Customer Reviews & Testimonials
I receive incredible feedback from my customers. Often there are deeply emotional responses such as tears or being lost for words. Reviews are shown with the blessing of their owners.
Ellie is a very bright and funny little 2-year-old girl, determined and fearless.
Her hair never stays put and ends up in the feathery, tousled curls about a minute after I have brushed it.
She is half Anglo-Caribbean-Indian and half Irish-Welsh- Spanish-Japanese!
An inscription to read: Ella Marie Taynushri, notre joie, d'espérance et d'amour.
Customer Review
My Cameo is absolutely gorgeous. I am extraordinarily pleased. You have managed to capture one of her looks and her hair is fantastically rumpled, just as it is normally!
I am sure that Ellie will be fascinated by it as a little girl and love it when it becomes hers, one day.
It is so special and totally unique. Thank you so much..Indy, London.
Customer Review
I can't begin to thank Gareth enough for the cameo he made for my mother on her 80th birthday. When she opened the box, her face expressed so much joy and love in seeing her beloved mother and my Nonna. I am forever grateful to Gareth, his work is a beautiful gift that is shared with humanity in bringing joy and happiness to so many...Joseph. R
This is one of my favorite custom cameo necklaces. The portrait is of a much loved Mother and was a gift from her son to celebrate her 80th birthday. The cameo portrait is carved onto a white on pink-red layered Agate gemstone. The setting is in 14kt Yellow Gold. On the back of the gold necklace I hand engraved a personal message from her son, 'Nonna Siria Greco'.
Dear Gareth, I received the cameo yesterday and it's absolutely beautiful. Thank you so much, your talent is a beautiful gift and sharing with others is truly amazing. Sincerely Joseph.
I love carving portrait cameos of older people. There is so much character on their faces. Their personality really shows in their portrait photos. I used a special technique to enhance the carving. The face and background were given a satin finish. I polished her clothing and the pearls. This creates a wonderful contrast that really brings the portrait to life.
When I was given your cameo, I immediately recognized my mother and burst into tears...What a beautiful Cameo ! It took me around 30 minutes to be able to talk again and I could only manage to say that she was beautiful and now she will be with me forever. Thank you for carving not only a beautiful portrait but also the feeling behind the picture. I will be forever grateful…- by Paloma
Customer Feedback in Spanish and English
Buenos dias Sr. Eckley
Ayer recibi uno de sus Cameos, este cameo tiene la escultura de mi mama, la cual fallecio en agosto 24 del 2000.
Esta pieza fue ordenada por Laura Garza algunos meses atras por motivo de mi cumpleanos
Cuando vi esta pieza, inmediatamente reconoci a mi mama y no pude evitar romper en llanto...!que hermoso cameo! Me tomo alrededor de 30 minutos poder articular palabra alguna y lo unico que pude decir fue; Ella era hermosa y ahora estara conmigo siempre.
Ahora tendre la oportunidad de tenerla siempre en mi corazon, como lo dice la inscripcion.
La foto que usted uso para este cameo es mi foto favorita, una vieja fotografia de estudio a blanco y negro, y es mi favorita porque se puede percibir el amor en sus ojos, su sonrisa pacificadora y su belleza tal cual como cuando ella vivia.
Sr. Eckley, observando esta pieza de arte me doy cuenta que usted tambien percibio esto. Desde el fondo de mi corazon le agradezco la dedicacion en este asombroso cameo. Gracias por no solo esculpir un hermoso retrato pero los sentimientos detras de la fotografia tambien.
Es, nuevamente con lagrimas en los ojos que le escribo este email...
Estare eternamente agradecida
Paloma Melendrez
Yesterday I received one of your Cameos (I attached the photo) , this cameo has the sculpture of my mom who died on August 24, 2000
this piece was order by Laura Garza, some months ago as a birthday present (yesterday was my birthday)
When I saw the piece, I imediately recognized my mother and burst into tears...what a beautiful Cameo! it took me around 30 minutes to be able to talk again and I only could manage to say: she was beautiful and now she will be with me forever.
Now I will have the opportunity to have her with me always in my hearth as the inscription say.
