Reliance Retail, part of Reliance Industries, will make its jewellery foray with the launch of Reliance Jewelry this Diwali.
Reliance will be the second corporate after the Tatas to enter the Rs 70,000 crore Indian jewellery industry, which is dominated by almost 3 lakh traditional family jewellers.
The company will launch its first store at Bangalore and will subsequently roll out 400 outlets in the next three years. Apart from gold and diamond jewellery, the stores would offer customised services for high-end jewellery. Sources close to the development indicated that Reliance is exploring possible branding options for the jewellery collections.
Reliance Jewelry may also sell gold below market rates. The move assumes significance in light of the recent surge in gold prices, which have breached the psychological barrier of Rs 10,000 per 10 gramme.
The company has reportedly entered into a sourcing agreement with Rosy Blue, one of the largest jewellery manufacturers, for operations. The jewellery foray is part of the company’s lifestyle retail, which includes books and music, cosmetics, lifestyle accessories and home solutions.
Reliance is set to compete with Tanishq, the jewellery brand from the Tatas.
“Tanishq has become the largest jewellery retail chain with an annual turnover of more than Rs 1,000 core. Reliance has adopted a similar store concept for the jewellery operations,” said a source.
Titan Industries registered a 45.6 per cent increase in income from jewellery, at Rs 432.4 crore for the second quarter ended September 30, 2007. Tanishq recently opened its 100th store at Patna.
Consultancy firm Technopak Advisors estimates the Indian jewellery market to grow by 15 per cent annually, while branded jewellery is expected to grow by 30 per cent.
Source: agencyfaqs
Oct 30, 2007
Reliance Retail forays into 'Jewelry' business
Mall jewelry store robbed in bold heist
Austin police say four men robbed the Ben Bridge jewelry store in Barton Creek Mall on Monday when the mall was still open.
At about 8 p.m., police say four men wearing hooded sweatshirts and armed with sledge hammers entered the store, smashed open the cases and took off with about a dozen Rolexes.
The robbers got away in a red SUV with a temporary license plate.
Source: news8austin
Study: Brides-to-be want best jewelry
Condé Nast Bridal Media, publisher of Brides, Elegant Bride, Modern Bride and Your Prom magazines, worked in conjunction with consumer expert WSL Strategic Retail to create the online survey using Global Strategy Group.
Under the survey category "Price is less important: I must have what is best," jewelry and watches were listed as the second highest in importance by 53 percent of engaged women and 40 percent of single women.
The survey also found that 88 percent of Americans get married at least once. The median age for brides is 27, and the median age for grooms is 29, which has increased over the years. The average length of an engagement is 16 months.
Couples are paying more for weddings, too, with 59 percent of those polled contributing to the cost of the wedding, and 30 percent self-financing the entire affair.
Technology has emerged as a top wedding trend, according to the survey, with 56 percent of those polled saying they either have or will have a wedding Web site, 20 percent will have an online guest book and 15 percent will use an iPod as a DJ.
The survey also found that cash remains the most requested gift, with 67 percent of engaged women declaring money as what they want for a wedding gift.
Internet searches and bridal magazines are also important to brides-to-be, with 95 percent of engaged women reading at least one bridal magazine as well as spending almost twice as many hours online in a week compared to single women.
Katherine Rizzuto, publisher of the Condé Nast Bridal Media publications, suggested five marketing tips to capture a bride-to-be's business, including helping her customize and personalize her wedding by offering a number of options, showing her why she's worth it, targeting a message, planting the seed for post-wedding spending and reaching her in a totally integrated media environment that she trusts.
Source: nationaljewelernetwork
Lil' Wayne Sued Over Jewelry
The star is being sued by Jack Sutton Fine Jewelry, who say he failed to pay for a diamond ring and necklace he purchased earlier this month.
They claim Wayne agreed to pay the bill in monthly installments, but after they received the first check for $24,000 on Oct. 12 and a second dated January 2008, the payments were stopped.
Proprietor Jack Sutton says, "I've been doing business with him for at least 10 years. He's always been wonderful with paying me. He spent a lot of money with me. I thought we have a really good relationship. I don't know what happened."
Wayne's attorney says the incident is just a "misunderstanding," and that his client will resolve it because he's very responsible.
This case is just the latest in a series of legal trials for Carter, including drug charges in Atlanta, Ga., gun possession charges in New York and two civil suits in Baltimore, Md.,
Source: netmusiccountdown
Oct 29, 2007
Sinkankas Leaves Final Gift to GIA Library
The Gemological Institute of America has received the third and final gift from the late Marge Sinkankas, co-owner of Peri Lithon Books and wife of the late John Sinkankas.
The donation was given to the Institute's Richard T. Liddicoat Gemological Library and Information Center. The gift included 37 boxes of books, journals, awards, letters, and scrapbooks, as well as original watercolors and manuscripts of some of John Sinkankas' well-known gem and mineral books.
Marge Sinkankas died on May 30 at the age of 89.
"This gift is special because it represents important milestones of John and Marge's life together," said Dona Dirlam, director of GIA's Richard T. Liddicoat Gemological Library and Information Center. "In our visits together in the last several years, Marge was always interested in what was happening in gemology and at GIA. It was her wish that this donation be used to continue support of the GIA Library in Carlsbad, though she also envisioned it being a part of the creation of libraries for other campuses as GIA expands internationally."
Included in the donation are an original typescript of Peri Lithon catalogs; a five-volume set, Encyclopédie ou Dictionnairé Raissoné des Sciences, des Arts, et des Metiers, 1969; Curtis Schuh's 1989 draft of Mineralogy and Crystallography: A Biobibliography from 1469 to 1920; illustrations from John Sinkankas' Gemstones of North America 3rd edition; a 1994 manuscript of the translation of Arab Roots of Gemmology by Al Tifaschi; and early Rocks & Minerals magazines from 1951 to 1954.
The Sinkankas' extensive book collection was acquired by GIA's Library in 1998 and, according to Dirlam, became the "cornerstone" of the Library's Cartier Rare Book Repository and Archives. Marge Sinkankas had made two other donations to the RTL Library since her husband's death in 2002.
John and Marge Sinkankas at GIA's Robert Mouawad campus on John's 88 birthday.
Source: jckonline
Handcrafted Jewelry Made Out Of Barbies
Margaux Lange handcrafted jewlery, neither sponsored nor authorized by Mattel.
Source: schwimmerlegal
Aspire Opens New Dubai Jewelry Factory
Aspire said it would design and manufacture high end jewelry and fashionable watches at the new facility with its staff of approximately 400 people.
The Hammer Group is a multinational jeweler with manufacturing, and a global distribution to some 4,500 retail outlets in 250 cities.
“We are proud to be associated with Kareemo Ltd.,” said Majid Algouneh, chief managing director of Hammer Group. “This partnership will give us the opportunity to bring our worldwide expertise to the Middle East, using Dubai Multi Commodities Centre as our hub for our operations.”
Moaz Barakat, managing director of Kareemo Ltd explained that Aspire DMCC would benefit from a mix of Middle Eastern expertise and European proficiency which would “add to the gold and jewelry industry of Dubai.”
Source: diamonds
New jewelry boutique could be latest downtown gem
A local jewelry designer is the latest entrepreneur to open a store downtown.
DK Jewelry Designs is hosting a grand opening party from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday at its location at 200 Pearl St., at the corner of Pearl and Harrison streets.
Danielle Kline is the proprietor of the jewelry boutique, which features contemporary and unique jewelry designs made from gold, sterling silver, gemstones, diamonds and Swarovski crystal. To see what the jewelry looks like, go to http://www.dkgold.com/.
Patrons can take advantage of several specials the night of the grand opening:
♦ Sample wine provided by WineStyles and chocolates provided by DeBrand Fine Chocolates in the adjoining Pearl Gallery.
♦ Take advantage of discounts of up to 25 percent on jewelry.
♦ Make a donation to Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana and receive an oyster that contains a pearl. The pearl comes with a free custom design pearl consultation with Kline, and you'll also be entered in a drawing to win a custom Tahitian pearl necklace valued at $1,000.
Kline designs most of the pieces and picks out the stones, and then sends the design and stones to Los Angeles to be cast. The prices of her jewelry range from $30 to $500 or more, but she said the bulk of her line sells in the $50 to $150 range. She likes to keep the jewelry priced low enough to accommodate “spontaneous buying.”
