2008 Tucson gem shows report: Cactus juice

At this year's Tucson gem shows, gem dealer Philip Zahm offered this 18-karat yellow gold and 950 platinum ring featuring a 13.3-carat Paraiba tourmaline from Mozambique, with 0.56 carats tsavorite garnets and 0.87 carats diamonds; suggested retail price is $187,950. Philipzahm.com.

Concerns about gemstone treatments, the looming Burmese ruby ban, rough-supply shortages and the struggling U.S. economy brought a prickly sense of sobriety to this year's Tucson gem shows, usually known for their relaxed sunglasses-and-sandals vibe.

But there were some new finds this year—including a deposit of Tanzanian spinel and rubies from Greenland—and although traffic seemed lighter, some dealers were pleasantly surprised to find serious buyers instead of dallying browsers.

"People are intense in looking and comparing," said René Arnoldi of Carl Friedrich Arnoldi in Idar-Oberstein, Germany. "Higher-quality material is doing well, but the medium-to-lower quality is harder to sell."

Red and pink spinel from Tanzania were attracting interest, but stones in sizes above six carats were scarce, he said. In fact, top-shelf stones of any kind from gemstone centers such as Brazil and Africa remained elusive this year, Arnoldi said, echoing the sentiments of many of the other gem dealers at the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) GemFair.

Prices on color's traditional troika—sapphire, emerald and ruby—rose in the 20 percent range, hoisted high by the weak U.S. dollar, tighter supplies and competing customers from the European and Asian markets.

Retail buyers, fresh off a holiday season that was disappointing for many, were shopping Tucson carefully.

"It's going to be another tough year," said jeweler Carla Ann Yeager, owner of Diamond Works in Chillicothe, Ohio, who said she picked up "funky pearls that you can't get from the suppliers," smoky quartz and brown quartz, all designed to appeal to her young female clients who accessorize clothing with jewels.

Despite the slowing economy, she is opting to ramp up her colored-stone marketing.

"I've started doing more full-color ads in the newspaper for jewelry with stones like pink tourmaline or (gemstones in) rainbow colors," Yeager said.

At the AGTA GemFair, Gems of Naples was offering some rare, blockbuster-size gems, including this 7.07-carat natural unheated Padparadscha sapphire, which it was selling for $9,500 per carat. (800) 477-2716 or info@gemsofnaples.com

Red alert for rubies Challenges in the U.S. ruby market have multiplied over the past year, with higher prices, a looming ban on Burmese stones and an influx of cheap, lead-glass-filled rubies among them.

"Prices on rubies have gone up 25 percent in the past six to eight months alone," said Sam Rahmanan of Sara Gems Corp. in New York, adding that prices increased 100 percent over the past two years. "The dollar is weak and the same money just doesn't buy as much anymore."

Depending on quality and origin, ruby prices throughout the shows ranged from as low as $400 or $500 per carat to as high as $100,000 per carat for natural, pigeon-blood-red Burmese rubies.

For fine stones, average prices ranged from $1,500 per carat for Thai rubies to about $2,500 for Burmese rubies from Myanmar's Mong Hsu region to about $4,000 per carat for stones from Myanmar's storied Mogok mines, said Richard Drucker, publisher of The Guide, at his popular "Best Buys in Tucson" seminar at the AGTA GemFair. While prices were up about 20 percent on natural stones, treated-ruby prices were flat, he said.

Creating positive buzz this year was Canada-based True North Gems, which was selling rubies mined in Greenland in smaller and melee sizes.

Glass half full for treated stones But there was negative reaction to lead-glass-filled rubies, which some of the exhibitors at the Tucson shows were selling for telltale low prices of $10 to $50 per carat for polished goods. Since hitting the U.S. market in 2005, the stones have circulated to the point that the American Gemological Laboratories (AGL) started calling the stones "composite rubies" on grading reports. The treatment, which involves heating and injecting glass into the stones, is easily detectable by labs, but the level of lead glass used to seal major flaws and fractures has set off alarms.

"Do you want to call it a ruby or do you want to call it ruby pieces in glass?" asked Dr. Lore Kiefert, laboratory director of the AGTA Gemological Testing Center, during a seminar where she displayed a slide of a lead-glass-filled ruby, splintered by cracks after it was exposed to heat during the resetting process. "It's not only cavity filling any more. It's more than that."

