The key to creating exquisite jewelry that matches the style and desires of the recipient is as much about what's inside the designer's head as what can be found alongside it.

"Listening," says Manya, "asking questions, really paying attention to the answers. That's what makes for an incredible collaboration between designer and client."

She should know. With nearly 30 years in the jewelry industry and seven years as the co-owner of the eponymous store, Manya Jewelers, the dark-haired beauty has created thousands of engagement rings, heirloom standards and fashion designs - never crafting a piece that was exactly like another.

It's a process that's as timeless as the jewelry that results. "Talking, sketching, casting, setting - it all happens with one recipient in mind - and it all happens here, on site," says Manya. "We offer a lifetime guarantee on our pieces, so we leave no element to chance. We're a diamond wholesaler, so we can offer extraordinary pricing while still providing that distinctive, custom experience. Our clients get the best of both worlds and they can take comfort knowing that their special jewelry isn't crafted overseas, but in their hometown. It's just another thing that makes it special."

Special, too, is the woman who has spent the better portion of her life turning bejeweled visions into reality. Known for her warmth and affection for clients (She considers most of them friends.), Manya's reputation has also been built on her penchant for recognizing trends before they become mainstream. "She's a little bit of a fortune teller," says a longtime client. "She was working with rose gold for a half-decade before it started 'trending' in the States. She knows what's happening in Europe, what fashion houses are using. But she still can create these gorgeous, classic pieces that are timeless. She's gifted. There's no style she hasn't mastered."

A brief perusal of the boutique store, located in the Patios at Westfield Valencia Town Center, supports that claim. With pieces ranging in price from $15 to $40,000 and designs varying from vintage to high-fashion, this is a place where there's something for everyone. "I want every person who walks into my store to feel welcome - by me, by my staff, but also by what is in our cases. Different metals, stones, styles - we have feminine and masculine, we have gothic, we have flashy, we have demure, we have everything! I love to see clients come in to 'window shop' and end up staying an hour, just gushing over what they've found. That, as well as working to make custom pieces with my clients, keeps me exited and inspired," says Manya.

It's this attitude, and remarkable skill, that has encouraged heirloom jewelry owners to entrust their most treasured pieces to Manya and her jewelry-making husband Harut. "We take Grandma's jewelry - her gold, diamonds and pieces that don't really fit anyone's style - and we recreate the most beautiful, sentimental possessions. I can get choked up even thinking about it! These might be my favorite designs of all, because it means so much for the recipients to have a piece of their loved ones, right there on their finger or around their neck. I just love making these pieces, especially when they are gifts."

There's still time to create a custom piece for the holidays. Call for an appointment or visit the boutique. 255-6668