Patty Tobin loves to layer. Always focused on keeping her pieces versatile, Patty Tobin creates many rope style necklaces like this beautiful white pearl and onyx rope with 18K vermeil detail ($495 each).

“Patty Tobin does not fit the typical mold of the successful jewelry designer that she is,” says Platinum Style in their new Fall 2012 issue profiling the designer and
her stunning collection of semiprecious gemstone and pearl jewelry.

Well, if you ask us, that’s an understatement. There’s not much that is “typical” about Patty Tobin — the woman or the jewelry. She’s a one-of-a kind woman building a one-of-a-kind jewelry empire; one necklace at a time.  After a lifelong career in marketing and business development, Tobin embarked on a creative venture that she didn’t realize at the time would turn out to be the perfect merger of her business sensibilities and a then undiscovered talent for design.

Top: Microfaceted Onyx & White Freshwater Pearl Lariat Necklace ($895); 18K Vermeil-set Onyx Earrings ($95). Bottom: Pink & White Biwa and Coin Pearl Torsade by Patty Tobin ($795).

When we first met with Platinum Style‘s team to begin planning for the fall issue, both the stylists and the photographers who came to the boutique were constantly repeating their amazement with Patty’s collection. The only difficulty, they said, was in choosing which of her amazing pieces to use for their “Fall Into Fashion” issue. “Looking at the beautiful jewelry pieces displayed in her boutique, you would expect her to be a seasoned artisan that’s been perfecting her craft for the past 30 years,” says the mag.

Since opening on the inaugural Fashion’s Night Out in September of 2009, Patty Tobin jewelry has been very well received both by new local clientele as well as various members of the media, including CBSNews.com, Women’s Day, Esthetique, and Plus Model Magazine. USA Today and CNN have also profiled Patty Tobin and her dramatic career shift for feature stories related to successful career moves.

Patty admits to being a “bit of an oddity by traditional standards,” in her interview with the magazine, but believes she represents a growing group of men and women who have ventured into an entirely new career later in life. In that respect, she says, “I guess I am the poster child for the career set over 50.”

White Coin Pearl Torsade ($795) by Patty Tobin and White Baroque Freshwater Pearl Earrings in 18K Vermeil ($110) by Patty Tobin.

A self-admitted “fashion junky,” Tobin says when it comes to her “design process,” she is unlike many other jewelry designers. Her natural sense of style, paired with an eye for aesthetics, and the discerning taste of a third-generation fashion maven, is what guides Tobin’s creativity. Pulling inspiration from everything around her — from the women on the street in New York to old photographs of movie stars and fashion icons to the flowers in the park or the sun setting over the Hudson — Tobin is always absorbing the vibrance of her surrounding environment and looking for different ways to reflect those elements in her jewelry.

Beginning with a search for materials, Tobin says she will snatch up pearls or stones or metal findings that are a “bit funky” whenever she can. “I’m looking for something a little different, a little unusual, but that will still appeal to my customer base.” Whether it’s rough cut ametrines, or faceted bilemon topaz nuggets, or a firey bunch of blue-gray labradorite briolettes — two of the designer’s favorites by the way — Patty is always looking for the best quality semiprecious gemstones and pearls that she can fashion together this way or that for an unexpected twist.

Blue Topaz Acanthus Cocktail Ring ($995) & Blue Topaz Triple-Drop Briolette Earrings ($395).

Using gemstones in rich, vibrant colors and pearls of all different shapes, sizes, and hues, Patty Tobin creates jewelry that is at once classic, but also fashionable. “Understated Elegance,” says Tobin, is her trademark aesthetic. “For me, nothing makes a statement quite like the sophisticated elegance of a traditional design brought fashion forward just enough to make it stand out without being ‘trendy.'”

Patty Tobin shares her genuine enthusiasm for what she does with Platinum Style, explaining that “being able to create these ‘pretty’ things that make people happy when they put it on gives me great pleasure.” We would be forgetting a key factor if we didn’t mention the value of Patty Tobin jewelry and the crucial role her price-points play in the designer’s success.