In addition to heat, the treatments are also susceptible to solvents, including everyday household cleaners.

Adding to the ruby challenges this year is a looming U.S. ban on gemstones from Myanmar, producer of 90 percent of the world's rubies. At press time, the act had not yet been signed into law, but most dealers were opposed to it, saying it will hurt small Burmese ruby miners and Thai cutters more than its real target—the ruling military junta responsible for human rights atrocities in Myanmar. It is also expected to drive up ruby prices.

Some retailers, including Tiffany and Co., have stopped selling Burmese rubies because of the Myanmar conflict, and Stuller has begun offering rubies from Madagascar.

Designer Diana Widman, a regular at the Tucson shows, created a new collection featuring homegrown gems from Montana. Hand-fabricated in 18-karat gold with several hinged joints for flexibility, this necklace features 20 carats of natural Montana sapphire crystals and a 4-carat unheated purple spinel; suggested retail price is $11,000. Widmandesign.com

Sapphires, particularly blue, remain a favorite among jewelers and consumers, dealers said. For fine-quality goods, average prices ranged from about $1,000 for Malagasy stones to $3,500 per carat and above for Burmese.

Although the stone remains one of the least controversial, a new treatment has emerged. During the Accredited Gemologist Association (AGA) conference, Christopher Smith, vice president and chief gemologist of the AGL, said he examined a batch of sapphires that were neon blue in color, similar to Paraiba tourmaline or Malagasy apatite. The stones were purchased by New York gem dealers, who bought them in Thailand, where they were described as beryllium-diffused. Analysis showed they were treated with cobalt in a new heat-treatment process detectable with a microscope or Chelsea filter, Smith said.

For the last few years, emerald has seen a resurgence in popularity, and prices have been steady, at about $1,800 per carat for a 1-carat Zambian stone and $2,500 per carat for a 1-carat Colombian emerald, but this year, the figures are steadily moving upward, Drucker said.

"There's a lot of good production coming out of the La Pita [mine in Colombia], but other forces like the weak dollar are likely to keep prices firm," he said.

But one issue that may impact emeralds this year is trade-press reports of poor-quality emeralds treated in their rough and pre-cut forms with polymers that are essentially gluing them together.

"People are concerned and that's what we're here for. That's what we tried to eliminate," said Bryan Alderhold, Eternity Natural Emerald's executive vice president. The company treats its emeralds with ExCel, a polymer-based treatment that, unlike others, can be removed and also carries a lifetime guarantee.

The company carries a 50-50 mix of Colombian and Afghani emeralds, with goods ranging from $500 per carat on the lower end to $12,000 and $40,000 per carat on the high end, though the average is about $3,500 to $4,500.

Rock stars of the show Prices for tanzanite, always a crowd-pleaser in Tucson, were holding steady at about $400 to $550 per carat for stones that are two to three carats in size. The Tanzanite Foundation has created its own grading scale, and has partnered with labs to produce reports that give grades for clarity, cut and color.

"This could be the first [grading system for color] that actually becomes universal, because it's not one lab imposing it on all the other labs," Kiefert said.

Dealers who specialize in fine and unusual stones cited strong demand, though they were surprised at who was buying.

"We hoped with the exchange rate to see more foreign buyers, but there were very few Europeans," said Laurie Watt of Mayer and Watt in Maysville, Ky. "And our American clients bought more than we expected. We've been selling finer, higher-end stones. Not necessarily bigger, but finer."

In addition to unheated corundum, Mayer and Watt favorites included mint Afghani tourmaline, selling for $250 to $450 per carat, and purple cuprian tourmaline, for $350 per carat.

Last year, an influx of blue-green Mozambique tourmaline that resembled Paraiba tourmaline from Brazil prompted the world's top gemological labs, via the Laboratory Manual Harmonization Committee, to expand the term Paraiba to other copper-bearing tourmaline.

An assortment of gemstones from Stuller are part of what the company dubbed the "Blue Music" trend, colors that appeal to consumers who value virtues like trust, clarity and balance. Stuller.com

Some opposed the looser terminology, but this year the debate seems to have cooled.

"Some really want the Brazilian material; some only care for the beauty of the piece," said Edelito Oliveira of Hubert in Los Angeles, whose African Paraiba tourmaline was about $3,000 per carat.