The photo you use for this cameo is my favorite photo, and old black and white studio photo, and I like it because you can perceive her loving eyes, peaceful smile and beauty as she was when she was alive.
Gareth, by seeing this piece of art I can tell that you perceived this too. Thank you from the bottom of my hearth for the dedication in this outstanding Cameo. Thank you for carving not only a beautiful portrait but also the feelings behind the picture.
Is, again with tears in my eyes, that I am writing this email to you...
I will be forever grateful
Paloma Melendrez
Filosofia, Psicologia y Letras
Customer Review
The cameo arrived about 10 minutes ago. It's breathtaking. Thank you so much for your beautiful masterpiece. My friends are in absolute AWE of your work and several have requested more info, I’ve given them your website and do hope that they contact you.
Warm regards, Stacy.T...USA
This was one of my favorite design projects. My customer wanted an elegant and very classy piece. Her cameo was to be set in platinum. To create a story of Caroline's life I wanted to have three elements. The most important is the gemstone portrait carved directly from her photograph. We selected a white on blue layered agate for this.
I added a gold butterfly on the back of the setting to show her love of insects. Then a hand engraved personal message from the mother to her daughter on the side of the setting.
Caroline is three years old in this picture. A very vibrant, energetic little girl with a love for bugs and anything creepy crawly with a ticklish sense of humor. She would chase people with rubber snakes if she knew they had a fear of them...Stacy
With a painful loss the wearer may well want to keep her portrait private. One day I received a series of photos of a premature baby who lived for only 15 minutes. The photos were heartbreaking and I cried when I saw them. The husband wanted the memory of his daughter to be preserved as a gemstone portrait.
This was one of my most difficult orders. I felt a large responsibility to really make the portrait breathe with the spirit of the girl.
I realized that the portrait should not be displayed as a pendant or brooch. I wanted the mother to wear the cameo often, so I designed a cameo locket as the perfect solution to this dilemma. I have been told that the mother does wear the cameo jewel every day.
I received wonderful news from the husband a few years later as his wife had given birth to a healthy baby.
Customer Review
Oh, Gareth—I don’t know where to start. The cameo is just breathtaking. The package arrived safely and the fine wooden box was a pleasant surprise.
I thought I could tell from the photos of your work that you are immensely skilled but I wasn’t prepared for how incredible the cameo is. It’s so detailed, so three-dimensional, and yet so ethereal. I can’t stop running my fingers over it.
It’s truly a precious work of art (my husband’s exact words) and you’ve captured Appa’s spirit perfectly.
Lately, I’ve been more composed about losing my faithful companion, but my heart still aches when I drive home from work and know that I won’t be seeing his face when I open the door.
It brings me comfort and happiness to wear his likeness so close to my heart. Thank you for sharing your talent and skill with us... Athena
Customer Review
The cameo just arrived. It is BEYOND what we expected!!! We are so in awe of your work and our treasure. The Diamond set on the back was a wonderful surprise.
Your work is truly magnificent. I know that I have said it before, but you are a truly gifted artist and it's my pleasure knowing you. We plan to work with you again soon.
My mother was floored! She cried in a way that I have only seen her about jewelry since my father gave her gifts when he was alive. She was so touched and I heard that she has worn it every day since we gave it to her. She apparently is just taking walks so that she can show it off. She is planning on buying a glass encasement so that when she is not wearing it she can display it. She said it is her most valuable piece and she's a huge jewelry collector since she began working in her 20s.
She has wanted this piece since my girls were born and she told me that she was even investigating who could do a cameo for her, but she said nothing she saw was even remotely close to this. It was everything we hoped for and more. Thank you for letting us have this moment with her!
Thank you again for everything and wishing you the best! We appreciate your artistic gift and are thrilled have this amazing piece in our life...Lisa - New York
Customer Review
I just wanted to let you know that I picked up the cameo yesterday. It happened to be delivered while we were away.What can I say - words can't describe how much I love it. It is so much more detailed then the pictures show.
I have to say I agree with your wife - to me it is the best you have ever done in my eyes !! I am so thrilled I found your web site and took the chance to have you carve the most precious things in my life - my grandchildren. I will certainly show this to everyone I know and highly recommend you to everyone.
