Arthur Gleim, 91, Prominent California Jeweler

Arthur Gleim, of Palo Alto, Cal., died November 26. He was 91. Gleim, whose father Frederick founded Gleim the Jeweler in 1931, was a well-known fixture in the jewelry industry, just as his business—today comprised of three stores—is a fixture in Palo Alto.

Gleim gave generously of his time to the industry, having served as president of the American Gem Society, the California Jewelers Association, and Jewelers of America.

Gleim sat on the Gemological Institute of America Board of Governors from 1961 to 1966 and then again from 1970 to 1981. He sreved as GIA chairman from 1974-1981. And he made Governor emeritus on July 29, 1985. To date, he remains the only member of the industry to have held all of those positions.

“He and Dick [Richard T.] Liddicoat were very close friends from the time Dad took his GIA classes in the mid-1950’s,” says his daughter, Georgie Gleim, current president of Gleim the Jeweler.

Arthur Gleim is well remembered in the industry for his sense of responsibility and ethics, as well as his willingness to reach out and help others.

“He loved the jewelry industry and I think his most important rule was to do something because it was the right thing to do. But one thing he didn’t believe in was complaining," Georgie told JCK, noting that one of her father’s oft-repeated sayings was, “If you had problems with any kind of organization, then you owed it to that organization to be part of the solution.”

Arthur Gleim lived that belief. In addition to holding the abovementioned offices, he also served as a director of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, the Jewelry Industry Council (now called the Jewelry Information Center), and a chair of the AGS Trustees. He was a member of the Jewelers Research Group, and member of the Carat Club. He wrote the original AGS Appraisal Guidelines, and also served as president of the Northern California Guild of AGS.

Gleim was always willing to try new things in the business, says Georgie. “For instance, we had three diamond cutters in our shop at one time. He acquired the world’s largest carved emerald, and was one of the pioneers in estate jewelry—buying directly from the public decades before it became the thing to do.

Gleim was also remembered for helping others, and, as his many awards and commendations in the industry prove, his efforts didn’t go unrecognized.

“He was always willing to give a hand to someone starting out, and helped start a number of careers in the jewelry industry by giving them a job, whether or not they had experience,” says Georgie. Among those to whom he gave shop space, launching his US career, was Andreas von Zadora-Gerlof, now recognized as one of the premier gemstone carvers and artists in the world, she adds.

Gleim received the American Gem Society’s prestigious Robert M. Shipley Award in 1980—and was especially proud to be able to be the one to present the same award to Georgie in 1999. He won the received the CJA’s Robert B Westover Award for Meritorious Service in 2004, and received the 1975 Meritorious Service Award from the Golden Nuggets of Southern California, an organization of traveling sales representatives.

In addition to his work in the jewelry industry, he and Marjorie, his wife of more than 60 years, have been ardent supporters of a variety of charitable organizations in their own community. They met when she took a job as “temporary Christmas help” in the store in Nov, 1941, married shortly thereafter, and have been pillars of the Palo Alto community every since.

Among the local programs the Gleims have supported are Avenidas’ La Comida program, which offers inexpensive or free meals to seniors on budgets, the local Little League, local schools, and Stanford University Hospital.

Gleim never formally “retired,” says Georgie. In 1985, she became president of Gleim the Jeweler, but her father remained active in the business, gradually tapering down his level of involvement over the years.

Gleim is survived by Marjorie, Georgie, son-in-law George Schumann, two grandchildren, Jared and Lisa, and several nieces and nephews. Two sons, Arthur Jr. and Bruce, preceded him in death.
Source: jckonline

Jewelry Web Site Visits Up 23%

Unique visits to Jewelry Web sites grew by 23.1 percent from Nov. 19 to Nov. 26, which ranks eighth among Web site product categories compared to the same period in the prior year, according to survey by Nielsen Online, a service of The Nielsen Company.

In addition, the Nielsen Online Holiday eShopping Index reports that combined home and work traffic reached 32.5 million unique visitors on Cyber Monday, a 10 percent increase year-over-year. Black Friday's combined home and work traffic of hit 28.8 million, a 13 percent increase year-over-year.

The top 10 categories measured in unique audience growth are as follows:

* Consumer Electronics 72.5%
* Toys/Videogames 72.0%
* Books/Music/Video 63.1%
* Apparel 55.3%
* Home and Garden 45.6%
* Computer Hardware/Software 42.1%
* Shopping Comparison/Portals 32.4%
* Jewelry 23.1%
* Retail 13.2%
* Flowers and Gifts 12.6%
Source: jckonline

Schneirla Joins Tiffany as Chief Gemologist

Tiffany & Co. said Tuesday that Peter C. Schneirla has joined the company as its new chief gemologist. He succeeds Melvyn Kirtley, who has assumed the position of group vice president and managing director of Tiffany's business in the United Kingdom.

Schneirla was most recently executive vice president responsible for worldwide sales at Harry Winston. For many years prior, he specialized in the acquisition and sale of fine gemstones and jewelry for private customers. He is a Graduate Gemologist from the Gemological Institute of America and is a Fellow of the Gemological Association of Great Britain. From 1984 to 1993, Schneirla worked at Tiffany, first as a vice president of its diamond office and ultimately serving as senior vice president of jewelry merchandising and manufacturing.

In Schneirla's new role, he will work closely with customers in U.S. and international markets and serve as the company's media spokesperson on the subject of Tiffany gemstones.
Source: jckonline

Faux jewelry gets its chance to shine this holiday

No room on the credit card for Chopard accessories? No matter. This holiday season, costume jewelry just might be the smartest gift.

With fashion houses such as Yves Saint Laurent, Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior turning out sophisticated designs (some of which cost as much as the real thing), the stigma of fake jewelry is gone. Today it's not uncommon to see women mixing fine and faux.

Even chain stores are producing jewelry with decent heft and stones that don't feel as if they'll come loose after a few wearings.

Brightly colored jewelry will add pop to everybody's favorite party staple, the little black dress. J. Crew has a selection of fabulous 1960s-era Palm Beach pieces that don't seem out of place even for winter. A hand-painted bangle in purple and bubble-gum pink costs $68. With its loud colors and circular pattern, it's all the accessory you need. A dangling cabochon bracelet, $125, with beaded balls that orbit the wrist is also a knockout in bright yellow, a color that will transition into spring.

Encrusted in pearls and red and green stones, Anthropologie's faceted bangles are festive. Try the wide size ($148) layered with an armload of gold bangles.

Even Ann Taylor has fashionable baubles, such as a hinged white enamel bangle ($48) with gold details that look Egyptian and Art Deco at the same time. Try one on each wrist, a la Norma Desmond in "Sunset Boulevard."

Cocktail rings make a perfect conversation piece for a party, and Lia Sophia (http://www.liasophia.com/) has several stunners. A white enamel buckle ring with peridot crystal, $125, is unusual enough to stand the test of time, as is a stair-step-cut crystal ring for $150.

At Forever 21, accessories are cheap enough to buy by the dozen. A gold-colored ring with randomly placed round rhinestones has a nice shape and shine and an even nicer price: $4.80.

One for you, two for me.
Source: delawareonline

Old jewelry gets sold for new hope

Members of the Hardin Clinic's Relay for Life team, clockwise from center, Dr. Carol Greimann, Cheryl Evans, Kim Caprata, Georgette Hogan, and Audrey Wiechman are part of the group that is raising money through a jewelry sale.

Relay for Life helps give cancer patients a new lease on life and now a fundraiser for the organization is giving jewelry a second showing.

"New To You" is being organized by staff at Hardin Clinic who make up a Relay for Life team. They have accepted donations of used jewelry that will be sold during the Hardin Area Chamber of Commerce's open house on Saturday at the depot.

Breast cancer survivor Cheryl Evans said she donated because she wanted to help others. Evans, who has been cancer-free for a year and a half, gave a matching necklace and earrings and a bracelet.

"I think this is a wonderful cause," she said.

Audrey Wiechman also gave.

"I have drawers full of it, why not?" she said. "It's a chance to get rid of it for a good cause."

The staff has hundreds of pieces of jewelry including faux pearl-drop earrings, a Black Hills gold and diamond watch, American Indian beaded key chains, a silver and a turquoise money clip and a belly dancer's jangling necklace.

Dr. Carolyn Greimann said the items will sell for anywhere from $1 to higher prices for more valuable pieces. A local jeweler has agreed to offer suggestions about pricing the pieces of higher quality.

