In The News

Gems Through the Generations

June 2011

Confer's to donate part of charm sales to SPCA

Thursday, May. 20, 2010
From CDT staff reports Confer's Jewelers, 100 N. Allegheny St., Bellefonte, has teamed up with the Centre Hall branch of the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to raise funds and create awareness of the shelter.

A fundraiser featuring the jeweler's "Best in Show Collection," - 4-karat gold and sterling silver charms of dogs and cats by Designs by Man-Am - will be held Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Confer's will donate a portion of the profit of each charm to the SPCA. The cost of the charms range from $80 to $149.

The store opens at 9:30 a.m. daily, and closes at 8 p.m. on Thursday, 5 p.m. on Friday and 3 p.m. on Saturday.

Monteca Confer, manager of Confer's Jewelers, said that the store began planning a dog-and- cat jewelry line in February, and recently decided to host the fundraiser.

"We felt like they're one of those organizations that kind of gets lost sometimes," she said.

A hard-fired glass enamel process is used to create the unique colors and markings for over 100 popular breeds of dogs and about eight different breeds of cats. Designs by Man-Am can also custom-make charms, Confer said. For more information, call 355-8836.

Egg'-Stravagant Creations Russian designer brings Faberge-style eggs to Bellefonte. Lock Haven Express March 27, 2007

lya Abelsky, Russian jewelry designer, will show his hand-crafted miniature eggs in a pre-Easter exhibition, March 29 through 31 at Confer's Jewelers, 100 N. Allegheny St.

Abelsky is the creator of an 800-piece collection that continues the tradition of Carl Faberge, the heralded 19th-century artist who was jeweler to the Russian imperial family.

The exhibition will feature a number of Abelsky's special designs, classic Faberge-style designs, creations honoring the U.S. Armed Forces and Easter art work.

Abelsky has exhibited his jeweled eggs in London, Paris, Vienna and Berlin - as well as in major cities across the United States.

The exhibition will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Abelsky will be on hand to greet customers and give them a personal briefing on the history and cultural significance of Faberge eggs.

Abelsky's collection includes original designs inspired by Faberge as well as reproductions of Faberge's art. His most popular is a reproduction featuring the double-headed Russian Imperial Eagle on one side and the Russian imperial cross on the other.

The exhibition also will feature a series of 20 American patriotic eggs offered as a tribute to U.S. military personnel serving this country in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere around the globe. One egg opens to reveal the Twin Towers.

The color, styling and 'Old World' craftsmanship of Abelsky's eggs are considered unique in the jewelry industry. Abelsky designs the eggs in Atlanta and uses six expert U.S.-based Russian jewelers, whom he helped immigrate to this country, to produce them. It typically takes two to three months for a new design to be created, and each egg is given eight delicate coats of enamel.

Abelsky has created special eggs just for this tour. The miniatures are approximately three-quarters of an inch tall and are made of sterling silver with 24-, 18- and 14- karat gold overlay and multicolored enamel. The secret, Abelsky said, is in the hand enameling. Jeweled eggs are an important part of Russian culture and are traditionally given as gifts, he said.

Russian Artist Exhibits at Local Jewelers

CDT, Michelle Isham, March 23, 2007
"The egg is the symbol of life. Life starts from an egg," said jeweler Iyla Abelsky, as he explained his lifelong fascination with the famous jeweled eggs designed by Peter Carl Faberge.

Abelsky has translated his fascination into a lucrative career designing painstakingly detailed miniature eggs crafted in the Faberge' style. His brightly enameled and jeweled pieces have been described as wearable art and become sought after by collectors.

Abelsky said his passion for eggs began at the age of 6, when he first visited the State Hermitage Museum, in St. Petersburg, Russia, on a school trip. There, he got his first glimpse at a Faberge egg. The particular egg that caught his eye was Faberge's Trans Siberian Egg, which depicts a train on the Trans Siberian Railway.

