Rachel discovered her passion for jewelry design while receiving her BA at Queens College. Afterwards she studied at Fashion Institute of Technology, Craft Students League, and YWCA.
Rachel has taught at Pratt, Fashion Industries High School, Mercy College, Crafts Students league, JCC, and the YWCA. She continues to share her expertise in jewelry designing, wax carving, and fabrication through lectures, classes and consulting services. She has shared her techniques
privately to sculptors from other countries requesting her expertise.
She is a licensed NYS art teacher.
Her designs have been on the CBS Early show, FX The League and voted Top Trend Designs by the World Gold Council her 18k gold bangles. Rachel’s designs have appeared in newspapers and magazines both locally and internationally including MJSA, Promenade, Orange Magazine, Times Herald Record, Chronicle, and Warwick Advertiser.
Eleven pieces were chosen by Jennifer Lopez and worn in her 2010 movie “Back-up Plan”. In 2009, Bertoni won National Jeweler Magazine’s, “Best of Colored Stone Contest”. The 18K pendant titled, “Cascading Gems”, featured boulder opal and blue diamonds.
She has won awards in sculpture, mixed media and photography as well receiving several grants. In the 2015 film, “Helicopter Mom” with Nia Vardalos, Mark Boone Jr., and Skylar Samuels all wore Bertoni.
Many large gold manufactures have commissioned Rachel to create professional
intricate wax models. They were marketed internationally. Some well-known clients
include Ivana Trump, QVC, HSN, Jacmel, Michael Anthony, Fabricant, Andin,
Ippolitta, Peter Brams and Fortunoff,.She has been commissioned to create
museum reproductions of ancient artifacts that have been sold in museum shops and corporations.
After receiving her MFA in sculpture in 2000 Rachel decided to open Bertoni Galleri. It is marketed for the retail and wholesale marketplace. Rachel exhibits her work at regional craft fairs as well