"It might be a great place to get really good finds," Greimann said.

Greimann came up with the idea for the sale.

"I'm really into recycling and this is just another way," she said.

Hardin Clinic does fundraising year-round for Relay for Life. Team captain Alyssa Redden, a licensed practical nurse, said it helps to have so many people willing to help, including Hardin residents and business owners as well as Relay for Life volunteers. The group also holds a rummage sale in early summer.

Greimann said the community has been supportive of the New to You sale, with donations coming from many populations ranging from children in the 4-H Club to a 93-year-old. One of the most touching gifts came from a man who took off his necklace, the only jewelry he owns, Greimann said, and handed it over as a donation.

The Relay for Life volunteers have been cleaning and packaging the jewelry. They've also found creative ways to display it, including hanging necklaces from a laundry rack purchased at a second-hand store. Kim Caprata, a physician assistant at the clinic, is affixing pins and earrings to used cards. Caprata's humor comes through in some of the displays, such as a picture of a dog with huge earrings dangling from its ears.

Big Horn County Attorney Georgette Hogan was one of the major donors. Hogan admitted to being a jewelry fan and thought the sale was a good idea.

"What do you do with jewelry you don't wear anymore?" she said.

After looking through some of the sale items last week, it is likely that Hogan's donation only temporarily emptied out her jewelry boxes.

"I'm definitely going to be a customer, too," she said.

The clinic, a branch of St. Vincent Healthcare, hopes to raise $1,000 toward its Relay for Life contribution. Relay for Life, a function of the American Cancer Society, raises money for research and patient support.

Source: billingsgazette

Black Friday surprisingly strong for jewelers

Several jewelry retailers from across the nation who spoke with National Jeweler today say sales were higher than expected over Black Friday weekend, while others project a strong holiday season with the majority of sales in the last two weeks before Christmas.

At Evan James Ltd. in Brattleboro, Vt., owner Evan James Deutsch says Black Friday is usually just a normal sales day for him; however, this year traffic was high, which he credits in part to the promotions he created for the store's recent anniversary.

"It was an overall good day," Deutsch says, "with lots of enthusiasm and traffic."

Sales were also high on Saturday but dropped off around 2 p.m., Deutsch says, adding that most of the store's holiday sales happen a couple of weeks before Christmas.

At Allen's Jewelers in Albany, Ga., owner Steve Allen says Black Friday is typically not a big deal for his store either because it's far away from the mall; however, Saturday's sales were much higher than normal.

Allen says his jewelry is more expensive this year compared with 2006, but hasn't heard complaints.

"Most people aren't barking at price points," he says.

Allen also says he cut back on inventory this year and added lower price-point pieces to balance his stock.

Aaron Penaloza of C. Aaron Penaloza Jewelers in San Antonio, Texas, also had an unusually successful Black Friday with "wonderful" sales, followed by a strong Saturday.

At Farmer's Jewelry in Lexington, Ky., owner Bill Farmer Jr. says Black Friday was an "excellent" day for his store too and estimated that sales were up over last year.

"Right now, I'm more optimistic than I thought I would be," he says.

While nationally retailers reported slower sales on big-ticket items, Farmer says that wasn't the case in his store. He says diamonds and engagement ring mountings were top sellers over the weekend, which he notes was unusual for this time of year and not necessarily what his store had been pushing.

At Van Rensselaer Jewelers in Billings, Mont., owner Steven Morse reports that big-ticket items also sold well in his shop over the weekend, including the sale of a 2-carat pink diamond. Other top-selling items included diamond pendants and earrings.

Morse says sales were up overall, and he anticipates colored stones—both diamonds and other gems—to be hot sellers this holiday season.

Out West, jewelers didn't fare as well, with Alvin Goldfarb Jeweler owner Steven Goldfarb saying the whole weekend was kind of a "non-event" for his Bellevue, Wash., store.

He says sales were on par with weekends earlier in the month, and that big-ticket items were not moving. His top sellers were Roberto Coin yellow- and white-gold pieces containing small diamonds and retailing for $1,500-$2,000.

While Goldfarb says overall his business is the same or down very slightly from last year, he expects watches to be big sellers this holiday season, which he credits to good marketing by watch companies.

John Anshus of Anshus Jewelers in Menomonie, Wisc., also feels watches will be a hot item this season. He sold "a little bit of everything" over the weekend and says higher-priced items won't move until the last two weeks before Christmas because of the uncertain economy.

"People don't want to part with their money," Anshus says.

Allen Brevelle of Brevelle's Jewelry in Lafayette, La., also says his Black Friday sales were about the same as last year, which weren't too exciting.

"It's a little bit better than a typical day," he says, adding that he projects average holiday sales.

At Susan Eisen Fine Jewelry and Watches, with two locations in El Paso, Texas, owner Susan Eisen says Black Friday is never big for her because many people flock to the malls. This year, sales were standard, she says, adding that it's hard to say what the hottest sellers will be for Christmas because most of her sales occur just a couple of weeks before the holiday.

At Castiglione Jewelers in Gloversville, N.Y., owner Louis Castiglione says he was busy on Black Friday, but it's not the mayhem the media paints it to be.

As an independent retailer, Castiglione says he caters to special occasions, which makes it difficult to evaluate business on a daily basis.

"When we look at Christmas, this fourth quarter, so much of it happens the last week or two weeks before [the holiday]," he says, adding that men are classically last-minute shoppers, but since some have already made purchases at his store, his sales numbers could be skewed.

Overall, Castiglione projects solid holiday sales.

"Our product is geared to more of an affluent customer who is less apt to feel the pinch of the economy this quickly as people with smaller budgets," he says.

Georgia Burke of B.C. Burke Fine Jewelry in Orland, Maine, says Black Friday sales were about the same as last year.

"It hasn't been great," she says, pointing to her freestanding store, when most people shop at the malls on Black Friday.

She says people are spending less on individual pieces this year and credits it in part to expensive gas prices.

Despite these setbacks, Burke anticipates a good holiday season.

"We are just kind of going with the flow," Burke says. "I have a feeling it will be good.
Source: nationaljewelernetwork

Selling Jewelry Is Mostly Pitfalls, Not Much Glitter

IT may be a cameo handed down from your grandmother or your father’s 1940s Hamilton watch or a ring you bought years ago that you no longer wear and now want to sell. While buying jewelry, whether at department or specialty stores, craft fairs or on eBay, is quick and easy, selling it is often slow, difficult and confusing.

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Sotheby’s

Gary Shuler is director of the jewelry department at Sotheby’s in New York City.

“In general, people’s expectations of what their jewelry is worth are higher than they are aware of” in relation to its true value, warned Cheryl Woodland, a certified gemologist and appraiser in Golden, Colo., who has 15 years experience. The market price for a piece of jewelry, she said, is “what a willing buyer is going to pay; there is no Blue Book for selling a piece of jewelry.”

Many factors affect an object’s current market value, from fashion trends to provenance — a piece’s previous owners, the experts say. A piece owned by someone famous, or with a historical association, may have much greater value than an equal piece with no such back story.

“It is difficult to sell your jewelry,” said Christopher Del Gatto, a founder and chief executive of Circa, a six-year-old concern with stores in Manhattan, Palm Beach, Chicago, San Francisco, Washington, and Hong Kong, that sells only preowned, or estate, jewelry.

“You don’t think about selling your jewelry until you have to do it, and it’s tough to find a liquid market for a high-end item,” he said. His firm will write a check on the spot, whether the item is a 75-point diamond or a seven-carat, and it completes a deal with more than 80 percent of clients who approach it, he said. Circa also offers a price in writing, allowing sellers to compare offers from other outlets for a few weeks before making a decision. Sellers from around the world mail their jewelry to the firm or e-mail images.

Both Mr. Del Gatto and Ms. Woodland caution would-be sellers against irrational exuberance when hearing an appraised value of a piece, reminding them that its sales value will be much less. “This business is fraught with misnomers,” Mr. Del Gatto said. The appraised value, he adds, is “the retail value for insurance purposes.”

Gary Shuler, director of the jewelry department at Sotheby’s in New York, agreed that most people don’t understand the difference between the real price and the appraised value. “We might get half to one-third to even one-quarter of what you’ve had the item appraised for,” he said. “Everyone has an inflated idea of the value of their possessions.”

Sotheby’s sells jewelry that has a minimum value of $5,000, and adds a negotiated seller’s premium, which is a percentage of the sale price. A buyer’s premium also applies, adding an additional amount up to 25 percent of the price. But just because a piece is valuable monetarily may not mean there is an eager buyer for it, Mr. Shuler said.

