Post Classifieds
Jewelry funds scholarships
By Joseph Losito
On April 15, 2012
Handmade stairways come out of the gravel ground, among pristine little homes with
doors and windows wide open to let in the glare. The homes are rather new, and bunched
together on a little hill. These houses come complete with pitched roofs and a great view.
But the property in question is roughly one square inch in size. This scene of little homes
is one that is affixed to a band of precious metal so it can be worn on a finger of your
choosing.
The ring consists of a thick band with a half-inch tall village on top complete with
houses, stairways and gravel land made completely out of white gold. This ring is the
creation of Jeff Dyviniak of Scanlon Jewelers. He said the artistic pieces of jewelry
created are only limited by his own imagination.
"Each house was individually made and the band was custom cast," Dyviniak said. "It
keeps my job very interesting. It's never the same piece of jewelry."
Dyviniak is a master jewelry designer and wax model maker at Scanlon Jewelers in
Williamsville, making original jewelry pieces that you won't find in any other stores.
The key thing separating him and his work from other jewelers is his background and
education in design.
Dyviniak said the process that works the best for him is free hand drawings. This way he
is able to make pieces that are not only pleasing to the eye, but are completely original
designs not found in any other store.
"I brainstorm sketches on a piece of paper and walk away," he said. "The trick is to not
over think the design and just keep the pencil moving. If you just stay there, you're going
to use an idea you have done before."
He said he realizes that the Buffalo area has a strong blue collar background. Over his
years designing, he said he is now able to sit down and discuss custom pieces on an
average budget.
"Ninety percent of my products are engagement rings and wedding bands," he
said. "After deciding on color and clarity of the stone, then we can narrow down what
kind of band you would want. It's like being in a restaurant without any menus; you just
tell me what you feel like."
In the last few years, he has spent time designing pieces for the college honors program
at Buffalo State. These pieces are in turn used for the program's scholarship gala auction,
said Stephen Saracino, professor in the design department at Buffalo State.
"The college honors program contacted me regarding an auction piece, so I asked Jeff
and he was more than happy to help," Saracino said.
The Buffalo State College honors program scholarship gala auctions off items to raise
funds for honors students' scholarships for the year. The program is for students that
maintain a high grade point average and elect to take specialized classes.
The piece designed last year by Dyviniak was the "Larme du Tigre," or tear of the tiger.
The pendant necklace consisted of a 151 carat Orange Brazilian Citrine set in white gold,
appraised at over $40,000, he said. The large orange pendant was around the size of a
soda can top, in the shape of a teardrop.
"The Larme du Tigre was beautiful, just absolutely exquisite," said Pamela Voyer,
director of special events and protocol for the Institutional Advancement and
Development office.
"With an auction you don't want to have the same items over and over again. Jeff's
designs are different and always beautiful," Voyer said.
The piece for this year's honors program gala in April is a 43 carat amethyst pendant. It is
a large dark purple stone set in white gold with smaller bits of amethyst around it.
"It has a dome checkerboard top with a triangle shape," Dyviniak said. "Normally
asymmetrical shapes are hard to make, but I was able to work in some delicate features.
Delicate jewelry is really the style now."
Dyviniak graduated from Buffalo State in 1985 with his bachelor's in design. While in
the design program, he took classes specializing in designing and fabricating jewelry.
"The interesting thing is that Jeff is a Buffalo State alumnus, and now he is taking time
to help the school," Voyer said. "He really has come full circle by being a student, then
coming back to help with the gala."
Evidence of his skill was even apparent while he was enrolled as a student in Buffalo
State. One former teacher can still remember the good impressions that he made.
"He came as an undergrad in graphic design, and I talked him into taking a jewelry
class," Saracino said. "When he graduated, he was one of the best designers we had.
Skill wise, design wise, personality wise, Jeff is top notch. Buffalo State should be very
grateful he was a student here."
When asked about his time at Buffalo State, he remembers the basics that formed the
foundation of his trade. He looks back on the introduction he received to creating jewelry
fondly.
"There's always more to learn," he said. "What you learn at Buffalo State is your
building blocks to get you to the next step."
For comments on this story, contact bscrecord@gmail.com.
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