Where sea life sparkles

NATURAL BEAUTY: Simona and Alessandro Cataldo, owners of Jewels of the Seas on Goddard Row in Newport. display two pieces sold at their store. Simona holds a carved natural coral and 18K gold pendant. Alessandro holds the shell Murex Ramosus covered in silver. / PBN PHOTO/ MICHAEL SALERNO
NATURAL BEAUTY: Simona and Alessandro Cataldo, owners of Jewels of the Seas on Goddard Row in Newport. display two pieces sold at their store. Simona holds a carved natural coral and 18K gold pendant. Alessandro holds the shell Murex Ramosus covered in silver. / PBN PHOTO/ MICHAEL SALERNO

Romance led the co-owners of an 82-year-old Italian jewelry business to set up shop in Newport in June.

Simona Cataldo, a native of Rome and chief operating officer at Child & Family, and her husband, Alessandro Cataldo, of Naples, Italy, opened Jewels of the Seas in the Brick Market at 207 Goddard Row.

Alessandro’s grandfather started the business in Torre del Greco, a coastal town south of Naples, in 1933, making cameos and jewelry from coral and sea shells. He involved all 11 of his children in stores along the Italian coast, said Simona.

Alessandro decided to expand the business to the U.S. to be with Simona, she said; Newport, a coastal tourist draw, won out over California and Florida. They were married this year.

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The store features jewelry ranging in price from $20 to $2,850. Sterling silver pieces, and starfish and shell earrings and pendants are all popular. •

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