About Us
This year Francarlo celebrates 40 years of operation in the city. Francarlo always had a passion for jewellery and began making jewellery at the tender age of 15 after completing his apprenticeship in Italy where he also attended the acclaimed Benvenuto Cellini Jewellery school, one of the foremost in the world. Following his father to South Africa in 1968, The 20 year old Francarlo who was barely able to speak English, began by repairing jewellery for various stores and commissioning privately. At only 22, Francarlo launched his first store in Main Steet (now Govan Mbeki Avenue) and 15 years later moved to Westbourne Road where it became a destination store of choice for 23 years. During this time, a second outlet at The Bridge Shopping Centre in Greenacres was added. In 2005 the entire Francarlo Designer Goldsmith Operation began a 2 year amalgamation which culminated in the opening of a beautiful retail store in the new wing of the upmarket Walmer Park Shopping Centre.
Francarlo’s daughter Tanya (now Tanya Slabbert) joined the family run operation in 2005 as the opening of the store in Walmer Park offerd her a window of opportunity. This move followed six years in Valeneza,Italy’s “City of Gold” where she completed 2 years of night school at he very same Benvenuto Cellini Jewellery school where her father had studied so many years before. While in Italy Tanya became marketing coordinator for Ambrosi which specialises in exclusive high end jewellery. Tanya holds a diploma in Jewellery Design from the then Cape Technikon (now Cape Peninsula University of Technology)and has also completed various courses in diamond grading. Tanya is currenly aiming for her degree as a Graduate Gemologist (through the Gemological Intitute of America) a qualification that is currently held soley by her father in Port Elizabeth.
Memberships
Francarlo is associated with the following organisations
Chevron Jewellers
To learn more about Chevron Jewellers visit www.chevronjewellers.co.za
Business Women’s Association
To learn more about the BWA visit www.bwasa.co.za