11-year-old sells jewelry at Farmers Market

The 11-year-old rocks a streak of blue dye in her blondish hair and has a soft spot for lime-green shoes. Cassie also has a social conscience: A couple of weeks ago, she started selling homemade jewelry at Steamboat Springs’ weekly Farmers Market for charity. Her profits will go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the American Heart Association.

She sports her own beaded hemp creations, which she says she can whip up in about five minutes apiece. Cassie lets creativity be her guide. Rules? She’s got only one: “It kind of has to match. I wouldn’t put something on that didn’t match.”

Cassie learned how to make the necklaces and bracelets at her birthday party in December. Before she started selling the accessories at the market, she and a co-entrepreneur tried to market their wares.

“A friend of mine comes in every now and then from Tennessee for the summer,” she said. “We would go around our neighborhood with a wagon — door to door — and that didn’t work so well. We kept trying to find a better way to sell it.”

She decided to go the charitable route.

St. Jude’s was a favorite cause of Cassie’s grandmother, Patsy Wilhelm, who died nearly a year ago. Wilhelm often participated in Saddle Up for St. Jude. The horseback ride raises funds for the hospital, which is in Memphis, Tenn.

Patsy Wilhelm “had a special place in her heart for St. Jude’s,” partly because it doesn’t turn children away if their families cannot pay for care, said Cassie’s mother, Rebecca Wilhelm.

Cassie also chose the American Heart Association because she had heard about it through the Jump Rope for Heart program at her school, Strawberry Park Elementary School.

At the Farmers Market on Sixth Street, Cassie has done well, Rebecca Wilhelm said. She has set up her booth only once so far, on July 19, but raised nearly $40. Her jewelry sells for $1 to $3.

“We have a very generous town,” said Rebecca Wilhelm, who accompanied her daughter but said she stayed in the background.

Better all the time

Cassie calls her business Little Art DBA (doing business as) Tangles and Knots, and she also sells decorated picture frames, canvas bags and other crafts. Tracy Barnett, program manager of Mainstreet Steamboat Springs, waives the $35 booth fee for Cassie.

Cassie’s first day was a hot one, Barnett recalled.

“She didn’t have a tent or an umbrella, so she bought one of these giant floppy hats,” Barnett said. “She was so cute.”

Cassie, who intends to take along an umbrella next weekend, also accepts donations at her booth. Her family planned to spend this weekend at Steamboat Lake, but she said she would set up shop next week. The market runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and goes through Labor Day weekend.

The soon-to-be-sixth-grader said she buys her supplies at Wal-Mart, practically for peanuts. The craft aisle there is one of her favorite spots.

“Hemp and beads come pretty cheap,” Cassie said. “I can get 100 yards for $3 or $4, so I usually take about $15 and get all that stuff.”

She constantly is improving her craft.

“I have found better ways to tie knots, better things to put on, better ways to invest,” Cassie said.

“She’s my little entrepreneur,” Rebecca Wilhelm said.

Cassie’s interests go beyond fashion. She spends her spare time on the family ranch playing mandolin, violin and piano; reading; riding horses and playing with her pets. The family has horses and dogs, but Cassie’s eyes lit up when she talked about the reptiles — though her dad, Rick, won’t let her get a snake.

She loves her bearded dragons, Elvis and Jimmy, and Poseidon, the family’s banana snail. Poseidon originally was supposed to be food for the blue-tailed skink that belongs to her 8-year-old brother, R.J.

R.J. isn’t interested in being a part of the hemp jewelry industry.

“R.J. is a bona fide cowboy,” Rebecca Wilhelm noted.

“And boys don’t wear bracelets,” Cassie chimed in.

But Cassie loves what she’s doing and plans to stay involved in philanthropy.

“I really like making the things,” she said. “That’s my favorite part. And the charities, of course. It makes you feel good.”
Source: steamboatpilot

What jewelry do consumers own?

Gold jewelry, like this necklace by designer Marco Bicego, ranked highest for type of jewelry owned, with 80 percent of respondents saying they own some sort of jewelry made of gold.

When it comes to consumers and their jewelry, Madison Avenue has it right: There is more meaning to that diamond, gold or gemstone piece than its cost or how much it sparkles.

Even as many women consider jewelry a great fashion accessory, there is still a strong link between the pieces of jewelry they own and the story behind each one.

"I have several pieces that have special meaning to me," says Audra Perks, 26, of San Antonio. "One would be the most expensive ring I own—a three-stone diamond ring. It was a ring that I had wanted for a long time, and my husband purchased it as a Mother's Day/birthday/anniversary gift."

Perks also cites her engagement ring, which she says her husband purchased when he graduated from basic training for the Air Force. He proposed that same weekend.

"It's a very small diamond, but it means a lot to me," she says.

Perks was one of nearly 650 female consumers who responded to National Jeweler's Exclusive Consumer Jewelry Ownership Survey.

Sentiment is also key for Misty King, 21, of Aurora, Ind.

"If it was not given to me or bought for emotional or sentimental reasons, I just never tend to wear it," King says.

In addition to the emotional value, Perks says she appreciates the beauty and style of jewelry.

"I consider myself to be a big jewelry person but, of course, I can't really afford a lot of it or buy very expensive pieces," Perks says. "My favorite type of jewelry is a ring. I have been known to wear eight or more at a time, sometimes three on one finger. I just can't pick between them sometimes."

She says the reason her husband combined the three-stone purchase into one gift was because it was pricey (about $1,500) for the single-income family.

