Spectrum Awards 2012 LaPearlite

American Gem Trade Association Spectrum Awards

The yellow and white gold metals feature two of Dale’s new LaPearlite® gemstones entered into the Spectrum Awards. Both are 100% natural and untreated derived from the Crassostrea virginica (American Oyster) a species predominantly found along the Louisiana coast.

The Official Louisiana State Gemstone as of August 2011.

The top oval gemstone measures 10×8 millimeters set on a white gold plate surrounded by Dale’ imperial yellow gold design, the lower LaPearlite is a sleek dangling pear shape measuring 22×7 millimeters.

A new gem, LaPearlite is a symbol of inner beauty, promotes healing, and is believed to arouse deep passion. “My goal is that my designs tell a story showing the beauty of Louisiana in a special way using a new unique gemstone – LaPearlite” said Anne Dale.

The AGTA Spectrum Awards competition is the most prestigious jewelry design and gemstone cutting competition in the world and is the benchmark by which jewelry designers measure themselves.

The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) has announced that Hollywood actresses are to model AGTA Spectrum Awards winners Actresses Julie Benz, best known for her roles on Showtime’s Dexter and ABC’s Desperate Housewives, and Regina King, currently starring on TNT’s police drama Southland, will model a selection of winning pieces from this year’s Spectrum Awards competition.  The photo shoot will be coordinated and styled by renowned celebrity stylist Tod Hallman and shot by the highly-regarded fashion photographer Ben Cope.

Entries were judged on the basis of overall beauty and wearability, innovative design, effective use of materials, quality of gemstones, quality of workmanship, broad-base consumer appeal, and potential to generate positive publicity for natural colored gemstones. Spectrum Award categories included Bridal, Business/Day Wear, Classical, Evening and Men’s Wear.

Louisiana is proudly represented by the beauty of LaPearlite® – Oysters Are For Lovers


New Orleans, Saints & Jewelry

EWTN News
By Benjamin Mann
New Orleans, La., Mar 17, 2011 / 08:03 am
EWTN
EWTN New Orleans, famous for its celebration of Mardi Gras just before Ash Wednesday, has another Catholic tradition that falls during Lent. The “Saint Joseph altar,” originally a custom of Italian families and parishes, has become woven into the culture of the American south.

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Keeping Matt Cole and his family in our prayers in these exciting times. We are proud to have Matt as our national spokesman for the Star of Hope military jewelry design. A United States Marine that inspires everyone that comes in contact with him!

COVINGTON, La.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–TCA Cellular Therapy, LLC has enrolled its first patient to participate in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first adult stem cell clinical trial to treat spinal cord injuries. Enrollee and Marine Veteran, Matt Cole was paralyzed from the chest down in a 2005 insurgent attack in Iraq.

Anne Dale with American Hero Marine Matt Cole

According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (February 2010), it is estimated that up to 311,000 people in the U.S. are living with a Spinal Cord Injury with the average health care and living expenses cost for the first year following the injury as much as $830,000 per patient.

TCA Cellular’s neurological team is led by stem cell experts Jose J. Minguell, PhD, Carolina Allers, PhD, and Gabriel Lasala, MD, neurosurgeon Gustavo Gutnisky, MD, and neurologist Srinivas Ganji, MD. The team is scheduled to treat ten patients in Phase I.

“Many spinal cord injury patients have no effective treatment available at this time,” stated Dr. Gutnisky. “I’m very encouraged by the results of the pre-clinical trials and anticipate this may become a significant therapy for these patients in the near future.”

Utilizing TCA Cellular’s proprietary therapy, a couple of thousand adult stem cells have been extracted from the patient’s own bone marrow, Mesenchymal Stem Cells have been separated, purified, multiplied to millions and will be infused into Cole’s spinal cord later this month.

“In theory we expect the cells to repair damaged neurons,” explained TCA Cellular president, Dr. Lasala. “At minimum, our team expects this therapy will provide some improvement to the patient’s motory and sensory functions with no side effects.”

About TCA Cellular Therapy
Under the scientific guidance of cellular biologist, Jose J. Minguell, Ph.D., TCA Cellular Therapy, LLC is a biotherapeutic adult stem cell research and development company. The company has been recognized by the FDA as one of the top 10 U.S. companies researching stem cell therapies. Founded in 2006, the privately-held company has multiple ongoing FDA clinical trials utilizing patient’s own cells. The company is located in Covington, Louisiana.

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