The store officially opens at noon Thursday. Hours will be noon-6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; by appointment Saturdays; and closed Sundays and Wednesdays.
Paging Imelda Marcos
A new shoe store is opening at Glenbrook Square, 4201 Coldwater Road. Aldo will open Nov. 9 in the Macy's wing of the mall. Aldo, which opened its first store in Montreal in 1978, sells high-quality footwear, leather goods and accessories. The privately held company operates more than 840 retail stores across Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Ireland, as well as in 30 franchisee countries. The store's hours will coincide with mall hours. To see the shoes, boots and accessories, go to http://www.aldoshoes.com/.
Snow show
Those of you who are into winter sports will want to attend the Winter Outdoor Sports Show this weekend at Memorial Coliseum, 4000 Parnell Ave. The show is put on by the Indiana Snowmobilers Association. Dealers will be offering specials on clothing, snowmobiles, ATVs, and other accessories. Attendees also can take the DNR Snowmobile Safety Course, get instruction in bow hunting and ice fishing from Gander Mountain employees, or peruse the indoor swap meet. The show is open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Cost is $5 for adults and $3 for those under 10. Parking is $4 per vehicle.
New ‘used' store
Ready to refresh your music, movie or video game collection? Maybe you'd like part with that old Atari game system collecting dust in your attic, or maybe you'd like to get your hands on one for old time's sake.
Then you'll want to pay a visit to Disc Replay of Fort Wayne, a store that opened a week ago at 4726 Coldwater Road. It's in the same plaza as Jo-Ann Fabric and Crafts.
Source: news-sentinel
lia sophia Forecasts its 2007 Holiday Jewelry Trends
lia sophia's Top 10 Jewelry Trends for the Holidays
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Classic Black - This season, keep an eye out for jet crystals,
black faceted glass, and for a truly timeless look - black beads
combined with white or grey pearls.
2. Red Alert - Red makes quite a statement on its own, or adds spice
to black, brown, and grey hues, in modern and antique inspired
designs.
3. Cuffed - Whether you don a metal cuff or a beaded stretch
bracelet, you are undeniably in style.
4. Back to Nature - This trend continues to be popular, as evidenced
by the presence of semiprecious stones, shell, wood, and leaf
motifs in jewelry.
5. The Bold and the Beautiful - From bold metal pendants, to
substantial CZ cocktail rings, bigger is better if you want to
make an impression.
6. Heating Up - Although some areas of the country are dropping in
temperature, fashion's color palette is heating up. Warm tones,
such as cherry red, auburn, pumpkin, mustard, and chocolate
reflect the colors of the changing seasons.
7. Golden Girl - Gold toned jewelry in shiny or matte finishes light
up any holiday look. You will absolutely glow in canary yellow
crystals, topaz glass, and butterscotch cat's eye.
8. Lots of Layers - Multi layered long necklaces remain a fashion
focus. Keep it simple with a long, triple strand necklace, or mix
things up by piling on two or more complimentary necklaces of
different lengths.
9. Close to the Ocean - Colors borrowed from seascapes remain key in
jewelry and accessories this season. Blue stones, crystals, and
beads in shades of cobalt, aquamarine and blue topaz play a
primary role.
10. Untamed - Tribal and Ethnic motifs and materials remain at the
forefront of the fashion jewelry industry. Materials such as
carved wood, antiqued textured beads, hammered metal, and neutral
colors are hotter than ever.
Source: nytimes
PGJDC to develop jewelry cluster at Korangi
Construction of a 10.8 acre manufacturing cluster for gems and jewelry entrepreneurs at Korangi Creek Industrial Park has been undertaken by Pakistan Gems and Jewelry Development Company (PGJDC).A presentation regarding the development of this project was put forward by PGJDC to the stakeholders of gems and jewelry sector, recently.
This project is believed to usher radical changes in the jewellery sector, consequently luring stakeholders to advance their full support for the enterprise.
From jewelry manufacturers and gold refiners to gems dealers and processors, stakeholders coming from all walks of life were seen taking keen interest in the proposition.
While, the industrial park will encompass all the essential amenities like security, water & power supply, natural environment, supporting services, telecommunication facilities and accessibility, the gems and jewelry units would comprise gem processing units, jewellery manufacturing, assaying and hallmarking, gem laboratories, training centers, gem labs and gem exchange facilities.
Source: fibre2fashion
Platinum Falls on Concern Rally May Cut Demand
Platinum has surged 28 percent in 2007 as a slumping dollar drove demand from traders seeking alternative investments. The price increase may discourage buyers who use the metal to make jewelry and car parts, said Ron Goodis, futures trading director at Equidex Brokerage Group Inc. in Closter, New Jersey.
``Physical demand is starting to slow at these price levels,'' Goodis said. ``Nobody is immune to the fundamentals of supply and demand. As the price trends higher, the demand does start to dip.''
Platinum futures for January delivery fell $3.60, or 0.3 percent, to $1,465.50 an ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Earlier, the metal reached a record $1,474.90.
For every $100 increase in the platinum price, jewelry demand has dropped by 200,000 ounces, according to Lonmin Plc, the world's third-largest producer of the metal. Jewelers account for 24 percent of global demand, according to London- based metals trader Johnson Matthey Plc.
The metal also is used to make pollution-control devices in autos.
Palladium futures for December delivery dropped 55 cents, or 0.2 percent, to $375.20 an ounce. The metal has still gained 11 percent this year.
Source: bloomberg
Huntsville artist turns to history for inspiration
Jewelry artist Kathy Chan holding jewelry that she crafted.
Kathy crafted this solid gold space shuttle.
Kathy created these pieces.
Gadsden center to feature Kathy Chan's work in jewelry, sculpture, gowns
GADSDEN - It's a lovely experience to step into the world of Kathy Chan. Her warm personality and giving nature, talent for both science and art and her gift for combining them will never be more apparent than for the next week at the Cultural Arts Center in Gadsden.
More than 300 pieces of international award-winning jewelry, precious metal sculpture, paintings, prints and evening gowns of Kathy's design are on exhibit through Nov. 4.
"It's the first time we've ever had so many pieces by one artist," said exhibit curator George Terrell. George became acquainted with Kathy when she was invited in 1992 to show her jewelry alongside a collection of pieces by Russian court jeweler Peter Carl Faberge.
Sources of inspiration
Some of the most striking examples of Kathy's work are diminutive homages to milestones in history through which the human spirit has shone like the bright gold and precious gems of which they're made. She has created pieces to remember the San Francisco earthquake of 1989, the March on Tiananmen Square and the Challenger disaster, among others.
"My reaction to these events is watching how other people react," Kathy said. "I feel like a writer - they put everything down with pencil and paper, but since I work with gold and diamonds, I make historic pieces in that medium."
Although her historical pieces record important events, the people involved in them are her true inspiration.
"When the earthquake happened, I saw that people were just very nice, they were so helpful, and that moved me, so I felt compelled to make a piece."
Her reaction was the same for the devastating Huntsville tornado of 1989.
"It took me 4 1/2 hours to drive a few miles home from my shop, and that was through the tornado scene," she said. "There were already people there with blankets and clothes, trying to help. That moved me."
Jeweler or engineer?
Kathy's commemorative pieces aren't just for show, they can be worn in a variety of ways - as earrings, broaches and pendants.
"Everything that I like to make is utilitarian," she said. "Lots of my jewelry pieces can be worn many ways, or they can be put on display as a piece of art."
One of her most versatile pieces, a blue topaz heart pierced by a diamond arrow set on a pearl necklace, may be worn 13 different ways. That's the natural engineer coming out in her.
She had an aptitude for many things, but wanted to go into fashion design. While still a high school student, Kathy met her husband, Chia Hwa (Tony) Chan, while he was home from university in England visiting his parents. She married him at 17 and returned to England with him while he completed his Ph.D.
The couple came to the United States, and Kathy raised their three children and finished her high school equivalency diploma. Tony brought his family to Huntsville, and Kathy went back to school, graduating from the University of Alabama in Huntsville with degrees in both art and foreign languages. Tony retired as chairman of the UAH Physics Department in 1997.
As a freelance artist, Kathy designed a logo for a jewelry store, and found her calling when the owner offered her a partnership. She eventually bought the owner out and taught herself the properties of gold, silver and platinum in jewelry design by reading books.
