WJA Celebrates 25 Years; Honors Yurman, Kaiser

The Women’s Jewelry Association’s 25th annual Awards for Excellence was a festive tribute to the women who founded and nurtured the organization, and two exceptional industry leaders.

Sybil Yurman, president and chief management officer of David Yurman, received the Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award and Steven Kaiser, president and chief executive officer of Kaiser Time, was honored with the Ben Kaiser Award, during the event held July 27 at Chelsea Piers in New York City.

“It’s not often that you get to do what you love and get to do it with someone you love,” Yurman said. She also acknowledged Carolyn Kelly, former jewelry buyer at Saks Fifth Avenue, and now co-owner of Old World Chain, for “helping in the early years.” She spoke about the sense of “family” in the industry and acknowledged “all the people who have taught us so much.”

Kaiser, said his father, after whom his award was named, was ahead of his time for promoting women in the industry. He thanked his mother, Eta, wife, Vivian, and daughter, Emily, and acknowledged his female team, who were in attendance.

WJA’s president Yancy Weinrich, Industry VP, JCK Events (pictured in center with Kaiser and Yurman), recognized the association’s three “Pillar of Distinction” sponsors: Platinum Guild International, Jewelers Mutual Insurance, and David Yurman. She also introduced a special 25th anniversary video that had been produced by Filmworks Inc. and overseen by Anniversary co-chairs Linda Goldstein, a WJA founder and former president, and Billie Sutter, a former national board member. With interviews from many of the influential women responsible for the creation and growth of the organization, it highlighted key initiatives, such as WJA’s Student Scholarships, DIVA Awards, Awards for Excellence and the Women in the Know conferences.

In celebration of WJA’s 25th year, Weinrich announced that $25,000 will be distributed this year in student scholarships, one of the first programs of the national organization when it was established in 1983. WJA’s annual Scholarship Fund is supported by its Silent Auction, held during the Awards for Excellence gala, and donations from companies and individuals. Overseeing the 2008 Silent Auction was Nessi Erkmenoglu of Harper’s Bazaar. 

Mony raised from a drawing for a special Hearts On Fire “Dream” diamond will also be donated to the WJA Scholarship Fund, according to Dinner Chair Lisa Cochin of Diamond Promotion Service.

WJA has had nine presidents, all of whom were celebrated at the event: Gerry Gewirtz, Linda Goldstein, Tina Segal, Helene Fortunoff, Rachel Rosin, Phyllis Bergman, Anna Martin, Ann Arnold, and Ms. Weinrich. Each will receive a special WJA President’s Pin designed by Judith Ripka.


WJA past and current presidents:  (from left):  Ann Arnold, first president 
Gerry Gewirtz, Linda Goldstein, Tina Segal, Phyllis Bergman, Rachel Rosin, 
Helene Fortunoff, current president Yancy Weinrich, and Anna Martin.

In addition, the dinner recognized the past Hall of Fame and Ben Kaiser Award winners, including:  Babette Goodman Cohen and Jane Goodman Baum, Phyllis Bergman, Nancy Brewer, Terry Burman, Bill Boyajian, Ralph Destino, Helene Fortunoff, Mary Forte, June Herman, Laurie Hudson, Juell Kadet, Ben Kaiser, Kathryn Kimmel, Peggy Kirby, Anna Martin, Eunice Robinson Miles, Sallie Morton, Joan Parker, Beryl Raff, Harriet Schreiner, and Hedda Schupak.  


WJA Hall of Fame past recipients with WJA president: (from left) Anna Martin, 
Gerry Gewirtz, Hedda Schupak, Phyllis Bergman, Joan Parker, Peggy Kirby, Kathryn Kimmel, 
Nancy Brewer, Jane Baum, Helene Fortunoff,  with current WJA president Yancy Weinrich.

Other highlights of the evening included Broadway musical selections from Broadway Pops International. To top off the dinner, guests enjoyed a delectable dessert buffet and danced to hip music by DJ Aaron James, sponsored by Harper’s Bazaar.
Source: jckonline

Cross-Country Journeys

DIANE IRVINE

Chief executive, Blue Nile, an online diamond retailer based in Seattle.

AGE 49 BIRTHPLACE Libertyville, Ill. ASPIRATION To write a novel

BOTH sets of my grandparents were dairy farmers. When I was in fifth grade we moved to a farm that my father had purchased. We had a couple of hundred acres, 250 head of beef cattle and 5,000 chickens.

My job was to collect the eggs without mishap, wash them so they were clean, inspect them and pack the eggs in cartons. I also drove a tractor, at 14, before I learned how to drive a car.

