Southwest Florida Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations

Gifts from Mark Loren and Norman Love give their special day a “storybook” ending

(Fort Myers, Fla. – May 11, 2010) – More than 200 residents of Southwest Florida took the time to nominate the special mothers in their lives to receive exclusive gifts of a limited edition custom-designed necklace and a basket of fine chocolate in Mark Loren Designs’ and Norman Love Confections’ Storybook Mother’s Day Contest, sponsored by WINK News. Entries were posted on Mark Loren Designs’ Facebook page as they rolled in and picking the winners proved tough.  In the end, four lucky mothers were chosen and their presents were delivered by Loren and Love in person on May 6.

Rosie Young of Fort Myers with granddaughter Morgan Smith.

The four winners of this year’s contest were:

• Donna Yzaguirre of Immokalee, nominated by son Trystan Yzaguirre.
• Laura Bowling of Naples, nominated by daughter Kelly Rena.
• Rosa Tortosa of Cape Coral, nominated by daughter Johanna Tortosa.
• Rosie Young of Fort Myers, nominated by granddaughter Morgan Smith.

Trystan and Donna Yzaguirre of Immokalee.

“We had so many great entries from all over Southwest Florida,” Loren says. “We even had some entries from children living out of state, sharing touching stories about their mothers from across the miles.”  In a touching twist, Loren’s own mother agreed to participate in the contest as a judge and helped select the four extremely worthy winners.

All of the entries described mothers doing extraordinary things for their families. Examples of mothers coping with tragedies, overcoming illnesses, serving the community and going to extreme lengths to make ends meet in a tough economy abound. Loren and Love say they were humbled to hear the amazing stories of mothers in our community, and happy they could help brighten some of their days.

Naples resident Laura Bowling, with family in tow, after being surprised at work.

“It was so nice to go out and make the deliveries in person,” Love said. “We always hope that what we do makes people happy, but to actually be there to see the joy on the mothers’ faces when we presented them with these special gifts was touching.”

Judge Lindsay Liepman traveled along with Loren and Love to capture the deliveries and interviews with the winning mothers to air Mother’s Day weekend. The nominators and other family members often met the group at the mothers’ homes or workplaces to watch the presentations as well.

“While not every mother was selected as a winner, we hope everyone that entered will share their entry with their mothers,” Loren said. “Simply sharing that acknowledgement and appreciation of how special the nominated mothers are should bring smiles to some faces.”

Rosa Tortosa of Cape Coral, posing with her family at Caloosa Elementary after receiving her gifts.

The Storybook Mother’s Day Contest is not the first time Loren and Love have teamed up with a fun promotion for the community. In December 2009, the duo presented the “12 Gems of Christmas,” during which baubles from Loren’s showroom were hidden in 12 boxes of Love’s signature chocolates for the holidays. Love also created an exclusive Firelight chocolate in February to commemorate and be sold along with Loren’s exclusive Firelight®-cut diamonds. A portion of the profit from Firelight diamond and chocolate sales will benefit The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.

About Mark Loren Designs

Mark Loren Designs is a jeweler and has been offering custom designed jewelry, repairs and recreations of sentimental heirlooms for 25 years in Southwest Florida.  His efforts have earned high praise by leaders in the jewelry industry. Loren was named one of 39 of the world’s top jewelry artists in the recently published book, Gemstones Masters: Major Works by Leading Artists. The artists in this juried collection were selected by jewelry curator, designer and president of the American Jewelry Design Council, Alan Revere.

His other recognitions include the International Spectrum Design awards, bestowed by the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA), are considered the “Oscars” of the jewelry-design industry—and Loren and his design team have won several over the years for “outstanding jewelry design incorporated colored gemstones.” They’ve earned two AGTA Manufacturing Honors, awarded for combining elegant use of natural colored gemstones with techniques that can be used by mainstream manufacturers. They’ve also taken home two Platinum Honors prizes and won the International Pearl Design contest. Examples of his work can be found online at www.marklorendesigns.com.

About Norman Love Confections

Founded in 2001 by Norman and Mary Love, Norman Love Confections creates and distributes ultra-premium, handcrafted artisanal chocolates. Based in Fort Myers, Fla., the corporate headquarters encompasses both the production and retail operations. The Chocolate Salon is a stylish retail shop with an intimate ambience in which customers may purchase chocolates or linger over house-made pastries, gourmet coffees, lattes and smoothies. For more information about the Gourmet Chocolate Company, Norman Love Confections, visit the Chocolate Salon located at 11380 Lindbergh Boulevard, off Daniels Parkway, in Fort Myers, call toll free 866-515-2121 or visit www.normanloveconfections.com.

