The art of beadwork has been around for centuries. Countries like India, Greece and Italy have a complete framework of artists and bead masters that use traditional craftsmanship to create the most precious pieces. Bobbie Van Der Vlugt is one of those fashion pundits – a Cuban jeweler who has merged her expertise in fashion and passion for jewelry to produce high-quality bracelets and necklaces to an elite clientele unbeknownst to the media and even other celebrities.

For a craft that seems simple, Bobbie has whetted a set of skills that require precision and focus. The 53-year-old bead master has a penchant for rare stones and glass beads from the 1800s that are only identifiable by a true jewelry connoisseur. Vintage Masai beads, African beads, Murano glass beads and other semi-precious stones predominate in her artwork.

What makes her oeuvre unique is her handmade technique and stone selection. Though Bobbie has encouraged some of her clients to have a say in their stone selections, she admits it takes a real stylist to know the right sizes and pieces to pair each bead together. As we continued our conversation on bead culture inside her cozy studio hidden in a virescent neighborhood in Coconut Grove, Bobbie revealed her very niche clientele. Cameron Diaz, Raul de Molina, Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Lopez and Hilary Swank are some of the personalities that wear Musa Jewelry.

Royalty also wears her jewelry including Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece and Princess Tatiana of Greece and Denmark. Though her jewelry is not labeled, wearers of her jewelry are able to identify them. “Are you wearing Musa?” some may ask. Aside from her making a limited amount of pieces, Musa Jewelry has healing properties and every stone she hand-selects creates spiritual energy. Bobbie believes that the beads respond to our chakras and to different energies in our bodies. “The gemstones have a vibrational energy and we are automatically attracted to what our body needs,” shares Bobbie.

While I looked around her studio I could see myself attracted to the citrine bracelet on her table. “I call it the joy luck money club because it attracts happiness, it brings good luck and is a money-making bead,” adds Bobbie. I already envisioned a prosperous direct-deposit energy coming into my bank account. “My male clientele is more superstitious than my women. The more successful and wealthier that person is, the more superstitious they are,” she says. Bobbie’s multicultural and collectible beads come from exotic places like India and East Africa, and loves mixing 14k gold charms with Ghana beads and other materials.

Recently, Musa Jewelry partnered with Matches Fashion, a luxury shopping destination that features Prada, Gucci, Saint Lauren and other high-end brands to sell a limited-edition collection.

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Bead culture is constantly evolving and Bobbie continues to innovate her mastery. In India, women identify their marital status by the number of bracelets they wear on their wrists but Bobbie’s clientele seeks more than just an exquisite adornment. They hope each bracelet brings happiness, hope and aligns with their chakras. Another example of her elite and loyal clientele is Uma Thurman, who has requested special orders and gifts for her family.

With 15 years of experience in the jewelry business, Bobbie continues to find rare stones that she might only see once in a lifetime. From black hand-painted stone to miniature Lapiz lazuli, each stone in her studio is cut to perfection. After all, “There is always a new stone to discover”.