I will be proudly wearing this on mothers day for everyone to see. I am so excited that my cameo is on it's way. I am not good with words but the piece is so overwhelming. It really came out great and I can't wait to see it in person (as you probably have already noted by the number of emails I have sent to you).
I absolutely love it. The detail is incredible right down to the flowers on Evie's dress! Their two little noses are identical - just as they are in real life ! I am so glad that I found you - this will truly be my most absolute cherished piece in my collection. I thank you again and again...Linda M. Rhode Island
This is one of my favorite portrait cameos. I fell in love with the portrait photo the moment that I first saw it. Evie was 3 years old and Jude was 9 months old. I chose to polish the carving. I will often leave faces with a satin finish as this gives a soft, silky look. With this portrait, polishing just worked. There was a lot of detail on the clothing, and it took a long time to carve this. The Setting was engraved with 'Evie & Jude Grandma Loves You'. I created a Photo Book that documented the making of this cameo necklace. This is a special service and is available on request.
Customer Review
What started as a vague idea after watching Antiques Roadshow on tv one Sunday night, turned out to be one of the best gift ideas I've ever had. I found portraitcameos.com with a Google search, and after that, it was easy.
After a discussion with Gareth about what I had in mind, and a few excellent suggestions from him for things we could do to enhance the piece, I decided to go ahead. I am very glad I did so !
My wife loves her cameo, and wears it at every given opportunity. It's mostly because she loves the piece, but also because of the large number of comments it attracts. I think cameos are seen these days as an old fashioned style of jewelry, but as our piece has shown, they can look very modern and up to date. This is something people regularly say to her after, "Gosh, what a gorgeous necklace".
The other beauty of this piece is that it is now a family heirloom that I'm sure my daughter will enjoy wearing in the future as much as my wife enjoys wearing it now.
Thank you very much Gareth for creating such a beautiful piece of jewelry that is totally unique and very personal to our family.
Have you ever had that moment when you give someone a gift and you can see that they are delighted beyond words ? I did on Christmas morning, thank you ! My wife has worn her cameo every time that she has gone out.
Not only does she love the cameo, and the picture I chose, but she's especially delighted with Seren's name on the side, and loves the picture on the back. Thank you for suggesting that.
As lovely as the cameo looks in the box it looks a thousand times more beautiful when my wife wears it. Thank you again for creating something so delightful...Richard, England, UK.
Customer Review
The cameo arrived today. My wife was overjoyed. Thank you for creating the best gift that she could ever imagine.
I had involved my 3-year-old daughter in the process along the way: showing her your website, proposal, and progress photos.
My daughter was excited to see the finished piece but managed to keep the surprise.
Even better, she was delighted to see her mothers response when she opened the gift.
Thanks again for creating such a lovely work of art. - by J. S. Chicago
With this cameo, I was able to really create a very special family heirloom. I was asked to create a Portrait Cameo jewel as an Anniversary gift. My customer was very involved with the project. The result was one of my most favorite cameos.
The portrait was carved into a white on blue layered agate. We set the cameo inside a dual purpose pendant & Brooch frame made of 18kt White Gold.
The Process of Creating this Special Gift
The father sent me 10 photos of his daughter. The portrait photo we selected as has a relaxed smile, her eyes are looking up which gives a positive feel and there is a great balance between the hair, face, and clothing. The three-quarter view works very well in an oval-shaped cameo carving.
I love to add a surprise to my Jewelry to make the gift extra special. With this cameo, I suggested engraving an image on the back of the setting. The father asked his daughter to draw a picture. I hand engraved her drawing onto the white gold cameo back.
The side of the frame was hand engraved with a personal message from the daughter to her mother. This read "You are in my heart and I am in your heart too. I love you mother."
The Story of this Cameo is in the Book Cameos Old and New
One of the cameos that carver Gareth David Eckley is most proud of is the result of a commission he received from a Chicago couple.
Using a photograph as a guide, he hand-carved a likeness in blue agate gemstone of their young daughter.
Highly personalized cameos like this one accurately and lovingly, capture a moment in time of a beloved family member.