In fact, a little more than half of the consumers surveyed said the most expensive fine watch or piece of jewelry they own costs less than $1,000, with 23 percent noting their priciest piece costs less than $250. Thirteen percent said their most expensive jewel costs between $1,000 and $2,000, while 10 percent said between $2,000 and $3,500, and eight percent said between $3,500 and $5,000.

In terms of total value of their fine jewelry and watches, around a third (33 percent) of consumers surveyed placed it at less than $1,000. Twenty-seven percent said the value was in the range of $1,000 to $5,000, while 16 percent said between $5,000 and $10,000, and 10 percent said between $10,000 and $25,000 total.

The numbers diminish as one gets into the higher price ranges, with around five percent of consumers reporting that the total value of their fine jewelry is over $25,000.

Factors including household income level, marital status and age played a role in the value of individual pieces and the total collection.

Just 3 percent of respondents said they own palladium jewelry, but it could be a good margin opportunity for budget-conscious consumers. Here, a matching bridal set with HI1 diamonds from Hoover and Strong, available as a semi-mount set with 0.25 carats of diamonds; suggested retail price is about $760.

And it's no wonder the bridal business remains crucial, given the correlation between marital status and the most expensive jewelry owned. While nearly 38 percent of single consumers said their most expensive item costs under $250, more than half of married respondents owned jewelry worth $1,000 or more.

The top three items in terms of ownership were rings, necklaces and earrings. Rings, owned by 83 percent of respondents, were the most popular jewelry item overall. Seventy-three percent of respondents said they own necklaces and 68 percent own earrings. Bracelets came in fourth, with about half of respondents citing wrist jewelry and 36 percent citing watches.

Among types of jewelry, gold reigned supreme, with 80 percent of respondents saying they own pieces made of the metal. Diamond jewelry was next, with 66 percent, followed by silver jewelry (63 percent), colored gemstone jewelry (51 percent) and pearl jewelry (40 percent).

"I have many gold rings, some of them with diamonds, some with other gemstones, and a few that are just gold," Perks says. She adds that her favorite metal tone is rose gold.

Among King's jewelry possessions are a gold solitaire diamond ring, a gold and cubic zirconium ring and gold earrings.

Marisol Diestro, 30, who lives in orlando, Fla., says she owns some gold and silver, but that pearl jewelry is her favorite.

"I own a lot of pearl jewelry, with and without diamonds," Diestro says. "I love pearls because it is my birthstone, so I always want pearl jewelry."

Despite the ubiquity of chain stores, big-box stores and the Internet, about half of respondents said they buy or receive jewelry from independent stores. Thirty-eight percent cited chains, while 27 percent said department stores. Less popular (though not insignificant) were online and department stores, with 10 percent of respondents citing each.

Convenience is a big factor in terms of where consumers shop for jewelry.

"I don't really shop for jewelry, but my husband always shops at Jared [The Galleria Of Jewelry] because they have a great playroom for the kids and a really good earring selection," says Cindi Munroe of Clearwater, Fla. "He puts the kids in the playroom and he shops in peace. They all love going there."

Cost is another key consideration, especially for jewelry consumers with less discretionary income.

"I like buying a lot of jewelry online because I like having personalized pieces and I can usually find some great items online," Perks says.

She adds that she also likes chains such as Zales and Kay Jewelers, but finds that independent stores tend to charge more than she can afford.

That's also an issue for full-time student Eileen Mancha, 23, of Antioch, Calif., who says she buys jewelry online.

Mancha says she follows fashion jewelry trends and hopes to acquire jewelry from designers such as David Yurman, Bulgari and De Beers, as well as items such as Cartier's "Love" bracelet. A few years back, she bought herself a silver Tiffany and Co. bracelet, a category that's been extremely popular for the retailer.

In terms of ownership, rings topped the list, with 83 percent of respondents saying they own some type of ring. Silver jewelry, like this ring with attached star from Montblanc, is a popular category too, owned by 63 percent of those surveyed.

Tiffany was also the most popular jewelry brand among respondents in terms of both ownership and desire, cited by 43 percent of those who own designer jewelry brands. The next most prevalent brand was Gucci, owned by 20 percent of respondents.

More than half of those interested in acquiring designer brands said they wanted Tiffany and Co. jewelry. Respondents also cited Cartier (45 percent), Chanel (28 percent), Gucci (27 percent), Dior (25 percent), Harry Winston (24 percent) and De Beers (23 percent).

Notwithstanding these well-known brands and designers, including David Yurman, Scott Kay and Roberto Coin, consumers still seem to be less interested in jewelry brands overall. Almost 70 percent of respondents said they don't have any branded jewelry, and 60 percent said they didn't wish to own any.

Jewelry fashion quotient Even if jewelry brands haven't quite broken through for the average consumer, some are making progress, and women are definitely receptive to fashion jewelry.

Mancha says she likes to wear jewelry to accessorize outfits. In terms of what she likes, she says she's usually inspired by jewelry that she sees while flipping through women's magazines such as Cosmopolitan or Elle.

Finding jewelry that works with her wardrobe is also key for Mt. Vernon, Ohio, resident and teacher Anne Marie orr, 38, who says she buys or receives jewelry about once every couple of months.

"I like to have different colors and styles for different outfits. I think jewelry can make an outfit really stand out," she says.

Unlike Mancha, orr says she's not interested in designer or trendy jewelry and prefers traditional pieces.