"When I got home, I made my first egg," he said. "I made my it out of paper mache, trying to recreate the egg," he said. "I came home from that museum trip so fascinated by the eggs that I couldn't stop asking questions."

Abelsky's innocent interest in the decorative eggs designed by Faberge was troubling for his parents, though, who, while living under Soviet rule, were reluctant to discuss the religious symbolism of the pieces with their son. Eschewing religion, Soviet political philosophy ran counter to the artwork's origins in the Russian Orthodox church.

Abelsky's obsession with the eggs- their shape and cultural symbolism- only grew with time. He sketched eggs, painted eggs and made eggs out of various materials. He even collected egg-shaped rocks. Eventually, he went to college in St. Petersburg and earned a degree in jewelry design with the hope of someday becoming a famous jeweler.

"I dreamed of having my own business, but that dream wasn't really feasible in Russia at that time," he said.

Like many other young Russians of the time, Abelsky went to work in a government factory. His break came in the mid-1980s when the government reforms enacted by Mikhail Gorbachev allowed Soviet citizens to own private businesses. Abelsky opened his own shop, Eggstravaganza, in 1986 and began traveling to Europe to sell his creations- miniature Faberge-style eggs.

With encouragement from a colleague, Abelsky said he decided to try to break into the U.S. jewelry market. His colleague introduced him to Frank Mayer, a well-known jeweler in Atlanta. While his creations have wowed jewelers in Europe, Mayer proved to be more skeptical about the selling potential of miniature Faberge-style eggs. Once again, Abelsky's dogged persistence paid off. After repeated visits to the store, Mayer relented, allowing Abelsky to display his eggs in the store for three days. While the storeowner hoped that the trial run would prove to the pesky Russian that there was no market for his eggs, the experiment proved the opposite. Abelsky said his collection sold out after two days.

"It was shocking to me. I'd never seen that kind of reaction before," Abelsky said. Since that time, he has built up a following of independent jewelers around the U.S. who stock his work. He said he limits his business to independent jewelers because of their commitment to quality and because they were the ones who gave him a chance.

"These are the people who put money on me when I was starting out," Abelsky said. For their part, the jewelers couldn't be happier.

"We've been carrying the eggs for seven years; we have a lot of collectors. They've been a huge hit with people," said Monteca Confer, of Confer's Jewelers in Bellefonte. "It's like miniature works of art, but you can actually wear it. I think that's the major draw for people."

In The News

Norwalk, CT, February, 2007

Bellefonte retail jeweler Monteca Confer Beisel from Confer's Jewelers was awarded the prestigious title of Master Graduate Gemologist at the recent conference of the Independent Jewelers Organization (IJO), held in San Antonio, TX. She is one of only 25 Master Graduate Gemologist in the world. Of all the title programs offered in the jewelry industry, the requirements for an IJO/GIA title are the most stringent. "our guidelines for our title program encompass not only the study of gemology with the Gemological Institute of America, but also several business courses. We want our members to be the best and most informed retail jewelers in the industry," says IJO Chairman Richard Swetz.

In her introduction in IJO's General Session, Director of Member Services Penny Palmer stated, "Monteca's dedication to being the best for her customers is evident by the fact that she's gone to great lengths to achieve this esteemed title, and it is with great honor that I present her with this new designation." Beisel is a member of IJO, the world's largest jewelry buying group, which allows her to buy inventory better than on her own, enabling her to pass along great savings to her customers. "Just as important as getting the best prices is the education I'm able to obtain at IJO's semi-annual conferences," Beisel stated. "By being informed of the latest information, techniques and jewelry trends, I'm able to keep one step ahead of the other jewelry stores in the vicinity. Receiving my Master Graduate Gemology Degree was a lot of hard work, but I am so excited to have finally have achieved it and to have the knowledge for my customers."

As the exclusive Master IJO Jeweler member in this area, I'm able to offer the quality, integrity and trust my customers deserve, while providing special jewelry designs and diamond cuts available only to IJO members", Beisel added. Stop by Confer's Jewelers and see what's new in the exciting world of jewelry.

