Oyster Shells to Gemstone LaPearlite®
Title: Shell-Abration 2012
Location: Royal House Oyster Bar New Orleans
Start Time: 05:30
Date: 2012-05-31
End Time: 8:30
Louisiana State Gemstone
Local Jewelry Store Designer - Louisiana Artist Award
Louisiana Artist Award
Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne with jewelry artist Anne Dale
Mandeville jewelry designer Anne Dale receives Louisiana Artist Award from Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne Office of Cultural Development.
The event was at the Louisiana State Museum in Baton Rouge also in attendance was Gaye Hamilton of the Louisiana Cultural Economy Initiative Program Manager and Aimee Smallwood CEO Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation.
New Orleans based jeweler Anne Dale discovered a new gemstone called LaPearlite® which is derived from Louisiana oysters.
Louisiana State Representative Scott Simon authored a bill that would make the material the new Official Louisiana State Gemstone in 2011.
Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation has awarded a grant that will assist New Orleans jewelry store Anne Dale Jeweler in the marketing the new State Gemstone – LaPearlite®.
Mandeville Jeweler Washington
Antonio Bonanno, Anne Dale, Antoinette Matlins (Bonanno’s daughter) Tom and Dianna Chatham
In the 1985 a chance encounter at a jewelry trade show would have Anne Dale leave her beloved New Orleans relocating to Washington DC to study the science of gemstones.
She would do an apprenticeship under world renowned gemologist Antonio Bonanno working in his lab (during the day) while attending the Columbia School of Gemology at night.
Raw, fried, char-grilled, simmered in creamy soup – we typically think of Louisiana oysters in terms of the best way to eat them, but enterprising entrepreneurs in the state are finding myriad uses for the luscious bivalve that extend beyond the plate.
New Orleans gemologist Anne Dale is putting Louisiana oysters on the map with her trademarked LaPearlite™ cabochon cut gemstones made from hand-cut, polished oyster shells. In August 2011, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal signed a bill declaring LaPearlite™ the Official Louisiana Gemstone.