“I send people elsewhere all the time,” he said. “The key is, Are we doing you a service? Are we the best people to sell it for you? We don’t make a market. We reflect markets. And we don’t want the piece back. We want it sold.”

Rahul Kadakia, senior vice president and head of jewelry in New York for Christie’s, said: “There is no rule as to the minimum value for the inclusion of a lot in an auction. We also include exquisite examples of vintage jewels and also items with special provenance which may not necessarily hold the highest estimates in the catalogue.”

“Every now and then, we also see jewels and stones that could well be worth a lot of money but if the style is not suited for a certain market or geographic region, it may be difficult to sell,” Mr. Kadakia said.

Occasionally, he said, “we see items that are really not suited for the sales that we put together and we refer clients to local auction houses or even dealers who might handle these jewels. If something is very suited for the European, Asian or Middle Eastern markets, we would suggest the inclusion of these jewels at our sale centers in Geneva, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Milan, Hong Kong or Dubai.”

Gloria Lieberman, director of the jewelry department at Skinner Inc., an auction firm based in Boston with a second sales room in Bolton, Mass., said her firm is one of the few relatively inclusive auction houses.

With two quite different sales rooms and two different audiences, “we make the decision where it should sell,” she said. “I have things for $300 or $500 that are still sophisticated, maybe out of silver or ivory with a certain design quality. Our consignments come from everywhere.”

Just as styles and tastes change, so do the underlying value of stones and metals. “Gold right now is twice the value of 10 years ago,” Ms. Woodland said. Sometimes, a piece can be sold simply for its scrap value.

Impatience will literally cost the seller dearly because the faster the seller needs the money, the lower the price that will be offered, as low as 50 percent of wholesale, she added.

The experts all agreed that before someone even considers selling a piece of jewelry, whether for scrap, at auction or to a local retailer, that person should do research and try to determine its current value. A trained professional certified by the American Society of Appraisers can help.

Kristine Seen, an administrative assistant in Fort Collins, Colo., has learned how tough it can be to sell even 18-karat jewelry studded with diamonds. Her collection, an appraiser told her, could fetch $4,500, a sum she needed to pay the legal fees after her recent divorce. When a local jeweler offered her $800 for all of it, “I laughed at him,” she said. Listing her objects on Craigslist brought a raft of clearly fraudulent buyers.

“This was very much a discouraging experience,” she said.

One other option is consigning the piece with Portero, a three-year-old New York-based online auction firm devoted to luxury objects, including jewelry. The company has completed more than 60,000 auctions. While it sells major names like Harry Winston and Van Cleef & Arpels, it also sells merchandise for as little as $200 or $300.
Source: nytimes

TummyToys receives body-jewelry patent

TummyToys has been granted a patent for its body-jewelry clasping system.

TummyToys' brainchild Melissa Tyler said she created the snap-closure system after customers complained about the discomfort caused by the standard barbell closure available on the market at that time.

TummyToys products are all manufactured and distributed by TummyToys LLC and licensed distributors. They are available in select stores, through Quality Gold and Stuller, and on the TummyToys Web site, Tummytoys.com
Source: nationaljewelernetwork

De Beers Donates to Namibia Mining School

De Beers said it will provide N$2.1 million ($313,658) to enable the Namibia Institute of Mining & Technology to acquire the buildings for its Northern Campus in Tsumeb.

NIMT is Namibia’s premier institution for artisan training. In its first year, the Northern Campus enrolled 64 students and this number is expected to grow to 214 by 2009. This is the second NIMT campus, with the main one in Arandis.

De Beers chairman Nicky Oppenheimer and minister of Mines and Energy Errki Nghimtina officiated at the inauguration ceremony.

During the event, Oppenheimer announced the creation of the De Beers Namibia Fund through which De Beers will support Corporate Social Investment in Namibia. He noted that NIMT was, in fact, the first beneficiary of the new De Beers Namibia Fund.
Source: jckonline

Illinois Auctioning Off Unclaimed Jewelry On eBay

Online retailers were offering deep discounts Monday to kick-start their holiday shopping season.

But if you are looking to buy your loved one jewelry for the holidays, the state of Illinois has a deal for you.

For years, many pieces of jewelry have been sitting inside safety deposit boxes, never reclaimed by their owners. But thanks to the Illinois Treasurer's Office, someone else will be able to enjoy them.

"One of these items shown has been in state possession for 40 years," said State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias.

Watches, necklaces, rings and more are among the 53 items now up for auction on eBay.

In the past, these items went on the auction block once a year. But this year, instead of traveling to Springfield, potential buyers just have to visit the Web.

Giannoulias said that in a conventional auction in 2006, the state had 150 bidders. But with the first online auction in 2007, they received 34,500 bids on eBay.

The money earned from the sale will be put toward state pensions, but if the owner or heir ever comes forward, they will collect the money.

The jewelry auction ends Dec. 2. Next week's auction will feature rare collectibles.
Source: nbc5

Never Enough Gold Jewelry

Ambrose Evans-Pritchard at The Telegraph.co.uk reports that the U.S. Academy of Sciences calculates that "some 26 percent of all the copper and 19 percent of all the zinc that ever existed in the earth's crust has already been lost to mankind, mostly wasted in milling or smelting or buried in landfills."

Gregory Wilkins, of Barrick Gold, says that the same thing is happening in gold, as "Global mine supply is going to decrease at a much faster rate than people generally believe. Many of the new mines that people are anticipating will never come into production."

Kevin McArthur, chief executive of Goldcorp, is quoting Mr. McArthur as agreeing, and that "global output was on a relentless slide."

The point of the whole thing is that "The era of 'peak gold' has arrived", which is truly momentous, because it means that the "easy to get at" gold has been gotten to, and the rest of the gold left in the earth is harder to get to, and thus the rate at which gold is being discovered, has collapsed when compared with the old days, which is just like the collapse in new discoveries of oil, which is where you get the phrase "peak oil", and they both have crucially to do with how a rising demand growth curve and a falling of supply growth intersect at that place called Lonely Street. Oops! Sorry! That's Elvis Presley!

I mean, falling supply and rising demand intersect at that precise point that is scientifically referred to as "Expensive like you wouldn't freaking believe!" And since everything from fuel to fertilizers to plastics to medicines to everything you can name under the sun is made from oil, then you are going to see inflation in prices like you will not freaking believe, which means that the currency will buy less per unit like you will not freaking believe, which means that people are going to be hungry and broke and miserable and rioting like you will not freaking believe.

And here is where I reveal why I am so insanely bullish on the future of gold, and how I am actually salivating at the prospect of having so much money that I can spend my time gallivanting about in a carefree manner, playing golf, and hiring lawyers to, as my old high school said in its school song, "fight until we have victory, and all our enemies have gone away", which I always thought was kind of a stupid creed, since my enemies could be massing just over that hill in preparation to attack us, and our best course of action is to immediately track them down and kill them all in a frenzied orgy of blood, and then dance like ghouls on their dismembered bodies, swaying to the hypnotic sounds of captivating rhythms on the bass line, but they called me mad! Mad! Hahahaha! I'll show them madness!

But this is not about stupid sanity hearings or about psychiatrists recoiling in horror at what I "see" in their stupid ink blots, or how traitorous neighbors and family members are lying their heads off in their testimony, but about why I am so bullish on gold. Easy. Mr. Evans-Pritchard reports that inflation is hitting gold mining, too, and "Costs are rising at $60 an ounce annually. They will average $460 by next year. From tires to diesel fuel and the geologists' salaries, mine inflation is running at 15 percent."

Inflation of 15 percent! Yow! At that rate, dividing 15% into 72 as per the "Rule of 72", this means that costs will double in about five years! That means that it will cost $920 an ounce to mine gold in five years, which means that gold is selling right now for $140 below the cost of mining gold in five years!

And while supply may be falling, Junior Mogambo Ranger (JMR) Ed S. sent me a posting from the Gold Anti Trust Action Committee that Reuters reported that "Global gold demand in the third quarter rose 19 percent year-on-year to 947.2 tonnes on the back of robust inflows into bullion investment funds and improved jewelry consumption, industry-sponsored World Gold Council (WGC) said on Thursday."

Even more significant, Milling-Stanley said, "The increase in investment demand has replaced jewelry buying as the major source of growth for the third quarter." It was then that I wished if I knew of any time in my whole freaking life when some woman ever said to me, "Don't buy me any more jewelry! Buy gold bullion as an investment, instead!" And I laughed.