Among the items she owns are platinum, sterling silver, diamonds, gemstones and rubies. On her wish list are sterling silver hoop earrings and emerald or sapphire rings with platinum.

"I like to purchase jewelry that will not go out of style and is functional for every day," she says.

Most wanted: Marketing and advertising campaigns like Journey diamond jewelry aside, consumers who responded to the survey were more interested in staple items when it comes to diamonds, and they are seeking color in a big way.

Of the jewelry they would most like to acquire across different jewelry categories, here are some top items:

1. Emerald jewelry: 146 respondents
2. Diamond tennis bracelet(s): 132 respondents
3. Gemstone necklace(s): 130 respondents
4. Gemstone drop earrings: 124 respondents
5. (tie) Diamond stud earrings, larger than a half carat each: 116 respondents
5. (tie) Gold earrings: 116 respondents
6. Sapphire jewelry: 114 respondents
7. Diamond drop earrings: 113 respondents
8. Platinum non-bridal ring(s): 110 respondents
9. Engagement ring: 105 respondents
10. Gemstone non-bridal ring(s): 104 respondents

Top three most-wanted brands:

1. Tiffany and Co.: 137 respondents
2. Cartier: 117 respondents
3. Chanel: 72 respondents

Most-wanted fine watches:

1. Dress watch: 117 respondents
2. Diamond watch: 112 respondents
3. Casual watch: 111 respondents

To download the complete National Jeweler Exclusive Consumer Jewelry Ownership Survey results, click here.
Source: nationaljewelernetwork

Wal-Mart to Sell Traceable Jewelry

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. on Tuesday launched a new line of jewelry that will allow consumers to see online where their jewelry was mined and manufactured.

The Love, Earth jewelry line will be available at Wal-Mart stores, Sam’s Club locations, and on Walmart.com and Samsclub.com. The line being sold at Wal-Mart will feature 10k gold and sterling silver, and the Sam's Club line will include 14k gold and sterling silver. The collection is “designed to symbolize the Earth’s elements and based on the precepts of recycle, reduce, and respect,” the Bentonville-Ark.-based retailer said in a statement.

Wal-Mart says the new jewelry line marks a shift in how affordably-priced fine jewelry is produced and sold. The new line is the result of collaboration between Wal-Mart, Conservation International, a Washington, D.C.-based conservation group, and Wal-Mart’s supply chain partners, including: including Anglo-Australian mining company Rio Tinto, Denver-based gold producer Newmont Mining Corp., and Florida-based jewelry manufacturer Aurafin.

Rio Tinto, in its own statement about the jewelry program, said it will initially supply gold and silver for the jewelry line from its Kennecott Utah Copper Bingham Canyon Mine in Utah.

“Companies like Rio Tinto and Wal-Mart have an opportunity to change the way products are manufactured and used to reduce impacts on the environment and local communities,” said Andrew Harding, President, Kennecott Utah Copper.

Aurafin, a Richline Group, said in its own statement that the Love, Earth program is in line with its, "corporate goal, of being responsible to ethical, social, and environmental practices."

Wal-Mart said it “selected partners in the mining and jewelry manufacturing industries that already demonstrated environmental and social leadership.” During the next phase of the partnership, the retailer plans to expand the number of approved mining and manufacturing suppliers and introduce diamonds to the Love, Earth line.

Consumers can trace the path of their Love, Earth jewelry from mine to store by visiting www.loveearthinfo.com. In addition, on the Web site, they can learn about suppliers’ environmental and social programs and the standards used to select suppliers and ensure the entire process is more sustainable.

Wal-Mart said its Love, Earth is its first step toward having all of the gold, silver, and diamonds used in the jewelry sold in its Wal-Mart stores and Sam’s Club locations come from mines and manufacturers that meet Wal-Mart’s sustainability standards and criteria. The criteria address both environmental, human rights and community issues. By 2010, the retailer aims for at least 10 percent of its jewelry offerings to achieve these standards.

“Wal-Mart recognizes that our customers care about the quality of their jewelry and its potential impact on the world,” said Pam Mortensen, vice president and divisional merchandise manager for Wal-Mart.

“With its considerable influence, market reach and commitment to sustainability, Wal-Mart has brought together like-minded suppliers, mining companies and conservation partners to work together to build a traceable jewelry supply chain at an impressive scale,” said Assheton Stewart Carter, senior director of Business Policies and Practices at Conservation International. “We hope others in the jewelry industry will follow this leadership example and thus enable consumers to make simple choices that benefit the environment and mining communities when shopping for jewelry.”
Source: jckonline

Tiffany reports 19 pct rise in 1st-quarter profit

Jewelry retailer Tiffany & Co. reported Friday that strong growth in the Asia-Pacific and European markets helped its first-quarter profits rise 19 percent but said that it doesn't expect an improvement in the U.S. until later this year.

Tiffany said profits totaled $64.4 million, or 50 cents per share, in the three-month period ended April 30. That compared with $54.08 million, or 39 cents per share, in the year-ago period.

The company's sales rose 12 percent to $668.15 million from $595.7 million in the year-ago period.

Analysts polled by Thomson Financial had expected earnings of 40 cents per share on sales of $649 million.

Shares rose 5.8 percent, or $2.76, to $50.50 in premarket trading.

Total sales in the Americas region, which includes the U.S., Canada and Latin and South America, rose 6 percent to $373.6 million from $353.3 million in the year-ago period due to incremental sales from new stores. Same-store sales, or sales at stores opened at least a year, in the U.S. were unchanged from the prior year.

