The Family Jewels: Effy Jewelry Cruises Into the Caribbean

Emeralds from Brazil and Columbia... Ceylon sapphires... brightly colored stones from India... conflict-free diamonds -- they're all yours for the taking courtesy of Effy Jewelry. Every year, 150,000 carats of precious gems make their way to the studio workshop of consummate jeweler Effy Hematian, the man behind Effy Jewelry, the exclusive line sold on Carnival and Princess Caribbean Cruises, as well as in more than 600 Macy's stores.

"We have been in the Caribbean for 21 years," said Jennifer Feldman, Effy's Senior Vice President of Operations and Marketing. "People love to commemorate their experience with a piece of jewelry. It's all about celebrating an occasion, and remembering that excitement of being out of your element. Every time you look at that piece of jewelry, you can remember that experience."

For more than two decades, tourists have come to know Effy products via their boutiques, found on islands including Aruba, Bahamas, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, Turks and Caicos, Grand Cayman, and St. Thomas. In 2014, Effy partnered with Carnival and Princess Cruises, providing the renowned jeweler exclusive presence aboard three cruise ships, and creating a limited edition, exclusive onboard collection in collaboration with Princess Cruises' 50th anniversary.

Effy boutiques are now on nine Carnival Cruise liners, and 11 Princess ships. They are the number one jewelry supplier for Carnival and Princess Cruise lines, as well as their Caribbean and Alaskan ports of call, on-ship boutiques, and local retailers like Lord and Taylor.

Many people purchase their first piece of Effy Jewelry during a Caribbean Cruise. People enjoy splurging on luxury items during vacation, but some worry about spending so much money on jewelry without the ability to comparison shop. And if they get buyer's remorse, there's usually no recourse once the ship sails away. Effy offers lifetime guarantee, and if you don't like the piece you bought, you have 30 days to return it. You won't have to worry about returning to some Caribbean boutique to redeem 'store credit only.'

"When it comes to buying gems, the biggest tip I can offer is if you see it and love it, then buy it, especially if you're traveling to a place you may never go back to," said Feldman. "No one ever regrets buying jewelry, but many people regret not getting that keepsake piece from their vacation."

The American Dream

Hematian's journey to success was fraught with challenges. He was an electrical engineer living in Iran and running a factory under contract with Motorola and the government when the shah of Iran was deposed in February 1979. He was also Jewish. So he fled with his wife and infant son, and never looked back. He came to New York City and built up his jewelry business from scratch.

"He's truly living the American dream," said Feldman. "Many people have told him to move his production offshore, but he will not do that."

The line includes classic three-stone rings, single-stone rings, brooches, necklaces, and bracelets, as well as a men's line that features a wide range of sterling silver, Gento Yellow, and two-tone gold cufflinks, from classic gemstones to unique items, like ones designed to look like ship portholes.

All Effy Jewelry is produced the old-fashioned way, via the lost-wax model casting process. Hematian will make a model of the piece in wax, then dip the wax into a plaster mold and put it into a kiln overnight. After he melts out all of the wax, he injects the hollow image with gold, which cools and solidifies into the finished product. Once the jewelry is set, it goes through a final polish, wash and stain to ensure high shine, brilliance, and a lifetime of perfection.

"There is something inherent in himself; he's obsessed with quality, and that's what's made him a successful engineer and a jewelry designer," said Feldman.

Hematian now runs the business with his four children, but as Feldman quips, "He always says the panther is his fifth child." As his lifelong muse, the panther shows up in many of Hematian's designs, symbolizing strength, beauty and power -- all important qualities to him.

"He realized early on that he needed an iconic symbol for his brand," said Feldman. "He wanted people to see a panther, and think of Effy."

The line features many bold, colorful pieces of jewelry with playful, stylish designs. These trend-driven pieces are easily recognizable, thanks to Hematian's use of vivid gemstones. Effy Jewelry comes at various price points, beginning at $95, so "there's something for everybody," as Feldman notes.

Exotic touches and global influences make each piece of jewelry stand out, but Hematian's crystal clear vision allows for endless mixing and matching. Next time you're cruising the Caribbean -- or just cruising around the mall -- find the piece that perfectly fits your personal style.