AS SEEN IN

Here, Bielka holds an 18-karat gold and diamond monkey pendant with emerald eyes, $18,675.

Jewelry designer Bielka returns to PB
He will show collection - including sunflower chain necklaces, clip-on chandelier earrings - at Mildred Hoit.

An Excerpt from the Palm Beach Daily News

By ROBERT JANJIGIAN
Daily News Fashion Editor
Friday, March 12, 2004

In the past year, New York designer Robert Bruce Bielka has twice shown his jewelry collection at the Mildred Hoit boutique.

Today, on the occasion of his third visit to the island, Bieika has brought about 200 pieces, priced from $450 to just under $100,000, to the Mildred Hoit store, 265 Sunrise Ave.

"Palm Beach is where we were always told we belonged," Bielka said. "The audience here is educated and appreciative of good design, and definitely has the means to acquire high-quality jewelry. "

Compared with other jewelry creators, the majority of whom have produced jewelry for less than a decade, Bielka, 53, is a veteran on the fine jewelry scene, having been a designer since 1971.

Bielka studied engineering at the University of Washington before turning to a career as a jewelry designer, first in Seattle and eventually in New York City.

He toiled for several years as an in-house or free-lance designer for many notable firms, including Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Tiffany & Co. and Asprey.

In 1979, Bielka. with wife Regina, who manages the business, established a firm of his own.

"I work principally in yellow gold," he said. "I like the warm color and I think the gold immediately communicates the preciousness of the piece.

"There's a lot of junk out there," said Bielka, who adds that he is extremely detail-oriented and is thoroughly involved in putting together his jewelry. He puts the emphasis on hand engraving and sculpting of each piece.

"I strive to keep learning and always try to innovate," Bielka said, noting that he holds two patents, one for moveable limbs on jeweled animals, the other for a flexible bracelet con-struction.

"I also design pieces such as earrings, brooches and bracelets, in which the pearls and beads and gemstones can be unscrewed and changed according to the individual's preference," he said.

Bielka's collection features a large number of flower shapes. There are also the jeweled animal pendants and bracelets.

For the Hoit show, Bielka has come up with some new designs, including sunflower chain necklaces with semiprecious stone or diamond accents and torsades of semiprecious beads with yellow gold clasps and beads.

The jeweler also is introducing some chandelier-style earrings in 18-karat gold with colorful semiprecious stones that cost $4,950 to $7,430 a pair. "There are chandeliers everywhere, but these chandelier earrings are clip-ons, which are extremely hard to come by," he said.

While Mildred Hoit often schedules appearances and jewelry trunk shows, Bielka is considered to be the store's highest-caliber talent, said Mary Gushee, President of the Sunrise Avenue shop.

"I met Robert at a jewelry exposition in Las Vegas a few years back and just believe that his design and workmanship are the best," she said.