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| Janis Savitt amongst her massive collection. |
| When I first arrived in Manhattan, I would regale my mother each Sunday with my adventures and the famous people I was meeting. She was never impressed by the celebrities, dismissing them all as “kooks”. One Sunday, as I was telling her about something I did with a friend, Janis Savitt, my mother suddenly lost her Midwestern cool. “Janis Savitt? You know Janis Savitt?” She asked excitably. “She's a good friend, Ma. Why?” “Ohmygod! I'm a HUGE fan of her jewelry! I've always been such a good customer of hers that I'm allowed into her showroom when I come to New York! And you've been there with me!” I vaguely remembered being in some jewelry showroom with my mother, but she was such a fashion freak that I didn't pay it much mind. When I told Janis about Her Biggest Fan, Janis didn't really react. |
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| L. to r.: Mother of Pearl base with Freshwater Pearl-coated pearls combined with 18 ct. gold-plated brass beads and Swarovski Crystal Roundells Necklace (Style # NK52: $1,400); 18 ct. gold-plated brass chain intertwined with Smoky Topaz and Black Diamond Swarovski crystals Necklace (Style # NK55-G: $900); Mother of Pearl base with Freshwater Pearl-coated pearls braided with Swarovski crystals Necklace (Style # NK59: $1,025). |
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| On Hand: Swarovski round crystal antique Bangle (Style # BR64: $175); Swarovski baguette crystal antique Bangle (Style # BR65: $285); Silver-plated Brace Cuff ($500). Bottom left: Sterling silver with 18 ct. gold pyramids Cuff ($3000). Middle, top to bottom: Swarovski Topaz crystal 18 ct. gold-plated Bracelet (Style # BR39: $550); Silver Shade and Montana Blue Swarovski crystal wide-braided Rhodium-plated Bracelet (Style # BR43: $1025); Light Colorado Swarovski crystal 18 ct. gold-plated mesh with Swarovski crystal drops Bracelet (Style # BR38-G: $1935); Smoky Topaz, Silver Shade and Black Diamond Swarovski crystal knot 18 ct. gold-plated Bracelet (Style # BR45: $435); Multi-colored 10 row Swarovski crystal 18 ct. gold-plated Bracelet (Style # BR24-G: $925). Top right: Swarovski Topaz round and marquise crystals with opals 18 ct. gold-plated Bracelet ($510).Bottom right: Swarovski Light Amethyst crystal antique bronze-plated open-link Bracelet (Style # BR70: $740). |
| Finally, one night when I was at Janis' gorgeous home for one of her fabulous holiday dinners, I loaded up my hands with rings and bracelets that my by-then deceased mother had left me. “Ohmygod!” Janis yelled, grabbing my hands to get a better look. “Where did you get those? Those are from my very first collections!” I reminded her about the long ago visit my mom and I had made to her showroom. This time she really reacted ... and was very impressed with the late Eleanor. In those early days, Janis was a VERY young woman who had created a business with her family. Janis was the creative goddess, but sometime-designer sister Michelle shared credit in the name M & J Savitt. Older sister Wynne took care of the business side and mom Milliestarted her own fine jewelry design venture at the studio. Dad Paul was a painter, so, obviously, creativity was the family Savitt's focus and legacy. Janis' future career began one day in Bloomingdale's. Millie, a lover and wearer of fabulous jewelry, was shopping with Janis. One jewelry display featured, besides gems, saws and files and other tools of the trade. 12-year-old Janis became mesmerized. ”Please find me a jewelry making school.” She immediately demanded of Millie. |
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| Above, left: Vera Wang Spring 2009 Cameo Collection: Necklace and two Pins (Sold through Vera Wang. Check with Vera Wang for pricing details). Above, right (clockwise from top): Swarovski crystals Rhodium-plated Cuff (Style # BR2-6: $1,625); Matt Gunmetal Cuff (Style # ER1N: $435); Amethyst Swarovski crystals 18 ct. gold-plated brass Cuff (Style # BR2-6: $1,625); 18 ct. gold-plated brass art deco Silver Shade oval and Montana Blue round and emerald-cut Swarovski crystals Bracelet (Style # BR19- G: $900); Montana Blue Swarovski crystal Matt Gunmetal Cuff (Style # BR2-6: $,1625); Single row Topaz Swarovski crystal antique bronze-plated Cuff (Style # BR50: $675). |
| So, every Saturday and after school, between the ages of 12 and 17, Janis attended classes at a YWCA. Michelle eventually joined her. When her schoolmates began asking Janis where she got her amazing jewelry, Janis realized that she had found her calling. The sisters' first outlet was, conveniently, directly below their apartment on 66th St. and Madison. It was at Veneziano, which Jackie O. frequented, that Janis and Michelle first sold their papier-mâché jewelry. The response to the high-schoolers' “hobby” was so great that they began taking their wares to Cartier, Bloomingdales, Bendels and Van Cleef & Arpels. Everyone wanted them. “We spent all of our profits on shopping.” Janis laughs. “We were living at home, so we had no overhead. Those were the days!” |
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| On hand: 18 ct. gold-plated clustered ball Ring (Style #RG1-G: $225.); 18 ct. gold-plated clustered ball Cuff (Style # BR3-G: $340.); 18 ct. gold-plated clustered ball Bracelet (Style # BR4-G: $1050.) |