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Award-winning local jeweler (and his mom!) and chocolatier team up for contest to award special mothers with unique gift of fine jewelry and gourmet chocolate

(Fort Myers, Fla. – April 19, 2010) – Nearly everyone thinks his or her mother is the “World’s Greatest Mom.” Why else would mugs, trophies, t-shirts and other trinkets bearing the title be mass produced just before the second Sunday in May each year? This year, Southwest Floridians have a chance to prove it by entering their mothers in Mark Loren Designs’ and Norman Love Confections’ Storybook Mother’s Day Contest – and earn winning mothers the honor plus a truly unique gift, a limited edition Mother’s Day necklace designed by Mark Loren and a special chocolate gift basket compliments of Norman Love.

Four lucky mother's will win this pendant from Mark Loren Designs, and a selection of gourmet chocolate from Norman Love Confections.

“Last year, our design team offered families who were dealing with the hardships of home foreclosures or unemployment the ability to present their mothers with custom-designed MOM necklaces at no cost,” Loren says. “We gave away nearly 100 necklaces. My team enjoyed it so much, we knew we wanted to do something again this year. We also wanted to get Norman involved, because he was the first to respond last year when the news got out about what we were doing – he added boxes of chocolate to our gift of jewelry for local moms.”

Children of all ages can nominate the special mothers in their lives to receive a Storybook Mother’s Day, including a gift of fine jewelry and gourmet chocolate delivered to winning Moms personally by Mark Loren and Norman Love. Of course, the greatest present may be the story that wins them the prize.

“To nominate a Mom, entrants will need to tell us what makes their mom special, not just to them, but to the community,” Love says. “To nominate a mom, entrants will need to tell us what makes their mom special, not just to them, but to the community,” Love says. “Jewelry and chocolate are two ways to show moms how much they mean to everyone they touch in their lives. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to present these gifts to a few extra special moms.”

Entrants are encouraged to include drawings, photos and other things that illustrate why their Moms are special.  Nominated Moms need not be entrants’ own mothers, just mothers that are special in their lives.

WINK News is sponsoring the contest and will collect and post all entries online. Nominations can be submitted from April 19 to midnight on May 1. Entry forms and full details can be found at www.greatmothersday.com, at Mark Loren Designs, 13351 McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers, or at Norman Love Confections Chocolate Salon, 11380 Lindbergh Blvd in Fort Myers.

Four winners will be selected by a panel of local “expert Moms” – WINK news anchor Lindsay Liepman, News-Press columnist Francesca Donlan, and Loren’s mother, Juanita. The four lucky ladies selected will receive their surprises two or three days before Mother’s Day delivered in person by Loren and Love in Mark Loren Designs’ armored truck.

“We’re looking forward to seeing how creative the entries will be,” Loren says. “And, of course, we’re looking forward to surprising four deserving mothers with a Storybook Mother’s Day.”

About Mark Loren Designs

Mark Loren Designs is a jeweler and has been offering custom designed jewelry, repairs and recreations of sentimental heirlooms for 25 years in Southwest Florida.  His efforts have earned high praise by leaders in the jewelry industry. Loren was named one of 39 of the world’s top jewelry artists in the recently published book, Gemstones Masters: Major Works by Leading Artists. The artists in this juried collection were selected by jewelry curator, designer and president of the American Jewelry Design Council, Alan Revere.

His other recognitions include the International Spectrum Design awards, bestowed by the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA), are considered the “Oscars” of the jewelry-design industry—and Loren and his design team have won several over the years for “outstanding jewelry design incorporated colored gemstones.” They’ve earned two AGTA Manufacturing Honors, awarded for combining elegant use of natural colored gemstones with techniques that can be used by mainstream manufacturers. They’ve also taken home two Platinum Honors prizes and won the International Pearl Design contest. Examples of his work can be found online at www.marklorendesigns.com.

About Norman Love Confections

Founded in 2001 by Norman and Mary Love, Norman Love Confections creates and distributes ultra-premium, handcrafted artisanal chocolates. Based in Fort Myers, Fla., the corporate headquarters encompasses both the production and retail operations. The Chocolate Salon is a stylish retail shop with an intimate ambience in which customers may purchase chocolates or linger over house-made pastries, gourmet coffees, lattes and smoothies. For more information about the Gourmet Chocolate Company, Norman Love Confections, visit the Chocolate Salon located at 11380 Lindbergh Boulevard, off Daniels Parkway, in Fort Myers, call toll free 866-515-2121 or visit www.normanloveconfections.com.

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Contest for oldest receipt, surprise hidden treasures mark Fort Myers jeweler’s 25th year in business for customers, community

(Fort Myers, Fla. – April 14, 2010) – When Tampa resident Thomas Tate met jeweler Mark Loren at the gym 23 years ago, he could never have imagined the impact the chance meeting would have on his life. The recent transplant wanted to design an engagement ring to present his girlfriend back in Ohio and Loren invited him to come by his shop.

