Exhibits

Swarogem, the gemstone-cutting division of Daniel Swarovski & Co., invited 28 top Hong Kong manufacturers to exhibit new colored gemstone jewelry designs last month at the Hong Kong Jewelry and Watch Fair. Participants were asked to produce a set of up to three pieces using gold, platinum, or silver with Swarogem’s precision-cut natural colored stones. The Austrian gemstone cutter sponsored a similar exhibit earlier this year at the Vicenzaoro 1 fair in Vicenza, Italy.

The Hong Kong designs will be published in a brochure to be distributed at fairs and mailed to retailers. They will also be shown on the Internet. Swarogem, D. Swarovski & Co., A-6112 Wattens, Austria (43 5112) 500 2940, fax (43 5112) 53544.

The Providence Jewelry Museum will host “Fantasy to Reality: A Celebration of Jewelry Past to Present” on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at the Fleet Center in Providence, R.I. The event, which kicks off the museum’s Phase I Capital Development Cam- paign, will showcase selections from its collection of jewelry-related artifacts as well as fashions and a “make-your-own-jewelry” hands-on exhibit.

Proceeds from the evening will help fund the museum’s planned relocation to Heritage Harbor, Rhode Island’s first state-

wide heritage center. Heritage Harbor, which will be built on the site of the former Narragansett Electric Co. power plant building in Providence, will house 13 Rhode Island historical and cultural organizations. As a member of the

Heritage Harbor museum collaborative, the jewelry museum must raise more than $450,000 in corporate and private sponsorships over 18 months before construction can begin.

A portion of the “Fantasy to Reality” ticket price will be tax-deductible. Each attendee will be listed as a museum founder in the museum’s permanent records. Sponsorship opportunities for the event are available. For information, call the museum at (401) 781-3100.

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History has opened a new permanent gallery of more than 1,500 rare and precious stones, jewelry, and lapidary artwork, the Wade Gallery of Gems & Jewels. Featuring more than 50 types of gemstones, the collection is based on donations made to the museum in 1924 by Cleveland philanthropist Jeptha Homer Wade, grandson of the founder of Western Union. Also included is a major gem contribution made to the museum in 1987 from Cleveland businessman Frank A. Myers.

Wade and Tiffany gemologist George F. Kunz assembled the collection of colored diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, jade, pearls, and opals early this century. Among the featured stones is a blue diamond coveted for its unusually dark tone. Also displayed are rare black opals from Australia, fire opals from Mexico, and vibrant colored opals from Nevada’s Virgin Valley. The jade collection includes a Chinese spinach-colored jade floral-and-bird carving dating from 1900. Among the highlights of the jewelry collection are a rare emerald necklace from Colombia purportedly dating from the 18th century, as well as a 1905 topaz-and-diamond necklace in the Cartier style from Tiffany. A 230-ct. moon rock gathered during the 1969 Apollo XII mission inhabits a special place in the gallery.

The gallery opened in May. In conjunction with the opening, Alvin’s Jewelers of Cleveland partnered with the museum and a local radio station to sponsor a promotion in which customers received keys that entitled them to free museum admission.

One lucky customer, 26-year-old Chris Barno, had a key that unlocked a treasure chest in the museum lobby. His prize was a $10,000 diamond bracelet, donated to the museum by the store. Alvin’s sister store, Alson Jewelers in Cleveland, offered workshops at the museum at which the public learned to get the best value for their jewelry purchase.