The details, in case you are interested, are that they all wanted more jewelry, and that their wishes were answered, in that "Total gold supply for the third quarter was 1,045 tonnes, up 16 percent year-on-year due to significantly increased official-sector sales."

And in a related news item, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that some outfit called Missouri Coin "sold seven times as much gold and silver as it did a few months earlier." Wow! A 700% increase!

And this is seemingly borne out by Junior Mogambo Ranger (JMR) Chad K., who writes, "I went to purchase some silver today. There is now a 4-8 week waiting period and prices cannot be locked in." She says that "I am glad I started listening to you weirdo gold bugs a few years ago and purchased when the dealers actually had some."

Me, too, Chad! Me, too!
Source: dailyreckoning

Damiani Sparkles at Latin Grammy Awards

A total of 13 well-known Latin American music, television, and cinema stars chose to wear Damiani during the eighth annual Latin Grammy Awards held at Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas.

Mexican superstar, actress and singer Lucero, host of the Nov. 8 ceremony was accented with pieces from the jewelry house—including the spectacular Antera earrings and the one-of-a-kind Sombrero ring.

Among the names who sparkled in Damiani were actresses Beatriz Luengo, Alessandra Rosaldo, and actress and former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres. Singer Fanny Lu, who was nominated in two categories, wore Damiani's Ninfea ring.

All the women of Univision Network, host company of the event, also chose Damiani--including Satcha Pretto, Lili Estefan, Pamela Silva, Barbara Bermudo, and Giselle Blondet on the green carpet and while covering the event.
Source: jckonline

India firm acquires local jewelry chain

A jewelry manufacturer and retailer establishing a presence in the United States has acquired the Rogers Ltd. jewelry store chain.

Gitanjali Gems Ltd. purchased the Middletown-based chain for an undisclosed price. Gitanjali, based in Mumbai, India, said in a news release that it has been acquiring jewelry companies in this country to build a retail network.

Jeffrey Lazarow, the former Rogers chief executive officer who will now hold the title of chairman emeritus, said the acquisition "will allow the Rogers organization to more aggressively compete in today's marketplace."

Founded in 1920, Rogers operates 46 stores in 11 states under the Rogers Jewelers and Andrews Jewelers names. Locally, it has stores in The Mall at Fairfield Commons, the Dayton Mall, Towne Mall in Franklin and locations in Xenia and Middletown. The company has 600 employees, including 88 at its Middletown headquarters, according to the story.

The chain will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Gitanjali, but will continue to operate under the Andrews and Rogers names, the company said.
Source: bizjournals

Jewelry, Luxury Web Sites Post Big Gains

Jewelry and luxury goods and accessories Web sites were among the big gainers in October as consumers began their holiday shopping early, according to a comScore Media Metrix survey.

"Holidays were the primary driver of Americans' Web activity during the month," said Jack Flanagan, executive vice president of comScore Media Metrix. "With retailers moving their holiday season promotions earlier and earlier, October now represents the unofficial beginning of the holiday retail season. The surge in traffic to several online retail categories suggests that Americans are already beginning their hunt for holiday bargains."

The jewelry/luxury goods/accessories category was among the top 10 performers in October, with nearly 16.5 million unique visitors, an eight percent increase over the previous year, according to the Reston, Va.-based company. Mall sites rose 13 percent to 30.8 million visitors with the five most visited sites in the category all posting double-digit growth for the month.

Many online retailers also benefited from the Halloween and Sweetest Day promotions during the month.

E-card sites gained 23 percent to reach 33.8 million visitors, making it the top-gaining category for the month. The category was led by the American Greetings Properties with 10.3 million visitors (up 56 percent), followed by Evite.com with 8.2 million visitors (up 31 percent), and Hallmark.com with 5 million visitors (up 20 percent). The flowers/gifts/greetings category saw a 22-percent gain to 35.6 million visitors with PartyCity.com experiencing the largest growth of the category's top sites with a 151 percent jump to 3.5 million visitors.

Amid news of continued toy recalls, traffic to toy sites rose 12 percent to 23.6 million visitors. High demand for hot electronic items helped boost traffic to the consumer electronics category 8 percent to 50.1 million visitors.
Source: jckonline

Swarovski Presents a New Jewelry Line

Swarovski is ready to present a new collection for the autumn/winter 2007 season called Soul of Time: The Epic of Light. It was showcased this past August in Malta, and is not available on the company's web site through a pretty cool slideshow. The collection has some asymmetrical angles and gives a feeling of sort a fairy gone goth a little to me. The creative director explains them as follows:

Nathalie Colin Roblique, Swarovski's Creative Director said, "A study in asymmetry, a search for slightly savage effects, and a desire for irregularity that satisfies a need for authenticity and truth... I wanted to create versatile and nomadic jewellery that never stops moving.

"Alive and sensual," she added, "these jewels can be rolled up or draped. Their fringes echo human gestures and move with the body. Some jewels appear to be abstract sculptures - somewhere between jewellery and art objects - but they are neither narrative nor realistic."

Source: jewelry-weblog

Diamonds and Pearls for Hillary

The Democratic presidential debate in Las Vegas Thursday closed with a question from an audience member that could only have been answered by Hillary Clinton.

“Do you prefer diamonds or pearls?” a young woman asked.

“Now, I know I’m sometimes accused of not being able to make a choice,” Clinton said. “I want both.”

Source: jckonline

New Moissanite jewelry line to launch on HSN

A ring from Josephine Lee's new "Moissanite by Joalan" line, which will debut on HSN on Nov. 20.

New York—Josephine Lee, owner of Joalan Design, will unveil her newest line, "Moissanite by Joalan," exclusively on HSN, which will include rings, earrings and pendants set in 14-karat gold, with prices ranging from $499 to $3,499.

She will be introduced and joined by Bob Thomas, chief executive officer of Charles and Colvard—the sole-source of lab-created Moissanite worldwide—to showcase her line, which will appear on HSN on Nov. 20 at 1 a.m., 10 a.m. and 9 p.m., as well an on the HSN Web site, HSN.com.

Thomas said they are excited to unveil the line.

"Josephine designs every piece of jewelry with our core customer in mind, the self-purchasing woman, and these new pieces demonstrate the incredible brilliance, value, style and beauty that is Moissanite," Thomas said in a pres release.

This launch will only draw more attention to Moissanite, which continues to increase in consumer awareness.

In October, Charles and Colvard issued a tracking survey that revealed the consumer-awareness level of Moissanite was nearly 20 percent, a big step up from January 2007, when there was only a 10.5 percent consumer-awareness level reported, and January 2006, when the level was at 7.8 percent. In addition, roughly 10 percent of respondents indicated they were extremely or very interested in owning Moissanite jewelry versus 3 percent in January 2007 and 2 percent in January 2006.

"These results are quite gratifying and show that our efforts to add doors and our work with retailers on promotional campaigns are having a positive impact on the consumer," Charles and Colvard President and Chief Marketing Officer Dennis Reed said in a media release.
Source: nationaljewelernetwork

Richline Buys Prime Time

The Richline Group, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., said Tuesday that it has purchased gold jewelry manufacturer Prime Time Manufacturing.

“With the price of gold at near record levels, this particular category in fine jewelry will become, strategically, even more important then in the past and Prime Time is an ideal addition to our brands,” said Dennis Ulrich, chief executive officer of Richline.

Prime Time, based in Warwick, R.I., will operate as a stand alone company and continue to be a “manufacturers’ manufacturer,” producing exclusive and proprietary products for its diverse customer base.

Sal Eacuello, Jr., who founded Primetime, in 1988, will be retiring from the industry. “We are proud of our past accomplishments and believe strongly that joining together with Richline ensures a secure and productive future for our employees and customers,” Eacuello said.

Joe Esposito will continue as executive vice president of Manufacturing and Operations and John Antolino will continue as executive vice president of Sales and Merchandising.
Source: jckonline

Former jewelry shop proprietor convicted

A former Menlo Park jewelry store owner faces life in prison after a jury convicted him Friday of plotting to have an employee kidnapped, raped and killed because she rejected his advances.

A Jan. 30 sentencing will conclude Ricardo Zambrano’s second trial. On March 15 of last year, a jury convicted him of conspiracy to rape, kidnapping, kidnapping during a carjacking and felony threats, but deadlocked on conspiracy to commit murder.