Same-store sales rose 16 percent in Tiffany's New York flagship store due to increased foreign tourist spending, but same-store sales at branch stores fell 4 percent. Combined catalog and Internet sales in the U.S. rose 1 percent.

Sales in the Asia-Pacific region, which includes business in Japan, in Asia-Pacific countries outside of Japan and in the Middle East, rose 21 percent to $222.0 million from $183.1 million. On a constant-exchange rate basis, sales rose 10 percent and same-store sales increased 4 percent reflecting strong growth in all Asia-Pacific countries other than Japan.

Sales in Europe rose 38 percent to $60.1 million from $43.5 million. On a constant exchange rate basis, a 30 percent increase in sales was due to 12 percent same-store sales growth and incremental sales from four new stores.

In a statement, Michael J. Kowalski, chairman and chief executive, said that the company is continuing to pursue important expansion opportunities in 2008 and expects to open about 24 stores across the U.S., Asia-Pacific — other than Japan — and Europe, more than offsetting weakness in U.S. sales.

Tiffany said it remains on track to meet full-year earnings and sales growth goals. It expects worldwide net sales to rise by 10 percent in 2008 and now expects net earnings per share to increase anywhere from $2.80 to $2.90.

Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expect $2.73 per share for the year.
Source: ap

Can pop culture savvy help jewelry sales?

At an educational session preceding the opening of the JCK Las Vegas show Thursday, retail sales consultant Shane Decker called on retailers to stop the guesswork when it comes to diamond sales.

In a packed afternoon session titled "How to Find and Hit the Hot Spots in Your Diamond Sales," he admonished a crowd of retail jewelers to do some research on pop culture for key age groups, which he defined as 23- to 34-year-olds, 34 to 45-years-olds and 45 and up.

He said jewelers should know what type of music consumers in these key demographic groups are listening to when they drive to work and which TV shows they are tuning into when they get home at night, in order to know the best places and times for advertising.

"You want information that is extremely specific," Decker said.

In a presentation that kept the crowd laughing throughout, Decker also told audience members to keep track of which inventory is selling so they know what to buy more of when the time comes— whether it be diamond solitaire necklaces or bangle bracelets—and at what prices.

"Don't wing it marketing. Don't wing it buying. Don't wing it marking it up either," he said.

Decker said Web sites such as Blue Nile are getting ahead of some retail jewelers simply because retail jewelers are forgetting how to sell diamonds.

He encouraged audience members to rid themselves of what he termed their "poverty-level" mentality and urged them to buy higher-quality, larger goods.

He shared the story of a retail jeweler in Arkansas who recently sold a pair of diamond earrings totaling 20 carats simply because the jeweler had them in stock.

"Don't tell me you can't make money on diamonds anymore," Decker said. "That's your thinking. You've got to change how you feel about your product."

The show floor for JCK Las Vegas opens today at the Venetian hotel. The show runs through June 3.
Source: nationaljewelernetwork

China’s Jewelry Sales Reach $26B in 2007

China’s jewelry sales reached approximately CNY 180 billion ($25.88 billion) in 2007, representing growth of about CNY 20 billion ($2.87 billion) a year from 2005, according to a report by research company Research And Markets (R&M.)

R&M added the ‘China Gold & Silver Jewelry Market Channel Report, 2007-2008’ to its research listings given the recent growth of the market.

Since 2003, the retail price index of China's gold and silver jewelry goods has risen continuously, at a higher rate than all other commodities, the report explained.

In 2007, China’s jewelry imports grew 35 percent to $6.2 billion, and exports grew 16.8 percent to $8 billion, M&R reported adding that sales of gold and silver jewelry kept a good momentum in the first quarter of 2008.

“That indicates China's jewelry market is increasingly prosperous and the import and export trade is continuously growing,” the report said. “China's position as one of world's main jewelry manufacturers and consumers has been further strengthened.”

By year-end, there were more than 10,000 jewelry retailers on mainland China, the majority of which were small outlets without independent brands and competitiveness, M&R said.

“So far, China's jewelry industry has become the third largest consumer hot spot preceded only by real estate and automobile industry,” the report explained.

M&R said statistics in the report were based upon those provided by the Gems & Jewelry Trade Association of China, the China Gold Association, the Shanghai Diamond Exchange, the Ministry of Commerce, the National Bureaus of Statistics and statistics bureaus at provincial or municipal level.
Source: diamonds

Saks' jewelry sales wow over holidays

Jennifer DeWinter, senior vice president and general merchandise manager of fine jewelry and accessories at Saks Fifth Avenue.

In a holiday season marred by disappointing sales, Saks Fifth Avenue was among the few to prosper.

For the two-month holiday selling period ended Jan. 5, Saks' same-store sales increased 10.2 percent, while total sales increased 10.6 percent to $795.3 million. No specific figures were given for jewelry, but it outpaced the 9 percent rise in same-store sales for the fourth quarter, a spokesperson said.

Jennifer DeWinter, senior vice president and general merchandise manager of fine jewelry and accessories at Saks Fifth Avenue, credits the holiday success to the retailer's aggressive strategy of selecting and securing key designers and then offering the right names in the right geographic markets.

"Saks always pursues as many exclusives as possible, and this holiday season we have been very successful," DeWinter says. "We have a talented merchandise team that works closely with our store management team to ensure there are appropriate stock levels and the right assortments."