Book Signing

By Vana Dainty, Bellefonte Gazette March 25, 2006

I attended Monteca Confer's book signings this past week. Saturday she was at Pure Imagination Toy Store on High Street in Bellefonte. Wednesday evening, she was at the Centre County Library in Bellefonte.

The children were excited to meet her and have her sign their books. While I was at Pure Imagination on Saturday, children came in with their parents to buy the book and have Monteca sign it. One little girl was in the first grade and could read the entire book by herself, even the word rhinoceros.

It is a great children's book and the fact that a local young lady wrote it makes it very special. If you have no yet purchases a copy of Hairy Hoo on Henry's Head it is on sale at Pure Imagination.

At the library, on Wednesday, Monteca was able to look her book up on the computer. Enjoy the photos.

Who is Hairy Hoo?

By Vana Dainty,
Bellefonte Gazette, March 4, 2006

Have you heard the news yet? Monteca Confer Beisel has written a children's book. The title is Hairy Hoo on Henry's Head. Hairy Hoo is the hair on Henry's head and together they have an adventure.

I am very excited for Monteca; I think I am almost as excited about the book as she is. Just to make sure everyone is aware of who we are talking about, Monteca is the daughter of Monte and Brenda Confer. She was born and raised here in Bellefonte, attended Bellefonte High School and has earned her degree as a Gemologist. She works alongside her mother, father, and sister in Confer's Jewelers.

I asked Monteca where she came up with the idea for the book. She answered, "I always told my nieces and nephews stories and used Hairy Hoo for the stories; and my mother always told me I should write them down." Which is exactly what she did.

It took several years to get the book published. She submitted the book several times before Author House picked it up for publishing. Monteca found a graphic artist in Georgia to help create the graphics. He designed Henry and Hairy Hoo just as Monteca had always envisioned them. Her husband of five years, Dan Beisel, then helped with much of the rest of the artwork. Monteca said he designed about 1/2 the pages.

I asked if she had any ideas for another book and she quickly answered yes, 'Henry and Hairy Hoo go to the Diamond Mines." What a natural for her.

Friday, March 3rd, Monteca will be reading to Janet Schaub's Kindergarten class at Pleasant Gap Elementary in honor of Dr. Seuss Day. She will be reading Hairy Hoo on Henry's Head to the children. She is looking forward to sharing her book with the children.

"I wrote the book for children to enjoy. There are several parts of the book that are funny and I always envision children laughing at them.

Monteca and Brenda Leave For Antwerp April 21st

BELLEFONTE GAZETT
APRIL 1, 2006

Antwerp has a long and magnificent tradition as a diamond city. Since the 15th Century the city has played an important role in the diamond trade and industry. Today it is the most important diamond trade center in the world. More than, 40% of industrial diamonds, and 50% of the world's cut diamonds are traded there, representing an annual turnover of 26 billion USD.

A unique infrastructure has become the home to 1,500 diamond companies and four diamond exchanges. This leads to huge and fierce competition making for razor-sharp prices. Thousands of Antwerp diamond workers actively work on a daily basis to uphold the reputation of the international quality label 'Cut in Antwerp'. A constructive vision of the future, backed by five centuries of tradition, a thorough professional training and state-of-the-art applied research vouch for the high level of quality.

Confer's Jewelers has direct access to the Antwerp diamond trade as the area's exclusive Master IJO Jeweler member of the Independent Jewelers Organization (IJO,) an international buying group and educational organization for independent retail jewelers with 900 members. IJO maintains buying offices in Antwerp for the use of its members.

It is generally out of reach for a single jewelry store or small chain to buy direct in Antwerp. One of the benefits of the

IJO membership is that we become a direct importer of Antwerp diamonds and can save our customers the normal middleman's fee.