"I have an art degree, so I just flipped it - it's all art," Kathy said. "I was very lucky, everything came out just perfect."
She now works from her store in Main Street South, Germano Gallery.
Kathy has won 14 international awards for her designs and has donated many more pieces to raise money for community charities and arts organizations. Through the Pei-Ling Chan Charitable Trust, Kathy and husband Tony have provided millions of dollars to civic, educational, scholarship and university programs as well as cultural and humanitarian projects. Most recently for her philanthropy, Kathy was named a 2007 honoree in Arts and Humanities by the Women's Economic Development Council.
It's only fitting that during the Year of Alabama Arts, Bob Riley recognized Kathy with the prestigious Governor's Arts Award for lifetime achievement.
Source: al
Oct 28, 2007
Hans Stern Dies at 85; Built Global Jewelry Empire
The cause was not immediately known, said Betti García, a spokeswoman for his company, H. Stern.
Born in Essen, Germany, in 1922, Mr. Stern fled with his family at the outbreak of World War II and arrived at age 17 in Brazil, where he fell in love with the country’s abundance of colored gemstones, according to a biography the company released.
He started working for Cristab, an exporter of minerals and precious stones based in Rio.
Traveling inland on horseback, Mr. Stern got to know the miners and the lodes of tourmalines, amethysts, topazes and other semiprecious stones in the backwoods of Minas Gerais State.
In 1945, he founded H. Stern here as a gemstone trading business, to harvest the potential he saw in marketing Brazilian gems — a trade then practically nonexistent.
As the company grew, Mr. Stern trained dozens of young jewelers who worked for him and raised the Brazilian jewelry trade to international standards. His company grew to become a chain of 160 stores in Brazil.
He also established a network of partnerships in Europe, the Middle East and the United States.
Today, 170 stores are franchised in 26 countries.
Mr. Stern especially loved the tourmaline, a multicolored semiprecious stone common in Minas Gerais. His jewelry was featured in magazines like Elle, Vogue and Marie Claire, and in shops in New York, Paris, Frankfurt and Tel Aviv.
Mr. Stern married in 1958 and is survived by his wife, Ruth, and their sons, Roberto, Ricardo, Ronaldo and Rafael.
Source: nytimes
WJC Unveils New Rendering
The WJC trade tower, designed by Altoon + Porter Architects, LLP, will contain office condominiums of more than 700,000 square feet and owned by several hundred companies from around the globe. WJC businesses will have access to grading labs, an educational center, meeting facilities, and exhibition space. There will also be banking facilities, an advanced security system, restaurants, an exclusive private club, and fitness facilities.
The top floors will be reserved for some 90 "ultra-luxury" residential condominiums with a dedicated elevator system. Condominium owners will have a complete array of services available to them in a high-security living-working environment.
“With over 100 companies having already reserved their space, the office tower is rapidly being filled with many of the industry’s leading companies in every sector of the trade," said WJC managing director Bill Boyajian. "It will not only be one of the world’s most iconic buildings, but also one of the industry’s most important.”
Robert Zarnegin, founder, president, and chief executive officer of Probity International Corp. is developing the project.
Source: jckonline
Woman Assaulted During Jewelry Heist
Three men broke into Nations Jewelry on Harry Hines Boulevard, and one man assaulted a female clerk while stealing nearly $1 million in diamonds and gold jewelry, police said.
Investigators said the men took the disk from the surveillance camera when they left, but the store had a back-up copy.
Police said the men were clearly experienced. They moved a plant to prop open the door so they wouldn't get locked in, police said. Authorities also said the men used their shirts to cover their hands so they wouldn't leave fingerprints behind.
Police said the man who assaulted the clerk repeatedly punched her, leaving her badly bruised.
"They attacked her, brutally attacked her and beat her," Senior Cpl. Janice Crowther said.
Franchesca Rosa, who works next door, said she was glad everyone was fine but is a little nervous about the area.
"But we're just glad that no one got hurt, more than anything," she said.
Police said the men left in a green Grand Am and a black BMW, both 1990s models.
Investigators said they don't know if the robbery is connected to several other recent jewelry heists in the Metroplex. Police said this one is unique because the robbery happened during business hours.
Source: nbc5i
Plant Jewelry To Replace Ivory
LeJu is a name that puts together two talents; Lenny Trines, Dutch jewelry designer and Juana Munoza, Columbian businesswomen in London. Lenny revealed her natural talent and creativity working on and studying techniques used by different South American artists. Inspired by nature, she wants to stop the cruel killing of elephants, and as an alternative she offers jewelry made of South American palm seeds called “ivory” which is secure and of good quality. We must not forget that nature is full of beautiful colours and structures that reflect themselves in people’s life.
Hand made jewelry features spectacular light colours and has ivory’s smooth texture and lightness – but not its cruelty. Using plant seeds also stimulates South American economy and it could slow down the destruction of the rain forest. Ivory palm seeds are dried and sliced into pieces, then carved into pearls, to prepare them for being coloured with natural extracts and vegetable oils.
We discovered the “Ivory plant” during our expeditions in South America in 2004. We traveled along the river and through the Amazon forest for eight weeks, stopping in different villages looking for and meeting people who live there. We went for a walk in the jungle escorted by a guide who showed us different kinds of plants and trees which are employed as medicines… That is how we discovered Tagua palm seeds, the “ivory plant”, and other tropical seeds naturally painted in different colours. Lenny was surprised by the look and the base of existing vegetable products, she felt a special bond with Amazon and a need to design and create jewelry – Juana said in an interview for Vogue.
LeJu exhibited its jewelry during last year’s week and they were more than thrilled by the audience’s positive reaction.
This is a bond between natural colours, shapes, energy and people. Our costumers like when we use existing natural materials with which we create unique jewelry items.
Source: javno
Oct 25, 2007
Rapaport buys stake in jewelry software company
Octahedron, a company whose products offer Web-based point-of-sale and business-management solutions, has earned an international reputation for its cutting-edge technology in advanced inventory management, and is also known for its personal customer support and training facilities, according to a Rapaport Group media release.
In addition to expanding Octahedron's reach, the new partnership will allow the software company to open two additional support desks in Las Vegas and India, allowing for 24-hour customer support as the company's products are introduced into the major U.S. and Indian markets.
"Octahedron is a first-class company with excellent technology and management," Rapaport Group Chairman Martin Rapaport said in a statement. "Jewelers across the globe will use Octahedron's software to increase productivity and profits. The Rapaport Group and Octahedron share a common vision that embraces the benefits of technology to meet the challenges of change. Octahedron also shares our values of honesty, transparency and a total commitment to improving the business of our clients."
Octahedron will retain its own brand identity and will operate independently of the Rapaport Group. The company's head office will remain in Brisbane, Australia, and all employees will remain with the company.
Source: nationaljewelernetwork
Jewelers Choice Awards Voting Opens Nov. 1
Designers and manufacturers have submitted their entries in 11 product categories and soon jewelry retailers will have the chance to choose the winners of JCK's Jewelers Choice Awards.
Retailers from around the world are invited to visit the contest Web site to vote for their favorite jewelry design in each category. Voting will run from Nov. 1 till Dec. 5.
Finalists will be notified and announced online at www.jckonline.com the week of December 10th. All finalists will be required to send their product in for final inspection and certification by our presenting sponsor GCAL and AGL.
Winners will be announced online at www.jckonline.com/jewelerschoiceawards in early January. Products will be photographed and showcased in JCK’s March 2008 issue. Winners will also receive additional exposure at the JCK Las Vegas Show in 2008. All winners and finalists will receive marketing collateral to promote their participation in the contest. The product receiving the most votes across all categories will be named the Grand Winner. The photograph of the Grand Winner, sponsored by GCAL and AGL will be shown on the cover of the March 2008 issue of JCK.
Source: jckonline
JSA warns Fla. jewelers of quickie burglaries
Three-minute burglaries are so named because thieves typically smash through glass windows and doors, enter a store, grab the goods and flee the scene within several minutes. The most recent incident occurred in Mariana, Fla., on Oct. 23, when four masked thieves smashed in a glass front door of a retail jewelry store in a strip center and proceeded to break through 12 showcases, the JSA says. Witnesses to the incident, which happened around 5 o'clock in the morning, reportedly saw four masked people dressed in black fleeing in two white BMWs. The loss occurred within one hour of a similar loss in nearby Dothan, Ala., the JSA says.