Saks has also experienced a dramatic increase in the number of large-transaction sales and strong growth in the top end of the market, she adds.

Not surprisingly, DeWinter says Saks' retail clients are drawn to the most coveted brands—both newer brands and iconic ones such as Cartier, Chopard and Chanel. The chain's exclusive agreement with high-end diamond brand Graff did well too.

"[Graff's] success at Saks is a further indication of increase in the large-transaction sales," DeWinter says.

In terms of marketing, DeWinter says Saks tailors its material to the different market segments.

For example, one fine-jewelry catalog is designated for high-end clientele and another for its best ready-to-wear clients. For Mother's Day, Saks sends out a direct-mail catalog focusing on products in more accessible price points.
Source: nationaljewelernetwork

Mother's Day Jewelry Sales to Hit $2.7 Billion

Of the 84.2 percent of consumers celebrating Mother’s Day, the majority will invest in one major gift for mom, instead of several smaller gifts, according to a National Retail Federation survey. This is largely apparent in the jewelry category: while the percentage of those buying jewelry decreased from last year (32.8 percent vs. 29.7 in 2008), those planning on buying mom something shiny will spend a total of $2.7 billion, compared to $2.1 billion last year.

Overall, consumers will spend an average of $138.63 this year for Mother's Day, compared to $139.14 last year, according to NRF’s 2008 Mother’s Day Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, conducted by BIGresearch. Total consumer spending is expected to reach $15.8 billion.

“Mom has been saying for decades that it’s the thought that counts on Mother’s Day, and this year, kids might actually be listening,” said Tracy Mullin, NRF president and chief executive officer. “Retailers will offer specials on popular items such as digital cameras and gardening tools to make it easy for those who want to surprise mom with a gift.”

When it comes to popular gifts, consumers will shell out nearly $3 billion on a special dinner or brunch, $1.2 billion on consumer electronics like digital cameras, digital photo frames and video cameras, $2 billion on flowers, $1.4 on clothing and accessories and $1.1 billion on personal service gifts like a trip to a favorite spa or salon, NRF says. Shoppers will also spend $1.6 billion on gift cards/gift certificates, $696 million on housewares and gardening tools and $672 million on greeting cards.

The majority of consumers shopping for Mother’s Day gifts will head to specialty stores (35 percent), discount stores (25.7 percent) and department stores (28.8 percent). Others will shop at specialty clothing stores (6.6 percent), online (18.3 percent) and through catalogs (3.4 percent).

Young adults aged 18-24, many of whom have wives, mothers, grandmothers, and sisters, will spend the most at an average of $170.71. The 25-34 year-old age group will spend an average of $153.17, followed by 35-44 year-olds who will spend an average of $145.86, according to the survey.
Source: jckonline

U.S. Jewelry Sales Creep Upward in January

Specialty jewelers in the U.S. market posted a very modest sales gain in January – +1.9 percent over the same month a year ago – according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Total jewelry sales – sales of jewelry in all retail outlets which sell this merchandise category – were up 1.6 percent in January. Thus, while jewelry demand was weak during the month, specialty jewelers gained market share from non-traditional jewelry outlets such as discounters and others.

Further, as expected, the Department of Commerce revised December 2007 jewelry sales levels downward, though not by as much as we would have expected. Based on the newly revised data, December 2007 specialty jewelers’ sales in the U.S. market fell by 2.8 percent; preliminary data had indicated a decline of 2.6 percent.

Total U.S. jewelry sales data was modestly revised for 2007; it now appears that jewelry sales in America were up 4.2 percent in 2007, down slightly from the previously reported gain of 4.3 percent. The Commerce Department will continue to recalculate this number each month until about mid-year; we do not expect any significant change from current levels.

The Commerce Department also scaled back the previously reported preliminary retail sales gains (all categories) for the final quarter of the year (see Scoreboard below).

For the three months ended January 2008, the scoreboard for specialty jewelers’ sales, total jewelry industry sales, and total retail sales is summarized on the following table. The figures show that specialty jewelers gained market share in November and January from non-traditional jewelry retail outlets (discounters, mass market retailers, department stores, etc.), but lost market share in December. Further, jewelers lost market share to other retail categories which offered more enticing merchandise and more compelling values – particularly consumer electronics – at prices that are directly targeted to jewelers’ “sweet spot” pricing at the mass market level – $300-500.
Source: idexonline

Leaded Kids' Jewelry Sales Banned In Mass.

After random tests revealed that one in 10 pieces of children's jewelry sold in Massachusetts contain dangerously high levels of lead, Massachusetts health officials said Wednesday that the manufacture, transport or sale of children's leaded jewelry will be banned in the state.

"Because high levels of lead in toy jewelry can present long-term health consequences for children, we think this new regulation will go a long to way to protect the health of children in the Commonwealth," Department of Public Health Commissioner John Auerbach said.

By collecting and testing jewelry samples from vending machines, children's toy sections of retail stores and jewelry counters in Massachusetts in 2007, the DPH found one in 10 samples had high levels of lead. Although the number has decreased from a test conducted in 2004, the results are still unacceptable, the DPH said.

The new regulations apply to children's leaded jewelry manufactured, shipped or sold at retail or wholesale, indoor or outdoor, over-the-Internet or through catalogs. This includes jewelry sold in vending machines, toy stores or toy displays, toy departments or toy sections and jewelry that may use images or otherwise be designed or packaged to be especially attractive to children, the DPH said.