Not only is Patty Tobin jewelry beautiful, but one of the founding principles of the Patty Tobin brand is affordability. “The fact that we make [our jewelry] affordable is perhaps the most satisfying part of the business,” says Tobin. “You don’t have to make a ‘gabillion’ dollars to afford Patty Tobin fine fashion jewelry.” It is this mixture of quality, beauty and affordability that has been the recipe for success for Patty Tobin — the woman, the business, and, of course, the jewelry.

Honey colored citrine cabochon gemstones adorn these long 18K Vermeil chains by Patty Tobin ($395 each).

So what does the designer want you take away from this story?

Two things: First, never say never. Patty could never have imagined departing from the consulting world she had always known for nearly thirty years to reinvent herself in her mid-fifties as a jewelry designer in New York City. But, like the designer says, “Who knew?” Anything is possible if you work hard enough and smart enough. Second, please — I say again, please — support small businesses whenever possible.

“Small businesses have always been the backbone of this Country,” Tobin points out at the close of her interview. “As all of us as consumers are looking for ‘value’ in our purchases, so [also] as consumers, should we look to add value to our financial and business systems,” by supporting local small businesses. Patty Tobin Fine Fashion Jewelry is manufactured not only in the United States, but in New York State.

Open Closet Magazine, a new fashion publication based in NYC, is on a mission to promote new up-and-coming designers like Patty Tobin in a way that inspires its audience. The only magazine of its kind, Open Closet Magazine, hopes to be the leader when it comes to spotting and promoting new talent among designers from every end of the spectrum.

The magazine launched its first issue for September 2012 with Mob Wives star, Ramona Rizzo, gracing the cover and wearing a Patty Tobin bali sterling and freshwater pearl bracelet ($225, available online) and a pair of our pink baroque freshwater pearl earrings ($95, available through special order, call 212.414.0174).

Ramona Rizzo wearing a keshi pearl torsade by Patty Tobin and a pair of long white pearl and clear crystal earrings.

Working with co-founder and stylist, Avery Johnson, was such a treat! He loves Patty Tobin jewelry and hand-picked each piece that was featured in the magazine, including the pink and peacock keshi pearl torsade as seen on Ramona in the photo to your right ($895, available by phone: 212.414.0174).

The whole team at Open Closet is just a great group of talented people, including Ramona who is such a doll. She loved the jewelry and was so excited to get her new Patty Tobin necklace at the launch party.

Patty Tobin with Mob Wives Star, Ramona Rizzo, as she shows off her new Patty Tobin necklace at Open Closet Magazine's launch party in NYC.

Not only did we get the opportunity to work with Avery and his team to drape Ramona for the shoot, but they were so taken with Patty’s jewelry, they wanted to feature her as one of the main designers for their first issue! Scroll down to see the amazing two-page spread on Patty Tobin and her fine fashion jewelry collection. Plus, visit our Facebook page for some excellent party pics of Patty and her gang at the launch event here in New York.

We have no doubt that the magazine will be a smashing success and we can’t wait to work with them again down the road! If you haven’t heard of of Open Closet Magazine before, you should definitely check them out online or follow them on Facebook.

Open Closet Magazine features jewelry designer, Patty Tobin, and her line of semiprecious gemstone and pearl jewelry in its premiere issue (September 2012). In this shot: Labradorite Earrings in Sterling Silver ($165), Peridot Cabochon Torsade ($1295), Madeira Citrine Acanthus Cocktail Ring ($1395), Abalone Double-strand Torsade ($595).

Mob Wives star, Ramona Rizzo, will be featured on the cover of the upcoming debut issue of Open Closet Magazine, a new publication for fashionistas that is dedicated to promoting and creating buzz and awareness around talented emerging designers, models, and artists. We had the pleasure of working with fashion editor at large and co-founder of Open Closet Magazine, Avery Johnson, who explains the magazine’s ultimate goal is “to be a leader in showcasing the full spectrum of designers in a way that inspires – a one stop shop for stimulation, information, and beautification!”

We couldn’t be happier to work with Avery and his fabulous team! Check out the first teaser shot from Ramona’s cover shoot (below) where she’s wearing our bali sterling and freshwater pearl bracelet ($225). This style is available online at PattyTobin.com.

Ramona Rizzo wearing Patty Tobin (bali sterling and freshwater pearl bracelet, $225) for Open Closet Magazine's first Cover Shoot.