Thomas and Cynthia Tate when they began dating in 1988.

There, he met Loren’s assistant, Cynthia, who helped him pick the perfect diamond and molds for his custom design. After Thomas’s final trip to the shop to pick up his finished ring, Cynthia remembers telling her boss his gesture was so romantic. She wished she could find a man like that.

Thomas’s broken engagement four months later turned out to be her chance. His fiancé didn’t want to leave Ohio, so she called off the wedding and gave back the ring. Thomas went back to Loren’s shop to see if they may be able to sell it.

“We typically didn’t take customers’ purchases back to sell on consignment, but I asked Mark if we could make an exception in this case,” Cynthia says. “It took several weeks. Thomas would come in once a week to check on it, and finally said when it sold, he’d take me out to dinner. That was our first date.”

The receipt that started it all, dated the day Thomas picked up his original ring purchase on Oct. 15, 1987.

Marriage, a move to Tampa and a daughter named Loren – after the man who led to their meeting followed.  So, too, did notoriety. The couple settled on Davis Island next to a small airport. One June day in 2006, a small plane made an emergency landing during a storm and crashed into their house.  Later, they were lucky enough to be chosen to receive a new dream home by Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

As they put their things away in their new home, a bundle of keepsakes that survived the fire, which happened to include some photos of a ring and a receipt from the original engagement ring, ended up in a box. Thomas didn’t give it much thought until he received a flier in the mail announcing Mark Loren Designs’ 25th anniversary and subsequent search for the oldest receipt.

“When I saw that, I thought to myself ‘I bet I still have that old receipt,’” Thomas says. “I started going through the stuff in the garage and a couple of days later, I found it. It was sealed in plastic because I’d had it in a plastic bag and the fire in our old house made it melt. “

“The receipt is very special to us,” Cynthia adds. “It’s from the date we met.”

Unbelievable stories like this are pretty common for Mark Loren, a Fort Myers jewelry designer and owner of Mark Loren Designs. In the company’s 25 years of businesses, they’ve had more than their share of good Samaritans looking to return lost gems to resetting or repairing family heirlooms to giving unique pieces away to lucky and deserving community members.

The Tate family two years ago – Ryan, Cynthia, Thomas, Loren, and Tommy.

The largest part of his anniversary celebration was a “Finders Keepers” promotion, during which he and his staff placed 25 of their exquisite pieces around Southwest Florida for others to find. Loren says he was inspired by a man who came to his shop with a lost ring he’d found, hopeful the staff could help find its owner. Loren thought the story could be even better if average people could find his pieces and keep them.

Patricia Pennington, an employee at the Bagel Factory on College Parkway, was one of the first to “found” a turquoise pendant while cleaning off a table in the dining area. It was just days after she’d lost a ring she loved, so the found necklace was a sort of solace.

“I was cleaning off the table and the bag just dropped on the floor,” Pennington says. “When I opened it, I didn’t think it was real until I talked to Mark. Everyone at the shop was so happy I found it. They knew I had lost my ring and was upset about it.”

Loren and Cynthia Tate.

In December, Loren paired up with renowned chocolatier and fellow Fort Myers businessman Norman Love to hide baubles in boxes of his signature chocolates. Janice Kemp, Robb & Stucky’s marketing and business development director is one of the customers who “felt lucky” and stopped by Love’s shop just before Christmas. She found a Loren-licious surprise inside.

Fans of Mark Loren Designs’ page on Facebook caught the finder’s stories as they came in.

“It’s been a great year and we’ve enjoyed celebrating with the people and businesses that have supported us and helped us grow through the years,” Loren says.

About Mark Loren Designs

Mark Loren Designs is a jeweler and has offered custom designed jewelry, repairs and recreations of sentimental heirlooms for 25 years in Southwest Florida.  His efforts have earned high praise by leaders in the jewelry industry. Loren was named one of 39 of the world’s top jewelry artists in the recently published book, Gemstones Masters: Major Works by Leading Artists. The artists in this juried collection were selected by jewelry curator, designer and president of the American Jewelry Design Council, Alan Revere.

His other recognitions include the International Spectrum Design awards, bestowed by the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA), are considered the “Oscars” of the jewelry-design industry—and Loren and his design team have won several over the years for “outstanding jewelry design incorporated colored gemstones.” They’ve earned two AGTA Manufacturing Honors, awarded for combining elegant use of natural colored gemstones with techniques that can be used by mainstream manufacturers. They’ve also taken home two Platinum Honors prizes and won the International Pearl Design contest. Examples of his work can be found online at www.marklorendesigns.com.

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(Fort Myers, Fla. – April 12, 2010) – Susan McDonald joined the award-winning design team at Fort Myers jeweler Mark Loren Designs.