IJO has been able to establish its offices in the "Diamond Capital of the World," because of the combined purchasing power of its more than 900 member jewelers in the US, Australia, and the United Kingdom. While in Antwerp, we will have the opportunity to examine- or loupe - virtually every diamond available, as we fill customer orders made in advance of the trip and select diamonds for store stock.

We are excited about opening a window on the international diamond world for consumers here. Our ability to purchase direct will allow our clients to obtain more diamond value for their budget, so we are looking forward to making some diamond dreams come true.

Monteca Confer Beisel, of Bellefonte, recently released her first children's book "Hairy Hoo On Henry's Head."

She will hold two signings: noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at Pure Imagination, 214 W. High St. Bellefonte; and the Centre County Library, North Allegheny Street, Bellefonte.

Diamonds - Are they worth it

By Monteca Confer

$5000.00 for a 1.00 carat diamond... that seems like so much for something I can fit on the tip of my finger. How can something so small cost so much? Often when you look at the brilliance and sparkle of a diamond, you don't think of all the labor and craftsmanship that goes into taking a tough diamond crystal and turning it into a magnificent, sparkling gem. Obviously, if diamonds were plentiful, and if mining them were as easy as mowing grass, they would sell by the bucket, rather than by the carat and the fractions of a carat.

A diamond's journey starts 75 to 120 miles below the Earth's surface where the exact combinations of temperature and pressure exist to crystallize carbon into a diamond. Next, the diamonds are carried by the Earth's surface by a special combination of temperature, pressure, and an avenue of escape.

Once the diamonds reach the surface, it is an extremely difficult process of extracting them from deep within the Earth. Prospecting, mining and recovering diamonds are specialized tasks, calling for the skills of the trained geologist, mining engineer, and industrialist, not to mention millions of dollars.

After the diamonds are mined, they must be sorted and transported to a cutting factory. There are several places diamonds are cut and polished. One of the most renowned cities is Antwerp, Belgium. 60% of the world's diamonds are cut and polished by hand here. There are several steps involved in polishing a diamond, planning, sawing, cleaving, bruting, and faceting. The result is a well-made stone, revealing the beauty hidden beneath the rough, the perception of the designer's eye, and the skill and artistry of the cutter. It also reflects centuries of advances in tools and techniques, and endless experiments to find the perfect form for

the most precious of gems.

The next time you see a glistening, 1.00 carat diamond, remember workers have to mine a million diamonds to get a 1.00 carat and that the diamond didn't come out of the ground sparkling. But most importantly remember that diamonds are a symbol of rarity, beauty, and forever. The next time you come to Confer's Jewelers and want to commemorate an achievement, an anniversary, and you love what could be more appropriate than the most special gift of a diamond.

The technical information you have read was to help you understand the economic decision to buy a diamond, but firstly buying a diamond is an emotional decision. $5000.00 might seem like a lot of money, but when you consider that you can wear a diamond everyday for the rest of your life and can pass it down from one generation to the next, it is only a small amount compared to a lifetime of enjoyment a diamond will bring.

Biz Spotlight

Name: Monteca Confer, manager, Confer's Jewelers

Age: 24

Hometown: Bellefonte

Goal: To provide our community with beautiful jewelry and make our customers happy as we grow our business.

Ambitions: To continue to have Confer's Jewelers be synonymous with fine jewelry store and possibly open another store.

First job: Growing up in a family business, I helped out at the at the age of 5 putting jewelry in the case in the morning.

Hardest job/why: I worked at a doughnut shop. It was difficult because 5 a.m. is not my favorite time of the day.

Biggest challenge: Getting a virus cleaned off our computer system the week before Christmas. Very stressful!

Away from work I... love to travel and spend time with my husband, Dan.

Dream vacation: To cruise throughout Europe.

Favorite book: The Bible

If I won the lottery, I'd... move to a tropical island and lie on the beach all day.

A Bellefonte gem: Confer's is more than just jewelry

By TARA HENRY, The Express
BELLEFONTE - There is a little shop with a green awning tucked into the corner of North Allegheny Street. From the outside it's quaint and inviting, but it's what's on the inside that counts here.