Another recent incident happened on Oct. 14, when three male suspects armed with rifles and shotguns smashed through the glass front door and the display cases of a chain retail store in Gainesville, Fla., then fled the scene in a Mercedes. Police arrested one male suspect believed to be a lookout.
Since the JSA first issued a three-minute burglary alert for the Sunshine State in September, burglars have hit jewelry stores in Altamonte Springs, Daytona Beach, Orlando and Palm Coast, among others.
Since three-minutes burglars make no effort to enter safes, and instead simply grab merchandise left out overnight, they are undeterred by alarm systems, the JSA says. Therefore, JSA officials recommend that jewelers store their jewelry and watch merchandise away at night in adequate safes.
Source: nationaljewelernetwork
$1 million in jewelry stolen from Irving business
Having owned a jewelry business for more than two decades, Kurt Van Peterson knew the risks of working with such valuable merchandise. But he never expected to have about $1 million worth swiped in one heist.
"It's a gut-wrenching feeling after 23 years to find out that everything you have is gone," Mr. Van Peterson said.
Burglars apparently climbed up an air conditioning duct last month and then down from a roof into VanPeterson Fine Jewelers in the 2200 block of North Story Road in Irving.
The burglary is part of a rash of jewelry store heists in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, industry experts say.
Kent McClenahan, who has been working in jewelry-business insurance for 25 years, said he's not sure what's behind the spate of burglaries.
"In the first 23 [years], there haven't been 10 successful burglaries," said Mr. McClenahan, an independent agent with Sleeper Sewell Insurance Services Inc.
He said he is aware of 17 attempts and six successful burglaries recently in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Waco areas.
"I think there are at least two separate groups, based on physical descriptions, police reports and what one group does and another group doesn't."
Some suggest the burglars are experienced criminals who are getting more sophisticated with their techniques and equipment. Often they work in groups and are well-orchestrated.
"They're very polished," Mr. McClenahan said of the recent Dallas-Fort Worth cases.
In the VanPeterson heist, burglars cut the phone lines, the alarm, the backup alarm and security cameras, then drilled a large hole in the safe.
Mr. Van Peterson said business owners are now rethinking their security strategy.
He is offering a $100,000 reward to whoever can lead him to his merchandise. In the meantime, he said, he must move on from the loss.
"It's a matter of getting up, rebuilding and starting over," he said.
Source: dallasnews
Metal Jewelry, Flashing Rings Recalled
Greenbriar International Inc. is recalling 198,000 pieces of children's metal jewelry because of high levels of lead.
The recall involves the Beary Cute, Expressions and Sassy and Chic children's jewelry lines.
The products were sold nationwide at dollar stores from December 2005 through July 2007 for $1.00.
If your child or grandchild has this jewelry, take it away from them immediately.
Also, We-Glow International is recalling about 110,000 children’s character flashing rings, also because of high levels of lead.
The rings were sold in Shrek the Third and Spiderman Three designs and have the item number 920422 printed on the packaging.
The rings were also sold at dollar stores nationwide from December 2005 through August 2007 $1.00.
Source: volunteertv
Oct 23, 2007
Designer gives heirloom jewelry new life
Imagine the contents of your grandmother's jewelry box spilled out, restrung in playful combinations — and resurfacing in runway shows and exclusive boutiques, and on the necks and arms of Cate Blanchett and Ashley Judd, environmentalist Majora Carter, even the Seattle punk band Blood Brothers.
That pretty much traces the career of Lisa Salzer, the New York designer who founded the Lulu Frost jewelry line after graduating from Dartmouth three years ago. Salzer, who studied art history and studio art, takes vintage pieces and resurrects them, using charms, stones and pieces of chain from older jewelry, and sometimes combining them with more unusual objects. Her pieces can include watches without hands, the metal tags from crystal bar sets, hinges from old doors, vintage keys and — most famously — the room numbers from old hotels.
"I bought all the room numbers," says Salzer of the Plaza Hotel's 1907 bronze fixtures. She used them as pendants, hanging from whimsical vintage chains, in her Spring 2006 collection. They caused a sensation, and sold out quickly. (Salzer makes replicas, available for $300, at www.lulufrost.com.)
She went on to collaborate with designers, such as Alexander Wang, creating earrings made of fluorescent plastic disks and vintage brass chains for his fall '07 collection, and Chris Benz, collaborating on his spring '08 show with necklaces made of Rwandan beads and vintage bits.
Among her inspirations are Alber Elbaz of Lanvin and Consuelo Castiglione of Marni — but no one more than her own grandmother, Elizabeth Frost.
"I like to combine decades," says Salzer, 24, of her vision for her designs, as well as the company she named for her grandmother, who was an estate jewelry buyer. "It's like collage."
No surprise then that Salzer says some of her most satisfying work is when she is commissioned to create custom pieces out of family heirlooms.
"People will go through their drawers and bring me things, from their heirlooms to a lost earring," she says. "I get an insight into someone's family history."
On a recent trip west, Salzer demonstrated her technique in a West Hollywood, Calif., studio, showing how she turned a slightly gaudy rhinestone daisy brooch into an unusual and utterly compelling bracelet. It was disarmingly simple. But behind the basic mechanics is a refined aesthetic: Salzer has a terrific eye, combining different kinds of chain in the same piece to vary the textures of the jewelry, intertwining ribbon, juxtaposing periods and contexts of the baubles that she strings together.
"Before I started making jewelry, I didn't think I could take things apart," Salzer says. Deftly working with a pair of jeweler's pliers, she took lengths of chain and attached them to the brooch, using circular jump rings to connect the pieces and a lobster clasp to hook the piece together. In just a few minutes, she was finished.
"It's recycling," says Salzer, fingering a gorgeous necklace she'd fashioned from an antique compass and a few keys. Another necklace held a delicate but long-defunct watch, its hands and crystal missing and as timeless as Quentin Compson's.
Salzer now mostly sources her pieces from dealers and estate sales, but she started in flea markets and still routinely canvasses them for treasures. She's quick to point out that if you don't have an old box of heirlooms, you can use costume jewelry, metal chains, trinkets found in yard sales and even hardware stores.
"And they make the greatest gifts," Salzer points out.
A few lengths of vintage chain, a solitary earring, a brooch from a different era, a mysterious brass key: You have everything you need to reinvent an heirloom from a past generation.
Or create one for the next.
Source: southcoasttoday
Billings - Jewelry store in the family for 70 years
The best stories are the ones gleaned during 70 years of running a family business in Billings.
And Montague's Jewelers of Montana, which hit that rare anniversary mark this year, has a doozy.
Chris Montague, the third-generation family jeweler, said most men plan for their live-altering decisions. However, some don't.
A couple of years ago, a man walked in at 10 a.m., and ordered a rush job on an engagement ring. The man told Montague he had decided to propose to his love at Flathead Lake and had to catch the 3 p.m. Big Sky Airlines flight.
After placing the diamond in the ring, Montague jumped in his car for the fast zip from the downtown store up to the airport. Worried he would miss the flight, he called Big Sky on his cell phone and asked if they would hold the plane. "I ran out on the tarmac to the fence and the pilot met me, grabbed the ring and ran back to the plane. The kid came out, gave me a thumbs up, " he said. "They closed the doors and the plane flew off."
When asked why his customer didn't plan ahead, Jay said, "This guy just had a big XY chromosome."
When a family business has lasted into the third generation, the relatives still get along and sales are good, its time to party.
Montague's recently held a 70th-anniversary party at the old Montana National Bank building that now is home to Buchanan Capital. The party featured a trunk show with some of the world's best jewelry by Oscar Heyman & Bros., S.A. Gems/Naledi Jewelry, Masriera and the Palladium Alliance.
"Oscar Heyman & Bros. of New York City is one of the top three jewelry makers in the world," Chris said, adding that these companies, like his family's, are third- and fourth-generation jewelry people.
An expert from Heyman & Bros. brought in several million dollars worth of jewelry, some of them one-of-a-kind designs.
Madagascar Imports of Laurel, a wholesale company owned by Bill and Margit Thorndal, also displayed colored gemstones, sapphire and aquamarine.
Times were tough during the start of this family business.
Wally Montague, Jay's father and Chris' grandfather, and his wife, Lois, started the Jewel Box in 1937 in the Fratt Building along Second Avenue North.