The weak U.S. dollar has had an impact on the price of rough colored gemstones for dealers, including those buying from Brazil, where the currency ratio has slipped from about $3 U.S. dollars to one Brazilian real, to $1.75 to one real, he said.

Mozambique tourmaline now fetches as much as $7,000 per carat for fine goods, and from $7,000 to $16,000 for extra-fine goods. For the Brazilian Paraibas, which remain more difficult to find, prices ranged from $6,000 to $15,000 for fine stones to $15,000 to $20,000 for extra-fine.

"Mozambique tourmaline is still getting a lot of buzz," said Philip Zahm of Philip Zahm and Associates in Aptos, Calif. Other hot sellers were Tanzanian spinel in pinks and reds, which were selling for $600 to $800 per carat for 1-carat stones and $1,000 to $1,500 for those sized two to three carats.

A surprise hit at the show was jade, according to Daniel Mason of Mason-Kay in Littleton, Colo., who said the company had its best Tucson show ever. A ban on Burmese gemstones would impact jade dealers as well as ruby dealers, but that didn't seem to be the reason behind the surge in interest, he said. Instead, the color green seemed to be trendy this year, in part because of the interest in the environment.

"With jade, there's not much [consumer information] on it and jewelers can sell it for more than keystone," Mason said. Prices range from about $15 per stone for commercial quality to $50,000 to $60,000 for fine quality.

Dealing with the topaz blues Since the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) stepped in last year to address the lack of licensees for testing irradiated blue topaz, several companies have received licenses.

Only those who initially import and distribute irradiated gemstones need licenses from the NRC, so retailers need only check with their suppliers to make sure that is the case.

Still, given the red tape and expenses involved in importing and selling blue topaz, other types of treated blue topaz and coated topaz were getting a fresh look. Joe Orlando, Stuller's vice president for gemstones, said that the company is applying for a distributor license from the NRC, but in the meantime is selling diffused blue topaz from Signity, which is promoting its diffused blue topaz with the motto: "Genuine topaz—no radiation, no complication."

"We stopped selling irradiated topaz eight or nine years ago because we saw this coming," said Hubert Salvenmoser, a product manager for Swarovski, which owns the Signity brand.

Also stepping up its topaz game is Azotic Coating Technologies, which uses its patented coating process to produce coated topaz, quartz and cubic zirconia in colors such as the popular blue-green iridescent "Mystic fire."

Kevin Bennet, the company chairman and a speaker at the AGA conference, noted that though the treatment is durable and permanent, the coatings can come off if the stones are placed in acids or pickling solutions.

"Treat them like pearls or opals," he said.

Jorg-Heinz's "Diamond Cages" necklace with South Sea pearls and 18-karat gold clasp with diamonds. Joerg-heinz.de

Freshwater fever In pearl jewelry, freshwater pearl sales continued to hold steady, and there were few changes in what retailers were asking for, according to exhibitors, who said demand for baroque pearls was still going strong.

"People are always looking for baroques in the South Sea and Tahitians," said Colleen Reynolds of A and Z Pearls in Los Angeles. With the price of gold at record levels, pearl jewelry is becoming an attractive alternative, she said. Favorite pieces included Ikecho freshwater pearls.

Peter Bazar of Imperial Deltah Pearls said this year's pearl buyers were going for the lower price points and lower quality of goods. To deal with the challenging economy, his company has purchased pearl farms in Tahiti, the Cook Islands and China.

"We've been able to reduce costs by aggressively going to the source," he said. Still, some challenges lie ahead, and the weak U.S. dollar has hurt the Providence, R.I.-based company. Bazar also noted production problems with the Chinese akoyas that will probably hit the market next year.

A strand of fine-quality freshwaters, 10-to-11 millimeters in size, was going for $2,800 at Imperial Deltah.

Kamlesh Kothari of Premier Pearl said he was getting more requests for pearl drops rather than baroques this year and said that Chinese goods remain plentiful though the better material is hard to find. Still, top-quality Chinese freshwaters are almost approaching South Seas pearls in quality, he said.

"Prices are firm this year, and they were already strong because of the European and Asian markets," Kothari said.
Source: nationaljewelernetwork

On 'Today,' with which ring will they wed?

Bridal bands from Kwiat's "Fidelity" collection are among one of four designer choices in the "Today" show's "Race to the Altar" segment.

Today's a big day for bridal designers, as the Today show continued its famous "Today Throws A Wedding—Race to the Altar" segment with a feature on bridal bands.

