Meet Elton Clarke

Montefiore Wetlab from Mae B. Films on Vimeo.

Elton David Clarke began his career in glassblowing in 1973. Under the direct tutelage of Jim J. Burns, Glassblower/Lapidary, he began learning to make small animals and figurines and the original Floating Opal Jewelry. Next he was hired at Eveready Thermometer where he blew bulbs to hold mercury in thermometers. He was then introduced to Joe and Anita Rizzutto, owners of a small shop in Staten Island, who had 2 teenage sons (Lenny & Joey). This is where he learned all of his glassblowing skills, spending summers in Seaside Heights N.J. blowing glass in the Italian Village on the Casino Pier. Finally returning to his original mentor, Jimmy Burns, and learning the entire process of the Floating Opal, he became a full apprentice and worked with his adopted father to hone the skills of the trade. After the passing of Jim Burns in 1999, he continued the production of the Floating Opals and decided to allow gemstones to float in the same manner. 48 years later, with the inception of some small changes in bulb size and shape, the Floating Opals are still created in the same way....hand blown, one at a time! 

 

This is the Original Floating Opal Jewelry that your Grandmother used to wear, and as the late Jim J. Burns used to say.....it's a little bit better than excellent!

 

History of Opal

Opal has the naturally occurring ability to retain moisture, and as the stone loses it's moisture content it develops cracks. Eventually these stones can become waste, and Manning Opal encouraged Jim to figure out an answer to this growing problem. Jim's idea of grinding the stones into much smaller pieces and placing them in a hand-blown bulb, then filling it with glycerin, hence giving the appearance of "floating" was an instant success. What others saw as waste, Jimmy saw as opportunity. 

Cue floating opal. It was an instant success at the World's Fair expo in New York City, NY. Such a success that the owners of the Manning Opal immediately created a branch dedicated solely to creating floating opal jewelry. After some time, Elton began using other gemstones to create floating jewelry. He has even used other things upon special request such as babies first tooth, sand, kidney stones or a loved ones ashes. 

After 48 years in business, Elton's commitment to beautiful custom jewelry is unchanged. He is committed to his customers and doing what he does best; creating jewelry... a little bit better than excellent.