The next time you enter Frasca Jewelers on El Paseo, prepare yourself for a rapid sequence of linked events — otherwise known as a domino effect. In quick succession, you will spot the innovative beauty of Italian designer Roberto DeMeglio’s Domino bracelets, slip one on your wrist, and quietly murmur, “I’ll take it.”
DeMeglio is based near Turin, Italy, which is also home to Fiat and Ferrari. Taking a cue from its mechanically oriented neighbors, the Domino collection uses automotive technology to create a thin-stretch, stainless steel cord that connects links of black or white ceramic, gold, and pavé diamonds. “The bracelets juxtapose a high-tech composition with the glamour of diamonds,” says owner Maria Frasca. “So they’re glamorous, but wearable. People don’t want to save their jewelry for only special evening events. They want to be able to wear some pieces all the time and have an important bracelet that goes with anything.”
DeMeglio crafted the Domino collection with local materials and in an array of styles — from a black ceramic two-row bracelet with an 18K white gold diamond pavé link to a white ceramic one-row version with an 18K rose gold link.
While Frasca enjoys showcasing international designers like DeMeglio, her regular customers know of the singularly named Armand. “He’s a designer who understands women,” Frasca says of her in-house talent. “His pieces are light and ethereal, while most male designers’ work is heavy handed and very rigid. His philosophy is that jewelry should first make you feel good, and secondly it should show the world who you are — be it whimsical, traditional, or sensual.”
For example, the pair of moonstones Armand chose for the earrings shown here are opalescent in color with rutilated threads running through them and have a contrasting border of tanzanite micro pavé. “There is an ethereal feeling to those earrings, and they’re beautifully translucent when the light catches them,” Frasca says.
Armand and Frasca collect gemstones in the latest cuts, including sliced sapphires, black diamond beads, and carved jade. They transform the stones into one-of-a-kind creations, like a pair of dangle earrings with two angular pale amethyst stones that are softened by pink tourmaline. “We work hard to help a client find her own look,” Frasca says. “We want her to receive compliments on the beauty of the piece and how great it looks on her.”
No one will fail to admire a design featuring sliced sapphires surrounded by diamonds. “These earrings are very glamorous,” Frasca says. “Yet, because we chose to surround the pear-shaped sapphires with low-faceted rose-cut diamonds, a woman can wear them to a black-tie affair or with tight leather pants.”
Or how about pear-shaped Colombian emeralds with four rows of micro pavé diamonds? “Sexy, sexy, sexy,” Frasca says.
A domino effect if ever there was one.