"The larger retail outlets, those stores tend to say if we can't sell it in this state, then we can't sell it in any state. So they tend to change their behaviors nationwide. That is really what we are hoping for in Massachusetts," said Suzanne Condon, of the DPH.

The current Massachusetts Lead Law bans toys, eating or drinking utensils with a coating of paint, enamel or glaze with a lead content of 600 parts per million or greater, but the law does not apply to lead in metallic form, the DPH said.

The new regulations will define children's leaded jewelry as any jewelry marketed to or intended for use by children under 14 years of age; jewelry that contains a concentration of lead that either is more than 600 ppm total lead content as determined by the U.S. screening test for total lead analysis or similar methods subject to the approval of DPH; or jewelry that would expose a child to greater than 15 micrograms of lead per day over a chronic exposure period.

The regulations will go into effect in June 2008. When the regulations go into effect, they will be the toughest lead restrictions in the country.

"Many of the states have moved toward trying to address these issues on a more local level. What we did in Massachusetts was to really try to look at this comprehensively and design a standard that we believe should be met by everyone," Condon said.

Vendors caught violating the law face up to a $5,000 fine or imprisonment. Spot checks will be conducted across the state to ensure compliance, the DPH said.
Source: thebostonchannel

Christie’s 2007 Jewelry Sales Sparkle

Dominated by diamonds, jewelry sales at Christie’s auction house totaled close to $400 million in 2007, an increase of 11 percent over 2006 ($355 million), which was already up by 27 percent over a then record 2005 ($279 million).

Christie's said its jewelry results are the highest ever achieved by any auction house.

"This year saw many milestones in the jewelry auction market," said François Curiel, Christie’s chairman of Jewellery. "The magical barrier of $100,000 per carat was regularly broken for top colorless diamonds, while colored diamonds often sold for over $1 million per carat. These figures were unheard-of as little as five years ago. This mini-revolution took place in a booming market, fed by the participation of new collectors from Russia, China, and the Middle-East, and others bidding for the first time through the internet. There was also a major geographical re-alignment, as Hong Kong established itself firmly alongside Geneva and New York as a key international sale centre for exceptional jewels."

Natural pearls, diamonds, colored and colorless, Kashmir sapphires, and contemporary jewels were the stars of 2007, breaking records on a scale that seasoned collectors could never imagine, Christie's said.

There has also been a profound transformation in how auctions are marketed, with the arrival of new players from emerging markets, and the way they are conducted, with the introduction of Christie’s LIVETM. In both areas, Christie’s has been investing heavily, with exhibitions and auctions in Dubai, China, Russia, and the Ukraine, as well as new technology. A parallel development has been the strong increase in private sales. Several major gemstones were negotiated this way, in response to a growing demand for a service that offers access to precious stones unknown to the public, often straight from the mines, at very competitive prices.

Strong increases were seen across all continents:

• Asia: Sales totaled $86.4 million, a 7.5 percent increase year-over-year. With only two sales per year, the Asian results were the strongest on record, underscoring that Hong Kong now stands firmly alongside Geneva and New York as a major venue for extraordinary jewels, Christie's said. The November sale totaled $47.3 million, making it the largest jewelry auction ever staged in Asia. This represents an increase of 14 percent over spring 2007 and 21 percent increase over autumn 2006. The most expensive jewel sold in Asia was a diamond briolette of 31.92 cts., D colour, Flawless, which went for more than $3.2 million (pictured). It was the largest diamond briolette to appear at auction in Asia, the company said.

"Christie's Hong Kong has become the vibrant hub for jewelry in Asia," said Vickie Sek, director of Jewellery & Jadeite for Christie’s in Asia. "Jadeite saw a remarkable resurgence, while colorless and rare colored diamonds, as well as precious stones, realized some of the highest prices achieved worldwide throughout the year."

• The Americas: Sales totaled $120.1 million, an 8.8 percent increase year-over-year. For the second consecutive year, these results are the highest ever achieved in the U.S. jewelry auction market. The historic Baroda Pearls became the most expensive jewel sold at auction in the U.S. when they were purchased by an Asian collector for more than $7 million—a world auction record for any pearl jewel (poctured). A 22-ct. Kashmir sapphire that fetched more than $3 million became the most expensive sapphire in the world. The price of $135,000 per carat is a world record for any sapphire.

"The market continued to show immense confidence in superb diamonds and important gemstones," said Rahul Kadakia, director of Jewellery for Christie's Americas. "At the same time, 2007 marked a turning point for jewelry sales at Christie's in the U.S. and at Christie’s worldwide where original design, rarity, and provenance proved to be just as important as the quality of a gem."

• Europe sales totaled $186.8 million, up 14 percent year-over-year. Christie's sales across Europe drew strong results. London posted its best year ever with sales of $47.2 million, up 19.2 percent year-over-year. In June a greyishblue diamond of 7.81 cts. fetched $5.1 million, setting at the time a world record for a blue diamond per carat at $655,480 per carat.

“The $3 million sale of the collection of Princess Maria Gabriella di Savoia, together with several major diamonds, have confirmed London’s position as a pre-eminent centre for outstanding jewelry.” said Raymond Sancroft-Baker, director of Jewellery for Christie’s Europe.

Highlights in the prime center of Geneva included a fancy purplish-red diamond of 2.26 cts. acquired by Laurence Graff for more than $2.6 million, a world auction record for a red diamond (pictured).