Kwiat, Ritani, Kirk Kara and Bulgari were chosen out of a select group of the world's most prestigious jewelry companies as the four finalists to appear on the show.

Beginning today at 9 a.m., viewers were invited to vote on which of the wedding band sets would make it onto the fingers of LaDonna and Darnell, a couple from Atlanta who will wed on the Today show next week.

Kwiat's offerings are platinum bands from the brand's newest bridal collection, "Fidelity." Each band appears almost as if it has two intersecting rings. The bride's version is marked with brilliant-cut diamonds, while the groom's band is an endless circle of platinum.

The Ritani bands are from the "Endless Love" collection and feature a complementary, not matchy-matchy look. The ladies' band features 1.25 carats of diamonds, and the men's version features 22 points of diamonds. Both are set in platinum.

Tuning in to the vintage-inspired trend is Kirk Kara, whose Today show bands feature scrollwork on both the bride's and groom's versions. Both are crafted in 18-karat white gold.

Finally, Bulgari offered up a bolder look, with his and her bands featuring the double "Bulgari" signature scrolled across the side of the rings. The band for her features 0.5 carats of diamonds, while his is all metal.
Source: nationaljewelernetwork

Big bangles, neckwear on tap for spring

Jade Jagger might not sing "Satisfaction" like her father, Mick, but she hopes to bring that very sentiment to the stylish with Jezebel, a new jewelry and clothing line that pays tribute to her Rolling Stone dad's famous pucker via a series of pink enamel lips.

And it's none other than Elle magazine introducing Jagger to consumer awareness, describing Jezebel as "a street-inspired, hip-hopping jewelry collection and slinky clothing line for spring."

Jagger is just one of several designers featured in the copious pages of March's spring fashion magazines, which collectively plugged big, bold "statement necklaces" and bangles as the top jewelry trends of the season.












Marie Claire did not devote much ink to jewelry trends, but in a photo shoot, it did deck some of its models in bold, bright statement necklaces that make the neck adornment trend well known.

Elle devoted a few photos to daring necklaces, with snapshots accompanied by a piece that gave an insider's view on Fashion Week.

Harper's Bazaar reinforced the trend, saying "big necklaces never go out of style, and sculptural geometric elements make this season's batch more striking than ever."

And New York's Feb. 25 issue dedicated four pages to the statement necklace trend, dubbing them "chunkers," with the tagline "nothing shy about these baubles."

Marie Claire chose to back the bangle trend, telling readers to layer them on thick: "If you can still raise your arm, you're not wearing enough," advised the style mavens.

Vogue paid baubles the biggest tribute of all in a jewelry article by Plum Sykes, paired with photos of models bedecked in jewels.

"With the price of clothing skyrocketing (you can pay $12,000 for a skirt at Louis Vuitton), jewelry—selling like gangbusters at stores like Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and Barneys—suddenly seems like the better deal," Sykes wrote.

Cocktail rings have not lost their prowess either. As Vogue put it: "A cocktail ring that explodes like a firework, a jeweled frog atop a jade rock, a camellia with turquoise petals—the most coveted collectibles are gorgeously detailed."
Source: nationaljewelernetwork

Whimsical jewelry tops trends at JA NY

Butterfly themes, as seen in this pendant by Rhonda Faber Green, were a top trend at the recent JA New York Winter Show.

Spring was in the air at the JA New York Winter Show, with whimsical designs topping the trends, along with nature-inspired pieces and romantic themes.

From leaf motifs to subtle butterflies and bold serpents, designs capturing flora and fauna popped up at a plethora of designers' booths. Flower-themed jewelry bloomed throughout the show too.

Romantic flourishes such as bows, hearts, stars and wings were also in full force. A standout pair of hoops was shown at Julez Bryant's booth, with a moon on one earring and a shooting star on the other.

Many designers chose to use dream catchers in their patterns too, with John Christopher and J. Han leading the way.

"Dreamcatcher" pendant by John Christopher.

Gold designs showed a lot of openwork to accommodate a lower price point, while oxidized silver, a more affordable metal, proved its move into the mainstream.

Other top trends included swirly circle earrings, cocktail rings, big hoops, gemstone clusters and bold, eccentric necklaces.

The JA New York Winter Show was held from March 9-11 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City.