On Friday, a second jury found Zambrano guilty of conspiracy to commit murder, which carries a sentence of 35 years to life in prison, said Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.

Prosecutors said Zambrano hired a Fresno man, Alfonzo Gonzales, to kidnap an employee of Zambrano’s at a small jewelry store inside Mi Rancho Market in Menlo Park.

Gonzales kidnapped the woman at gunpoint and drove her to a home in Fresno where she was to be raped and killed, Wagstaffe said. Once at the home, however, the Fresno home’s residents called police and the woman escaped harm.

Gonzales was later sentenced to 35 years to life for his role in the crime.

Wagstaffe called Zambrano “extremely dangerous” and said prosecutors worried that he would have witnesses killed to prevent them from testifying.

“He is willing to do anything to avoid being held accountable, including killing of witnesses,” he said. “He is a dramatic danger to the community.”

During the trial, Zambrano’s attorney Chris Morales argued that the witnesses were unreliable and that Gonzales bore sole responsibility.

Wagstaffe said prosecutors were pleased with the outcome.

“This time, we finally got him,” he said.
Source: examiner

Kmart to remove `lead-free' jewelry from stores in US

Kmart Corp said it will remove all costume jewelry labeled as "lead free" and sold throughout the US after some of the pieces were found to contain the metal.

Most of the jewelry is part of the Accessories brand line, said Kimberly Freely, a spokeswoman for Sears Holdings Corp, Kmart's parent company, in an interview on Saturday from Chicago.

"We removed the jewelry from our Kmart stores nationwide out of an abundance of caution and to keep consumers from being confused," Freely said.

One charm tested by Karla Johnson, manager of the Lead-Safe and Healthy Homes Program of the Marion County Health Department in Indiana, was found to be 52 percent lead.

Johnson discovered the lead in the jewelry after she bought her 18-month-old daughter earrings and a necklace at her local Kmart about a month ago. She tested the jewelry with a hand-held X-ray fluorescent lead analyzer, provided by her job.

As soon as Johnson learned about the lead content she said she contacted Kmart.

When she didn't get a response, she enlisted the help of her friend Janet McCabe, the executive director of Improving Kids' Environment, a nonprofit group that works on lead poisoning and other issues affecting children.

"There's just been so much in the news about high lead content in children's toys and products, we had to do something," McCabe said in an interview.

McCabe bought about 20 sets of jewelry in another Kmart in Indianapolis, some labeled "lead free" and others not. The "lead-free" jewelry had more lead, on average, than the unmarked sets.

Kmart has 1,416 stores in 49 states, Guam, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, according to the company's Web site.
Source: taipeitimes

The fine art of jewelry; Glass Pavilion is the setting for a cutting-edge show

‘Dieg Bou Diar,’ a necklace by Mieke Groot. ( THE BLADE/HERRAL LONG ) Zoom Photo Reprints

It’s thinking that’s definitely outside the treasure chest.

Jewelry that is more often about concept than beautifying the wearer; more about precious creativity and technical skill than precious stones and metals that will hold their market value.

GlassWear: Glass in Contemporary Jewelry, through Jan. 31, is the first show to visit the Toledo Museum of Art’s Glass Pavilion since the building opened in August, 2006 with a display of the museum’s own works. In two of the pavilion’s five galleries, the free exhibit features 130 pieces.

“This is a cutting-edge show for a cutting-edge building,” says Jutta-Annette Page, the museum’s curator of glass.

It is an excellent representation of global styles drawn from Cape Town to Melbourne, Brazil to Japan. Notably absent, however, are local glassmakers. Ursula Neuman, the show’s curator, said she’s not aware of any Toledo glass-art jewelers.

“It is a very special thing for glass artists to think in smaller scale and many of them won’t touch it,” she says. Selecting 60 artists from 150 she invited to submit works, Ursula Neuman, curator of jewelry at the Museum of Arts & Design in Manhattan, created the show in conjunction with the Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim in southwestern Germany. (Schmuck is the German word for jewelry.)

Necklace and bracelet combo by Jacqueline I. Lillie. ( THE BLADE/HERRAL LONG ) Zoom Photo Reprints

“I feel jewelry is very innovative as an art form. And glass is as well,” says Neuman, in Toledo for the exhibit’s recent opening.

The popularity of glass in jewelry has ebbed and flowed during the 4,000 years it has adorned people. The current flow began about 50 years ago in Europe and grew as artists discovered new techniques they could do in their own studios.

“Transparency, color, reflections, separation of images, disruption of geometry, imperceptibility, and optical lightness — it is for these qualities and effects that at certain creative moments I choose to use glass and mirrors,” writes renowned goldsmith Giampaolo Babetto, in the exhibit’s accompanying English-German catalog, GlassWear.

Curator Neuman notes that jewelry has often been stigmatized as trinketry, but an exhibit such as this, which will travel to Germany, New York, and other venues after Toledo, can be an image-enhancer.

‘Victory’ by Pierre Cavalan. Zoom Photo Reprints

“It is not easy to get across to visitors that contemporary jewelry need not continually invoke the classic jewelry tradition of gold, silver, and precious stones,” writes Cornelie Holzach, director of the Schmuckmuseum, in the catalog.

Some of these brooches and necklaces could be worn, such as New Englander Linda MacNeil’s 22 polished and faceted squares of clear glass that catch the eye more than the pair of six-inch diameter white-gold circles, encrusted with diamonds, to which they’re attached.

And it would be a stretch, but an Amsterdam artist’s necklace of golf-ball sized clear-glass beads, interwoven with precise cubes made from tomato-paste cans fashioned by a craftsman she met in a Senegal market, could enhance the shoulders on a rare occasion.

So could a necklace of 100 luminous blue and green, chandelier-like glass droplets, created by a Londoner as she held an image of Dora Maar’s tears in mind. Photographer and painter, Maar was Picasso’s beautiful, sad lover and model in the 1930s and 1940s.

Evert Nijland, at 36 one of the youngest artists here, made a particularly elegant 24-inch necklace of tiny, spring-green glass beads folded into barely-pink fluted forms reminiscent of Art Nouveau

‘Difficult to Swallow,’ a wall installation by Timothy Horn. ( THE BLADE/HERRAL LONG ) Zoom Photo Reprints

“By melting and layering individual fragments of glass, I am able to achieve painterly effects evocative of moods, memories, and places,” writes Jaroslav Kodejs, of the Czech Republic. Indeed, his small, square brooch of glass, silver, and gold, possesses Klimt-like color.

But much in these 25 cases was never intended for the body, notably, the 50-foot-long necklace with giant, hollow glass “beads” strung on black, knotted ship rope, and a how-do-you-keep-that-from-breaking tiara made of slender, lab pipettes made of Pyrex. Nor the necklace made of aggressively jagged bottle-necks.

Two artists use use vials as reliquaries, one to contain dried roses, the other sealing items into laboratory ampoules as reminders of important moments -- dried petals from the artist’s wedding, her cat’s ashes, a lock of baby hair, and even oil, Lake Erie water, and borax powder.

Rather than grouping works according to chronology or nationality, Neuman defines five roles that glass can play: as chameleon (impersonating gemstones or flowers, for example); as surface and structure (it’s architectural, and can transform light and color); recycled glass (beach and antique glass, a poison bottle, transfigured industrial glass); glass as symbol and metaphor (transparent, opaque, flashy, unfathomable; both fragile and hard), and glass as glass (its inherent properties are refracting and reflecting light).

Throughout the show’s run, the museum will offer free and low-cost workshops for adult and teen visitors to make glass beads, pendants, and ornaments working at table-mounted torches, a technique called flameworking. Sessions, some with fees, are listed at www.toledomuseumorg.
Source: toledoblade

Jewelry Designer Claims She Was Tortured by Macy's Heir

The great-grandson of one of an early owner of Macy's is being accused by a 52-year-old jewelry designer of imprisoning the woman and torturing her with, of all things, a lobster trap. Bette Marchek claims that William Straus kept her captive on his Westchester estate, starved her, beat her, and eventually attacked her with a lobster trap while the pair were on City Island in the Bronx. That was the figurative straw that broke the camel's back for Marchek. She fled Straus's 100-acre estate in Pound Ridge and sought refuge in a shelter for battered women.

"It has been a nightmare," Marchek said. "He crushed the whole right side of my body. I can't even walk to the Stop and Shop. I feel like some kind of subcreature."

