Milaine Jewelers was founded by Wayne DeSantis. After moving from Boston Massachusetts to Albuquerque New Mexico in 1973, Wayne began designing, making and selling silver and gold gemstone jewelry. Milaine was founded in 1977 as a wholesale jewelry company catering to retail stores throughout the U.S. and the southwest. For over 30 years, the company focused on mass producing southwestern silver turquoise jewelry through methods and processes that Wayne DeSantis developed and created on producing southwest silver and gold turquoise jewelry using old world lost wax casting. At Milaine's highest peak, Wayne employed over 75 employees working on all aspects of jewelry manufacturing. A large portion was done by silversmiths and goldsmiths, stone setting, finishing and overall processes for his designs. Wayne's sons, Brent and Jonas grew up in the business and were exposed to all of the jewelry making processes that their father had created.
Today, DeSantis Jewelry is now run by Wayne's sons Brent and Jonas DeSantis who work collaboratively to maintain and respect the principles and the integrity founded by their father. Designing and making original, wearable quality jewelry with a personal touch and old world skills that cannot be found in today's mass produced jewelry. They have a deep passion and obsession that shows in every piece of jewelry that they make.
Brent and Jonas are highly skilled in making all types of jewelry from start to finish. They both have particular skill sets that they have developed.
Brent's main focus is lapidary work, doing this for over 20 years. Cutting, polishing and inlaying gemstones such as natural opal, lapis lazuli, turquoise and gaspeite. He has extensive knowledge of turquoise that he learned from his father, from an extensive collection of turquoise that the company possess and being a collector of over 50 years. Brent is a very skillful silversmith who makes handmade sterling silver jewelry of all types. His designs are refreshing and brilliant. Brent holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from the University of Arizona.
Jonas is passionate in working with valuable noble metals, goldsmithing, platinum smithing and palladium smithing. His silversmith and goldsmithing skills that he learned from his father has helped him reach a level of exceptionally skilled excellence. His diamond and gemstone setting abilities are that of the pinnacle of his craft. Jonas is a graduate and holds several degrees as diamond and colored gemstone Gemologist with (GIA) Gemological Institute of America.
We are long standing members of The North American Goldsmith Society.
The collection on our website is a blueprint of the skills that Brent and Jonas have today and are definitely one-of-a-kind pieces. All the jewelry that we offer is made in house by our family and we look forward to you enjoying our personable art.