"Two months later, the 1937 flood hit, soaking downtown and destroying their apartment below the store," Jay said. "They just lost all their personal belongings, but not the jewelry upstairs."
For six months, a local couple fed and lodged the Montagues, who had just moved up from Idaho with their newborn girl.
"I don't think Grandpa ever forgot the kind nature of this city. He always loved Billings for that reason and wanted to give back," said Chris Montague.
That philanthropic tradition continues. A display case at the back of the downtown store features some 50 thank-you cards from a rainbow of local businesses and charities.
"Last year, our family contributed cash or jewelry to help run 34 different programs," Chris Montague said. "Our jewelry helped these organizations raise $120,000 last year, and that can make a real difference."
One 2006 philanthropic effort helped Billings Family Services raise $6,000, enough to pay a year's worth of utility bills for six or seven families.
Jay Montague started working in his father's business in 1963. In 2002, his son, Chris Montague, who had worked on the 1996 re-election campaign for Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., and for the Montana Land Reliance, came home to help run the family business.
The family opened a West End store at West Park Plaza when that mall opened and then moved to Rimrock Mall in 1997 after the Hart-Albin department store closed in downtown Billings.
Three years ago, the family returned to its original downtown street, opening a second store on Second Avenue North.
Quick-witted and fast to smile, the father-son team said their business is a happy one. "We do enjoy helping people at the happiest moments of their lives: engagements, birthdays, anniversaries and weddings," Jay said. Watching third and fourth generations return for wedding rings is especially satisfying, he said.
Sales have been up every month in recent years, Chris said.
"A local business may be a skosh more expensive, but we'll take care of you," Chris said, adding that some catalog or big retail store jewelry is so inexpensively made, usually in China, that rings are too thin to size when customers come in asking for help.
Recently, the family started selling palladium jewelry, because it is increasingly popular and is made from a metal mined at Stillwater Mining Co.'s two Montana sites.
"We bought into palladium two years ago and it's been fantastic," Chris said.
Both platinum and palladium are shiny and silver-colored. Platinum is the longest lasting, the heaviest and most expensive of the two. Palladium is much more affordable. White gold is third in strength, but it needs to be replated with rhodium after heavy use.
The toughest challenge is managing time, Chris said.
"Customer care comes first and it's hard to get to everything else," he said.
Peering up from the gem scope where he was analyzing a ring, Jay told a customer the diamond and stones weren't real. A jeweler needs many diverse skills, he said, from buying, sizing and grading stones to designing, pricing and selling jewelry.
When asked to recall all the business advice they heard through the years from Wally, both Jay and Chris Montague started laughing again.
"Wally liked to say, 'There are a few relationships as important as your jeweler, your attorney, your accountant, your doctor and your mechanic,' " Jay said. "We want to be important to people."
Source: missoulian
JSA: U.S. Jewelry Crime Down 20% in 2007
Crime in the U.S. retail jewelry industry for the first nine months of 2007 dropped about 20 percent in both dollars and the number of incidents, compared to the same period in 2006, John Kennedy, president of the Jewelers Security Alliance, has told JCK. The JSA tracks crime in the jewelry industry on an ongoing basis.
Robberies declined from 204 in 2006 to 121 this year, with the dollars lost “declining an astonishing 71 percent,” Kennedy said.
No jeweler has been killed during a crime against a jewelry business since March 2006. Ten or fifteen years ago, he noted, 20 or more jewelers were killed annually in the U.S. That dreadful statistic “has been on a steady decrease since,” he said.
Source: jckonline
India : Jewelry export drops over 7.2%
Demand for Indian jewelry in US has declined due to appreciation of Rupee. Exports have also gone down by 7.23 percent from Rs7,563.96 crore last year to Rs7,017 crore in September this year. Weakening of Dollar, might further bring down the profit levels for Indian exporters.Export of gold jewellery in particular dropped from Rs2,157.74 crore to Rs1,746.37 crore, while that of diamond fell 1.73 percent to Rs4,936.18 crore.
Compared to last year, however, the over all export of Gems and Jewelry has gone up 9.41 percent.
Same is the case for imports of diamonds and colored gems, which have declined considerably. In spite of which, on an over all level, the imports have risen by 22.59 percent from Rs28,593.72 crore last year to Rs35,052.78 crore this year.
Source: fibre2fashion
Labeling Jewelry Made in USA
The FTC's Made in USA Policy
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulates the use of "Made in USA" labels on products and advertising. Under the FTC Act, it is illegal to make a Made in USA claim about a product unless it is "all or virtually all" made in America. This means that not only must the final product be made in the United States, but "all or virtually all" of its components must be, too. According to the FTC, that "means that all significant parts and processing that go into the product must be of U.S. origin. That is, the product should contain no — or negligible — foreign content."
That's a little troubling for most of us who make jewelry using pre-made findings and beads, which tend to be imported. Even if you fabricate jewelry completely from sheet metal or wire, some or all of it may have been mined or processed in another country. However, even if your jewelry contains foreign components, you might still be able to market it as made in America - as long as you carefully comply with the FTC's rules.
The first question the FTC asks when determining whether a product is truly American made is whether its "final assembly or processing" occurred in the United States. If you personally make jewelry in a state or territory of the Unites States, then it probably passes this first test.
Next, the FTC requires that no "significant part of the final product" be of foreign origin. Your bead store or supplier should be able to tell you where their components are from. Obviously, if all of your components are originally from the United States, then you have no problem. On the other hand, if all of your components are imported, then it's probably not legal for you to make an "unqualified" Made in USA claim. (We'll talk about "qualified versus unqualified" in a moment.)
What if your jewelry is made from both American and foreign-made components? This is when you need to decide whether the FTC would consider the foreign components to be "significant" or "insignificant" parts of your design. The FTC provides a couple of examples of significant and insignificant parts on its website (link below), but unfortunately neither involves jewelry. Based on those examples, however, I surmise (but this is not a legal opinion) that if you made a beaded necklace from all American-made components except its two crimp beads, you probably could call the design American made. But if the necklace featured an imported pendant, then you probably shouldn't call it American made - even if the beads and other components were all manufactured in the United States.
Qualified Made in USA Claims
If you're in doubt about whether your jewelry contains "significant" foreign made parts, but you'd still like to call it American made, your safest option may be to make a qualified claim rather than an unqualified claim. An unqualified claim is one that only says "Made in USA," "Made in America," "American made," or something similar. A qualified claim contains additional information telling consumers that some components are foreign. According to the FTC, one example of a qualified claim is "Made in USA of U.S. and imported parts." As long as you're being truthful, you probably have less chance of violating the FTC rules if your claim is qualified.
Assembled in America Claims
Another option is to label your jewelry "Assembled" in American rather than "made" there. The FTC allows this kind of claim where a product's "principal assembly takes place in the U.S. and the assembly is substantial." I think this would probably apply to most handmade American jewelry, but be careful about making this claim if you use any components that themselves were handcrafted or "assembled" in another country. Also, consider how you feel about referring to your work as "assembly" from a marketing perspective. Most independent American jewelry makers consider themselves to be crafters, artisans, or artists - not merely assemblers.
How Best to Protect Yourself
The FTC is concerned about consumers being mislead or deceived, so your best bet is to be as truthful and up-front about your jewelry as possible. It is important for potential customers to know that your jewelry is handmade and not cheaply imported, but most people will not be put off by your use of some foreign components. In fact, many people actually prefer imported stones and beads because they seem more "exotic." On the other hand, customers may be afraid that imported findings and other mass-produced parts are of poor quality. You can avoid that problem by using only high-quality components (whether they're imported or not), and describing their quality accurately to your customers.
Please be aware that this article is for informational purposes only and is not a legal opinion. Always use your best reasonable judgment about how to label and describe your jewelry. The FTC, unfortunately, does not "pre-qualify" products for Made in USA status, but you can read through their entire publication on complying with the rules for further guidance:
Complying with the Made In the USA Standard (FTC)
If you have questions or comments about this topic, feel free to post them in the Jewelry Making forum.
You may also be interested in these publications, available through Amazon.com:
The Law (In Plain English) for Crafts
Oct 22, 2007
A model with wrenches for jewelry walks the runway
the Jeremy Scott Spring 2008 fashion show
at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week
at Smashbox Studios in Culver City, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007.
(AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
Jewelers Mutual Earns A+ Credit Rating
For the 21st consecutive year, Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company has earned an A+ Superior rating from credit rating agency A.M. Best.
The A+ Superior rating reflects Jewelers Mutual overall financial strength, its reputation as the nation's leading insurance company specializing in jewelry insurance and the jewelry industry, and consistent profitability, Jewelers Mutual said in a statement. In its remarks regarding the rating, A.M. Best recognized Jewelers Mutual's focus and adherence to its core competency, well-diversified geographic scope including all 50 states and Canada, and extensive loss control programs. They also commended Jewelers Mutual for enrolling commercial policyholders in the Jewelers' Security Alliance.
"Receiving the A+ Superior rating from A.M. Best is never taken for granted," said Darin Kath, president and chief executive officer of the Neenah, Wisc.-based insurance agency. "To receive this rating each year, we must demonstrate our financial strength and pass A.M. Best's strict scrutiny. Receiving this rating for 21 years says a great deal about Jewelers Mutual's commitment to remaining a strong market for its customers."
Source: jckonline
Leavenworth artist makes jewelry at home from scraps
He has a home, complete with a wife and pets, and he even owns his own business.
That business is a handmade jewelry store called Bright Eyes, and usually, it does well enough to keep food on the table for Cox and his wife, Maria. But Cox will be the first to admit that there are times when the couple have been on a strict diet of bologna and water.
“I deal in a luxury item,” Cox said.
When the economy is good, business is good. But when it’s not, Cox said his personal economy suffers as well.
Regardless of the status of his bank account, Cox said that he feels extremely fortunate to be able to make a living out of creating art.
And create he does.
Every day, Cox heads to his basement to cut copper, smash silver and fire finished pieces of finery.
Out of the comfort of his own home, the metalsmith is able to produce necklaces, bracelets, earrings, bowls and wall pieces.
The work is slow — an average necklace takes three days to complete — but that’s because Cox makes everything by hand. From the patterned metal on his bracelets to the chains on his necklaces, Cox said that every inch of his work is created by him personally.
“It all starts as scrap (metal),” he said.
That means that what is now dangling from someone’s ear may once have been a salad fork or a strand of copper wire.
From the scraps, Cox melts the metal into blocks and then cuts, shapes and works the blocks to create whatever comes to mind. Cox stressed that, to him, it is extremely important to continuously try new things and to steer clear of repetition — something that his methods allow him to do quite easily.
“So far, (I have) been able to avoid that,” Cox said. “It’s all one of a kind.”
Because of his work’s originality, Cox said that his displays often draw large crowds at art contests. That was definitely the case at this year’s First City Festival art competition, which featured much of the top artistic talent from the Leavenworth area.
There, Cox beat out approximately 20 competitors, including Roojeanne Hartel and Pat Ann Black — who finished second and third, respectively — and was named the most talented artist of them all.
Cox said his main motivation for entering the contest was to give his work some exposure, and he conceded that he was very surprised to win.
“Considering the competition that was there, I was tickled with the win,” he said.
However, in typical artist fashion, Cox insisted that he still has a lot of room to improve.
Steve Cox works metal into the proper shape for a piece of jewelry at a shop he has set up inside his Leavenworth home. Cox won the First City Festival art competition in September. “Considering the competition that was there, I was tickled to win,” he said.
Source: ljworld
Zale Corp. is working to return to its roots - affordable jewelry
Zale, based in Irving, Texas, which operates 2,300 jewelry stores in malls and outlets in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, is trying to get back to its roots: Selling affordable jewelry to the average American mall shopper.
Zale tried going upmarket a couple of years ago but failed. Tiffany & Co. might be able to sell flawless pink diamonds surrounded by 102 hand-set round diamonds, but Zale didn’t quite have the same polish.
Recently, three hedge funds - Citadel Investment Group, SAC Capital Advisors LLC and Breeden Partners - bought more than 18 percent of Zale’s stock and talked to management about its strategy. The investors think that the stock is undervalued and that Zale is capable of generating good cash flow, though much depends on its success in the holiday season.
“If you take it in a bigger picture, mall traffic has been declining well over a year, gas prices are up 20 percent.... People are nervous about the job market and mortgage-rates adjustments,” said KeyBanc Capital Markets analyst Jeffrey Stein.
That consumer sentiment hasn’t helped Zale’s stock, which is trading around $23, valuing the company at $1.1 billion. Shares hit a year low of $19.89 Aug. 28, well below the 52-week high of $31.72 reached last November.
Zale has too much inventory and has lost its market-leading position to British jeweler Signet Group PLC, the operator of U.S. store Kay Jewelers. It also has several store brands - Zales, Gordon’s, Zales Outlet, Peoples Jewelers and Mappins Jewelers - which complicates plotting a broad, cohesive strategy.
History also isn’t on Zale’s side. Between 2002 and 2005, its chief executive, Mary Forte, tried to introduce high-fashion silver and gold jewelry to compete with the likes of Tiffany. Consumers weren’t having it. Holiday sales suffered, and Forte, among others, was forced to quit.
Zale’s vice president and treasurer, David Sternblitz, said that Zale aims to keep only brands that meet or exceed corporate average returns. He declined to discuss any potential asset sales, but with high-end business Bailey Banks & Biddle already sold, another candidate could be the kiosk brand Piercing Pagoda, which some say doesn’t fit the company’s new portfolio revisions.
Zale executives said that an unspecified new product line will be offered in time for the holidays. The company is reissuing the popular “Journey” diamond pendant, which rival De Beers sells versions of at higher prices.
Source: journalnow
Get Rocked Inc. provides in-home jewelry parties
And if Julianne Paulsen and her partner Dawn Farrell have their way, a lot more people will be wearing them courtesy of their new venture, Get Rocked Inc., a nationwide and local in-home jewelry party business.
Paulsen, who has been in the jewelry business for many years and is part owner of Rocks the Jewelers in Virginia, and Farrell, a nationally ranked top in-home party professional, got Get Rocked off the ground earlier this year after several years of planning.
The duos web site, www.getrocked.biz, was the final piece of the puzzle.
“We came up with the concept because we both love jewelry and we thought it would be a good idea to mesh jewelry with in-home parties,” Paulsen said. “We have had so much interest in our site that we’re already on the second page of Yahoo (search) in the number one slot.”
Paulsen also said the business affords individuals interested in becoming consultants a chance to make a part-time living selling top quality jewelry in a very friendly atmosphere — people’s homes.
“A lot of people don’t really trust jewelers or know enough about it,” she said. “What better way to buy (jewelry) than in your house from a friend.”
The name of the business, she added, sums up the team’s motto.
“When someone looks at your hand and sees a big diamond they say, ‘look at that big rock.’ So we wanted to ‘rock’ everybody,” said Paulsen.
The concept behind the business is fairly straight forward — independent consultants can buy various size jewelry kits from Get Rocked, ranging in price from $250 to $3,400, and then put on a party with friends or co-workers to sell the items.
The kits include all the literature, advertising items, business cards, catalogs, displays, ring sizers, educational material and manuals a prospective consultant would need to put on the party.
And, of course, it includes the jewelry.
Consultants are buying the jewelry at cost, Paulsen said, and “they really don’t have to sell a ton of jewelry to make money.”
And Get Rocked is unique in that the items are all top of the line and “fine” jewelry compared to other similar businesses that specialize in less-then top quality items, Paulsen said.
“We want people to be able to wear art,” she added.
Consultants also have a chance to earn discounts on their own jewelry purchases.
Paulsen said Get Rocked has a product catalog that features over 1,200 different items ranging from rings, slides, earrings, bracelets, pendants, anklets and other items.
And while Get Rocked is a good way for jewelry lovers to make a little extra cash, it is also a concept that can be used by foundations or similar entities for fundraising efforts.
And that was another reason why the two women started the business.
“We felt a need to help in the community,” she said.
For example, Get Rocked will have a booth at the annual “Women Rock for Breast Cancer” fundraising event Nov. 3 at Spirit Mountain in Duluth.
So far, Paulsen said, business has been good, with consultants coming from Minneapolis and other cities in Minnesota, and Philadelphia, Arizona, Las Vegas.
“We’re having a lot of fun with it,” Paulsen said. “And I’m shipping out everyday.”
