India’s SRS Group Invests $12M to Launch Jewelry Unit

India-based property developer SRS Group announced plans to enter the jewelry retail market.

The company said it plans to open 10 exclusive jewelry stores in India this year under the brand SRS Jewels, investing INR 500 million ($11.76 million) in the project.

Sunil Jindal, managing director of SRS Group, said the company would aim to increase the number of SRS Jewels stores by 25 per year from 2009 onwards.

Jindal added the company was confident it would be able to find its niche in the organized jewelry retail segment.

“The SRS Jewels store offers a wide range of gracefully crafted Hallmarked jewelry that comprises 80 percent diamond and 20 percent gold,” the company explained.

SRS Group has business interests in real estate and township development, multiplex cinemas, organized retail, hospitality and aviation sectors.
Source: diamonds

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

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

Luxury watch, jewelry site ViaLuxe launches

Web site ViaLuxe.com has launched into the online stratosphere, defining itself as the first and only luxury Web site dedicated to helping consumers research, find and purchase luxury watch and jewelry brands.

Two former Yahoo startup executives, Lawrence Kosick and Ned Taylor, founded the site, which provides comprehensive information such as the latest product catalogs, in-depth product specifications, celebrity trend information, blogs, reviews and other content for more than 60 watch and jewelry brands. Watch and jewelry news and blogs are updated daily.

ViaLuxe battles counterfeit issues by offering consumers the ability to find any one of more than 4,000 authorized retailers online or directs them to the authorized retailer closest to their home or office.

Authorized retailers are able to create their own pages on ViaLuxe with photos, merchandise and store information. In addition, luxury brands can access online consumer data, update and control information provided about their individual brand, and market to potential customers.

Advanced features on ViaLuxe include the "sort-and-filter" feature, which allows customers to list specific qualifications, such as color or strap material, for the item they’re looking for. They then receive a list of all relevant items. The "side-by-side-comparison" feature allows customers to review items and record their favorites in a "Wish List," which can then be sent on to a friend.

ViaLuxe said in a press release that they will soon expand their services to include authorized retailer storefronts, collector communities and clubs, as well as a ViaLuxe Concierge Service that will enable consumers to get immediate advice from a ViaLuxe watch and jewelry expert via phone, e-mail or live chat. ViaLuxe also expects to add an e-commerce platform within the next few months.
Source: nationaljewelernetwork

Canadian diamond company launches inventory search system

Northam Diamonds new, online diamond search platform.

Northam Diamonds, an importer and wholesaler of loose diamonds and jewelry, announced the launch of a new, online diamond search platform that allows retailers to browse through the company's Arctic Fox brand of Canadian diamonds.

The search utilizes a platform from OpenBlue Networks.

"This search overcomes many of the problems with existing diamond searches that require you to make multiple searches to find what you're looking for," said OpenBlue Network's Robin Gambhir, who designed the search, in a statement.

Unique features of the new system include: search retrieval that begins finding matches as users click options, a single screen that allows chosen diamonds to always be visible for print-out, and a sliding arrow that allows users to increase or decrease their budget.

A public version of the search with pre-set markups is available at Searchnortham.com. The secure version can be found at Northamdiamonds.com.

In addition to the search system, Northam Diamonds clients can also get free Web sites from OpenBlue Networks with inventory from Northam Diamonds and two other suppliers of their choice. The individual retailer can customize sites.
Source: nationaljewelernetwork

Simmons Jewelry Co.'s 'Green Bracelet' to benefit DEF

Fifty percent of the net profits from sales of Simmons Jewelry Co.'s "Green Bracelet" will help to educate and uplift the people and communities of Africa.

New York—Simmons Jewelry Co. has launched its first Green Initiative creation, the "Green Bracelet," scheduled to hit retail stores at the end of this month.

The announcement came from Simmons Jewelry Co. co-owners Russell Simmons and Kimora Lee Simons, and company president Scott Rauch.

The Green Initiative collection—a unique combination of modern, traditional and inspirational hip-hop-inspired unisex jewelry in stainless steel, green rubber and diamonds—benefits the Diamond Empowerment Fund (DEF), an international, non-profit organization that raises money to educate and uplift the people and communities of Africa. Fifty percent of the net profits from sales of the Green Bracelet and 25 percent of the net profits from sales of the rest of the Green Initiative collection will benefit the fund.

The bracelets, which retail for $125, are made from green malachite beads and conflict-free rough diamonds sourced from Africa. Each special Academy Awards Green Bracelet came with a Gem Certification Assurance Lab certificate, ensuring that the diamonds are conflict-free, as well as a DVD message from Russell Simmons with footage from his trip to Botswana and South Africa last year.

The Green Bracelet is already a popular accessory choice for celebrities including Beyoncé Knowles, Eddie Murphy, Jon Voight, Naomi Campbell and Penelope Cruz.


Celebrities such as Penelope Cruz, pictured here with Simmons Jewelry Co. co-owner Russell Simmons, are already fans of the Green Bracelet.
Source: nationaljewelernetwork