Paula Garces is the New Face of Donna Distefano Jewelry

Paula Garces wearing Donna Distefano "Banquet" earrings and "Belle Epoque" necklace in 18k gold with Japanese Akoya pearls. Distefano said the photo pays homage to Elizabeth Taylor.

Actress and producer Paula Garces will appear in the 2011-2012 fall and winter advertising campaign of Donna Distefano Ltd.

Garces is best-known for her role as Maria, the romantic love interest in the Harold and Kumar films, and appears on the style television show, The Look, which airs on the mun2 network. Her television credits include CSI: Miami, Law and Order: SVU, Warehouse 13, The Goodwife and Breakout Kings.

Garces is appearing with Donna Distefano at the New York Weddings Event on Wednesday at the Metropolitan Pavilion on 125 W 18th St in New York City.

Distefano is a goldsmith whose original jewelry designs are hand-wrought in her New York City jewelry atelier where she combines sustainable metals with fair trade gems and conflict free diamonds.

Garces who has supported the brand for several years will be the face of a new advertising and marketing campaign, Distefano said. The photo shoot, styled and directed by Distefano, depict Garces as a classic Hollywood film star with a 1940's-1950's feel. Distefano says the images pay homage to the late Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor.

In addition, Distefano recently designed a necklace for Aluna (pictured left), the comic book persona of Garces that made her debut in the gaming world as a new hero in the online game, Heroes of Newerth. Aluna is the brainchild of producers Paula Garces and Antonio Hernandez. With dynamic power and beauty rivaled by none, Aluna, carries the power of the moon in a mystical gem she wears around her neck at all times. 

The necklace (pictured above) appears throughout the comic and HoN. Five limited edition Aluna gem necklaces, each signed by Distefano, will be given away to winners announced monthly after the official Aluna launch. Each necklace features a fair trade 90-ct. uvarovite drusy garnet and is created with a South American inspiration reminiscent of what Aluna wears in both the comic book and as a hero in HoN. It is handcrafted in sustainable sterling silver and micron-electroplated in 24k gold.

The Donna Distefano Jewelry Atelier is located at 37 West 20th St., Suite 1106 between 5th and 6th Avenues.

Barbara Heinrich and her 18k Gold Jewelry

18k yellow gold leaf cuff with scattered diamonds and polished rims.

With the price of gold breaking records daily, many jewelry artists and designers and switching to less expensive materials like silver. Not Barbara Heinrich. The Pittsford, N.Y.-based goldsmith and jewelry artist is continuing to make her 18k jewelry and says that business remains strong. That’s because she is using creative ways to make her work more affordable without compromising the beauty of her nature-inspired designs.

“I find that the way to continue designing in gold is to just keep things very open and airy and light and lacy,” the German native said during the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, held November 11-14. “I find that people continue to want to wear gold but we just need to adjust the designs to the new circumstances. … I have found this year we have done very well due to all the new designs we have developed.”

Her new 18k cuff bracelets (pictured at top) are lighter than they have been in the past but because of the superior fabrication process, they remain sturdy. Her rings, necklaces and bracelets (above) are open and airy, mostly made of circular patterns, so they are both light and attractive.