The JA New York Summer Show will be held from July 27-30 at the Javits Center. For more information, see the show's Web site, Ja-newyork.com.
Source: nationaljewelernetwork

'May is Gold Month' for fifth year running

"May is Gold Month" will return for its fifth year as a national retail promotion aimed at increasing consumer sales of gold jewelry throughout the month of May.

Co-sponsors of the program, which include the World Gold Council, Jewelry.com and the Richline Group, will unite with leading U.S. retailers Belks, Ben Bridge Jeweler, BJ's, J.C. Penney, Jewelry Television, Macy's, QVC, ShopNBC and Sterling Jewelers to launch the promotion featuring new gold jewelry collections.

The official participating retailers will be launching their new, fashion-forward gold assortments through a national media campaign in magazines such as Elle, Good Housekeeping, Harper's Bazaar, In Style, People and Redbook. This will also be supported at retail point-of-sale with signage, window displays and direct-mail catalogs.

In total, about $3 million will be spent by all the partners on advertising and marketing the program.

Independent retailers can also capitalize on the program by downloading the May is Gold Month (MIGM) logo and point-of-sale materials from the WGC's Web site, Marketing.gold.org.

"The continuing interest and participation in 'May is Gold Month' is a strong testament to its success," WGC Managing Director, USA, John Calnon said in a media release. "As we celebrate the five-year milestone, we strongly encourage more independent retailers to take advantage of the marketing opportunity, as well as the ongoing resurgence of yellow gold's popularity in fashion."

May is Gold Month will also raise funds and awareness for Jewelers for Children, an organization benefiting children who have been affected by illness, abuse of neglect, through a sweepstakes hosted on Jewelry.com.

The sweepstakes offers consumers the chance to vote on and win their favorite new gold jewelry design, with the Web site making a contribution of 10 cents—up to $50,000—for each completed entry in the sweepstakes.

The online sweepstakes will be supported with digital marketing.

"Inspiring incremental spring gold jewelry sales, while simultaneously raising awareness for Jewelers for Children, proves that the American jewelry community is indeed the industry with a heart," Jewelers for Children Executive Director David Rocha said in a media release.

The WGC said the month of May is a fitting time to market traditional gifting opportunities with Mother's Day, graduation, spring romance and the bridal season all occurring within the month. They also said it's a great time for self-purchases.
Source: nationaljewelernetwork

Jewelry trends adapting to record gold prices

Diamonds might be a girl's best friend, but for those buying jewelry at a time of record gold prices, a new trend for lightweight pieces using semi-precious stones and organic materials might be a welcome ally.

Jewelry trends in recent years have been dominated by chunky pieces worn around the neck and clunky gold bangles around the arms and ankles.

But while these heavy-weight pieces may still be favored by the rich and famous, jewelry-lovers with more limited means are being targeted by a new trend for slinky jewelry, hollowed out pieces and jewelry made from non-traditional materials.

Sophisticated simplicity is the buzzword used by European fashionistas, while the trend in Asia is for street-chic and rustic pieces made of semi-precious stones and non-traditional materials including titanium and wood.

"It's no longer about the bling, about the gold. The days of the big heavy gold chain are probably over, and if they are still around, they will be a lot lighter," Desmond Lim, fashion editor at Prestige and August Man, two Singapore lifestyle magazines.

"It's about smart fashion and this casual-chic style is probably a reflection of both fashion and economics. There is a definite balance between the art and the commerce, resulting in this street chic look."

The prices of gold and platinum have both rocketed to record highs, with spot gold trading just short of $1,000 an ounce and platinum above $2,000, prompting some jewelry makers to opt for light weight and hollow pieces.

"In fashion jewelry, the designers are offering us lighter weight designs. Interestingly, this means more inventive and innovative design and the craftsmanship is still there," said David Hinds, managing director of F. Hinds, a family-owned jewelry chain in the United Kingdom.

Retailers in London's Hatton Garden jewelry district are seeing a similar trend and a shift in favor of hollow jewelry which consumes less precious metals and are being sold for more or less the same prices that heavier items sold for a year or two ago before gold prices really began to soar.

"A lot of chains are being made hollow and the reduction in weight is compensating for the rise in gold prices," said Roy Lynch, director of Strictly Gold.

He added that his company had launched a new range of lighter weight products to complement their traditional heavier lines.

JeweJewelerslrs the world over have complained that they need to review prices of their pieces on a daily basis due to the swings in gold prices in recent weeks. Customers are being told prices are only valid for the duration of that day.