Susan McDonald joined the award-winning design team at Mark Loren Designs.

An Ohio native, McDonald holds a master’s degree at the School for American Crafts at the Rochester Institute of Technology, one of the nation’s preeminent schools for artisans and craftspeople and has completed diamond coursework through the Gemological Institute of America and a bachelor’s degree in metalsmithing from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. McDonald has nearly eight years of experience in the jewelry industry including much time spent with a company that manufactures and repairs jewelry designed by David Yurman.

“We’re excited to add Susan’s unique talents and great experience to our team,” says Mark Loren. “Every member of our accomplished team strives to provide creative and unique pieces of the highest quality for our customers unlike those they can find anywhere else. Susan’s background and education will complement our existing team nicely.”

McDonald came across her new position in a rather unique way as well. Though she moved to Florida four years ago and lived near the Mark Loren Designs’ studio, it wasn’t until she saw the team’s work on Mark Loren Designs’ Facebook® page that she visited and dropped off a resume.

About Mark Loren Designs

Mark Loren Designs is a jeweler and has been offering custom designed jewelry, repairs and recreations of sentimental heirlooms for 25 years in Southwest Florida.  His efforts have earned high praise by leaders in the jewelry industry. Loren was named one of 39 of the world’s top jewelry artists in the recently published book, Gemstones Masters: Major Works by Leading Artists. The artists in this juried collection were selected by jewelry curator, designer and president of the American Jewelry Design Council, Alan Revere.

His other recognitions include the International Spectrum Design awards, bestowed by the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA), are considered the “Oscars” of the jewelry-design industry—and Loren and his design team have won several over the years for “outstanding jewelry design incorporated colored gemstones.” They’ve earned two AGTA Manufacturing Honors, awarded for combining elegant use of natural colored gemstones with techniques that can be used by mainstream manufacturers. They’ve also taken home two Platinum Honors prizes and won the International Pearl Design contest. Examples of his work can be found online at www.marklorendesigns.com.

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(Fort Myers, Fla. – March 31, 2010) – Fort Myers jewelry designer and business owner Mark Loren will be a featured speaker at The 2010 Smart Jewelry Show being held at Chicago’s Navy Pier in April. Organized by jewelry trade magazine INSTORE, the show offers jewelers from around North America the opportunity to browse designs and learn best practices from their peers and retailing experts. Loren’s session is entitled, “How Community Involvement Makes Friends for Life.”

Fort Myers jewelry designer Mark Loren will discuss “How Community Involvement Makes Friends for Life” at the 2010 Smart Jewelry Show.

“I was honored to be asked to speak at the event,” Loren says.  “My session will focus on community involvement and how it can benefit businesses like ours. Anyone who knows me or Mark Loren Designs also knows that giving back and supporting the Southwest Florida community is important to us. Over the years, it’s also helped us build our business.”

Loren’s charitable involvement makes him a regular name on the charity auction circuit and his “giveaway promotions” for Mother’s Day 2009, the holidays and his shop’s 25th anniversary have caused quite a buzz in Southwest Florida and elsewhere. His efforts also earned him the title of Philanthropist of the Year from Gulfshore Business magazine in 2009. And, he’s continuously finding new ways to support the community through his work, such as donating a portion of the profit from each of his exclusive Firelight® diamond sales to The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.

Loren’s no stranger to industry accolades, either. In 2003, INSTORE Magazine named his studio a Cool Store winner. He’s happy to help his peers follow in his footsteps.

“The more we can get businesses involved in and supporting their local communities, the more we all win,” he says. Loren’s presentation will be take place on the second day of the show, April 25.

About Mark Loren Designs

Mark Loren Designs is a jeweler and has been offering custom designed jewelry, repairs and recreations of sentimental heirlooms for 25 years in Southwest Florida.  His efforts have earned high praise by leaders in the jewelry industry. Loren was named one of 39 of the world’s top jewelry artists in the recently published book, Gemstones Masters: Major Works by Leading Artists. The artists in this juried collection were selected by jewelry curator, designer and president of the American Jewelry Design Council, Alan Revere.

His other recognitions include the International Spectrum Design awards, bestowed by the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA), are considered the “Oscars” of the jewelry-design industry—and Loren and his design team have won several over the years for “outstanding jewelry design incorporated colored gemstones.” They’ve earned two AGTA Manufacturing Honors, awarded for combining elegant use of natural colored gemstones with techniques that can be used by mainstream manufacturers. They’ve also taken home two Platinum Honors prizes and won the International Pearl Design contest. Examples of his work can be found online at www.marklorendesigns.com.