Diana Jarrett, Author of ' Cameos Old and New - 4th Edition,' 2008. Pages: 350-353
Customer Review
Hi Gareth! I just got home and opened the package and it is so beautiful. I can’t wait to give the cameo jewel to her. Thank you, Kate
Customer's Request:
I am 24 years old and getting married in August of this year. My grandmother, who is my namesake, is one of the strongest influences in my life, and I would like to make a cameo of my grandfather for her.
My grandma came from Italy when she was just 16, after having lost both her parents and living in a convent for most of her childhood. My grandma was adopted by an aunt and uncle, and was essentially used as a worker for their farm.
My grandfather was the first person who treated my grandma with the love and respect she deserved, and I would like to give her something of him that she can keep forever, on the day when I marry my loving and respecting man…Kate
A gift for the grandmother of the Bride. Presented at her wedding. The grandmother was delighted with her special gift, which was pinned onto the corsage.
I created this cameo from a wedding photo that dated from 1940. The cameo is carved into a white on red layered Agate Gemstone. I left a thin white layer to create a subtle pink background.
Their names Carmine and Anna are hand engraved on the sides. The setting is Silver and is made dual purpose so it can be worn as a pendant and as a brooch pin.
Customer Review
I had tears in my eyes as she opened the package containing the cameo on Christmas Morning, 2017. She was shocked and speechless for several minutes, and finally said, "I didn't know you could still get these!" She absolutely loves it and wears it proudly. When people notice that she is the subject of the cameo, it opens up a whole new opportunity for her to talk about it.
I found Gareth through an internet search, and I'm glad I did! From the beginning, he was very easy to work with and made suggestions to help me get a piece of jewelry she would really like. Once decided, he sent periodic photos to see the progress being made. I kept all the progress photos and showed my wife later, and she was fascinated with the process.
Gareth is indeed an artist, and I appreciate his work and attention to detail. He has created a family heirloom and I recommend him highly!
IT IS BEAUTIFUL-thank you for making my day!!!!! My Daughter Will love IT...
We all loved it and I'm really happy I was able to see expression on my daughters face when I gave her this precious gift...Judy, San Francisco
The Story behind this jewel
An amazing story. This cameo took 2 years from the order to when it was delivered. This was because the customer became very ill with Cancer. She asked me to wait, while she had her course of Chemo. I wished her luck and waited. Judi contacted me 18 months later. She had the all clear and I could finish her order.
The most fascinating challenge was when I was asked to carve a portrait of a ‘Silent Angel’. This is a name given to children born with Rett Syndrome. A very rare, genetic condition that alters the bone structure of the child and affects mostly girls. I carved the cameo from a white on blue layered Agate gemstone.
The setting is in White Gold. A pink Pearl is set above the portrait. On the side of the setting I engraved “To the best Mommy ever, Love and hugs Maggie.” I also hand engraved the Rett Angel on the back of the setting. This is the logo for the Rett Syndrome society.
Symptoms of Rett syndrome occur, such as slowed head growth, abnormal hand movements, hyperventilating, screaming or crying for no apparent reason, problems with movement and coordination, and a loss of social interaction and communication.
The finished cameo portrait. I wanted to duplicate the original photo. This was not easy. I carved this from a three-layer Agate. A Black top layer, white center, and a black base.
Those gem carvers who have worked with this material will realize that you can’t achieve this effect as the white layer would be visible where the body is shown above the baby. The black of the arm is the original top layer.
Then I carved the baby and hands into the white layer. I then cut a slice of black onyx, shaped to fit and bonded it to the cameo stone. I could then carve the stone to taper above the baby to give a natural look to the body.
The personalized elements are very interesting. The back of the setting has the Chinese character for the ‘rabbit’, the year of his birth.
“Above this is One that breaks out of the door …”
(I’d like you to include the ellipses, to show that it is an incomplete quote. It’s the beginning of a poem that a street poet wrote about our son, which we recite to him every night before he goes to bed.)
The side has ”I Will Always Be Your Baby Boy”.
Customer feedback:
Thank you so much for the cameo. My wife loves it! I think it took her a moment to realize what it was, but, once she did, she started to tear up.