OPULENT JEWELLERY

The trend for light-weight jewelry has not extended to high-end diamond rings, where most of the value is from the stone. Buyers are still prepared to hand over the cash for items such as engagement rings.

"People aren't going to skimp on things like that," said Lisa Argenton, an Australian jewelry designer.

"People are still happy to spend money on jewelry with meaning, although some clients who really want platinum find they can't afford it and go for white gold instead. Generally, platinum pieces are two to three times dearer than 18 carat white gold."

Record gold and platinum prices are never likely to deter high net-worth individuals from indulging themselves.

"One of the biggest things in fashion right now are gold cuffs -- big, chunky yellow gold bracelets," Carol Woolton, jewelry editor at Vogue magazine in the United Kingdom.

But she added some designers were also opting to make cuffs in wood, set with semi-precious stones. Although she admitted that none of the trends for less opulent jewelry were on display at the Academy Awards in February.

"Interestingly, there was more jewelry on the red carpet at the Oscars this year than ever before. A lot of actresses are wearing big gold necklaces," she said.

"Nicole Kidman wore a sautoir necklace in white metal -- gold or platinum -- studded with 7,000 diamonds totaling 1,400 carats."

The jewelry display at the Oscars underscored the view from high-end jewelers that the rich are not deterred by gold prices.

Stanislas de Quercize, president of Paris-based fine jewelry house Van Cleef & Arpels, told Reuters recently that all-time high precious metals prices would not alter the raw material content of Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry as his clients wanted only the best.

"We have high-demanding clients who want the best art (in jewelry)," De Quercize said.

"We have to fulfill the mission to offer the best. The appetite for rare stones is growing and growing."
Source: yahoo

Some swimsuit with your jewelry?

The 2008 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, on newsstands now, features a bounty of babes, beach and bling.

Jewelry hits the beach big-time in the 2008 edition of Sports Illustrated's famous "Swimsuit" issue, with Lana Jewelry and Michael Spirito for Exhibitionist as two of the featured designers.

Sporting everything from layered necklaces and cocktail rings to stacked bangles and drippy earrings, the beautiful models in their barely-there bikinis often take a backseat to bling.

The is the first year for Spirito's designs to be featured in the magazine and the second year for Lana Jewelry, whose "Petite Boheme Necklace" and "Affinity Ring" have their day in the sun.

A Sports Illustrated swimsuit model in necklaces by Michael Spirito for Exhibitionist and Luis Morais.

With more than 70 million readers worldwide, the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue is one of the most eagerly awaited publications each year and sets the trends for summer beach fashion and accessories.
Source: nationaljewelrynetwork

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

lia sophia Forecasts its 2007 Holiday Jewelry Trends

The holidays are right around the corner and the fashion jewelry world is changing with the seasons. New styles are emerging, but residents shouldn't be too quick to toss out last year's favorite pieces, says Bonni Davis, vice president of sales for lia sophia.

lia sophia's Top 10 Jewelry Trends for the Holidays

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1. Classic Black - This season, keep an eye out for jet crystals,

black faceted glass, and for a truly timeless look - black beads

combined with white or grey pearls.



2. Red Alert - Red makes quite a statement on its own, or adds spice

to black, brown, and grey hues, in modern and antique inspired

designs.



3. Cuffed - Whether you don a metal cuff or a beaded stretch

bracelet, you are undeniably in style.



4. Back to Nature - This trend continues to be popular, as evidenced

by the presence of semiprecious stones, shell, wood, and leaf

motifs in jewelry.



5. The Bold and the Beautiful - From bold metal pendants, to

substantial CZ cocktail rings, bigger is better if you want to

make an impression.



6. Heating Up - Although some areas of the country are dropping in

temperature, fashion's color palette is heating up. Warm tones,

such as cherry red, auburn, pumpkin, mustard, and chocolate

reflect the colors of the changing seasons.



7. Golden Girl - Gold toned jewelry in shiny or matte finishes light

up any holiday look. You will absolutely glow in canary yellow

crystals, topaz glass, and butterscotch cat's eye.



8. Lots of Layers - Multi layered long necklaces remain a fashion

focus. Keep it simple with a long, triple strand necklace, or mix

things up by piling on two or more complimentary necklaces of

different lengths.