“Collectors showed ever-growing interest for signed jewelry and historical pieces, from the Fürstenberg and Donnersmarck collections to a pair of ear-pendants once part of The Imperial Russian Jewels and the pearl ring mounted by Cartier for the Duchess of Windsor. " said Eric Valdieu, director of Jewellery for Christie’s
Switzerland.

• Sales in the Middle East totaled $28.3 million in 2007 where Dubai became a new auction center for jewelry at Christie's. Following the success of its inaugural sale of contemporary jewels & watches in January, a second auction was held in November which drew buyers from not only the region, but also Southeast Asia, Russia, Europe, and the Americas.

"Dubai is all about dynamic sales of high value prestige jewels and watches," said David Warren, director of Jewellery for Dubai and London. "Our auctions offer collectors a special focus on top contemporary designers like Lorenz Bäumer, Viran Bhagat and Carnet, as well as classics from the likes of Boucheron, Bulgari, Cartier, JAR, Van Cleef & Arpels and Winston, with unique gemstones and limited edition watches proving very popular. In our first year of sales in this vibrant new market, we are already witnessing an average lot value of over $100,000 with 5 lots surpassing the $1million mark."

Christie's remains the premier choice for private collectors, and 2007 again saw Christie's presiding over the sale of many of the year's most noteworthy collections:

Among industry trends, Christie's said diamonds prices continue to rise with colored and colorless diamonds remain as show stoppers at every auction worldwide. Eight of the top 10 jewels sold at Christie's in 2007 were diamonds.

Also, increased Activity from the Middle East, Russia, and China continue to be robust alongside strong participation from traditional buyers in the United States and Europe. Christie's jewelry auctions were fuelled by the arrival of new collectors from emerging markets, particularly from Russian, Middle Eastern, and Chinese collectors.
Source: jckonline

Jewelry down, furniture up this season

Early online shopping statistics suggest this year's U.S. holiday shoppers bypassed jewelry, watches and flowers in favor of furniture and appliances.

Andrew Lipsman, an analyst with comScore Networks, which analyzes online shopping by U.S. consumers, said holiday season furniture and appliance sales rose about 70 percent over last year's levels, while sales of holiday mainstays such as watches and jewelry fell, The New York Times reported Tuesday.

Lipsman did not say how far jewelry sales slipped from last year's levels because he said the figure could be changed significantly by a few large purchases.

"Some of the bigger losers were luxury goods," he said. "In better economic conditions, that category was growing faster."

Carl Prindle, chief executive of Waltham, Mass., based Furniture.com, which oversees online sales for regional furniture companies, said holiday season sales this year rose 110 percent over 2006 levels.

"It's certainly counter to our expectations," Prindle said. "Maybe it's people within a family saying we're not going to waste money on things that aren't meaningful."
Source: upi

Diamonds, a girl's best friend, an investor's bad choice

Most holiday shoppers aren't thinking of the investment value of what they are buying.

But William P. from the Boston area figures that as long as he's shopping for jewelry for his wife — she'll celebrate her 30th birthday on Christmas Eve, a week before the couple's fifth wedding anniversary — he might as well keep the portfolio in mind.

"This is something I want to do, but we're also young and there's no doubt that we could use the money for other things," he wrote in an e-mail.

"I was going to put a few more dollars into the 401(k), but now I am thinking that I will use the money to pay for the diamond earrings. Diamond prices keep going up, so if we ever really need the money, we could cash them in for a little profit. ... I'm not so sure I could buy a stock and be so sure it will be worth more the same way I can with diamonds."

Alas, William and many other shoppers who overspend on diamonds because of the jewels' investment value are making a Stupid Investment of the Week.

Stupid Investment of the Week highlights flawed thinking that leads average consumers to make less-than-ideal financial decisions; the column is not intended as a sell signal, and it would hardly work as one in the case of diamonds, where the financial outlay is typically laced with emotion. Those emotions — and not investment prospects — are precisely the right reasons to buy jewels.

"There are many places where you can put your money where your returns are more immediate and much greater," says Antoinette Matlins, author of "Jewelry & Gems: The Buying Guide."

As an investment in emotion — love, hope, faith, commitment, romance, and trust, to name a few — diamonds may provide a terrific return, albeit not a monetary one.

But try to cash in a diamond for a profit and you have all sorts of potential for trouble.

While returns are hard enough to predict in most investments, they are nearly impossible to figure for diamonds.

Diamonds are appraised and graded, but prices move based on consumer sentiment.

While the grading systems are based on set standards — so that a dozen experts looking at the same stone should draw identical conclusions on carats, color, cut and clarity — there is a lot of wiggle room.

Gemologists say that buyers frequently pay for grades, without knowing where the stone falls in the spectrum of the mark. From an investment standpoint, that's like coming up with a fair-market value without ever being able to look at precise financials. A little swing either way can dramatically change the potential profit or loss.

As a result, diamonds face inestimable "dealer risk," the potential to get fleeced by an unscrupulous dealer. (Even in collectibles meant for investment, like coins, dealer risk poses a big potential problem.)

"Pricing risk" is also a part of the equation. If you buy a diamond at three times the true wholesale price you'll have no shot of selling it at that price for a decade or more. Diamonds do hold their value well — so long as the stone is real, it's not going to zero like a company headed for bankruptcy.

Next, there is liquidity risk. While stones retain their value, you won't have a lot of bargaining power if you must sell to raise cash.

Dealers who buy jewelry don't pay retail, and the nation's pawn shops are full of expensive gems that were turned in for a lot less cash than they were purchased for.