She wore it on Christmas Day and said, “I love my cameo; I don’t ever want to take it off.” And she has worn it every day since.
From my end, it was a pleasure working with you and watching this creation come to fruition. You are a truly talented artisan. Thank you again. Happy New Year!
We would be happy to allow you to use photos of the cameo and excerpts from my email. Feel free to identify me as “Charles C.”
I am amazed at how fluently you can translate your artistry into words! I am usually challenged at ideas and only actually understand when I see a picture, but with the fluidity of how you translate your mind into words, I can almost touch your creation! I am so pleased already! Thank you!
When I see your work, I can only say, “This is only possible because God’s hands are on Gareth’s!” Honored to be your friend...Mary Ann I will look forward to your design. I am excited to show my sisters!
Thank you Gareth! I am not only a fan of your creativity, I am also your friend...I love your work. I have had your work in my folder for a long time now.
My mother is turning 100 and I like something special my sisters and I will have of her. I like some quotes to send to my sisters so we can all order at the same time! Thank you, Mary Ann.
The cameo arrived this morning. Oh My God....it is absolutely incredible!!!! You captured her image in such detail.
I cannot thank enough for this unbelievable piece of art. This means the world to me.
Again thank you for all your hard work and incredible talent. Gratefully...Marq
This is one of my favorite stories. Designing cameo jewelry for men to wear is a rare and interesting challenge. I was contacted by Marq to make a cameo with the image of his wife.
Marq needed a cameo necklace that was strong enough to wear every day. The couple has two Harley Davidson motorbikes and rides them on month-long tours of the United States. The necklace had to be strong enough to stay on in all the conditions he would encounter on his road trips.
The Bolo tie was designed for cowboys to wear all day long in the saddle. I made a sliding mechanism that was pinned to the back of the cameo pendant. The necklace cord was solid leather with the ends capped by Bolo tips.
Marq's wife loved dragonflies. I engraved an inscription, kept secret by request, accented by engraved dragonflies.
Just a quick note to let you know I received the pendant! It's beautiful and an incredible likeness! I was impressed and touched - and that's not counting Brian pulling on my pants and shouting "up, mama" repeatedly. :)
I'm looking forward to opening up my impressive Christmas present again tomorrow morning over a leisurely cup of coffee while son and husband bond over pancakes.
Please do call tomorrow when you have a moment and I can thank you again in person...Suzanne. San Jose
My 2 year old son Brian is the love of my life. He's got a great sense of humor with an adorable smile and a twinkle in his eye. I'm looking for the ideal momento of his childhood to keep with me as he grows. Thanks!
We gave the cameo to my mom last Wednesday and she is still speechless. When she first opened the box she took a huge breath and began to cry. When my father asked her what the gift was she tried to tell him but was overwhelmed with emotions. I am moved to tears on your passion for the work you do. The attention and the importance that you gave to the piece is so overwhelming.
Your talent and customer service goes beyond normal expectations, you literally make us feel as if you are part of the family and have experienced first hand what Papi Viejo meant and continues to mean to us.
As an additional comment, it's unbelievable how you can allow us to carry our beloved Papi Viejo with us to every special event. Seeing him on my moms favorite sweater or suit jacket makes us feel as if he is present. Thank you!! May God bless you, your talent, and your family! Raquel, New York
The finished Cameo caused quite a sensation when it was delivered. The whole family were invited to the gift presentation. There was a very emotional response and there were many happy tears all round. I really love that I could honor their beloved ‘Papi Viejo’ and help to create such a happy occasion.
There was a family tragedy where a mother lost her son and her own mother on the same day from a tragic drowning accident. This prompted the close friend of the mother to ask me to create a portrait cameo of the young boy.
I designed a cameo locket so that the mother could wear the cameo whenever she wished as the portrait was covered by a gold lid. She could then choose to reveal it to friends or family.
I hand engraved a line from the poem read out at his funeral as an inscription on the back of the gold locket. My photo shows the locket before the cameo was set inside. I do not show the cameo to protect the privacy of the family.