Monteca Confer greets all customers that enter Confer's Jewelers with a friendly smile and sincere "Hi! How are you today?" She and her parents, who have owned and operated the store for 20 years, pride themselves not only on the dazzling jewels they sell but also their tight-knit, family-atmosphere, and dedication to making customers feel welcome in their store.

"We're a very close family and we're Christians so we always try to do everything really ethically," Confer said. "We make decisions as a group and we treat our customers as part of the family. It's not just about selling a piece of jewelry." Confer said that she has customers who come to visit at least once a week. She and her parents take the time to get to know not only their customers, but also their families.

"We value them as friends, not just as customers," she said. "So when people come to the door we almost always know their name. They're a part of our lives and we're a part of theirs. It's just such a nice family environment."

Monte and Brenda Confer opened a small shop at Potter's Mills in 1977. At that time their area of expertise was primarily clock and watch repair with the occasional gold fill.

n 1986, the Confers moved to 100 N. Allegheny St. in Bellefonte where they began selling and repairing watches, clocks and jewelry. Confer said her father, who takes care of all the repairs while his wife and daughter assist customers, taught himself how to repair jewelry.

"April Fools Day was opening day," Confer said. "They weren't superstitious, I guess." "We've been here for 20 years. Oh my goodness!" Brenda Confer said, looking nostalgically around the store she and her husband literally built from scratch.

In addition to the jewelry store, Brenda and Monteca started a new business last October called Sparkling Sensations. As a part of this new entrepreneurial venture, Confer and her mother host in-home parties, where they display a special line of jewelry, including Happy Balls.

"Happy Balls are something exclusive to our store that are very popular," Confer said. "People get really creative with the Happy Balls. They make all kinds of different combinations. People buy them as gifts and will buy different colors for different occasions."

In addition, Confer's Jewelers features Ear Pins and Ear Spirals, which are unique items in the area and can only be found at their store. According to Confer, her parents purchased the rights to these items, ensuring exclusivity and adding a distinct feature to the store.

She added that the Ear Spirals, Ear Pins and Happy Balls have been some of the best selling, most surprisingly popular items the store carries. "We thought the Ear Spirals and Happy Balls would be more of a young teen thing, but they're not at all," Confer said. "They're popular across the board. People of all ages and life styles like them.

Confer said the customers like the Ear Spirals and Ear Pins because they "give a very sophisticated, work-appropriate look." She added that because they lack a traditional post and backing, and because the Ear Spirals dangle only slightly, the two achieve a rare level of comfort in earrings ideal for women who spend a good deal of time on the phone.

While growth and expansion are typically the top goals in the business world, Confer says that for right now her parents are content to have their business remain at the current size and in the current location

"The hard thing is once you grow it's hard to keep it family," She said. "We just love working all together so it would be hard for one of us to be somewhere else even if the location were close." Over the years, Confer said, her parents have developed a profound adoration for their business, their customers and their location.

"It's been really amazing," Confer said. "Bellefonte's been really good to us. We actually have a lot of people coming down from Lock Haven and we're happy to have new people come down. We'll treat them like they're family just like we treat everyone else.">

WITH THIS RING...

The Bargain Sheet, Bridal Showcase 2005 March 10, 2005

"With this ring, I thee wed," are some of the most important words for the eginning of the rest of your life together. To make that moment flawless, rely on the expertise found at Confer's Jewelers of Bellefonte to help you in selecting the perfect ring.

Family owned and operated, Confer's Jewelers combines twenty-eight years of experience in he jewelry business with a feeling of comfort when purchasing the perfect ring. Trained and educated in the field of gemology, the Confer family provides their customers with a knowledgeable sales staff as well as an on-site jeweler.

Diamonds are an important way for couples to express their lasting love one another. The Confer family finds their diamonds in Antwerp, Belgium where sixty percent of the world's diamonds are cut and polished. Their sparkle and

brilliance are aspects of the diamond that has been a symbol of the love that men and women have shared over a great number of years.

