Joseph DeBella Custom Designs
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About Joseph DeBella
Raised in the small southern Colorado town of Trinidad, Joe’s interest in rocks and minerals began early as he collected minerals and petrified wood boulders near his family home. As a pre-teen his father introduced him to the skills of electric welding and gas torch fabricating in copper, brass and other metals. Eventually he began to produce sculptures and jewelry which were sold at local galleries throughout Colorado.
Joe’s formal education includes degrees in Art, Industrial Arts, Business, and secondary Education as well as formal training in jewelry arts, hand engraving , manufacturing and apprenticeship with master gold smith and master stone setter. A Graduate Gemologist degree from the Gemological Institute of America in Santa Monica California nurtured his love of gems and prepared him for a stint as a diamond buyer and grader before establishing his own international, wholesale gemstone company where he traveled extensively throughout Africa, Southeast Asia, India, Pakistan, as well as Israel and Europe in search of the finest, most rare, and elusive gem material available.
It was in Santa Fe that Joe eventually planted his professional jewelry roots and established with his wife Judi, DeBella Fine Gems and Jewelry Arts. Always involved in community affairs and charitable organizations, Joe is a past president of the New Mexico Jewelers Association and a major sponsor of children’s causes.
Joe and Judi needed a change from the rigorous schedule demanded by retailing and after 22 successful years decided to chose another path which began with a yearlong odyssey that took the entire family of six to some 27 countries and countless adventures.
Now back in Santa Fe, Joe remains involved in the international gemstone and jewelry market where he buys, brokers, and trades in high quality colored stones as well as natural fancy colored diamonds and continues to exercise his creative instincts and love of jewelry design and making.
Joe’s formal education includes degrees in Art, Industrial Arts, Business, and secondary Education as well as formal training in jewelry arts, hand engraving , manufacturing and apprenticeship with master gold smith and master stone setter. A Graduate Gemologist degree from the Gemological Institute of America in Santa Monica California nurtured his love of gems and prepared him for a stint as a diamond buyer and grader before establishing his own international, wholesale gemstone company where he traveled extensively throughout Africa, Southeast Asia, India, Pakistan, as well as Israel and Europe in search of the finest, most rare, and elusive gem material available.
It was in Santa Fe that Joe eventually planted his professional jewelry roots and established with his wife Judi, DeBella Fine Gems and Jewelry Arts. Always involved in community affairs and charitable organizations, Joe is a past president of the New Mexico Jewelers Association and a major sponsor of children’s causes.
Joe and Judi needed a change from the rigorous schedule demanded by retailing and after 22 successful years decided to chose another path which began with a yearlong odyssey that took the entire family of six to some 27 countries and countless adventures.
Now back in Santa Fe, Joe remains involved in the international gemstone and jewelry market where he buys, brokers, and trades in high quality colored stones as well as natural fancy colored diamonds and continues to exercise his creative instincts and love of jewelry design and making.