the connoisseur
Story by Susan O'Connor, Photo by Dero Sanford
To truly appreciate an art form, a certain discernment, borne of innate instinct and education, is necessary. Pam Hyneman is not only an aficionado of jewelry as art, she is an expert in the field – and her enthusiasm is infectious.
Always drawn to jewelry, Hyneman began buying pieces of second-hand jewelry at pawnshops as soon as she could drive. Trips to gift market with her mother, Marilyn Camden Norton, also yielded jewelry.
“I always had an eye and would bring back pieces for people,” she said.
Hyneman attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, then received her degree in dental hygiene from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Still dabbling in jewelry, she began home shows around Arkansas, as well as other states.
“At that time all we had were Tupperware parties, so this was different! Well, I moved from twisted gemstone strands to gold to jewelry with diamond accents on generic karat gold, then loose diamonds, so I realized I did not know enough to know where to begin to buy diamonds correctly. A vendor told me about GIA (Gemological Institute of America). I called them and got started with the home study classes.”
A self-described perpetual student on a wide range of subjects, the coursework to be a graduate gemologist just whetted Hyneman’s appetite to learn more. During the next 16 years, she completed the following special courses from GIA: Pearl Course; Detecting Treated Emeralds, Rubies and Sapphires; Enhanced Diamond Course; Identifying Challenging Synthetics; and Appraising Jewelry Course. She also attended conferences by Joyce Jonas on antique and period jewelry.
But a turning point in many ways occurred in 1998, when Hyneman attended a five-week course at Sotheby’s in London. It was there that she met her mentor, the late Victoria du Pont, of the internationally known du Pont family, a graduate gemologist, jewelry designer and bench jeweler with a bachelor’s degree in jewelry making.
“The very first person I met was Victoria du Pont. We became best friends day one.”
Hyneman credits du Pont with imparting knowledge about the business that has been invaluable.
“I was one of four Americans taking the Understanding Jewelry course in London at Sotheby’s. I actually had met Victoria at one of the annual conferences on period jewelry in Maine, and I recognized her hair! We spent the majority of our free time together exploring the various museums and the countless antique fairs.
“Victoria had the trained eye of an experienced collector, as well as the fundamental knowledge of the process of how to fabricate jewelry. She owned and studied the best of all the world’s leading designers and all the major jewelry houses. She taught me the value of design, plus the idea of understanding jewelry as a work of art.”
Hyneman has been in the retail jewelry business since 1983. In 2002, she opened Camden & Co., her current destination jewelry store here in Jonesboro.
“This store is my personal jewelry box,” Hyneman said with a mischievous smile, adding that she buys pieces she loves and often puts her favorites in the safe to keep people from buying them.
When someone begins to covet one of her favorites, she said she begins to panic a little. “I’ll try to talk them out of it. If they buy it, I grieve over it — have a little bit of jewelry envy. But I see them wear it and know that it has a good home. Then it brings me joy.”
Your daughter, Camden, already assists with the buying for Camden & Co. Will she join you in the business? Camden is attending Fordham University in New York and pursuing a degree in psychology. Camden loves children and at one time was considering becoming a child psychologist. Her current plan is for her to attend the GIA Institute in New York after she graduates from Fordham, and open a Camden 2 in Fayetteville.
Tell me about your curiosity and desire to continue to learn and delve into myriad subjects? I have always taken classes in something. In my high school and college years it was equine classes — different riding styles, karate, needlepoint, art, swimming, tennis. Typically I take all the courses available until I am satiated with that sport or whatever, then I am on to the next tangent. Currently, my passion would be studying the Bible and world religions, as well as different spiritual philosophies. I was curious enough to take my two children with me to see the Dali Lama.
Tell me your philosophy for buying jewelry for Camden & Co. How do you choose the right mix of designers for Jonesboro? When I reopened a store in Jonesboro, my children were going to Jonesboro High School and I wanted to carry a few lines of jewelry for that age group, as well as jewelry lines for the avid jewelry collector. I try to juggle a mix for all ages and all budgets, and try to stay with the trends. I’ve found myself buying two years ahead of the trends. I would say the majority of the lines in this store I carried before Neiman Marcus picked them up for their stores, for example, Michele watches, Doris Panos, Donna Vock and Rodney Raynor. So, now I’m a bit more conservative, which I might add is very difficult for me!
What is your dream travel destination? You do not have enough space to write where I want to visit — everywhere from Eureka Springs to the south of France to the areas where Christ walked.
What is your best advice to a couple as they contemplate their engagement/wedding jewelry? Talk to each other about what is in their budget and never exceed what is realistically feasible for their current financial position. Period. This is usually their first purchase as a couple. I would suggest they start their life together communicating their truths to each other.
What pieces of jewelry should every well dressed woman own? I look for jewelry that can work from day to night with ease — the classic strand of pearls, diamond studs or diamond hoop earrings, bangle or charm bracelets, the classic tank-style watch. I never purchase costume jewelry. I would rather have one nice piece of designer jewelry than a box of generic jewelry. But that’s me.