Mordaunte's Coffin-Shaped Gems and Jewelry
Timeless creations that combine "divine morbidity with good taste"

Mordaunte's Coffin-Shaped Gems and Jewelry specializes in semi-precious faceted gemstones, cut into a perfect 6-sided coffin shape by exclusive contract with an international gemstone company.  Gemstones include colors such as Blood, Death, Shroud, Moss, Flesh, Scalded, and Pentacle.  In stock sizes range from 3 to 10 carats. "So far, I am the only one in the world that does this", states Mordaunte - owner, designer and creator.

In addition to the gemstones, she designs and creates finished jewelry in both men's and women's fashions.  These include rings, earrings, pendants, and tie tacks, done in sterling silver as well as 14k gold.   In keeping with the coffin-shaped design, purchases are even shipped in a cardboard coffin-shaped box.  Mordaunte's clients buy her jewelry for costume decoration, funerary wear, immortalizing a departed loved one, wedding sets, and everyday wear with a "kick".  "Most people don't realize it's a coffin shape until you tell them - they just comment that it's a beautiful stone", says Mordaunte, "When I mention that it's a coffin shape, they gasp - "That's awesome!".   Many customers refer to her business as "The Morbid Tiffany's". 

Her celebrity clientele list includes members of some of the hottest heavy metal bands.  An on-air interview with Mordaunte can be experienced on WMTL radio, 91.5FM in West Palm Beach, Florida by the mighty DJ, 'Rattlehead'.   She also did an on-air interview with Hamish & Jolene of New Zealand's radio station, 93.4 Coastline FM.  Her designs have been showcased in popular fantasy and renaissance mail order catalogs.  She is also part of the video "Haunted Halloween Happenings" due out on VHS and DVD in the summer of 2004, along with Rob Zombie, Alice Cooper and "Elvira".  Her gems and jewelry were also part of "Village Of The Damned" on the 2004 and 2006 Ozzfest tours.  Her designs will also be featured at various Halloween, Horror and hearse events around the country in 2005 and 2006.  Her company is slated to be in the January 2006 issue of Gothic Beauty Magazine and the April 2006 issue of Rue Morgue Magazine. Columbia University did an interview with Mordaunte about her coffin collection in February 2006.  Star TV (Canada's version of E! Entertainment) in Toronto did a documentary on Mordaunte, her business and her coffin collection due to be part of their "I Heart" TV series and also available on DVD in late 2006. She appeared at the annual horror movie convention, Fear Fest, in Dallas, Texas in 2008 and will be there again for the 30th reunion of Friday the 13th in August 2010.

Mordaunte owns an extensive coffin collection, numbering upwards to 350 items of various sizes and materials, collected all over the world for the past 35 years.  She previously owned a black 1986 Cadillac Fleetwood Hearse and currently drives a white 1990 Cadillac Brougham Hearse.   Her nickname has affectionately become - "The Coffin Queen".  She is 6 feet tall.  "I took my lifelong hobby and love of the coffin shape and turned it into a business", Mordaunte says of her coffin collection and unique business.  She is definitely always thinking "about the box"!
 

Mordaunte's Coffin-Shaped Gems and Jewelry can be viewed and purchased at her online store -  www.coffingems.com

Mordaunte's Coffin Gems and Jewelry is a woman-owned business and was created by a happy accident!   I was searching the internet for additions to my personal coffin collection (that I started back in the 1970's)  when I found a little parcel of coffin shaped garnets on an auction site.  They were the small one carat size. I bought the parcel just to add to my "collection" (and I still have them).  When I got them, I was so taken with the craftsmanship and beauty of the gemstones that I emailed the gemologist to inquire on whether he had additional sizes and could cut the stones from other materials.  Mordaunte's Coffin Gems and Jewelry was born that day.

I started my custom coffin-shaped gemstone "business" from my desk in my basement in the spring of 2000.  I offered 3 different stone materials in two sizes.  I set up a internet service-provider website and went into business.  I participated in a few link exchanges and marketed myself via all of the auction sites.  Slowly, but surely, the business grew  both in the USA and Internationally.  More and more interest was revolving around my gemstones, especially the idea of offering them in pre-made jewelry. Being in the IT field, I had never set a piece of jewelry in my life!  However, after much research and "trial and error" I started setting my gemstones in oval and marquise pre-made settings.  I then bought my current website, www.coffingems.com. 

As the business continued to grow it took on a life (and following!) of it's own.  I started supplying jewelry to celebrities and rock bands that had found my site. I was invited by the people at OzzFest to be a vendor on their tour.  Radio stations and TV shows asked me for interviews.  Haunted Houses, Horror Conventions and Gothic Nightclubs contacted me to be a guest and a vendor at their events.  In 2005 I re-designed the coffin gemstone shape to the perfect 6-sided coffin you see today.

Since that time, I've added another 13 colors to my gemstone line.  By 2006 I did an entire "tour" that summer, going to as many events as I could possibly attend.  What a summer that was!  Living out of  hotels, vending all day; networking and partying with celebrities all night!  In 2007 I designed and produced custom coffin-shaped settings for my stones and added a full line of men's and women's fashions (there are many gemstones and designs that you never see as I only bring to market the very best!).. 

In 2008 I continue to design new pieces, add new stones and attend gothic, horror, heavy metal and haunt events.  I enjoy a loyal "following" of customers and have become a pseudo-celebrity.  I constantly hear "I know you!" or "I've bought your jewelry!" wherever I happen to be (the grocery store, picking up my laundry, shopping, etc.).  I am always amazed and truly blessed to have taken my hobby from a basement desk to becoming an international retailer in less than 5 years.  No one is more awe struck by this than I am.  It's really true that if you are passionate about something...the sky is the limit! 

Columbia University News Service
Interview with Mordaunte about her business
and coffin collection
February 2006