Straus vehemently denies the charges that he will face next week in Bronx criminal court. The 53-year-old is the great-grandson of Isidor and Ida Straus. Isidor Straus purchased Macy's from R.H. Macy with his brother in 1896, after he'd worked at the iconic retail store as a salesman. The Strauses perished in the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, famously refusing to board lifeboats in deference to younger passengers. Straus Park on the Upper West Side at 106th and West End Ave. is named after the husband and wife.
Source: gothamist

Signs of Slump at Gem Sale in Myanmar

Officially, the government-sponsored gem auction that opened this week in Myanmar is a success, with 2,667 traders browsing the country’s renowned rubies, jade, sapphires, and other precious stones, the New Light of Myanmar, a state-run newspaper, reported Thursday.

“More merchants will arrive,” the newspaper predicted.

But dealers and a trader based in Yangon, Myanmar’s commercial capital, say sales of precious stones — a financial lifeline for the nation’s cash-strapped economy — are slumping. They say the gem exposition and auction in Yangon, the first since the junta’s suppression of popular protests drew international criticism and the threat of United Nations Security Council sanctions, has been unusually quiet.

“Business is very slow, not like before,” U Kyaw, a gem merchant in Yangon, said by phone.

The threat of sanctions by the United States and European Union that would prohibit the import of Burmese gemstones has dented dealers’ confidence, which could prove a serious problem for the junta that has ruled Myanmar, formerly Burma, for 18 years. Last year, the gem trade generated $296.9 million for the state-run Myanmar Gems Enterprise, the third-largest revenue earner for the military government after fossil fuels and timber.

Adisak Thawornviriyanan, director of the Gems and Jewelry Traders Association of Chanthaburi, a province east of Bangkok that is a center for cutting and polishing Burmese gems, has taken part in the gem auctions for the past four years but decided not to attend this one.

“We will wait and see if we can sell our old stock, but I wouldn’t dare buy more,” Mr. Adisak said. “We don’t know how strong the U.S. ban will be.”

Cartier of Paris joined Tiffany and Signet last month when it banned Burmese gems.

Jewelers of America, which represents about a third of the jewelry shops, announced Oct. 9 that it was backing the tougher ban on Burmese gems being considered by the United States.

A bill in Congress seeks to close a loophole that allows the import of Burmese gems polished or cut in a third country. It was passed by the House Foreign Affairs Committee last month and awaits approval by the Ways and Means Committee before going to the full House. A Senate bill is in committee.

Rubies are the most popular Burmese gem in the United States, with official imports of $87.4 million in 2006, mostly via Thailand, the main trading and polishing center for Burmese colored stones. Unofficial imports are probably much higher.

Should Congress pass the bill, as seems likely, countries like Japan and China might make up some of the lost sales, said Sean Turnell, an expert on the Burmese economy with Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. Smuggling will also mitigate the boycott and trade curbs, he said. But he predicted that a decline in demand from the United States and European Union would cause Burmese gem prices to drop.

The boycotts could also make it harder for generals and Burmese business executives to move their assets out of the country. In the absence of a stable currency and with restrictions on holding dollars in Myanmar, “gems perform a very important function in moving personal assets around the deck,” Mr. Turnell said.

The boycotts and threat of sanctions have spawned a passionate but familiar debate over whether the measures influence governments.

“If the U.S. and the E.U. were to cease buying all Burmese gemstones, I think it would take a huge chunk out of the regime’s pocket,” said Brian Leber, a jeweler based near Chicago who is leading lobbying efforts to halt all imports of Burmese gems.

Critics of sanctions say they will hurt those Burmese miners who earn their money independently from the government, often by smuggling gems to Thailand.

“This is going to be absolutely devastating to the people that deal with gems,” said Edward Boehm, vice president of the International Colored Gemstone Association. “Most of the mining that is done is artisanal and falls out of the radar of the government.”

Mr. Leber said the biggest beneficiary of the gem trade is the military-controlled government.

“There’s an argument that this is only hurting the little people,” he said. “There really aren’t little people who have direct control over things in the gem industry.”

How accurately gems can be identified as being of Burmese origin has sparked debate. Mr. Leber and other gem experts says rubies can be identified by chemical signatures.

But Henry Ho, a jeweler in Bangkok who has long dealt in Burmese gems, says ultimately gem trading is based on trust.

“Only God and the miner know where the gems come from,” Mr. Ho said. “God doesn’t speak to you, and the miner will lie about it.”
Source: nytimes

Guess who paid $16M for a diamond?

This flawless D-color brilliant-cut diamond, weighing 84.37 carats, was sold to Guess Jeans founder Georges Marciano for approximately $16.2 million at Sotheby's Magnificent Jewels sale in Geneva yesterday. Photo courtesy of Sotheby's.

Geneva—Guess Jeans founder Georges Marciano paid approximately $16.2 million for an 84.37-carat diamond at Sotheby's on Wednesday, the second-highest price ever paid for a diamond at auction.

Named the "Chloe Diamond" by Marciano, the flawless D-color stone set auction records.

It was the largest flawless brilliant-cut white diamond ever offered at auction and, at $191,980 a carat, set the record for the highest price per carat ever paid for a white diamond at auction.

Marciano purchased the diamond at Sotheby's Magnificent Jewels auction, held in Geneva.

The auction brought in about $57 million, the highest sales total for Sotheby's in Geneva since 1995.

Other highlights of the auction included a 4.16-carat fancy-vivid-blue pear-shaped diamond ring, which sold for about $4.7 million; a 22.25-carat marquise-shaped diamond ring, signed by Cartier, which sold for about $2.3 million; and a ruby and diamond parure, signed by Asprey, which sold for about $2 million.
Source: nationaljewelernetwork

Makers get into spirit of Ohio State jewelry

Mary Ann Tabler goes to work every day in a room decorated in scarlet and gray.

The wallpaper border has an Ohio State University theme, and pictures of Brutus Buckeye and coach Jim Tressel hang on the wall. The Buckeye theme continues to her work, as she makes Buckeye necklaces, bracelets, earrings, zipper pulls, key chains and more.

Tabler, 57, who is a client of the Licking County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities at the shelter workshop, called LICCO, loves what she does. As a devoted Buckeye fan, she was excited when a new company, Spirit Line Products, was created to fulfill the demand for Buckeye jewelry and to offer adults a new job opportunity.

Tabler made bracelets Tuesday by stringing the clay beads onto fishing line, one by one. The tedious and time-consuming job is something to which Tabler looks forward. She can produce up to 40 per day.

"I get frustrated with the little ones, but it's neat we can make money out of it," Tabler said. "My favorite thing to make is the necklaces, as they are easier to make. They go quicker."

Spirit Line Products grew out of the need for work for some of the clients in the product-support department at LICCO when the factory floor was reorganized about a year ago, said Kyle Miller, chief executive officer of LICCO.

As a way to fill downtime, the workshop specialists often come up with ideas to keep the workers occupied.

"Everyone in this building is a Buckeye fan," Miller said. "It started as fun project for the workers to do, and then people started coming in and asking for them. So we started a new business. This is something that our clients can relate to because they actually get to see the finished product rather than just one part of it."

Workshop specialist Vicki Wilkey created the idea of making the Buckeye necklaces. She collected the nuts and drilled them at home so the clients could string them the next day. Soon people were giving donations for the brown and red jewelry. Within a month, the workshop had enough money to buy a drill press.

It snowballed from there, and now the workers are producing jewelry for area high schools, such as Heath and Lakewood, and for causes such as breast-cancer awareness.

The finished products are displayed on professional-looking block O boards and are individually priced, while some of the smaller items, like earrings, are packaged. Several local businesses, including State Farm and The Grill on 21st Street, have sold products for LICCO.

They no longer are using just Buckeye nuts but also are making their own small clay beads, rolled to look like mini-Buckeyes, so they can make bracelets, zipper pulls and earrings. The workers get paid by the piece, whether they are making the clay beads, drilling Buckeyes or stringing a complete necklace.

Wilkey said this business is perfect for the LICCO workshop, 600 Industrial Parkway, Heath, because people with varying levels of productivity can participate in the project. Some people who might not be able to string the beads can roll the clay, or others who are not able to spell out the words beaded into the jewelry can package the finished product.

"Any one item we sell means that Mary Ann (and others) can make more," Wilkey said. "This job is a blessing. Our folks love working back here. They just want to work. You will not find more dedicated workers than the people we employ here."
Source: newarkadvocate

Amazon.com launches Love and Pride jewelry collection

Online retailer Amazon.com and jewelry company Love and Pride have announced the launch of Love and Pride, the high-end designer jewelry collection in Amazon.com's jewelry store.

