The desire for women to adorn themselves with rich things goes way back into the dark reaches of our past. It was not the ancient Babylonians who thought it up, nor the Romans or Greeks. They are "newbies" compared to the first jewelers! Archaeology has unearthed mollusk shells in South Africa having drilled holes for stringing. The date? 100,000 years B.C.! Almost from the time people realized clothes might be a wise choice, women indulged the instinct to accessorize!

The word jewelry has a Latin root meaning "plaything." How correct! What better toy for a mature woman than a sparkling diamond bracelet or maybe a pair of dangling scrollwork earrings. Penny Preville always adored jewelry. Some of her earliest memories are of playing with her grandmother's jewelry. Naturally artistic, she went from playing with jewelry to designing it.

For almost thirty years she has been an award-winning presence in the jewelry business, and her creations are sought out by some of the world's most celebrated beauties. "Penny pieces," as her fans call them, have been spied on such captivating women as Carmen Electra, Rosario Dawson, and Maria Menounos.

Motivated by jewelry designs of the past, Preville moved from an early interest in the Byzantine era and pieces inspired by the Middle Ages to her present interest in late 19th and early 20th century eras. Today's pieces shows the influence of Edwardian, Art Deco, and Art Nouveau periods. Feminine, intricate, and delicate, her work is lush in detail. Curls, swirls, and flowers intertwine, reminiscent of Celtic knots or perhaps of rose windows on a cathedral.

The timeless beauty of Penny Preville's work is immediately apparent. These are pieces that transcend time and trends. Her knack for knowing what women want before they know they want it has pushed her to the top of her trade. She has a genuine affinity for her customers infrequently seen by designers, and women love her for it.