By J’Lane Hundley, Haltom’s Grapevine
I was honored to be one of four salespeople selected nationwide by Roberto Coin for a fabulous Italian immersion trip that started in the magical city of Venice. Every moment was a highlight, but my favorites included our private visit to the designer Antonia Souther’s Atelier. We saw (and tried on) the incredible costumes and headpieces she designed for the Gala of Carnival.
We also visited the Roberto Coin Boutique in Saint Mark’s Square. It was a beautiful store, and there were some one-of-a-kind pieces that depicted true artistry and fabulous jewelry design. Venice had such a festive atmosphere. Our gondola ride was special for me because I grew up in the boat business. The Gondoliers train for years, and I can understand why -- between the gondolas and the water taxis, those ancient and very narrow waterways are extremely crowded!
Vincenza was our next stop with a visit to the Vincenza Jewelry Fair. The Roberto Coin jewelry at the show was more beautiful than words can express. Roberto Coin was there and graciously greeted his many visitors. The evening of the jewelry show we were treated to a party at Roberto Coin’s beautiful home in the hills of Vincenza. The food, ambiance, and hospitality were impeccable! We also toured the Roberto Coin factory – the attention to every detail was remarkable to watch.
We spent our last afternoon in Verona which was beautiful and quaint. So much of Roberto Coin’s inspiration for his designs are taken from nature and the stunning Italian architecture. I have included pictures of the Doge Palace in Venice and Juliette’s balcony and home in Verona. You can see the design elements of the architecture and how it inspired the design elements of his jewelry. It was an amazing place with beauty everywhere you turned.
I am grateful to Roberto Coin and his team for this trip of a lifetime!