“Retro Hollywood Glam” is the theme of the premier issue of Platinum Style Magazine, a new New-York-centric publication that focuses on the fashion and lifestyle of the chic New York urbanite. We were so excited to get a chance to work with the new online and print publication that launched in June; not only because we had an opportunity to participate in their first ever issue, but because they featured an interview with our favorite local actress-slash-restaurant-entrepreneur, Adriana Moretti.

Adriana is just an all-around fabulous woman — beautiful inside and out. If you have ever been to her and her hubbies’ new restaurant, Incognito, in Chelsea, you’ve no doubt witnessed her wonderfully bubbly presence and wild sense of humor that we at Patty Tobin love so much. We had so much fun draping her for this shoot and hope that both she and Incognito continue to get the recognition they so deserve.

Adriana Moretti in Patty Tobin for Platinum Style Magazine: (top left) Aqua Agate Shard Pendant Necklace, $395; (bottom left) Whiskey Topaz Double-strand Nugget Pendant Necklace, $995; (right) Crystal Bib Necklace in Amethyst Shade, $245. All three necklaces are available in our New York City boutique in Chelsea (108 W. 17th Street). Call us today to reserve your piece or purchase over the phone: 212.414.0174.

In addition to profiling several fabulous New York women, the magazine is full of special features on New York’s art and culture scene, night life happenings, trendy fashion boutiques (like ours — wink, wink), beauty products and just the “overall fashionable style of the City.” To catch up on the latest issue and see all the fabulous photos from Adriana’s shoot, click here.

America’s Next Top Model runner-up, Laura LaFrate, appears on the cover of Metroland‘s latest issue for the Summer Fashion 2012 Special, which features this photo of her in a gorgeous Alice & Olivia silk blouse and skirt and our new Carnelian Gemstone chains ($295). Both are available at Circles in Stuyvesant Plaza! Visit our online store to shop for this necklace and others like it!!

Shop for this necklace online at PattyTobin.com/shop!!

Join us for this special fall preview event at Circles on Wednesday, June 27th from 11AM-5PM and be the first to get a sneak peak at Patty’s fabulous gemstone and pearl styles — all new for fall! Plus, guests can enjoy a special 20% OFF savings on select sale merchandise!

June 27, 2012

11:00AM – 5:00PM

Circles at Stuyvesant Plaza

For those of you not in the Albany area, you can still enjoy this special discounted offer by visiting the new Sale section of our online store beginning June 27th.

It’s Memorial Day weekend, and you know what that means: Vacation season has officially begun!

Shop Patty Tobin online for this Mother of Pearl Torsade in Stormy Blue and other affordable statement styles.

All you regular weekend getawayers out there probably know all too well how tricky it can be to pack  for that much-anticipated weekend jaunt to the beach or out to the country. Every trip is the same, you tell yourself “you won’t need much,” but as the clothes and the shoes and the toiletries start to make their way into your oh-so-adorable (but oh-so dinky) Longchamps weekender bag, suddenly you realize you either have to drastically cut back on what you’re bringing or lug two bags with you instead of one.

Packing light is a skill, it’s true, but packing light without sacrificing the integrity of your outfits or your fashion sense? Now, that’s pure talent 😉 We asked some of our “best dressed” customers their tricks of the trade for consolidating one’s tiny tote for a weekend away and found that many of them had the same thing to say as Travel + Leisure magazine:

When traveling this summer, all agree, a dynamite “statement necklace” is a “must pack” item!

And where better to find the perfect statement necklace than Patty Tobin Fine Fashion Jewelry? There’s no designer out there to compare with Patty’s undeniable style, bold color selection, and unbeatable price-points. You can travel with ease knowing that you have only one lightweight bag to carry and one key accessory to take each of your outfits to the next level. “From black tie to blue jeans,” as we like to say, pair your piece with a little black dress for a Saturday night party in the Hamptons, or wear it with shorts and a tank top to Sunday brunch and shopping with the girls; no matter where you go, we promise you’ll be getting compliments.

Lighten the load when you travel and take Patty Tobin “to go” with you any weekend, to any where, for any occasion. Shop online and receive 10% OFF your entire order now through May 31st! Just enter promo code GETAWAY at checkout.

