Onofrio D. Oro Fine Jewelry Boutique opens in Matlacha
Onofrio Demattia is an award-winning master jeweler who designs almost all of his own jewelry. In addition to having worked at Tiffany’s for 10 years, and Cartier for another two, he was awarded the Buyers Choice Award three years in a row as well as taking second place at the Platinum Guild worldwide competition.
For 16 years he sold his brand on cruise ships, an endeavor that took him around the world seven times, he said.
As a master jeweler, Demattia has taught and instructed in the making of fine pieces.
“As a master jeweler I can do everything from design to creation. When I worked at Tiffany’s, they would hand me a drawing and I would create that piece from the drawing — meaning everything from cutting stones, to platinum smith, silver smith, medal smith. I do everything from designing to stone cutting to setting and finishing the piece,” Demattia said.
At one time, Demattia’s company employed over 20 people, including his own children. Now, he said, he’s toning it down a bit, and bypassing the cruise ship lines.
Although he’s been trying to open his store in Matlacha for five years, he said he finally got a great offer at his current location and purchased it before doing renovations.
Demattia said he wants islanders to know his is not an ordinary jewelry store in that staffers are not sales people, but rather the actual jewelers.
“We do have some lines that we carry, but the majority of the pieces are handmade by yours truly. When you come into the store you’re going to see my bench where I sit and carve the pieces out of wax. I use the lost wax method, it dates back thousands of years,” Demattia said.
Onofrio D. Oro Fine Jewelry Boutique is located at 4600 Pine Island Road, Matlacha.