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®.
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.
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.
“The Pelican”
The Official State Bird joins the new state gemstone in Anne Dale’s original creation “The Pelican” just in time to commemorate Louisiana’s 200th birthday.