Confer's Jewelers looks to the 4 C's when helping their customers asses a diamond. Cut, clarity, carat weight, and color are the aspects of a diamond that help determine their value. While one diamond may be the purest in color, may lack clarity. According to Monteca Conger, graduate gemologist, the perfect way to choose your diamond is to look for what is beautiful to you. "Some people prefer yellow diamonds, while others prefer bright white," says Confers, "and bigger is not always better, your diamond should have a balance of quality along with size."

Confer's Jewelers also specializes in customized ring settings. Monte Confer, the on-site jeweler can set the diamond in any ring setting you would like. Confer's Jewelers can engrave your wedding band free of charge. They also recommend that your setting be checked and cleaned every six months; they offer this service free of charge as well.

Confer's Jewelers provides comfort for men who do not know their girlfriends ring size by installing a ring guard so the ring can be properly sized and returned promptly in one or two days. To ease all fear of a lost or damaged diamond, Confer's Jewelers offers a guarantee.

You can be confidant that when you rely on Confer's Jewelers you are guaranteed to find the ring that is perfect for your special someone. Stop into Confer's Jewelers and let them help you embark on the beginning of your life's journey together with the perfect ring

Grit Nearby Towns

March 12, 1978

Potters Mills-When most boys his age were dismantling old cars, Monty Confer, of this Centre County community, was taking apart old watches. Working beside his father in the family's jewelry store here, he became proficient at taking apart watches, cleaning them, and reassembling them.

He became so interested in the process that he eventually decided to make it a career. He attended Bowman's Technical School in Lancaster for two years to become a watch maker.

Students at the school proceeded at their own pace, learning each process, performing it to the satisfaction of the instructors, and then moving on to the next step. What Mr. Confer accomplished in two years some students spent four or five years trying to do.

Made Tools

In all, he spent 1,800 hours in the school. Some of that time was spent learning to make parts for watches and some of it was spent learning to make the tools with which to repair watches.

"I worked on making a tool called a pivot polisher the entire time I was in school," Mr. Confer said.

He also made such parts as tiny screws, which he threaded, cut down to size, and knurled. Each piece had to be shaped, sharpened, hardened, and tempered.

Some parts for watches, Mr. Confer said, come in stock shapes and sizes. They work for repairing common watches.

Make Parts

But for repairing the antique watches in which he specializes, it is often necessary to make a part which can no longer be obtained. Being able to do this is one of the main differences between being a watch repairman and a watch-maker.

Old watches are more interesting to work on, Mr. Confer said, but they are also more time consuming. The most difficult watch he's worked on so far is one called a "repeater."

A repeater was made for the blind, Mr. Confer explained. "It was solid gold, expensive, and to tell the time a blind person pushes a button. The watch rings bells which tell the hour and the minutes before or after it. That one was a nightmare inside."

Keeps Busy

Even though pin-lever watches (made with pin levers rather than jewels) and the newly popular electric and digital watches are being widely sold, Mr. Confer believes there will always be enough conventional watches to keep him busy

He has taken over the family jewelry store, although his father, Sam, still repairs antique clocks.

Mr. Confer plans to continue the operation of the store as a family affair. His wife does the bookkeeping and some buying for the store. She also arranges the displays.

Even their new baby girl is involved. She is named Tiphany Dawn.

Inspired by Diamonds

"You can tell her name was inspired by Tiffany diamonds," Mr. Confer said.

Not everyone cares about getting old watches fixed, according to Mr. Confer. He remembered when people used to bring in as many as five or six at a time to trade in on a new watch.

Someone would be cleaning out drawers or something and come across a lot of pocket watches, and they'd just gather them up and bring them in. Dad has 50 to 100 old watches he got that way," he said.

Mr. Confer has five old watches of his own. His prize is an Elgin lever-set pocket watch in a gold case, dating back to 1909.