I thought I wanted to be a sportswriter because I grew up with the Chicago Cubs and Bears. After a Bears-Dallas Cowboys game in 1973, I wrote a letter to Dick Butkus, the Chicago Bears linebacker. Fans were booing the Bears, and I said I was proud to be at the game and apologized for the fans.

When I was in high school, my accounting instructor laid out the path for me to become a C.P.A. He said it was a long road and a lot of hard work. I decided that it would be my major in college.

I interned for Coopers & Lybrand in Chicago during my senior year in college, and I loved it from the moment I got there. My first audit was at a company called Union Special that made industrial sewing machines. Our office was right next to the payroll department, and the four women there had a combined 100 years of experience. They would always bring us desserts. After graduation, I joined the company full time.

In 1985, my soon-to-be husband, who worked for SKF Industries, was being transferred to Seattle, and I arranged a transfer, too. I was close to my family, and we were the first people in our families to move away. We left on a Tuesday and arrived on a Sunday after a detour to Mount Rushmore. When we got to Seattle it was pouring. I remember thinking at first: “It’s not Chicago. We’ll stay a year and move back.”

My husband and I learned how to rely on each other. The new city was an adjustment. I learned how to try something completely new and have confidence in what I was doing.

In 1999, I was contacted by a recruiter who had been referred by a venture capital company that had invested in a company then called Internet Diamonds. While I was cautious about a start-up, I met the founder, Mark Vadon, for dinner and thought, “I think this can work.” I joined the company as chief financial officer. Before the end of the year, the name changed to Blue Nile.

The economy was bad, and we needed money to get to profitability. Mark and I flew across the country and met with about 90 private equity firms, and not one would give us money. Then our existing investors put in additional capital.

Shortly after we were funded again, a group of us arrived in New York City to visit our suppliers. We arrived on Sept. 10, 2001. The next morning we were having a breakfast meeting at the Palace Hotel before our meetings. I went back to the hotel room, and one of the housekeepers had the television on. I saw the second tower being hit. There were five of us from Blue Nile and we felt very far from home. Walking down Fifth Avenue to our meetings, I saw the towers burning. By that time the airports were closed and there was no way to leave the city. Pictures of missing people were posted everywhere.

The city was so quiet, and after two days we met for lunch and the five of us had to decide whether to wait for the airports to open or to drive home. Driving won by a 3-to-2 vote. We left our hotel at 4:30 on Friday morning and took a car service to Newark Airport where we rented a Ford Expedition. With five drivers we made it home in 46 hours. I was the only female on the trip.

We made it to Seattle just after midnight on Saturday night. August 2001 had been our first month of profitability. We’d made $1,000, and now $600 was spent on renting the Ford Expedition. Still, it was a bonding experience with one another and with our suppliers.
Source: nytimes

MJWA Elects Officers; Honors Sharon Blair

Dale Gordon, of Gordon Jewelers in Boonville, Mo., was elected president of Missouri Jewelers and Watchmakers Association at the group’s Annual Convention, held in Springfield, April 19-20. Gordon succeeds Leo Anglo, of Vincent’s Jewelers in Creve Coeur. Anglo’s two-year term ended at the meeting.

“It is truly an honor to be elected to this prestigious office,” Gordon says. “I look forward to working with the MJWA board of directors to help our members survive and thrive in this difficult time.”

Also elected to the MJWA Board of Directors were the following officers:

* Stacey Stauch, Crews Jewelry, Grandview, first vice president
* Melody Farnen, Melody’s Quality Jewelers, Mexico, second vice president
* Paul Dodds, Paul Dodds Jewelry, Lee’s Summit, treasurer

During the association’s convention dinner, MJWA honored Sharon Blair, of Shawnee Mission, Kan., on her 25th anniversary as the group’s executive director. Anglo presented Blair with gifts from the board of directors and produced a multimedia tribute, citing Blair’s many accomplishments and successes during her tenure.

David Lafleur, vice president of Jewelers of America, called Blair, ”a tremendous resource to jewelers throughout Missouri and a wonderful and supportive colleague to her peers in other JA affiliates around the country.” 


Carolyn Pope of Crews Jewelry in Grandview, and a past president of
MJWA presents an award to Sharon Blair to mark Blair’s 25th anniversary
as the group’s executive director.

Founded in 1906, MJWA is among the oldest state associations of jewelry professionals in the United States.
Source: jckonline

What do women think about jewelry?

A new, online community-based Web site for jewelry lovers has launched, giving women a forum to share their interest in jewelry and provide and receive jewelry-related advice.