Gem with Heart Raises Funds for Lee County Children

(Fort Myers, Fla. – March 4, 2010) – The committee behind the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce ABC Auction for Education was taken aback a bit when local jewelry designer and business owner Mark Loren announced his and chocolatier Norman Love’s donation: the duo’s Firelight® box of chocolate, which includes a 1-carat Firelight diamond set into a ring handmade by Mark Loren and 14 pieces of the exclusive chocolate it inspired. The box will be part of the annual auction to raise financial support for Lee County Schools at the Chamber’s event to be held Thursday, March 11, at 5:30 p.m., Harborside Event Center.

The World’s Most Exclusive Box of Chocolates, featuring Mark Loren Designs’ Firelight Diamond and the chocolate it inspired by Norman Love Confections.

“Norman and I both enjoy giving back to the community, especially when it’s for kids,” Loren says. “This is the only auction this season that will have a box of Firelight chocolates, so it’s a very exclusive item.” The boxes are only sold with a Firelight diamond purchase at Mark Loren Designs’ studio and Norman Love Confections Chocolate Salon, both in Fort Myers. With retail value of $10,000, the Firelight chocolate and diamond ring box is likely the most valuable lot at this auction.

The Firelight diamond is a Mark Loren Designs exclusive. The patent-pending gem cut includes 81 facets, or sides, versus the 57 facets found in the traditional round cut. In February, Love introduced the Firelight chocolate inspired by Loren’s cut, which is only available with a Firelight diamond purchase.

“We hope it raises even more than its retail price for this worthy cause, education for our community’s children,” Love says.

Separate from the ABC donation, Loren and Love are donating a portion of the profit from all Firelight diamonds and chocolate boxes sold to Dr. Emad Salman, medical director of the cancer center at The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, making it a true gem with heart.

The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce’s ABC Auction for Education is one of the chamber’s largest fundraisers. Proceeds from events like this auction, along with 10 percent of chamber members’ dues fund grants to schools in Lee County for educational programs. To date, the chamber has awarded close to $500,000 in grants. More information on the event can be found on the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce Web site at www.fortmyers.org.

About Mark Loren Designs

Fort Myers jewelry designer Mark Loren

Mark Loren Designs is a jeweler and has been offering custom designed jewelry, repairs and recreations of sentimental heirlooms for 25 years in Southwest Florida.  His efforts have earned high praise by leaders in the jewelry industry. Loren was named one of 39 of the world’s top jewelry artists in the recently published book, Gemstones Masters: Major Works by Leading Artists. The artists in this juried collection were selected by jewelry curator, designer and president of the American Jewelry Design Council, Alan Revere.

His other recognitions include the International Spectrum Design awards, bestowed by the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA), are considered the “Oscars” of the jewelry-design industry—and Loren and his design team have won several over the years for “outstanding jewelry design incorporated colored gemstones.” They’ve earned two AGTA Manufacturing Honors, awarded for combining elegant use of natural colored gemstones with techniques that can be used by mainstream manufacturers. They’ve also taken home two Platinum Honors prizes and won the International Pearl Design contest. Examples of his work can be found online at www.marklorendesigns.com.

About Norman Love Confections

Fort Myers chocolatier Norman Love

Founded in 2001 by Norman and Mary Love, Norman Love Confections creates and distributes ultra-premium, handcrafted artisanal chocolates. Based in Fort Myers, Fla., the corporate headquarters encompasses both the production and retail operations. The Chocolate Salon is a stylish retail shop with an intimate ambience in which customers may purchase chocolates or linger over house-made pastries, gourmet coffees, lattes and smoothies. For more information about the Gourmet Chocolate Company, Norman Love Confections, visit the Chocolate Salon located at 11380 Lindbergh Boulevard, off Daniels Parkway, in Fort Myers, call toll free 866-515-2121 or visit www.normanloveconfections.com.

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Award-winning jeweler’s Firelight™ diamond available in boxes with

 chocolates inspired by exclusive gem cut

(Fort Myers, Fla. – Feb. 7, 2010) – Southwest Florida’s favorite pair of artisans of luxury goods are teaming up again to offer a sweet gift idea for that special someone, this time inspired by Mark Loren Designs’ exclusive new Firelight diamond.  

Award-winning Chocolatier Norman Love created a new Firelight chocolate inspired by the diamond design, and will sell it exclusively to customers purchasing a Firelight diamond starting Feb. 8. Each box will contain 14 of Love’s Firelight chocolates and a ring bearing a 1-carat Firelight-cut diamond.  Boxes will retail for $10,000 apiece and be sold only in Loren’s design studio at 13351 McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers, or Norman Love Confections’ Chocolate Salon at 11380 Lindbergh Boulevard, off Daniels Parkway, in Fort Myers.

