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®.
Anne Dale
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.
from the December 2011 Issue - The Jewelry Appraiser - A Publication of The National Association of Jewelry Appraisers
To NAJA Jewelry Appraiser
I have great pleasure in supporting the proposal, that lapidary work, utilising the shell derived from the Crassostrea Virginica Mollusc shell, has every right to the descriptive term “gemstone”, and its proposed gemstone name: LaPearlite, a well conceived idea.
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.