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| Top left: Swarovski Antique Silver Shade marquise and round crystal leaves with 18 ct. gold-plated balls Earrings (Style EAR3: $335). Bottom left: 18 ct. gold-plated balls and neckwire Necklace (Style # NK34-G: $360). Middle: 18 ct. gold-plated chain with Swarovski crystal balls and 18 ct. gold-plated balls Necklace (Style # NK75-G: $750); 18 ct. gold-plated balls with Montana Blue, Smoky Topaz, Indicolite, Golden Shadow and Crystal Swarovski Crystal Roundels Necklace (Style # NK750B-G: $2,075). Top right: 18 ct. gold-plated balls with Crystal Swarovski crystals earrings (Style EAR11-G: $275).Bottom right: 18 ct. gold-plated balls necklace (Style # NK27-G: $1,085). |
| Unfortunately, the Y kicked them out when they got wind of the sisters' success, which Janis attributes to sour grapes because the teens were doing better and selling more than their teachers. A Greek man, Minos, who worked for David Webb, allowed them to share his space. From him, the sisters learned a lot of techniques that the Y had never taught them and they began designing for the renown Greek jewelry store, Lalaounis. Eventually, the sisters left Minos' digs for their own space. The site contained both a showroom and manufacturing on the premises. The girls, in their early 20s, had 23 men from different countries working for them. “Now I'm smart.” Janis says. “I don't produce anything in-house.” Sister Wynne joined them after graduating college to take over the business side. And thus, in 1980, M & J Savitt was born. |
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| Top row, l. to r.: Antique crystals and Rhodium twisted clip-on Earrings (Style #EAR24: $360); Montana Blue and Silver Shade Swarovski crystal large flower clip-on Earrings (Style #EAR9: $400); Long hanging Smoky Topaz leaf Earrings (Style #EAR17: $650). Middle row, l. to r.: Swarovski baguette crystal small hoops (Style #EAR50: $435); Turquoise Cabochon and Swarovski crystal balls drop clip-on Earrings (Style #EAR40: $175); Silver Shade and Montana Blue Swarovski crystal half flower clip-on Earrings Swarovski (Style #EAR5: $285). Bottom row, l. to r.: Swarovski Silk, Light Azore and Crystal button clip-on Earrings (Style #EAR13: $335); Swarovski Amethyst ovals and Rose pear-shaped drop Earrings (Style #EAR44: $325). |
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| Top row, l. to r.: Matt gunmetal and Swarovski crystal balls and roundells on a matt gunmetal chain Necklace (Style # NK75: $750); Large Swarovski crystal balls on 18 ct gold-plated chain Necklace (Style #NK62-G: $1,025); Oxidized nickel and Swarovski crystal roundells Necklace (Style # NK125: $410). Bottom row, l. to r.: Three-strand oxidized nickel Swarovski crystal balls Necklace (Style # NK60S: $700); Three-strand oxidized nickel Swarovski crystal balls on a 18 ct gold-plated chain Necklace (Style #NK1-N: $925); Three-stand oxidized nickel Swarovski crystal balls Bracelet (Style #BR33: $450); Oxidized nickel and Swarovski crystal balls and roundells Necklace (Style # NK109: $650). |
| After being in business for years, “Harper's Bazaar” magazine asked them why they weren't designing in diamonds. The sisters agreed and went on to diamond infamy. They won 15 DeBeers Diamonds International Awards and Janis' name was eventually placed in the DeBeers Hall of Fame in Paris. They also won over twenty-five diamond, pearl, platinum and gold competitions and the infamous COTY Award. Commissions piled in for everything from Victoria's Secret's 7 million dollar bra creation to jewelry for Arabian horses. They collaborated on runway jewelry with multiple fashion designers, including Geoffrey Beene, Calvin Klein and Stephen Sprouse. In 2007, Janis left M & J Savitt to form her own company, Janis by Janis Savitt. Her success continued. Her offerings are featured at Bergdorf's, Neiman Marcus and specialty stores worldwide. She collaborates with Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors and Vera Wang for their collections and is presently doing a collection for Swarovski for their stores in New York, London and Singapore. Additionally, she's back to showcasing diamonds at their best by working on a collection that's an expansion from the pieces she only did by special order since declaring her independence. |
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| Above, left (top to bottom): Antique platinum-plated mesh and crystal trimmed Purse with chain ($1,200); 18 ct. gold-plated beaded mesh Purse with chain ($600). Above, right: Janis presiding. |
| And what a special order business it is. I wish I could divulge the names of the celebs who can't get enough of her sparklers, but Janis would KILL me, such is her mania for respecting her clientele's privacy. I can't even mention the SUPER well-known international fashion figure's name who was busily gathering up all manner of knockout pieces as I quietly snapped this piece's pictures. I would never cross Janis. Not only is she a treasured close friend, but I remember CLEARLY the look in her eye when I once thought I had lost a giant cubic zirconia ring she had loaned me to wear for a shared night on the town. Thank GOD, we located it nestled amongst the sushi on the tray from which we had been helping ourselves all evening. That look scared the ... umm ... bejesus out of me! Trust me ... my lips are SEALED. Stop by stores that carry her bijoux and expect to be utterly dazzled by what they look like up close. A final note: They mostly come in various colors, sizes and finishes. Consider them investments that will brighten up your life |
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