“Norman and I have fun working together to create something special for our customers,” Loren says. The duo also partnered on 2009’s “12 Gems of Christmas” promotion during which 12 lucky customers were surprised to find Loren gems in boxes of Love’s signature chocolate. “For this special promotion, I was really impressed with how Norman translated the warmth and sparkle of the Firelight diamond into his craft,” Loren continues. “Wait until you taste it!”

The Firelight diamond cut features 81 facets, or sides, instead of the 57 facets on an ordinary round cut. Reminiscent of a vintage European cut, the additional facets provide more surfaces for light to reflect off of, creating a more brilliant sparkle and shine.

Love’s Firelight chocolate is a dark chocolate piece boasting a hot-flavored ganache center that features habanero pepper and an underlying profile of Saigon cinnamon. Tasters will realize a very slight sensation of a popping in the mouth as they savor this fiery chocolate embellished with the Firelight diamond design.

 “Capturing the essence of the diamond in chocolate was a good creative challenge,” Love says. “After tasting it, I think people will agree that its heat and spark remind them of cozying up by a fire.” Love’s custom creation is the world’s most exclusive chocolate, because it will only be sold with a Firelight™ diamond.

About Mark Loren Designs

Mark Loren Designs is a jeweler and has been offering custom designed jewelry, repairs and recreations of sentimental heirlooms for 25 years in Southwest Florida.  His efforts have earned high praise by leaders in the jewelry industry. Loren was named one of 39 of the world’s top jewelry artists in the recently published book, Gemstones Masters: Major Works by Leading Artists. The artists in this juried collection were selected by jewelry curator, designer and president of the American Jewelry Design Council, Alan Revere.

His other recognitions include the International Spectrum Design awards, bestowed by the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA), are considered the “Oscars” of the jewelry-design industry—and Loren and his design team have won several over the years for “outstanding jewelry design incorporated colored gemstones.” They’ve earned two AGTA Manufacturing Honors, awarded for combining elegant use of natural colored gemstones with techniques that can be used by mainstream manufacturers. They’ve also taken home two Platinum Honors prizes and won the International Pearl Design contest. Examples of his work can be found online at www.marklorendesigns.com.

About Norman Love Confections

Founded in 2001 by Norman and Mary Love, Norman Love Confections creates and distributes ultra-premium, handcrafted artisanal chocolates. Based in Fort Myers, Fla., the corporate headquarters encompasses both the production and retail operations. The Chocolate Salon is a stylish retail shop with an intimate ambience in which customers may purchase chocolates or linger over house-made pastries, gourmet coffees, lattes and smoothies. For more information about the Gourmet Chocolate Company, Norman Love Confections, visit the Chocolate Salon located at 11380 Lindbergh Boulevard, off Daniels Parkway, in Fort Myers, call toll free 866-515-2121 or visit www.normanloveconfections.com.

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Southwest Florida jeweler’s 81-faceted stone shines, sparkles like none you’ve seen before – and it’s available only from Mark Loren

(Fort Myers, Fla. – Jan. 28, 2010) – Over the years, Southwest Florida gem master Mark Loren’s creations have racked up accolades and fans for their uniqueness, but now that honor is about to get a bit more “multi-faceted.” That’s because Loren is introducing his own signature Firelight® diamond cut that makes his round stones sparkle more brilliantly than others.

“An ordinary, round diamond cut has 57 facets, or sides,” Loren says. “Our new Firelight diamond has 81 facets. The more facets a diamond has, the more brilliantly it sparkles.”

Loren’s design team not only creates new pieces, but also helps customers give old pieces new life by creating new settings or styles. About a year ago, they noticed that the older stones, particularly those dating before 1939 with more European-style cuts, that came into their shop were prettier and shone more brilliantly than newer diamonds. They saw an opportunity for improvement.

“We thought ‘these stones are better than 90 percent of the newer diamonds out there. There has to be a way to combine the best of their traits with new technology and create a better cut,” Loren says. From there, the idea for Firelight was born.

Loren and his team worked with an Israel-based diamond cutter for approximately a year to create a stone with just the right brilliance, creating several prototypes before finally selecting the design.

Firelight diamonds have a higher dome than traditional round-cut diamonds, and no shadows. Available exclusively at Loren’s Fort Myers studio, each Firelight diamond has the jeweler’s logo laser-etched in it for identification purposes, but invisible to the naked eye.

With more facets, or sides, than traditional round cut diamonds, Mark Loren’s exclusive Firelight diamonds sparkle more brilliantly in his custom creations.

Loren describes his trademark-pending diamond cut as reminiscent of a European cut, but with modern brilliance. Its many facets provide more sides for entering light to reflect off of, causing it to shine “like Firelight.”

“In today’s jewelry industry, there’s a lot of sameness,” Loren says. “You have to set yourself apart. Our clients have come to expect more from us, so we felt we owed it to them to come up with a diamond not many other people will have. When it’s combined with one of our unique settings, each piece is truly an exquisite work of art.”

