we wrap the gifts.”

Champagne or espresso help welcome visitors to Carats. In fact, Italian designer Roberto Coin has visited Carats more times than any other independent store in the world, said Melguizo, who still wears a gold ring he made many years ago.  He studied gemology but his degree is in communications/public relations.

Beyond the shimmering Mikimoto pearls, Lalique glass, Shinola gifts and expertly cut and set diamonds, Carats has been involved in the community. Melguizo works with Easter Seals, IMAS and MOST History.

Portillo Chic

Deborah Portillo, 30, grew up immersed in dinner table conversation about Portillo Jewelry, which her parents had started in Brownsville in 1984. When her father retired three years ago, she looked at the facts: She always wanted to open her own business. She frequently heard that not enough young people invigorated Brownsville with new businesses. Also, she was proud of her family business, and “I didn’t want us to lose our footprint in Brownsville. I wanted to create something of my own, but not stray from the family.”

So, three years ago Deborah Portillo, with a graduate degree in English and her mother’s encouragement, opened Portillo Chic as a contemporary jewelry store in Sunrise Mall catering to stylish, young couples. Portillo gives her personal imprint to the jewelry collection. “I tend to pick pieces that are unique because every bride is unique.” When she sells an engagement/wedding ring, she will not restock the same rings.

“Many couples now come in and pick the ring together,” she said. “I think it’s important to be comfortable talking about your budget when picking the ring. I can find you your dream ring within your budget.  What I produce is the perfect marriage of the two.  My challenge is conveying to couples to get out of the habit of choosing what their friends like.”

“What makes me different is it is all about my customer. My advertising is about advertising my customer, not my product,” Portillo said.  She takes photos of customers in front of the Portillo Chic logo and posts it on Facebook.  She gives bridal customers a bottle of Portillo Malbec to celebrate and pays for the first year of insurance on their rings. Portillo Chic has a policy that any engagement ring bought there is eligible for a trade-in for life.

Technically Portillo has two jobs, since she serves as a Brownsville City Commissioner.  “Politics was new to me but service was not. That’s what I do every day in my work. It’s the same rewarding feeling. It’s knowing you have a part in changing their perception of city government and how it helps. Here, I’m always available to customers who text me or email. I don’t get bothered when they are indecisive or don’t know what they want.  I’m supposed to make the process easier for them.”  One reward is being part of people’s most precious moments.

The Valley is also home to several independent jewelry designers.  Aleida Wedgworth described the design of her necklaces and earrings as contemporary tribalism. Hand-crafted from sterling silver or gold and semi-precious stones, the one-of-a-kind pieces combine cultural symbols and intriguing textures.  Her current series is inspired by other-worldly orchids with angular features.  She takes custom orders and displays her work at Titan Studio by appointment.

Laurel Becker is a lapidarist whose one-of-a-kind jewelry is displayed at Beyond Arts Gallery.  “People respond to the stone,” she said.  She seeks semi-precious stones around the country, going to Nevada for opals, Utah for topaz, and Texas for petrified black palm wood (the state stone) and moss agates.  She also teaches lapidary courses in silver and wire wrapping.

For more information, see caratsfj.com, portillochic.com, Roberts Jewelry on Facebook, beyondarts.com and call Wedgworth at 279-7093.

December 2015 cover story by Eileen Mattei