arts + artisans
Artful Adornments
F
or many of us, selecting our daily ornamentation is a morning ritual: earrings, necklace, pins, watches, or rings. Some are gifts—cherished symbols of love. Others are just plain fun. Jewelry has been part of human history for millennia. The oldest known jewelry, found in a cave in South Africa, is a simple string of beads created by drilling holes into snail shells. Dating back 75,000 years, it was the beginning of the human romance with wearable charms, symbols, and trinkets.
Artist and gallery owner Rosemary Celon-Gordon uses unique “bits” to create her jewelry. And the artistry of this family business continues with the next generation. Mark Valentine Junior is now working with his mom and dad and their sweet dog Sammy, a furry favorite
Technologies, both ancient and
of friends who come to shop.
cutting-edge, have aided many
Valentine’s has become a
Milford businesses in the making
part of many lives, creating
extraordinary gifts. For Mark
unique remembrances
Valentine, owner of Valentine
of romance, family, and
Jewelers (350 Boston Post Road), his
friendship.
fascination with the jewelers’ craft
Rosemary Celon-Gordon,
began around the age of 21, after
co-owner of the Gilded Lily
witnessing an artisan at work. “I
Gallery (101 River Street),
saw someone fixing jewelry at a
views her take on the craft
work bench—sizing rings and doing me,” he recalls. “After mentioning it to my
continued to grow, and the Milford
mother, the next day she found a school in
community has been very supportive. Long
Manhattan and enrolled me. I took a bus to
time clients have become friends.”
the train and the train to Manhattan every day.” Valentine had discovered his vocation. At the time, his parents owned several
MARYALICE MANNING(3)
other things—and it interested
From the beginning, Valentine’s has specialized in crafting custom pieces. Whether creating a perfect setting for a
small businesses. “I proposed the idea of
brilliant stone, engraving an affectionate
a jewelry store and they thought it was a
note, or helping mark the time with a
great idea. We set up shop in Milford on
distinctive watch, Valentines has been a
Valentine’s offers many treasures from vintage
Bridgeport Avenue in 1980. The business
go-to for four decades.
Rolex watches to dazzling diamond rings.
20 Milford Living • Spring