We are so glad to have been invited to participate in last week’s United Nations Bazaar. The whole event was such a fun experience. Hosted this year at the Kuwait Mission to the United Nations in New York, this annual shopping event is organized to raise money for various humanitarian charities. This year’s Bazaar was dedicated to the refugee victims of Syria, who have been suffering greatly due to their current situation.

Ladies loved the color and sparkle of Patty Tobin's beautiful new selection of "gemmy-gem-gem" formal wear to her playful throw-on-and-go summer chains.

The event attracted a wonderfully eclectic mix of vendors to participate in the all-day event that brought together a diverse international crowd. Hundreds crowded in over the course of the day to support an important cause while enjoying delicious international cuisine and fabulous shopping.

It was a full house at this year's event with guests crowing through the Kuwait Mission's gorgeous ballroom.

Patty Tobin brought a colorful selection of classic and playful styles that capture this season’s hottest trends: large statement style necklaces, pink pearls, blue, blue, and more blue accessories. Our colorful gemstone chains were one of our hottest items. They come in such great colors like our rich red (carnelian), bright blue (topaz), chocolate brown (smokey topaz), black (onyx), and purple (amethyst). And at $295, these babies are really a steal! Easy to wear long, doubled or layered — a definite “throw-on-and-go” piece.

Patty Tobin brought a diverse selection of designs from her more classic and elegant formal wear to her more playful and and funky statement styles.

We always love working with the incredible women of the Islamic Heritage Society whose hard work and dedication is truly an inspiration. We look forward to participating in their next philanthropic endeavor!

Clockwise from top left: Patty Tobin's collection is filled with all the must-have colors of the season; our lovely model, Chandler Allen, wearing Patty's smokey topaz gemstone lariat necklace ($895); local NYC beauty, Joy Pleasant, modeling our stunning smokey topaz necklace (see bottom right) with designer Patty Tobin; our new onyx and white freshwater pearl lariat -- stunning!! ($895); blue mother of pearl torsade by Patty Tobin ($495); 20MM smokey topaz necklace ($695) and aqua quartz nesting necklaces ($395 & $495).

Patty Tobin brought a beautiful showing of her colorful gemstone and pearl jewelry to ITEM Boutique yesterday for our first in-store trunk show on the Upper East Side. Thanks to our wonderful host and owner of ITEM, Wendy, we had two beautiful models there to strut their stuff in Patty’s gorgeous jewels while guests had a chance to enjoy some wine and shop the collection. It was a great night filled with fun, fashion and fabulous baubles. We can’t wait to partner with Wendy again. Stay tuned for more news and updates about the boutique and our line. Plus, checkout some great pictures from the night on our Facebook page!

Patty's new gemstone chains were on display at yesterdays showcase. The perfect piece to throw on with any outfit. They come in all different colors, including the vibrant blue topaz, classic smokey topaz, and this firey carnelian (show above from left to right). We also carry this style in onyx and amethyst. And for $295, they're a steal!

Our new gemstone chains (shown above) have been a huge hit since we got them in two weeks ago. They were a big part of yesterday’s showcase with so many different colors and ways to wear. This style is really such an easy piece to throw on and go. Whether you wear it long (about 40″), or doubled-up to fit better with some necklines, or layered with a second chain (my personal favorite) for a fuller statement look. This necklace suits any lady from 18-80, it can easily go day or night and makes for a lovely gift to someone special or even as a little treat to yourself. And at $295 each, they won’t break the bank. No buyers remorse here, we can promise you. These styles will be available for sale on our online store in the coming weeks, but you can always call or stop by our Chelsea boutique on W.17th Street today to get yours before they’re gone!

For all our Upper East Side ladies who never get a chance to make it downtown, we’re coming to your hood this week!  We will be having a special trunk show at ITEM Boutique on Thursday, April 19th from 5:00-9:00PM. Models will be strutting their stuff in Patty Tobin jewels and Serendipity will be providing wine, so stop by after work and check out Patty’s new collection of colorful gemstone chains ($295-$395), plus lots of new earrings and some of our bigger signature-style statement pieces. ITEM is located at 1597 Second Avenue on the corner of East 83rd Street.

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