Massimo
"Of quiet birds circled flight...the soft star that shines at night"
Do not stand at my grave and weep. I am not there I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on the snow.
I am the sunlight on the ripened grain. I am the gentle autumns rain.
When you awaken in the morning hush, I am the swift uplifting rush of birds in circled flight.
I am the soft star that shines at night. Do not stand there and cry.
I am not there, I did not die.
My wife is really happy with her gift, photos as you say, do not do proper justice to your fine work. We are attending a few post-Christmas functions this weekend and there will be many oohhhs and aahhs! Her Chinese name is Nan, Jun Zhi (Nan being the last name, Jun Zhi. We kept it as her middle name: "Colleen Junzhi"..Matt, California
I engraved "I love mommy and ice cream" on the side of the setting. Imagine when people look closer to examine the cameo. They are going to smile at the message - your wife will like it too !
A cameo of a beautiful young girl. This become a very meaningful experience for me. This order was completed just before an exhibition of some of the world's finest Antique Cameos was due to open at the Metropolitan Museum of Fine Art in New York. I was living in Wales at the time and felt that I had to see this.
I flew to New York and stayed for a week. I arranged to meet up with Mark and we spent an afternoon with Mark his wife and his daughter in Central Park. I was able to see for myself how well I captured her likeness.
Part of our discussion on getting the perfect likeness. Mark had a concern about her right eye, prompted by a progress photo. This was my response.
The area of the upper cheek around her right eye needs to be carved to angle back more. This is what gives the curious look, as it is the uplifting of the eyes and upper face that shows this. This is actually a hard profile to get right.
As there is not an overt smile, there is a tendency for her to look sad. So i have to be aware of this, a slight upturn of the mouth will help to avoid this. Also in this profile the main cheek mass is in the lower half of the face, in adults it is the other way around.
When I work I find that I have periods of great clarity when I can see all that needs to be done and will quickly get the features correct. There are other times, when I need to break and come back to the work refreshed, to be able to get in the "zone".
Dear Mark, Thanks for your kind words. Sorry for the delay in replying. I have been very busy since arriving back. I really enjoyed my trip to New York. I spent two days in the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art. I discovered the upper floor full of great art by Van Goch, Degas, Manet, Monet, Picasso etc. The temple of Dendar wing with it's Egyptian temple is amazing as well.
If you do get the chance to get to Manhattan again before October do check out the Cameo Appearances at the Met exhibition. There are some very fine pieces there. I enjoyed meeting you all in Central Park.
It was a good experience to see Genevieve in person. I feel happy that I captured her well in the cameo carving. It has been a pleasure working with you on this project. Thanks, Gareth. Read more at Portrait Cameo of a Two Year old Daughter.
Just a quick note to let you know I received the pendant! It's beautiful and an incredible likeness! I was impressed and touched - and that's not counting Brian pulling on my pants and shouting "up, mama" repeatedly. :)
I'm looking forward to opening up my impressive Christmas present again tomorrow morning over a leisurely cup of coffee while son and husband bond over pancakes.
Please do call tomorrow when you have a moment and I can thank you again in person...Suzanne. San Jose
My 2 year old son Brian is the love of my life. He's got a great sense of humor with an adorable smile and a twinkle in his eye. I'm looking for the ideal momento of his childhood to keep with me as he grows. Thanks!
I carved a portrait carved onto 18kt yellow gold for a mother in 1999, 21 years ago! This was ordered by the grandmother as a present for her daughter. She chose to have a portrait of her grand-daughter.
With this portrait, I never met the customer as she was a client of a retail jewelers in Vancouver. I handed the completed portrait jewel to Rhonda Jones, president of Jones the Jewellers. The next day Rhonda called me to tell me of the reaction.
When the customer first saw the portrait, she gasped and was silent for over a minute. She then started crying. Rhonda was concerned that something was wrong with the Jewel.
However, the customer said that the portrait had captured the spirit of her grand-daughter and that she was overjoyed with the result.
When she left the store they said that she was just beaming with a broad smile and seemed to be walking on air! She visited the store many times and became a very loyal customer.
This experience taught me that a portrait jewel can have a very powerful emotional impact.