9. Close to the Ocean - Colors borrowed from seascapes remain key in

jewelry and accessories this season. Blue stones, crystals, and

beads in shades of cobalt, aquamarine and blue topaz play a

primary role.



10. Untamed - Tribal and Ethnic motifs and materials remain at the

forefront of the fashion jewelry industry. Materials such as

carved wood, antiqued textured beads, hammered metal, and neutral

colors are hotter than ever.
Source: nytimes

Brazil : 2008 Trends Guide for jewelry presented at IBGM

Brazilian Gems and Jewellery Show gathers then main jewelry manufacturers in the country and anticipates the new collections that will be retailed in the coming months.

The 45th edition of the show exhibits that, next season, jewelry travels between the theatrical femininity of the courts of the past, the cinematographically spectacular glamour of the 50s and the charming modern icons of the 60s.

Women can choose between divine divas, precious princesses, glamorous girls, mysterious muses or sexy sixties. “Every look has the expression of a new contemporary consumer power in common,” affirms Regina Machado, IBGM Style Consultant.

Theatrical femininity of the courts of the past is the environment where the imagination of the fashion princesses abides. The predominant colors in accessories are nude, pink and blue. Cameos, skulls, daggers, coins, pearls, crowns and metal lace trimmings are the icons.

The cinematographic glamour of the 50s appears in rings, earrings and necklaces in notable sizes and styles. Jewelry relives the style of the divas with ruby red, rubelite pink, citrine yellow, blue sapphire and emerald green.

On the other hand, the gems in solar hues, a major trait of Pucci patterns and chains demonstrate the power of the muses of the 60s. An explosion of youth in all of its aspects is the trademark of the epoch.

During the show, the 2008 Trends Guide will be presented, the trends guide for jewelry, which presents the novelties that will be in the main display windows next year. Check out the main trends:
Material:
Alternate materials, such as leather, wood, bone, horn combined with polished yellow gold and diamonds;
Stones:
• On the blue Klein wave, stones that are protagonists of the collectionlazuli. That goes without forgetting the super Brazilian prime opal, the Paraíba tourmaline and the aquamarine.
• In yellows hues, the Fire Citrine appears earthy and orange, Fire Opal and Tiger’s Eye.
• Pink chic, rubelite, sapphire and amethyst.
Color:
• Strong blue, which dominated the catwalks, has also arrived in the jewelry store;
• Highlights also for sun colors, such as yellows, oranges and earth tones;
• For metals, a combination of white gold with yellow gold and pink gold appears strongly.
• Pink hues are a fashion comeback and fill the jewelry store with femininity.
Shapes:
• Differentiated cuts are strong traits of the design trends in contemporary jewelry.
Mainly in colored gemstones;
• The rounded shapes in cabochon cuts;
Predominant pieces:
• Charm pendants identify, are anti-corny, customize and become unique chains.
• Skinny earrings – equally elongated and narrow as tight jeans – give shine to feminine faces.
• Luxurious, voluminous necklaces also will exude charm in the display windows.s are: sapphires, tanzanite, London Blue topaz and lapis
Source: fibre2fashion

The Sparkle of Summertime Jewelry

The glittering water, pale sand and clear skies of a summertime beach vacation will soon be just memories, but there's a way to keep them alive until next year: the aquamarine, coral pink, turquoise and deep blue tones of sea-colored gems.

The latest collection at Chanel Fine Jewelry centers on the geometrical perfection and lines of art deco, drawing on the atmosphere of the seaside that founder Coco Chanel was so fond of visiting. The earring, pendant and ring designs feature either aquamarine and turquoise or coral and tourmaline stones set in 18-karat white gold with cacholong—a variety of opal—and diamonds (price on request ; chanel.com).

Aurum Jewellers, founded on the island of Jersey in 1968, didn't have to look far to find the inspiration for its newest collection. Award-winning designer Alexa Blampied finds the muse for her creations in the natural beauty of the Channel Islands, off the coast of Britain. Her white-gold Water Garden pendant, with sapphire, aquamarine, garnet and diamond ($25,850), is well complemented by her pair of Vitality drop earrings ($17,390; aurumjewellers.co.uk). The British designer Stephen Webster ( stephenwebster.com) uses the latest laser-cutting techniques to perfect his collection, including a Jewelvine ring set with chrysocolla and black sapphire ($19,800), and the Crystal Haze Classic white-gold bracelet with turquoise and diamonds ($17,000). A gem fanatic, he captures the gleam of some of the palest gemstones.