The Love and Pride boutique at Amazon.com/loveandpride features nearly 150 pieces ranging in price from $30 to $5,000 and includes everything from rings and watches to necklaces, bracelets and earrings for women and men. Exclusive Love and Pride collections include "The L Word" collection and the "Queer as Folk" collection. In addition, customers will be able to purchase the popular Fly Naked with Reichen Collection, featuring aviation-inspired titanium jewelry for men and exclusive items from the 1138 collection, fashion and fine jewelry supporting marriage equality for all loving couples.

Peter Lai, director of Amazon.com Jewelry & Watches, said: "The Love and Pride collection is a beautiful addition to the Amazon.com jewelry store."
Source: datamonitor

Necessity is the mother of jewelry business

Fourteen years ago, Jill Smith decided she wanted a banister for her front porch, but the cost to have one installed wasn’t in her budget.

“My husband said if I could find money to buy the raw materials, he’d build it,” Smith recalls.

She combed her basement searching for anything she could sell at yard sale.

“I cleaned out every treasure I could find in the house,” she says.

Then she got an idea. Why not make something to sell from the unsalable junk?

She took apart broken watches, jewelry, silverware and old buttons and crafted them into wearable art.

“I take things nobody wants and restructure them into pins,” Smith says.

She took her jewelry to craft shows and, after about seven or eight shows, she had earned enough money for the porch banister.

Smith, who sells her work at craft shows and through a few shops, says she finds her inspiration just about anywhere.

“I come across something and say, ‘this is a great idea,’” Smith says.

Take, for instance, a wooden poker chip that caught Smith’s eye at a dollar store. She painted it and embellished it with buttons and a broken earring.

She typically finishes her work with gold leaf, but she wanted to try something in silver. The problem was, she didn’t have anything silver in her house other than aluminum foil, which was too thick to use.

Looking around her kitchen she found sweet inspiration in the silver foil wrappers of Hershey kisses. With a little bit of black paint, the wrappers made the poker chip look like pewter.

Of course, she couldn’t let the candy inside go to waste.

“I was forced to eat Hershey kisses,” Smith recalls. “I make sacrifices for my art.”

Once she gets an idea, Smith makes the pins in stages, with like pins done at the same time. To turn 12 or 15 watch parts into pins can take six hours over the course of a week, she says.

“Each one is different so I never get bored,” Smith adds. “It isn’t like a production line. I’m doing what I enjoy doing.”

Everything is done with epoxy, rather than hot glue, so items are sturdy and don’t fall apart.

She also makes wool flower pins with vintage buttons.

Her materials come from dollar and thrift stores and friends who give her bags of unwanted items.

“I have the best friends in the world,” Smith says.

Turning trash into treasure just makes sense, she says. “It’s using something you already have.”

And if something doesn’t work, Smith finds a new idea.

“Not everything sells,” she admits. “I try different ideas.”

Smith, a retired social services worker and grandmother of three, works from her home in North Middleton Township. She sells primarily through craft shows, including one Dec. 17 at Central Dauphin East in Harrisburg and another Nov. 26 at the Radisson Penn Harris Hotel and Convention Center in Camp Hill.

Her pins are also available at Downtown Antiques on North Hanover Street in Carlisle and the Freehand Gallery in Lemoyne.

Recently, Smith’s work was chosen to be featured for sale at a consignment gallery in Brooklyn, N.Y.

The Brooklyn Women’s Exchange, founded in 1854, is the oldest women’s exchange in the country. The non-profit offers handmade goods for sale.

Smith was invited to apply to have her pins sold there and she had to complete and extensive application process before earning the distinction of consigning her pins.

“I’m so excited about it,” she says.

Pins cost between $5 and $15 and she accepts custom orders.

“I love doing it,” she says.
Source: cumberlink

Opal's Jewelry offers two decades of experience

With the holidays just around the corner, now is the perfect time to shop for that special someone in your life at Opal's Jewelry.

Opal's Jewelry at 290 S. Archie in Vidor is busy around the clock unpacking their latest shipment of jewelry, gifts and accessories.

"We have some great stuff coming in that customers will enjoy," said owner Opal Gray.

Customers might like specialized wall clocks that are both a beautiful, functional and thoughtful gift.

If you're looking for something new, or something you knew you could find at Opal's, stop by for the same great quality merchandise and the same great service.

"Personal attention is our big thing," Gray said. "And along with personal attention goes trust."

Customers can trust the morethan 20 years experience Opal and her husband, Pete, have in the jewelry business. They can trust that Opal will service everything she sells right there at the Orange store and they can trust that anything she sells, from fine jewelry to moderately priced pieces to accessories like clocks, will be backed by her knowledge and expertise in the jewelry business.

"We strive to please," Opal said.

Opal sells a complete line of fine jewelry, silver jewelry and accessories, including lines by A. Z. Hayward.

Classic crosses, in either gold or silver, are always good sellers.

A continuing customer favorite are mantel and wall clocks made by Rhythm and Small World. These unique timepieces feature movement on their face, and individual parts and are often accompanied by music.

"One of them has cherubs who move toward each other like they're touching," she said.
Source: theorangecountynews

43% of Women in the Gulf Prefer Diamond Jewelry

A De Beers survey of women living in the Gulf States found that 43 percent of them rate diamond jewelry as the preferred gift for the festive season. Following diamond jewelry were luxury watches, designer clothing, fragrances and overseas holidays.

Gulf men also rated diamond jewelry highly, with 71 percent of them placing them on the top of their list of gifts for their loved one. Saudi men stood out, with 75 percent of them preferring to gift diamond jewelry.

The survey also found that the Middle East region has the highest preference for giving diamond jewelry compared to any other region in the world.

According to De Beers Group Marketing, Middle East diamond sales rise during the Adha holiday season, which includes a mini wedding season as well.
Source: idexonline

Mega-bucks collection, bigger boutique for Chanel jewelry

Chanel's essentially up-market jewelry and watch boutique on Paris' home-of-luxury square, the Place Vendome, marks its 10th anniversary with a total makeover almost doubling the floor space, and a new diamond collection for the ultra rich.

Chanel Joaillerie, which has 42 boutiques worldwide, has been refurbished by US architect Peter Marino, maintaining the classical 18th century facade but carving up the interior of Number 18 as a succession of richly-decorated rooms fit for Coco Chanel, director Philippe Mougenot told AFP.

"After 10 years we wanted to modernize," he said, adding that Marino had "wondered what type of interior Miss Chanel would live in today."

The answer was walls covered in hand-made silk, marble fireplaces from the 19th century, a lacquered Chinese screen from the 17th and a profusion of crystal chandeliers.

On the jewelry front, the company will on Wednesday mark the anniversary with the launch of 18 diamond jewels named after the address -- 18 Place Vendome -- and a limited edition diamond watch worth a cool 550,000 euros.

Chanel Joaillerie was growing well above market and planned to set up shop soon in Saudi Arabia, Ukraine and Russia, Mougenot said.
Source: afp

Report: Platinum jewelry demand dips in '07

One-of-a-kind platinum ring with 134.28-carat blue topaz by Gurhan; suggested retail price is $6,540.

By Mary Wisniewski

New York—Demand for new platinum from jewelry manufacturers will dip slightly in 2007, despite modest growth in platinum jewelry purchases in China and Europe, as will demand for new palladium, according to Johnson Matthey's Platinum 2007 Interim Review, released today.

According to the review, overall global platinum demand is expected to increase by 2.9 percent to a record 6.93 million ounces in 2007, but demand for new platinum by jewelry manufacturers will decrease by 1.5 percent to 1.6 million ounces. Platinum Guild International released a statement explaining that the 1.5 percent figure doesn't account for finished platinum jewelry imported into America from overseas manufacturers, which has trended up over recent years.

The strengthening economy and growing consumer appetite for platinum jewelry in China will increase demand for new metal in the country by 20,000 ounces to 780,000 ounces in 2007; however, Japan's platinum demand for jewelry will fall by 55,000 ounces to 305,000 ounces.

Johnson Matthey also reports that recycling of retail stocks and old jewelry traded in by consumers will be substantial again, satisfying a high proportion of manufacturing requirements in Japan and China.

Platinum supply will also tighten in 2007, dropping 2 percent to 6.66 million ounces. South Africa's supply interruptions are partly to blame, along with a weak U.S. dollar and strong oil and gold prices.