Source: virginiamn
Oct 21, 2007
Stringing gemstones as gifts turns into profitable business
She soon started stringing gemstones as gifts.
Then, people began buying pieces literally off her neck.
Suddenly, she was selling to boutiques in Naples, Fla., and Baltimore.
Now, the spunky, fashionable 45-year-old mother of three teenagers is working with the Home Shopping Network, designing her own line for the show.
"I just make things I want to wear," she says.
But her best work remains in a tiny Powell showroom that you can visit by appointment only. (Check it out online at debguyot.com.)
Guyot's designs feature gemstones -- not beads. They're sophisticated with a little funk, and each piece is different. She hates making any piece more than once and relishes making custom pieces to match outfits.
Her success, she says, is "a God thing."
Source: dispatch
Oct 17, 2007
Ivanka Trump Sparkles With Jewelry Line
Many people recognize Ivanka Trump as the daughter of famous parents, real estate billionaire Donald Trump and international jetsetter Ivana Trump.
But she has also made a name for herself, briefly as a model and more recently as a businesswoman with the family company. Now she's launching a project of her own, a jewelry line that bears her name. It was a chance for her to combine her business expertise with her love for all that sparkles.
"My mother, she's always loved jewelry," Trump told The Early Show co-anchor Julie Chen. "That's something she definitely passed on to me. I never thought of it as a business. I always thought of it as just for fun, but it's great when you can combine those two things."
Trump, 25, opened her first boutique on 62nd Street and Madison Avenue and will soon be opening boutiques in Las Vegas and Japan. The inspiration for this very expensive jewelry line is none other than her mother.
"Much to the chagrin of my father and all subsequent boyfriends of my mother, she's always loved jewelry," Trump said. "That's something she definitely passed on to me."
Trump's pieces range in price $750 to several million dollars. The line contains engagement rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets. She showed Chen a white agate cocktail ring that costs around $4,000, as well as an engagement ring that cost $2.5 million.
"I have been having fun with the design pieces," she said. "We did a lot with tassels, so the earrings I'm wearing are part of our collection. We (went) with a diamond necklace bracelet over there. It's what appeals to my mother's friends, my age friends, really across the spectrum. There's really a range within our line, and we wanted that so that everyone of all ages could really afford our pieces."
Trump, who was recently featured on a sexy cover of Harper's Bizarre, is also moving up in her father's company. She was recently named director of Trump gaming company in Atlantic City. She also serves as the vice president of development and acquisitions and enjoys her roles as business mogul and sex symbol.
"Now that I have my feet wet, or my whole body wet, I'm much more confident," she said. "I can have a little fun with that duality and do something like take a picture like that without being too self-conscious."
Source: cbsnews
Oct 14, 2007
Amman, Jordan: Lama Hourani Jewelry
At first, the etched designs on the necklaces, earrings, bangles and cufflinks look like fish skeletons, tiny lizards, cactuses, even stylized camels. But on closer inspection, they resemble hieroglyphics, a primitive language inscribed in gleaming metal. This is the language of Lama Hourani, a young Jordanian jewelry designer.
She says that those mysterious echoes of visual and historical recognition are her preferred mode of communication with her intended audience: the stylish, mainly young Arab women who buy her jewelry.
“The designs are simply symbols, my own calligraphy,” Ms. Hourani said. “They usually remind people of things they’ve seen in the natural world, in the desert. I’ve always been fascinated with Jordanian culture, and I wanted to find my own way to present it to the world.”
Ms. Hourani, 28, who is the daughter of a prominent Jordanian political scientist, Hani Hourani, studied jewelry design in Vicenza, Italy. Since her return home to Amman three years ago, she has been playfully expanding on traditional Arab metalworking methods with whimsical, almost naïve-looking designs drawn from the Jordanian landscape and wildlife, usually wrought in silver and more rarely in copper or bronze. Her choice of materials, too, is intended as homage to modern Jordan’s Bedouin heritage, Ms. Hourani said.
“Jordanians used to measure social status by how much silver a person owned, and in general all the Bedouin people are very proud of their silver work,” Ms. Hourani said.
Ms. Hourani sells her work at the Foresight Art Center, a spare little gallery near the Four Seasons Hotel in central Amman. Ms. Hourani is at her best with pared-down pieces: earrings made from smooth, hammered copper plates, eye-catching in a mass of dark ringlets, or silver cufflinks in Ms. Hourani’s signature lizard-skeleton design.
Prices range from 20 Jordanian dinars, or $28 at 0.72 dinars to the dollar, for a small pendant to dangle from a watch band to 2,500 Jordanian dinars, $3,500, or more for Ms. Hourani’s range of collectors’ items. Her jewelry is sold at several hotels, as well as at the Foresight Art Center, between Fifth Circle and Sixth Circle in downtown Amman.
Source: nytimes
Gold, platinum prices continue surge
Platinum prices soared in part due to issues over supply. Anglo Platinum, the world's biggest platinum producer, was affected by power outages in South Africa, the firm told the news source. Dealers, however, said it might be difficult to sustain the high price, expecting it to pull back to around $1,375 per ounce.
Platinum also got a boost from a surge in gold prices on Thursday due in part to the weakening U.S. dollar and firm oil prices.
Gold's spot price in London stood at $747.10-$747.90 per troy ounce compared with $750.40-$751.20 in New York on Thursday, when it rose as high as $753.60, its highest since January 1980, according to Reuters.
Investment bank Morgan Stanley stated its 2008 gold-price forecast at $800 per ounce, anticipating that strong global growth and spreading inflation problems would benefit the metal.
The bank told Reuters that growth in gold demand, particularly from an expanding middle class in the developing world, would continue to drive gold prices, despite inflation and dollar concerns temporarily taking the spotlight.
Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley said it was leaving its previous forecast for 2007 gold prices intact at $680 per ounce, but lowered its silver price to $13.30 per ounce from $13.80 per ounce, and placed the 2008 forecast at $15 per ounce.
"Silver prices have been weighed down by economic uncertainty...specifically, silver's exposure to industrial demand has made prices vulnerable to general economic growth concerns stemming largely from fears concerning a U.S. growth slowdown," the bank said.
Source: nationaljewelernetwork
Joy in jewelry, less in law
Garr specializes in hand-crocheted jewelry, a genre that dates to the Victorian Era and is, she says, "a traditional art that is lost, but not dead."
A self-described "recovering lawyer," Garr left the law business about five years ago to pursue her own enterprise, A. Garr Creation, and she hasn't looked back.
"I like to think that before, I was in the unhappy business," Garr says, "but now I'm in the happy business."
Garr has been making her jewelry, which she describes as having "traditional technique with contemporary style," for 10 years. Her materials include glass, pearls, crystal, sterling silver, gold, and various semiprecious stones. The multitude of colors featured throughout some of Garr's bracelets and necklaces often flow in elegant patterns, while some pieces are woven in a single color with traces of others interspersed.
In a community where most artists hang their work on a wall, Garr hangs hers on clients; she wouldn't have it any other way.
"I love seeing people wearing my stuff," she says. "Each piece I make is like a little piece of creativity."
Even though her trade is different from that of others in the SoWa Artists Guild, Garr says, she still fits right in.
"We all do different things, but we're still a part of this community," she says. "It's a great mix of people."
 | Artist Andrea Garr says she loves to see pieces of her hand-crocheted jewelry being worn by passersby. |
Source: boston
Jewelry designer posts pieces online
A designer of unique jewelry opened an e-commerce site focusing on gift pieces.
Stacey Krantz, a 1988 graduate of Frederick High School, has been designing original custom jewelry pieces for seven years.
These pieces, which are never duplicated, are made of silver and 18-karat gold and inlaid with gemstones and pearls. The jewelry is subtle, designed in a fashion to not overpower the wearer.
Krantz designs all the jewelry at her 33 N. Market St. studio. She sells the pieces next door at Zaruba & Zaruba, a jewelry gallery owned by Doug Zaruba and son, Andrew.
Krantz also sells gift jewelry — her creations replicated by hand by manufacturer Richards and West of Rochester, N.Y.
Krantz started InBloom Jewelry — the name of the website where she sells her gift jewelry — a few months ago.
Her need to increase sales volume while at the same time having the flexibility to raise her sons, Zachary, 5, and Ryan, 2, figured into her decision.
"I'm married now, and if I want to parent as I am currently doing — working part time — the web is a nice fit because people can buy products any time they want," Krantz said.
