BY MICHELLE PAYER | PHOTOGRAPHS BY CARLOS HIDALGO
Perhaps more than anything that accompanies us on our journey through life, nothing tells the story of our authentic selves quite like the jewelry we wear. Whether they’re mementoes of our travels, represent significant milestones in our lives, or heirloom pieces that have been passed through the generations, the jewelry that adorns us sparks joy and offers silent talismans of strength. Here are the personal stories behind the favorite jewelry worn by four of South Florida’s most notable women.
Andrea Minski
JOURNALIST AND TELEMUNDO HOST
This Colombian entrepreneur, fashionista and champion of women’s rights is drawn to jewelry with a cause. Whether created by villagers in Africa or Latin American women rising out of poverty and violence, its color and vibrance speaks to her soul.
ENAMEL ELEPHANT AND BEADED NECKLACE
“I bought it on my honeymoon in Koh Samui, Thailand, this magical island with mountains surrounded by the ocean. A man was selling jewelry, but I was really obsessed with the necklace he was wearing, as I love elephants. They’re full of determination and love their families; I think they’re more evolved. He said he’d collected the charms all his life around Asia and the necklace wasn’t for sale, but then he said, ‘I like your energy. I’m going to sell it to you.”
HAMMERED GOLD AND BEADED COLLAR
“I bought this in Cartagena. In Colombia, we have artists that use their tradition to make a living and support their families; this piece is a combination of the indigenous Emberá-Chamí tribe doing the beading and African descendants creating the hand-hammered, gold-plated metal. They sew their stories into their art; it’s like having a journal they transfer into their beading. For me, it’s not about expensive jewelry. It’s a conversation piece; a way to support women and families and preserve their culture.”
RAW EMERALD RINGS
“These are from different designers, all in Colombia. I think the emeralds are special in their rough form of how they’re found; they’re not perfect. I always say, ‘It’s better done than perfect.’ I bought one for each milestone: when I founded Palosanto Media, the first time I ran a marathon, the first time I did a show in English on Lifetime TV.”
AGATE RING
“We went on safari in Kruger National Park and instead of going out on safari one day, I wanted to go where the local artists were. A person from the hotel drove me—it was about an hour away—and translated for me because I wanted to meet the artists and see how people live and what they do.”
AMOR BELT
“This is from Katherine Cordero’s jewelry boutique in Wynwood. It wasn’t even out for sale yet, but I spotted the colorful beads and stones and knew I had to have it. I wear it as a belt; sometimes as a necklace. It says ‘AMOR,’ which is what we all need. If you have love for everything you do, you’re a winner. I love to support women in in business and tell people where it’s from.”
Jackie Nespral
NBC-6 ANCHOR
One of Miami’s most beloved anchors visits South Florida homes every evening through NBC’s 5, 6 and 11 p.m. broadcasts and Sunday political show, Impact. After 33 years on-air, the Miami native still seems like the girl next door; thus, it’s fitting that her favorite jewelry pieces are tied to family. “Family, for me, is the most important thing,” says Nespral of her Cuban heritage. “It’s been the motivating factor in my life growing up, first with my parents and now with my husband and children.”
PLATINUM AND DIAMOND CROSS
“This is a very special piece for me. When my mother got married in Miami in 1958, my grandfather bought this cross and flew from Havana to give it to her as a wedding gift. Years later, when I got married, my mother gave the cross to me. My daughter is getting married in September and she will wear the cross on her wedding day. That’s three generations so far. It’s a good luck charm. My parents were married 56 years; I’ve been married 33 years—it’s brought luck to the marriages through the years.”
18K GOLD AND DIAMOND “ROSES” RING
“This was my mother’s quinceañera—15th birthday—gift from my grandfather. One side of the rose has a pearl and the other a diamond, to signify the transition from girl to woman. He had it made for her in Cuba in 1953 with the flowers representing the girl blooming into adulthood. I have three daughters and have passed it on to them to wear at their quinceañeras.”
AARON BASHA CHARM BRACELET
“When I lived in New York, I was fascinated by this designer; I walked by the store and was mesmerized by the pieces because they’re so different. When my second child was born, my husband gave me the bracelet. Each gold-and-enamel charm represents one of my children, with their birthdate engraved on the bottom of the shoe. On my anniversary, my husband gave me the heart with the engraving of our anniversary. Each piece is beautiful and special.”
