This year’s honorees include a Midwest retailer and two multi-store independents, one in New York and the other in New England.
In my three years at National Jeweler, I’ve heard jewelry described in many, many ways, and sometimes people revert to the way you’d describe a piece of cake or brownie. While the vernacular usually elicits a smile from me, I’ve finally found one instance where the description is literal.
Philadelphia-based designer Anthony Lent, who has exhibited at the JA New York show, has teamed with a chocolatier to create gourmet chocolates that mimic his sculptural jewelry.
Lent’s “Kiss me” ring and “Moonface” motifs are the first to be candied by Francisco Migoya of Hudson Chocolates in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
The “Kiss Me S’more” chocolate, made with milk chocolate, crushed graham crackers and toasted mini marshmallows with a dark chocolate outer shell and gold luster dust to reflect Lent’s 18-karat gold designs.
“Part of the idea came from our unique production process,” said David Lent, a co-owner of the company who also is Anthony’s son. “A lot of our pieces are in relief--they have a flat back and a three-dimensional top. We had them laid out on a table and thought they looked like little pieces of candy.”
The idea was born, and the Lents approached Migoya, who got to work transforming the jewelry into candy.
Lent’s 18-karat gold necklace from the Anatomy collection rests on its chocolate counterpart, which is 6 inches long.
“There’s a relationship between the satisfaction of purchasing jewelry for yourself and the high you get from having chocolate,” Lent said. “It’s luxurious and gratifying.”
Lent said the chocolates have been selling well at Hudson Chocolates, while the Lents use them as gifts for buyers.
“In follow-up conversations, they love it,” Lent said of the recipients.
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