Krantz also wanted to eliminate the preparation, time and travel involved in attending trade shows in New York City and Philadelphia.
InBloom allows Krantz to make gift jewelry and reap the benefits of selling it online at a much lower production cost.
Krantz's websites will soon reflect her two types of jewelry.
The other website she operates, Stacey Krantz Jewelry Design, displays her collections of gift jewelry, but that will change.
"After the holidays, the site will focus on my couture pieces," Krantz said.
Couture is the unique, hand-made jewelry pieces the designer-artist creates. The InBloom site allows Krantz to sell gift jewelry at retail prices, and one piece can be duplicated as often as customers want to buy it.
Once the jewelry is duplicated, it is sent back to Krantz for shipping. The whole process takes a few weeks, according to the InBloom site.
"It is going to take a few years to build," she said. "Right now, I ship everything I sell. I want to take care with the packaging. If there is ever a day when there are too many to ship in a day, there are shipping companies in Frederick I can turn to," Krantz said.
To increase awareness, Krantz participated in the First Saturday Gallery Walks in September and October.
"Potential customers can't touch the jewelry online," she said. "The Gallery Walks were a nice way to introduce people to my work and explain the idea behind InBloom."
Krantz is putting 10 percent of all InBloom sales into a bank account for charitable causes.
"Because I am selling at retail prices, I have room to do this," she said.
Krantz's first career was as a social worker.
Her InBloom website details her extensive career, which includes working for Special Olympics, as a domestic violence counselor, and as a Peace Corps volunteer in Africa.
"I notice the trend among Frederick businesses to give back; it's a trend I want to join," she said. "Business is a money exchange. This gives me another level of excitement for my business."
If a person has a social project in mind but needs some funding, this is a way to help, she said.
"I like creativity in solving social problems as well. I'm open to suggestions. I love to brainstorm; it's enjoyable."
Source: fredericknewspost
Rings are displayed at a jewelry fair in Bangkok
Oct 11, 2007
French Say Thieves Took $28.4 Million in Jewelry From Paris Store
A brazen and meticulously planned robbery of the Harry Winston store in central Paris last weekend netted the unknown thieves about $28.4 million in gems, one of the largest jewelry thefts ever, French investigators said Thursday, after an inventory of the raided safe.
An elite Interior Ministry unit, the Serious Crime Squad, has been put on the case, but so far investigators lack leads to either the robbers or their haul.
The police said that four or five masked men entered the Harry Winston boutique at 10 a.m. on Saturday — a shop just around the corner from a police station and mere footsteps from the tourist hordes of Paris’s best-known avenue, the Champs-Élysées.
The robbers, who were armed, overwhelmed the six employees arriving for work, one by one, then calmly ordered them to open the safe. The robbers vanished with a bag full of heavy necklaces and gems, including a large diamond worth $2.8 million. None of the employees were hurt.
“It was a standard holdup, like you see in any store in any neighborhood when a bunch of kids steal money from the cashier,” said one official close to the investigation, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“These guys are professionals. Beginners don’t dare go near top-end jewelers,” the official said, adding that the real test of the gang’s acumen would be whether they could resell the stolen gems on the black market.
Because of the risk of detection, stolen jewels tend to fetch only a fraction of their retail price, sometimes as little as 20 percent, analysts say. French investigators have been circulating information about the stolen merchandise to the police in other countries in the hope of catching the thieves when they approach a prospective buyer.
The Harry Winston robbery dwarfs other recent robberies in France and beyond.
In Paris, the theft of two diamonds worth an estimated $18.5 million at an antiques fair in Paris in September 2004 came closest. The police never found the perpetrators. In 1994, armed robbers stole about $21 million in gems from the jeweler Alexandre Reza in central Paris.
Diamonds are a thief’s close friend, to judge by recent years. There were 253 recorded robberies of French jewelers last year, 20 percent more than in 2005, according to an internal report of the French jewelers’ federation. Some police officers speak with concern of a “new era” of criminality in the luxury sphere.
Luxury outlets also are attracting criminal attention beyond France.
Last month, a gang of moped riders in London robbed the boutique of Luella Bartley, a prominent British designer, and escaped with more than $20,000 worth of handbags. Asprey, a British jeweler, has been robbed several times, losing $800,000 worth of gems on one occasion.
In March, necklaces and rings from Avakian were stolen by a gang on mopeds, while in June tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of shoes were stolen from Roger Vivier.
Source: nytimes
Jewelry designers attend trade show in Providence
Several hundred jewelry designers and crafters came to Providence this week for a trade show at the Rhode Island Convention Center. Sponsored by the Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America, the show was geared to matching up the owners of small jewelry businesses with suppliers and manufacturers.
Attendees sifted through strands of beads and semiprecious stones, examined new jewelry-making tools, and were able to take production classes and seminars on the business aspects of the craft.
MJSA revived its Providence show last year after a five-year hiatus.
MJSA runs shows and training sessions for industry members and speaks for the industry on trade matters and legislative issues. The association represents more than 1,900 jewelry companies around the country.
Joanne Pinto, left, of J.Leslie Designs of New Jersey, picks out colored stones with Elaine Cyr, of Cranston, who is working with A to Z Bohemian Glass Inc. of New York, yesterday at the show.
The Providence Journal / Steve Szydlowski
LISA BETH'S GOLD JEWELRY TO BE FEATURED AT THE VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS FREDERICKSBURG ARTIST TAKES THE GOLD AT RICHMOND FAIR
Lisa Beth, a Fredericksburg goldsmith, is one of 14 jewelry artists whose work will be featured at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond this weekend.
The Fine Jewelry Fair is a new addition to the museum's annual "Fine Arts & Flowers" event. Featured jewelry artists hail from Maine to Louisiana and offer one-of-a-kind items available for purchase.
Beth, who has a studio at LibertyTown Arts Workshop in Fredericksburg, has practiced her craft here since 1995. Nature and insects are the inspiration for her realistic jewelry pieces, which are created in high-quality gold.
"I had recently had someone suggest that I title myself an aurum-entomologist," Beth, who said she's honored to have her work included in the exhibit, wrote in an e-mail to The Free Lance-Star.
For the main "Fine Arts & Flowers" exhibit, members of the Garden Club of Virginia and the Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs have created 50 floral designs offering interpretations of masterworks from the museum collection.
The event, which runs through Sunday, includes a variety of displays and activities--luncheons, lectures, demonstrations, guided tours, book signings and more.
Featured experts and celebrities include popular floral designer Ron Morgan of San Francisco; Judith Blacklock of London, author and creator of arrangements for the British royal family and prime minister; and Dan Hinkley of Indianola, Wash., contributing editor at Horticulture magazine and gardening correspondent on the "Martha Stewart Living" television show.
As part of the event, a free family offering titled "Nature's Treasures" will be held Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m., with activities for children ages 4 to 12. There will be music, crafts, storytelling, demonstrations, refreshments and more. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Source: fredericksburg
Zale Designs Jewelry for Charity Gala
Operation Smile, a non-profit organization that provides free reconstructive surgery to children around the globe suffering facial deformities, celebrated its 25th Anniversary Gala Oct. 5 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills with a star-studded event that included Jessica Simpson, Molly Simms, John Salley, and Apollonia. For the occasion, Zalemark, Inc. and Steven Zale, known for his celebrity-endorsed jewelry collections, designed an exclusive necklace.
The necklace is hand fashioned with nature inspired gold wire working to accent a very rare 54-ct. Brazilian Opal. The wire gold working was encrusted with prong set vibrant green Columbian emeralds totaling 4.55 cts. The leaves of the piece are pave set with round brilliant diamonds totaling 4 cts. The necklace was valued at $35,000.
In addition, Zale created four variations of a unique pendant symbolizing Operation Smile and its mission. The designs range from sliver and 14k gold-plated to solid platinum and 18k gold set with pave diamonds. Superstar Jennifer Holliday was presented with the latter pendant as she left the stage after her performance.
As seen on Access Hollywood nationally, the climax of the evening came when Zale and music icon Apollonia, picked the lucky winner of the piece of jewelry designed by, Steven Zale and gifted to Operation Smile.
Operation Smile supports international and local in-country medical missions to 24 partner countries. Since its start in 1982, the volunteers of Operation Smile have medically treated 98,000 children and young adults around the world.
Source: jckonline