A
New Jersey jeweler is invoking state pride by launching the “New Jersey has
Charm” design contest March 1.

George
Press Jewelers in Livingston, N.J., is sponsoring the contest to inspire people
to create a wearable symbol of what they love about the Garden State.

Co-owner
Cheryl Press tells JCK the winning charm will be produced by
George Press and presented to the designer along will a $150 gift card at an
Earth Day event April 21.

A
public event will feature a presentation on how to go green with jewelry by
restoring old pieces to make them new again.

“Tying
in with the Earth Day affiliation, we wanted to do a serious thing that has New
Jersey charm,” she says. The winning charm will be available for order with a
portion of the proceeds going to the Land Conservancy of New Jersey.

Conserving
open space in New Jersey is an important issue for Cheryl. “We are trying to
conserve the land in New Jersey. It’s a very important issue in the town we
live in.”

Design
concepts can include silver or gold metal, color detail, and or can be crafted
into a shape. The charm must represent New Jersey in a positive way. Cheryl says
shows like The Sopranos and MTV’s Jersey Shore have
given the state a bad rap.

“We
kind of have to live things like that down, living in New Jersey,” she says.
“New Jersey has a reputation that we do not deserve.”

Deadline
for contest entries is March 28. 

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