Jude Frances
JUDE FRANCES combines the first names of its two company founders, Jude Steele and Frances Gadbois.
It may come as a surprise that JUDE FRANCES has only been around for seven years. The worldwide success of JUDE FRANCES was almost immediate, but it certainly has reached elite heights in recent days since Oprah Winfrey was pictured wearing her beloved JUDE FRANCES diamond & pearl cross.
JUDE FRANCES jewelry integrates romantic architectural elements such as gothic quatrefoils, hearts, fleur-de-lis and crosses with 18k gold, fine diamonds, colored gem stones and luxurious high-luster pearls.
The humble beginning of JUDE FRANCES is just as intriguing as its jewelry.
Jude and Frances met for the first time in 2002 at a charity event in Orange County, California. Both were successful working moms in creative fields; Jude ran a local jewelry store and Frances owned an interior design firm. Both thrived in creative environments where they proudly labored to satisfy a high-end customer base. Jude and Frances had a lot in common as creative women, but as they like to say, “They are as different as white and yellow gold.”
Jude is originally from Texas while Frances is from the rural green hillsides of England. Jude says she has ‘the edgier style of the two’ and loves anything bold and “funky.” Frances’ tastes were homespun by her romantic English upbringing and influenced from an early age by her father’s antique jewelry business; Frances loves anything classical and elegant with old-world intricacy. What both ladies shared was the ambition and passion to create fabulous jewelry.
Their friendship was instantaneous and each had an admiration for the other’s exciting ideas and “can-do” attitude. Jude and Frances both say ‘they knew the other would be an ideal business partner’. It wasn’t long after their first meeting in 2002 that they began feverishly researching historical jewelry worn by European monarchs during the 15th-17th centuries. Jude and Frances’ goal was to design a stunning collection of boldly royal-esque fine jewelry; something truly exceptional and unlike anything that had been done before by contemporary jewelers.
Each of the girls ponied up $4,500 to fund the very first “JUDE FRANCES” collection. Each was a part of the creative process and both ladies infused their super-chic style, confidence and good taste into their designs.
JUDE FRANCES current collection is designed in opulent solid 18k white, yellow, and rose gold. Each packet of diamonds is inspected at least 4 times to make certain that every diamond is perfect. Frances also hand-inspects the pearl shipments for glossy, flawless nacre along with every package of rough semi-precious stone before any one stone is cut. These stones are matched with great exactness so each and every piece will have the same rich color and luxurious high quality as what Jude and Frances lovingly design.
Today, JUDE FRANCES is one of a very limited and select group of jewelry designers within Markham Fine Jewelers. JUDE FRANCES jewelry is unique and stunningly beautiful, but Markham pursued to feature the brand within his store because he appreciates that JUDE FRANCES provides good value, high quality, and real worthiness to his customers.
JUDE FRANCES current line of diamond hoop earrings are smartly designed in three different sizes and each enjoy the thoughtful option of adding a pair of Jude Frances “Charms” to them. JUDE FRANCES diamond hoop earrings are lovely by themselves, but their substantial selling point is that they can be given a much more exciting and different Up-dressed look with an additional pair of dangling charms. These charms are available in a vast range of motifs and fine metals, with pearls, diamonds, and other precious stones. The charms take just a second to slip on or off as desired and flawlessly incorporate into the diamond hoop design. This is a modern and exciting new way to “boost” what you have without the expense of buying an entirely different pair of earrings.
JUDE FRANCES jewelry is innovative, but has a classic appeal that coordinates perfectly with contemporary business attire or more enjoyable weekend wear. Markham is very proud to offer JUDE FRANCES’s jewelry line and everyone agrees that his castle-like building and old-world cases makes JUDE FRANCES look right at home!
Markham Fine Jewelers has North Texas' largest selection of One of a Kind Bridal Rings, Certified Diamonds, Wedding Bands and Designer Jewelry. Markham's full-service jewelry store has the in-house facilities & friendly professional staff able to beautifully create the custom jewelry of your dreams, custom-fit your new jewelry purchase or expertly repair, resize or remount the jewelry you already have. Additionally, Markham is an authorized retailer for sixteen Fine Watch brands and features one of the very few IWC Swiss Watch Boutiques in the United States. Markham also has a large & ever-changing collection of Certified EOM "Pre-Loved" Watches to choose from. -And Markham happily accepts fine watch trades!
Markham Fine Jewelers is conveniently located in Frisco's main shopping hub (near Nordstrom's) and serves all of North Texas from Dallas, McKinney, Plano all the way up to Oklahoma. For fine bridal rings, diamonds, designer jewelry or watches; Markham Fine Jewelers is the finest & most affordable jewelry resource in North Texas!