And this premium diamond doesn’t necessarily come with a premium price. While the cost for stones is determined mainly by their size and quality, Loren estimates a Firelight diamond will only cost five to 10 percent more than a diamond with the same size, color and clarity, but a different cut.

 “By introducing the Firelight diamond, we’re providing our customers with another way to make the jewelry they design with and purchase from us as unique as they are,” Loren says. He may eventually license the cut to other jewelers, but for now, will enjoy having a unique stone available only to his clients.

Firelight diamonds will be available at Mark Loren Designs in Fort Myers, Fla. beginning Jan. 29. The studio is located at 13351 McGregor Boulevard, Fort Myers, Fla., 33919.

About Mark Loren Designs

Mark Loren Designs is a jeweler and has been offering custom designed jewelry, repairs and recreations of sentimental heirlooms for 25 years in Southwest Florida.  His efforts have earned high praise by leaders in the jewelry industry. Loren was named one of 39 of the world’s top jewelry artists in the recently published book, Gemstones Masters: Major Works by Leading Artists. The artists in this juried collection were selected by jewelry curator, designer and president of the American Jewelry Design Council, Alan Revere.

His other recognitions include the International Spectrum Design awards, bestowed by the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA), are considered the “Oscars” of the jewelry-design industry—and Loren and his design team have won several over the years for “outstanding jewelry design incorporated colored gemstones.” They’ve earned two AGTA Manufacturing Honors, awarded for combining elegant use of natural colored gemstones with techniques that can be used by mainstream manufacturers. They’ve also taken home two Platinum Honors prizes and won the International Pearl Design contest. Examples of his work can be found online at www.marklorendesigns.com.

Interviews with Mark Loren are available. Contact Carolyn Rogers at 239-278-3900 or Carolyn@BriggsRogers.com to schedule.

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(Fort Myers, Fla. – November 24, 2009) – Opening up a box from master chocolatier Norman Love Confections is a thrill in itself, but this holiday season, it’s about to get even sweeter. That’s because Love is teaming up with renowned jeweler Mark Loren to plant sweet surprises in some boxes of his signature chocolates during the duo’s “12 Gems of Christmas” promotion.

Have you seen this ring? Fine jewels like this one from Mark Loren Designs will be hidden in boxes of Norman Love Confections signature chocolates between December 1 and 24.

The idea is a spinoff of Loren’s “Finders Keepers” promotion, during which he and his staff at Mark Loren Designs are placing pieces of his unique jewelry around Lee County for residents and visitors to find and keep in celebration of the business’ 25th anniversary. Love, who was recently named one of North America’s top 10 Chocolatiers by Dessert Professional Magazine, also has something to celebrate this holiday season.

“Celebrating milestones like our business’ anniversary or Norman’s honor are so much more fun and meaningful when you can share them with the customers and businesses that helped get us where we are today,” Loren says.

Love agrees, adding, “Teaming up with Mark was natural for me. We’re both very involved in the community and giving back. We’re also both committed to the art of our respective crafts – whether it’s chocolate or jewelry, we aim to give our customers something unique, creative and artistic.” In fact, many customers liken Love’s chocolate boxes to fine jewelry boxes.

Customers purchasing or receiving boxes of Love’s signature chocolates may find one of these Loren-licious pieces beginning December 1:

• 18k White Gold Ring with .31cts Diamonds & Orange Mother of Pearl
• 14k Yellow Gold Pearl Cross Pendant
• 18k Yellow Gold & Sterling Silver Bangle Bracelet with 3.50ctwt Rose Cut Diamonds
• 14k Yellow Gold Ring with .25ctwt Diamonds & Round Lannyte
• Platinum Ring set with .50ctwt Channel Set Diamonds
• Multi-Color Freshwater Pearl Bracelet
• 14k Yellow Gold Mother of Pearl Diamond Cuff Links
• 10.78ct sculpted Bolivian Ametrine Gemstone
• 9.83ct Bi-color Topaz gemstone
• Broadflash Australian opal doublet gemstone
• 13.93ct Catseye Sillimanite gemstone
• Sterling ring channel-set with 1.09ct oval cut purple sapphire

The jewels will range in value from $300 to $3,000. Signature chocolate boxes, which range in price from $13 for 5 pieces to $95 for 50 pieces, purchased in Norman Love Confections Chocolate Salon or ordered by corporate customers are included in the promotion.  The “12 Gems of Christmas” promotion runs December 1 – 24.

