VERO BEACH — Style isn’t just for the catwalk. And Gaston Bijoux isn’t your run-of-the-mill jewelry store. Or for that matter, a run-of -the mill, high-end jewelry store.
Entering the Ocean Drive shop, women will be swept away to a time that brings back images of an effervescent Elizabeth Taylor when Richard Burton draped a 67-pearshaped diamond necklace with a 69.42-caret anchor diamond around her delicate neck.
For men, Gaston Bijoux offers B.R.M watches, timepieces that can only be found in 17 stores across the country.
The store also offers an eclectic collection of cuff links from Deakin and Francis. The company is often considered one of the world’s finest manufacturers of that type of jewelry.
Matt Gaston and long-time jeweler Lou Wilson have traversed the globe hitting the largest and most prestigious jewelry auctions and shows in Hong Kong, Paris and London.
They have roamed Manhattan’s famed 47th Street Diamond District in search of rare diamonds and gemstone rings, necklaces and earrings as well as sturdy hard-to-find men’s timepieces, cuff links, high-end pens and binoculars.
And it just could be that with Gaston Bijoux, the instinctual reflex to head south to Palm Beach or Miami in search of fine jewelry and other treasures may come to an end.
Islander Gaston admits he used to leave Vero for his own personal jewelry purchases over the years.
The store opened last week in the what had for years been W.M. Dori.
Wilson, a fixture at Dori in its early years, is now behind the counter at Gaston Bijoux.
“You cannot sell it if you don’t have it,” Gaston and Wilson say in unison.
“We want people to know that we are serious about this,” says Wilson. “These are rare finds.”
Much like the synergy created when one sees a beautiful woman draped in jewels, Gaston and Wilson too will tantalize, intrigue and charm customers who enter the 1,000-square-foot store.
“We want this to be enjoyable,” says Gaston.
The Oscar Heyman pieces practically scream to be slipped off brown velvet holders and onto human fingers.
The signature pieces are reflective of the near-100-year-old history of Oscar Heyman and Brothers Inc.
Born in eastern Europe, Oscar Heyman and a brother went to work with Faberge as a way to avoid conscription in the Russian army.
Known for its superb craftsmanship, Oscar Heyman and Brothers, Inc. jewelry is only available at top retailers around the world.
While their name may not be well-known outside the professional world, their work is.
The company was commissioned by Cartier to create the Burton/Taylor show-stopper necklace in the late 60s, and continues to create pieces for Tiffany, Shreve Crump and Low; Bailey Banks and Biddle and Marcus Company.
Gaston Bijoux has several Oscar Heyman pieces including a stunningly bright green tsavorite and diamond ring.
Bright, bold colors are hot this season on both the runway and in jewelry.
Gaston Bijoux has that covered with a pair of perfectly matched Canary-yellow diamond earrings.
The store also has yellow diamonds, a bright orange sapphire ring as well as a bright blue Paraiba tourmaline ring.
Aside from what may be fashionable this season, Gaston says he wants to offer jewelry that is just as timeless just as a piece of fine art or a woman draped in diamonds.
The 41-year-old doesn’t intend to franchise his shop in other high-end markets like Naples or Palm Beach.
Vero, he says, is where home is.
Born in New Orleans, Gaston went to school in Coral Gables. He went back to the Big Easy and attended Loyola University where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
In 2000, he sold his New Orleans private investigation surveillance and security business and followed his family to Vero.
For years, he went back and forth until Hurricane Katrina hit the city. He’s been calling Vero home since 2005.
Through Blakeston Investment Group, his family’s business, he developed 14 houses on John’s Island.
The last one sold in 2008 before the market bottomed out.
“I have been blessed by God,” he says.
Not one to grandstand, Gaston is humble and openly talks about some failed businesses as easily he speaks of his successes.
His new store is now the sixth retail jewelry store on the island. In spite of worldwide economic troubles, Gaston feels strongly he made a smart business decision by selecting high-end items that he says cannot be found without having to drive for two or even several hours.
“Jewelry is a timeless business,” he says.
The world’s demand for colored diamonds cannot keep up with the supply particularly at the very high end.
Prices have soared, doubling even in this dubious economy.
“True portable wealth has been around, well, forever – and luxury goods are making a comeback,” Gaston said.
