(Aquamarine bracelet, Flato. 1935)

Paul Flato

Born in Flatonia, Texas he moved to New York to study at Columbia University. He never lost his fascination for jewels which had been inspired by observing the gypsies around his home town tinkering with gems.

By 1928 he had a salon on 57th Street, New York and ten years later opened on Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles.

His jewels, inspired by nature were fabulous in scale, amusing and witty. He, like many outstanding jewelers, could not draw and his ideas were carried out by his head designeor – Adolph Kleaty.

Outgoing and gregarious his clients – and friends ranged from Charlie Chaplin to Rita Haywarth to J. Edgar Hoover! He was rightly dubbed “Jeweller to the Stars”.