About Norman Love Confections

Founded in 2001 by Norman and Mary Love, Norman Love Confections creates and distributes ultra-premium, handcrafted artisanal chocolates. Based in Fort Myers, Fla., the corporate headquarters encompasses both the production and retail operations. The Chocolate Salon is a stylish retail shop with an intimate ambience in which customers may purchase chocolates or linger over house-made pastries, gourmet coffees, lattes and smoothies. For more information about the Gourmet Chocolate Company, Norman Love Confections, visit the Chocolate Salon located at 11380 Lindbergh Boulevard, off Daniels Parkway, in Fort Myers, call toll free 866-515-2121 or visit www.normanloveconfections.com.

About Mark Loren Designs

Mark Loren is a jeweler and has been offering custom designed jewelry, repairs and recreations of sentimental heirlooms for 25 years in Southwest Florida at his namesake shop, Mark Loren Designs.  His efforts have earned high praise by leaders in the jewelry industry. Loren was named one of 39 of the world’s top jewelry artists in the recently published book, Gemstones Masters: Major Works by Leading Artists. The artists in this juried collection were selected by jewelry curator, designer and president of the American Jewelry Design Council, Alan Revere. His other honors include the five International Spectrum Design awards, bestowed by the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA), two AGTA Manufacturing Honors, three AGTA Platinum Honors prizes and an the International Pearl Design contest win. For more information, visit www.marklorendesigns.com.

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                (Fort Myers, Fla. – October 12, 2009) – Imagine walking into an office lobby and finding a small jewelry sack on one of the couch cushions. You’d probably assume it had fallen out of the pocket or purse of a previous visitor. This is exactly what Louise Montana, an administrative assistant  at Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Company, P.A., thought until she saw the bag’s tag reading:

“Congratulations! This gift is for you. Finders Keepers. “

                “It was incredible,” Montana said, who found a beautiful Mark Loren Designs pendant inside the bag. She immediately called Mark Loren to find out if the gift was for real and he not only assured her it was, but that he would be dropping more surprises around Lee County in the coming months.

                It’s all part of Mark Loren Designs 25th anniversary celebration. Through early spring, Loren and members of his staff will be placing small surprises around Lee County for residents and visitors to find. Baubles ranging in value from $100 to more than $4,000 in Mark Loren Designs’ black signature gift bags may be spotted in any business around the county.

                “Restaurants, offices, the tube at the bank drive through, park benches, even your doctor’s exam room – they’re all fair game,” Loren said. “We want to involve and thank customers who have supported us over the years, and the businesses they own and work for. We also want everyone to have an opportunity to find one of our pieces wherever they dine, shop or do business.”

                Loren said he came up with the idea after a man came into the shop to return a ring one of his customers had lost in May. Inspired by his honesty, Loren thought it would be nice if someone could find one of his pieces and keep it.  Thus, “Finders keepers” was born. Giving away jewelry is something Loren has done before – both for his 10th anniversary and earlier this year for Mother’s Day. Creative promotions like this are part of the reason why Mark Loren Designs was recently named Gulfshore Life’s Philanthropic Business of the Year.

                “Keep it, share it or wear it – the choice is yours,” Loren says. “Bragging to your friends and family is optional.”

                In addition to owning a beautiful piece of jewelry, the lucky finders also win an invitation to attend a VIP event Mark Loren Designs is planning for the spring to unveil a new diamond cut. A signature piece worth $10,000 featuring the new diamond cut will be given away at the event.

                Some pieces will be transported in Mark Loren Designs’ armored truck and some will be placed by Loren himself.  In Montana’s case, Loren visited her office to inquire about a tax return as a “cover” to place the bag. Residents should keep their eyes peeled for the designer’s well-known black bags wherever they go.

                “He was very sneaky,” Montana says.  “I’ve never seen anything like this promotion. This isn’t just a little something. It’s very high end, like everything Mark does. I just can’t believe I’m the person who found it.”

About Mark Loren Designs

                Mark Loren Designs is a jeweler and has been offering custom designed jewelry, repairs and recreations of sentimental heirlooms for 25 years in Southwest Florida.  His efforts have earned high praise by leaders in the jewelry industry. Loren was named one of 39 of the world’s top jewelry artists in the recently published book, Gemstones Masters: Major Works by Leading Artists. The artists in this juried collection were selected by jewelry curator, designer and president of the American Jewelry Design Council, Alan Revere.

                His other recognitions include the International Spectrum Design awards, bestowed by the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA), are considered the “Oscars” of the jewelry-design industry—and Loren and his design team have won several over the years for “outstanding jewelry design incorporated colored gemstones.” They’ve earned two AGTA Manufacturing Honors, awarded for combining elegant use of natural colored gemstones with techniques that can be used by mainstream manufacturers. They’ve also taken home two Platinum Honors prizes and won the International Pearl Design contest.

Signature Mark Loren Designs pieces in the jeweler’s well-known black bag and tagged “Finders Keepers” will be placed around Lee County.