Asia can be expected to support a platinum price of $1,350 per ounce, according to Johnson Matthey, which could rise over the next six months to $1,575 per ounce, depending on platinum's stronger-than-expected fundamentals and support from a buoyant gold price, as well if the U.S. dollar continues to slide.

Johnson Matthey also reports that palladium demand is set to rise in 2007, but the market will remain in surplus.

According to the review, overall global palladium demand is expected to increase by 250,000 ounces to 6.61 million ounces in 2007, but demand for new palladium by jewelry manufacturers will decrease by 250,000 ounces to 745,000 ounces as purchases by Chinese manufacturers have declined, dropping from 760,000 ounces to 500,000 ounces this year.

Furthermore, palladium manufacturing levels have fallen and demand for new metal has once again been offset by the use of recycled jewelry and the purchase of palladium refined from industrial scrap. North American and European demand for new palladium for jewelry manufacturing will slightly rise, however, reflecting the launch of test ranges of palladium jewelry in these regions.
Source: nationaljewelernetwork

Tiffany accuses eBay of failing to stop counterfeit jewelry sales

A lawyer for Tiffany & Co. accused eBay Inc. on Tuesday of allowing the sale of tens of thousands of pieces of counterfeit Tiffany jewelry on its Web site; an eBay lawyer responded that Tiffany wasn't doing its share to protect customers.

The arguments in U.S. District Court in Manhattan came at the start of a trial to decide whether eBay can be blamed for the sales of silver Tiffany knockoffs on its Internet site since 2003.

James B. Swire, Tiffany's lawyer, said eBay "simply turned a blind eye" to the sales.

Bruce Rich, eBay's lawyer, said the site has suspended hundreds of thousands of sellers who broke its rules.

He blamed Tiffany for failing to protect its own trademarks by notifying eBay when it spots sales that seem suspicious. Rich said that when companies do so, eBay often stops the sales even before it can check whether they are legitimate.

In a 2004 lawsuit, Tiffany said it notified eBay a year earlier that thousands of pieces of fake silver jewelry were being sold as if they were genuine Tiffany products.

Swire said the company randomly bought 325 items being sold as genuine Tiffany jewelry on eBay's Web site from among 280,000 listings related to Tiffany products. Of those, 75 percent turned out to be fake, he said.

He said there was no evidence that eBay did anything to stop the false sales after it reported its findings to the company.

Instead, he said, eBay supports sellers, offering marketing assistance that includes conducting seminars on how to grow the online jewelry business.

Rich said eBay spends more than $10 million annually to clean counterfeit merchandise from its site, which carries 6 million postings a day.

He said the company relies on the expertise of more than 14,000 copyright and trademark owners to find counterfeit merchandise.

"It cannot get it done by itself," Rich said of eBay.

"We never see this merchandise. We don't turn a blind eye to it," he said. "We turn people over to law enforcement all the time."

He said eBay's success relies on creating a safe and friendly business.

"There are a lot of bad guys out there and eBay spends an enormous amount of money trying to keep up with it," Rich said.
Source: contracostatimes

Sparkle of the season: The best jewelry trends

While we’ve been taught that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, costume jewelry has truly come into its own — capturing a place on women’s wrists, necks and ears — and even stealing a piece of our hearts. Just the words alone — "gems" and "jewels" — sound juicy and fill us with glee! And the best part: These covetable accents are often as affordable as they are innovative.

So whether you’re looking to bring on the bling, or want to add some sparkle with a sentimental piece, Bobbie Thomas, TODAY Style editor and author of the Buzz for “In Touch Weekly,” has just the jewelry for you!

Colorful statements
Cut crystals: A burst of raw beauty! Mother Nature's precious stones add to the kaleidoscope of color this season. Normally these natural wonders are a summer staple, but thick, chunky chains and gilded gold accents give these pieces a decidedly fall presence. (Cuff $25-$180, AvMaxAccessories.com; Necklaces $60-$400, CCSkye.com; and Omnatura rings $130, 877-310-8442)

Eclectic enamels: From ornate, Indian-inspired necklaces to vibrant bangles reminiscent of colorful cultures, painted pieces prevail this season. While we often forgo these weighty accents in warm weather, global jewelry feels just right this fall. So stack on the substance, and liven up your limbs! (Bangles $20-$125, jcrew.com; Rings & Bracelet by Noir $175-$200, 323-852-0520)

Abstract art: The craft fair meets industrial innovation, combining to produce magnificent metalwork for our pleasure! Cleopatra-like collars and asymmetrical elements are just a few characteristics that make these items must-haves. Worthy of being on display at a gallery, these unique designs will demand attention. (Nine West pieces $45-$60, Macys.com; Salviati glass jewelry $85-$700, 212-625-8390)

Jumbo gems: The perfect pieces to pop against a little black dress, these brilliant baubles can be considered quite chic. The key is to keep it simple — let your jewelry be the star, and wear your jumbo gems with a dark or neutral hue. One piece can literally transform an outfit! (Yochi Designs $25-$128, 212-947-7826; Banana Republic $28-$68, bananarepublic.com)

Edgy accents
Mesh and multi chains: Slippery, slinky or coiled, these intertwined and layered accents are seriously sexy. Mesh and braided lariats can mimic a men’s tie or serve as a sleek scarf. And when it comes to chains, multiple strands and larger links look better. Either way — metal is having a moment, and we’re loving it! (Lotta Stensson's Chained Love $22-$200 LottaNYC.com; RJ Graziano $75-$325 (212) 685-3737; Pono by Joan Goodman $60-$400 (866) 366-7666)

Season of studs: There’s no getting around it — studs are the standout trend of the season. When it comes to jewelry, designer Wendy Nichol has managed to make these fashion-forward grommets extremely wearable. Her sophisticated studs are a hit in Hollywood with stylish celebs such as Drew Barrymore, Mandy Moore, and Cameron Diaz ($80-$500 wendynicholnyc.com). Meredith Kahn's Made Her Think collection is also giving Tinseltown a little edge. Her spooky cool collections spin stories of love and life, all inspired by Mexico's Day of the Dead. Angelina Jolie, Eva Mendes and Kate Hudson adore her symbolic use of skulls and hearts ($35-$600 MadeHerThink.com). Pair either of these designers with something soft, such as an oversized sweater, and you’ll have simply struck the perfect combination!

Nighttime noir: Lee Angel's black baubles and pewter pieces are staking a claim on the fashion scene, striking all notions of sweet aside. While gothic chic adornments are evening’s edgiest accent - don't underestimate these dark designs, you won’t be able to slither through the night undetected ($95-$800, LeeAngel.com).

Deco designs
Modern vintage: Art Deco designs were ahead of their time, and these pieces from the past are having a modern moment. Joined together by their geometric nature, the crisp, clean lines can truly take you from day to evening. Whether you want to add bling to your basic jeans and T-shirt, or select a style to pair with your fancy frocks, the classic aesthetic will serve you well.

Lia Sophia’s Rue Royale collection has a regal flair that will instantly make you feel like a queen ($150-$3,600, liasophia.com), while Ben Amun ($150-$350, BenAmun.com) and Givenchy's ($50-$350, Macys.com), and Nola Singer's ($220-$600, JewelrybyNola.com) collections have also brought old Hollywood glamour back to the future. And for the ultimate in versatility Kenneth Jay Lane's pave-like crushed pieces will encrust your lobes, neck or fingers ($75-$500 saks.com).

Powerful words
Meaningful messages: Style is an act of self-expression, so why not say something to the world with your personal pieces? Share the Word jewelry will let you spread your very own positive message, while Marley’s stackable sayings offer inspirational alliterations. Mirror Me affirmation charms are written backwards so that you can read their meaning in the mirror, and Erica Anenberg’s Braille pieces provide a unique design on the outside, with the translation on the inside, for you to keep close by. Sayings such as “Love is Blind” and “Blind Faith” make a powerful personal impact. (Share the Word jewelry $60-$420, stwapparel.com; Erica Anenberg $100-$190, Mirror Me $55, and Marley $20-$85, all available at shopIntuition.com)

Bobbie’s Buzz: While Lotta Stensson has long been known for her fashion designs, the affordable accessories she has stashed in her stores are one of my favorite best-kept secrets. Rather than sifting through street jewelry on your own, if you’re ever in New York or L.A., stop into her shop, where she’s handpicked the hottest items. I promise you one thing – you won't walk away empty-handed!
Source: msn