Theo Fennell, the eccentric creator of silver Heinz ketchup and Smirnoff vodka bottles (theofennell.com), shows that he is about more than just gimmickry with his delicate Cradle rings, in white gold. From the 18-karat marquise, with its delicate oval-shaped aquamarine (from $12,000), to the mint-green octagon tourmaline model (from $12,000), his creations are redolent of summer afternoon shades and cloudless vistas. The latest Tiffany rings (tiffany.com) will bring back those romantic summer moments. The channel-set band ring, with dark blue sapphires and diamonds ($3,500), or the platinum shared-setting pink sapphire and diamond model ($3,755) capture memories of summer's deep blue lakes and multicolored sunset skies.
Source: newsweek

Big, scary jewelry not so scary

Somewhere in one of the bottom drawers of my jewelry chest, my dainty jewelry from years past is waiting for its comeback. But those tasteful silver studs and little dangling charms might as well resign themselves to a life of boredom in the pink-velvet lined box. Their return isn’t happening anytime soon.

My obsession with big, scary jewelry was encouraged, of course, by the fashion industry’s dedication to larger-than-life accessories. It started about five years ago with chandelier earrings — which at the time seemed dangerously large and dangling. In truth, we hadn’t seen anything yet.

When the chandeliers grew bigger, the rest of earrings followed — and now there’s no going back. I have some white shell earrings with a three-inch diameter. My husband says they look like something out of National Geographic. I wore them to an Astros game and my dad thought they were supposed to be baseballs.

But beginning last season and coming full-force this fall, the earrings aren’t the only accessories liable to frighten small children.

For years, I’ve considered the most essential accessory to complete an outfit to be earrings. Now, you can let your ears relax and let your neck do the work.

This season, layered necklaces — even those that aren’t designed to be worn together — are a sure way to update your look. If you’re aiming for a formal look, choose delicate chains or beads, but lots of them.

Chunky, colorful beads can go with almost any outfit, layered or not.

I know the types of necklaces popular with the younger crowd — the bright circle beads that remind me vaguely of Betty Rubble. If you’re under 20, go for it. Every generation needs its own version of big and scary to designate itself from the one before.

If you’re too old for Flintstones, look for big beads that are dressed up a little more than the plastic ones. Try turquoise, enamel, tortoise shell or pearls. Even transparent plastic beads in different shades can look appropriate for women of all ages if it coordinates with an outfit properly.

While I won’t commit to forecasting a huge bracelet comeback — perhaps because I can barely stand to wear one because it interferes with my typing — I will say that wrist adornment is also becoming bolder. Think of chunky cuffs, textured metals and more enamel.

When you’re wearing whatever piece of big, scary jewelry that you decide on, you don’t have to scale down your entire look, but you shouldn’t wear more than one piece that makes a huge statement. In other words, the gigantic shell earings shouldn’t be paired with a matching necklace, watch and belt. You don’t have to go completely dainty, but let it be clear which item is the focal point. Too many things competing for the spot confuses the eyes.

Keep it in proportion, too. A tiny woman wearing a necklace that weighs more than she does will just look silly.

But above all, don’t be scared by the big, scary jewelry. Once you get used to the size — and clear the drawer space — the fashion fun will be addicting.
Source: galvestondailynews

Bold designs top 2008 jewelry trends

Wearing less jewelry pieces is more when it comes to the top jewelry trends for 2008, but the key ingredient for trend-setting fashionistas is larger, bolder styles that are gem-intensive.

That advice comes from Jesse Chao of Gems by Chao, a leading Houston fine jeweler. Chao specializes in advising her gala-minded clientele—a mix of socialites and philanthropists—and matching fine jewelry to their personal style.

In a statement, Chao said women who are already planning to attend galas will be wearing less fine jewelry but adorning themselves with larger, more impressive pieces, for a classic "Grace Kelly" look. Consumers can get the look by wearing a single, diamond-studded cuff bracelet or a one-of-a-kind cocktail ring, for example.

Cocktail rings have loomed on the trend radar for some time now, so the more unique the gemstone is, the better, Chao said.

As for men, sports stars and celebrities have long adorned themselves in diamonds, but the trend for 2008 is to incorporate large colored stones into bold pieces such as bracelets, cuff links and rings.
Source: nationaljewelernetwork