New World Gems
We sell custom-made jewelry from precious gemstones and turquoise, beads, Tibetan antiques, Tibetan sacred objects, Japanese antiques, Japanese vintage housewares, Japanese Imari porcelain, Japanese bamboo ware, Japanese folk toys, collectible books, handmade textiles, Native American dolls, vintage clothing, vintage American housewares, and unique local vintage accessories. And did we say vintage hats! We love hats! Our booth stocks an ever-changing array of things of beauty that we love.
Leslie and Leza Lowitz
The New World Gems shop at the Traveler’s Market is owned by sisters Leslie and Leza Lowitz. They grew up in Berkeley, California. Upon graduating from high school, they moved to New York. Leslie attended Pratt Institute and Parsons School of Design to study fine art and painting. Leza went to NYU’s School of Dramatic Writing, eventually graduating from UC Berkeley with a B.A. in English Literature. Leza also received an M.A. in Creative Writing/Japanese from San Francisco State University, and became an award-winning writer in Tokyo. She has published over 20 books in many genres, many of them best-sellers.
Wandering the flea markets in New York’s Canal street, the sisters’ appreciation of colorful vintage and precious gemstones, art, antiques and artifacts began. To this day, Leslie finds not only the stones themselves beautiful, but loves the fact that beads and jewellery are one of the few things passed from culture to culture and generation to generation to be cherished.
NewWorldGems.com
Sales@NewWorldGems.com
LezaLowitz.com
Leslie creates quality jewelry from gemstones both new and old from around the world, designing the .925 sterling and 18k gold pendants, clasps, and all of the finished jewelry. She carefully handcrafts each one-of-a-kind piece. After 25 years, she has established herself as one of America's primary purveyors of exquisite gemstone materials and beautiful jewelry designs with integrity, reliability and excellent customer service. Leslie’s Tibetan partner, whose family has had an antiques business in Tibet for generations, sources Tibetan stones, antiques and sacred artifacts.
Leza lived in Japan for twenty years, where she was an art critic for Art in America and a beloved mindfulness and yoga teacher. She opened Sun and Moon Yoga in Tokyo in 2003, and continues to teach remotely. Leza has frequented Japanese flea markets, temple sales, and book vaults, collecting Japanese art, antiques, old books, and folk objects for decades. The New World Gems booth will occasionally have Japanese objects available, in addition to local and vintage finds, collectible books, and beloved objects that caught the sister’s eyes.