And because emotion generally is attached to a jewelry purchase, it can be mighty hard to part with under the best of circumstances; if William P. ever gets overdrawn on the credit cards, chances are the earrings won't be the first thing jettisoned to ease the burden of bills.

In the late 1970s, diamonds boomed as sellers suggested that diamonds would replace gold as a safe investment option; buyers snapped up stones thinking they would hold their value, and prices skyrocketed.

The bottom fell out in 1981, and while jewel prices have risen at a slow, steady pace ever since, the buyers who thought they were getting a gem of an investment still couldn't sell those stones at a profit.

Since that time, most people have looked at gems more as gifts than investments. Recent price increases, coupled with the current stock market's current volatility, seem to be priming the investment pump again.

Matlins says that would be a mistake. Focus on what the gift means, not what it might be worth to some future buyer.

"It's nice to do something for pleasure, that's very romantic and very sentimental, but that also retains its value," she says.

"There are a lot of values attached to buying jewelry that go beyond the money. And it's better than giving her a car, where the value will be going down every day. But if you're looking at this as an investment in anything other than your relationship or your family, you're probably going to be frustrated if you ever really need to cash it in."
Source: nwsource

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

Randolph jewelry sale benefits sick orphans

The multi-colored, beaded necklaces and bracelets on display at Paul Michael Creative Designs might not seem too out of the ordinary upon first glance, but the jewelry has a history.

The hands that pieced them together are those of HIV-stricken orphans from Ethiopia, and sales of these items will go directly to helping them.

"It's all local material," said Jim Miller, a former Sparta resident who's been actively fundraising for Ethiopian orphans for close to eight years, and who visits the impoverished country yearly.

"There are different designs of the Orthodox cross," he said Tuesday when the jewelry first went on display at the Paul Michael gift shop on Route 10.

"Ethiopia has more cross designs than any other country," he said.

Miller began raising money for Ethiopian orphans more than seven years ago through Sparta Crop Walk. Since then he became the co-founder of Orphans and Vulnerable Children's Programs of Medhen, which supports the Medhen Social Center, an organization located in a leprosy colony outside the country's capitol, Addis Ababa. It's run by Sister Senkenesh G. Miriam, who supports more than 400 orphans who are placed in foster families.

Miller's efforts caught the eyes of a few township women who began contributing money toward Miller's cause and earlier this year founded the Medhen Orphan Relief Effort, a nonprofit group that has raised more than $11,000 to help the children between 2 and 18 years of age.

Township residents Barbara Zecca, Maureen Strenk, Deirdre McGregor and Adele Leeds, among others, received the jewelry from Africa and were able to get the pieces displayed at Paul Michael's after the shop owner learned of the children's plight.

"I think it's beautiful," Paul Michael Giordano said during an interview at his store. "Definitely all of the bracelets are very appealing, and the crosses are definitely all appealing."

Some of the necklaces are made of large brown beads and other trinkets, some with large, diverse metal cross designs. Some of the wrist bracelets are made of small green, yellow and red beads, all of which represent Ethiopia's flag colors.

"I love it -- I wear it all the time as you can see," Zecca said, pointing to a necklace she was wearing while at the store.

They range in prices from $10 to $40, and will be on display during a Holiday Open House on Nov. 15 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Giordano said that in addition to the jewelry sales benefiting MORE, he will also donate 20 percent of anything else people purchase to the charity.

"It's very tough for them," Giordano said said of the orphans.

Miller said, "There are no safety nets to catch these children that are in extreme circumstances of need."

Ethiopia had some 720,000 AIDS orphans in 2003, according to the 2004 Children on the Brink report, published by UNICEF. The report estimates 12.3 million children have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa. It also estimates that the orphan population will increase in the next decade as more HIV-positive parents become ill and die from AIDS.

It takes $120 a year to help care for a single orphan, Miller said, adding that the children come from "the poorest of the poor" in Africa.
Source: dailyrecord

Metals prices may hurt holiday jewelry sales

The jewelry category may struggle this holiday season, forecasts Stevan Buxbaum, executive vice president of Buxbaum Group, a turnaround investors and consultants company.

"It is more expensive this year thanks to the rising prices of precious metals, and you won't get quite as much for your dollar," Buxbaum said in a media release.

Consumers also won't have to wait long for merchandise to go on sale due to the slowing economy and the sag in consumer spending, Buxbaum predicts.

"We'll see a lot of retailers discounting earlier," Buxbaum said. "They're not going to play the game of waiting to see if someone else cuts first. We've already seen Wal-Mart make a price move at the beginning of October. It's not even waiting for Halloween, and that's amazing."

Buxbaum also said that customers' nerves will dictate where they shop.

"People will move down a notch in their consumption habits," Buxbaum said. "If they were department store shoppers, you might see them a little more inclined to shop at Target. If they shopped at Abercrombie and Fitch last year, they may turn instead to a less-expensive retailer like Aeropostale. They will still be looking for strong fashion items, but they may go a notch down in terms of price."

The issue of price is also a huge factor when it comes to European luxury items such as leather goods. Although still appealing, the appreciation of the euro against the U.S. dollar has made merchandise in Europe more expensive than last year. Consequently, Buxbaum predicts that American producers of luxury goods will benefit.

Electronics will continue to remain hot holiday items, Buxbaum said, as will accessories, especially "one-size" items such as handbags. Apparel sales will ultimately be determined by the weather.
Source: nationaljewelernetwork