Leila Centner
PHILANTHROPIST FOR EDUCATION, WOMEN AND CHILDREN
Since 2018, David and Leila Centner have dived headlong into education, opening Centner Academy, which in September will merge with Metropolitan International School to form MICA. Last year, they sent 2,500 kids to FunDimension amusement center. “I think education is what’s going to save our world,” says Centner, “Our school’s foundation is emotional intelligence and mindfulness, because when your mind is peaceful and calm and you can regulate your emotions, the sky is the limit.”
PLATINUM AND DIAMOND CROSS, MORGANITE, DIAMOND-AND-OPAL RING AND MATCHING EARRINGS
“These are one-of-a-kind Cartier pieces. My husband bought me the set as a birthday gift; he knows I love pink. I love the radiant colors and variety in the mixture of diamonds, opals and morganite. The matching necklace is in a museum in Japan right now, along with two other pieces from my collection.”
CARTIER LOVE BRACELETS AND EVIL EYE
“The Love bracelets were an anniversary gift that go with the matching wedding band, and the blue evil-eye bracelet I bought at a charity auction supporting Women of Tomorrow. I love evil-eye jewelry; it’s kind of my thing. My mom is from the Middle East, and I think it’s a very Middle Eastern thing to walk around protected. I always have something evil eye on me.”
BLUE TOPAZ, DIAMOND AND PEARL CARTIER NECKLACE
“That was a push present when I had our first daughter, Aviva, and is another one-of-a-kind Cartier piece that’s not replicable. I like the delicateness of it, along with the blue topaz that brightens it up. I like color, and blue is one of my favorites.
ROLEX WATCH
“This was a gift from my husband when we opened the first Centner Academy in September 2019, known as the ‘happiness school.’ It is a symbol of being present, like you’re teaching your kids to be.”
DIAMOND ENGAGEMENT RING
“I usually don’t wear this; I wear only my wedding band, but it’s a D color and IF stone. This isn’t the ring from our Central Park engagement that was covered by the New York Times; it was a push present for our daughter Adina. It’s a fun ring because it’s literally flawless and sparkles. It usually makes its home in an outside safe, along with all my high jewelry pieces. I have the books of them at home, so when I miss the jewelry, I look at the books.”
Lesley Goldwasser
ART CURATOR AND CO-OWNER, THE BETSY HOTEL
The statuesque Zimbabwean, formerly of New York, began coming to South Beach in 2004, purchased The Betsy in 2005 with husband Jonathan Plutzik and became a Miami Beach resident in 2016. About living in the hotel, she says, “We’re like Eloise, but grown up.” Her late father-in-law, multiple Pulitzer Prize finalist poet Hyam Plutzik influences every aspect of this artistic hotel, including Goldwasser curating music and art exhibits within its 10 galleries.
TIBETAN CHISELED AND CARVED SILVER BANGLES
“Every second Sunday, Lincoln Road has a collectors’ market and you can find some treasures if you look hard enough and keep going back,” Goldwasser says of the bangles, some of which are covered in resin, and one of which features dozens of inlaid freshwater pearls. “I love silver. I love detail. It feels like it has a story.”
METAL ACCORDION SNAKE BRACELET WITH CRYSTALS
“It looks like a Versace piece,” Goldwasser exclaims about another Lincoln Road find. “It was buried under a pile of jewelry on a table and some crystals were missing, but I loved it and had my New York jewelry craftsman, Emiliano Cadenillas, replace the crystals,” she says. “None of it is precious, but it is precious to me. It’s not diamonds, emeralds or sapphires, but they mean so much and are my way of being creative.”
LAVENDER JADE NECKLACE
“I’d been searching for such necklace for years after seeing one. A friend told me a jewelry store was going out of business in New York and I couldn’t believe there was the lavender jade necklace. I had the owner customize it to replace some beaded crystals with lavender jade.”
SEVAN BIÇAKÇI APOLLO RING
“Sevan is one of the top jewelers alive today; his work is genius,” Goldwasser says about the Turkish craftsman. The Mt. Ida Collection ring captured her attention with its reverse intaglio carving of Apollo in citrine set in 24K gold and sterling silver with diamonds. “Before we became friends, I visited his studio in Istanbul. I asked the boutique manager if I could visit the adjoining workshop where Biçakçi and the artisans work. He replied, ‘When I come to your house, do I ask you if I can go to your bedroom?’ It still makes me laugh.” She adds, “I’m often asked if I’m a jewelry designer, and that makes me so happy.” Goldwasser will debut her first design at The Betsy: a gold necklace with poet Hyam Plutzik’s mantra: “Expect No More. This is Happiness.”
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