Visitors to the site, Finejewelrynews.com, will find a reader forum, titled "Fine Jewelry Connection," where they can ask questions, share advice and tell stories, plus a weekly poll, "A View from You," which lets women cast a vote and find out what they have in common with other jewelry lovers around the world.

Both features are accessible at no charge and are available to both consumers and the jewelry industry.

"Fine Jewelry News is a great resource for consumers, but it's valuable to the jewelry industry too," editor Jodi Goldberg said in a media release. "It's a place to find out what's on women's minds, and to gather insight about what's important to them."

In addition, the site offers a subscription-based, bimonthly e-newsletter, which provides exclusive jewelry news, including the latest jewelry fashion trends, new and upcoming jewelry designers, and information to help consumers make informed decisions about jewelry purchases.

A sample issue is available for free, and six bimonthly issues are available for $15.95.
Source: nationaljewelernetwork

Veteran Jewelry Writer Ginger Dick Dies at 62

Longtime gem and jewelry writer Ginger Dick died Feb. 10 at the age of 62, from heart-related issues.

Born Beverly Barnes, she is best known in the industry by her pen name, Ginger Dick. Her byline regularly appeared in American Jewelry Manufacturer (now MJSA Journal), Jewellery International, Diamonds International, JewelSiam, Accent, Diamontaire, New York Diamonds, National Jeweler, The Goldsmith, Colored Stone, Jewelers’ Quarterly (JQ), and Southern Jewelry News.

Her involvement in the gem and jewelry industry began with freelance articles written for Canadian Jeweller magazine, while she was still pursuing a career in advertising and marketing. Her love for the gem and jewelry industry blossomed, and, following a move to New York City in 1982 she began freelancing for the other publications and working as a marketing consultant for a variety of businesses in the trade, as well as covering U.S. jewelry trends for Canadian Jeweller. In 1990, she received an A.A.S. degree in jewelry design, summa cum laude, from the Fashion Institute of Technology. While at FIT, she conducted a one-woman show of historic jewelry renderings, a rare endeavor for a student, and, during the 1990s, focused her writing and marketing skills solely on gems and jewelry, with a particular passion for the lapidary artists of North America.

Dick was a recipient of the Women’s Jewelry Association Award for Excellence in Editorial in 1993, and wrote a 10-part training series for Jewelers of America, titled, "The Professional Jeweler: Entry-Level Training for the New Hire," released in 1995. She also was a frequent seminar speaker and lecturer, although in recent years, her focus shifted to art and the study of apparel design, quilting, and embellishment. At the time of her death, she was working on a series of undersea landscapes with extravagantly beaded and embellished fish and coral reefs.

Dick is survived by her children, Serena Dick and Brendan Christopher, and her sister, Jane Holcombe. For friends and colleagues, the family is hosting a celebration-of-life gathering at the home of Jane Holcombe in Lower Manhattan on March 9 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and March 10 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. For details email janeholcom@aol.com or call 212-385-4016. Friends are asked to share their favorite Ginger stories over refreshments while viewing some of her artwork. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation be made in Ginger’s memory to the Center Against Domestic Violence, 25 Chapel Street, Suite 904, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11201 (www.centeragainstdv.org).
Source: jckonline

Women’s Jewelry Association Celebrates 25 Years

The Women’s Jewelry Association (WJA) recently held its 25th anniversary celebration at Gracie Mansion in New York City. The event was attended by new and current WJA members, who shared stories and toasted to achievements made by women in the jewelry industry.

The new president of WJA Metropolitan Chapter, Michele Kwiat Siegel, in her welcoming speech called it a “magical evening [bringing] together the rich history of WJA’s members within one of New York’s most prized historical venues.” The honorary guest of the evening was Peggy Kirby, one the founding members of WJA in 1983.
Source: idexonline

Buy her jewelry she'll love for Valentine's Day

Nearly every woman has opened a pretty box on Valentine's Day to find a lovely piece of jewelry -- that didn't suit her at all. And while we recognize that it is the thought that counts, we also know that you really want to get something that will please the recipient.

But finding just the right thing is tricky business, especially if you're picking something out for the first time.

Use these tips from local jewelers to make sure she loves her Valentine's Day bauble. And not just because it came from you.

1. Sneak a look at what she already has: Is it mostly silver or white gold or yellow gold? Does she prefer colored gemstones or neutral stones, like diamonds? Does she have fashion or costume jewelry or does she stick with classic, more expensive bracelets, necklaces and rings?

2. Look for holes in her collection. For example, if she already has two bracelets she wears regularly, buy earrings or a pendant instead. Or maybe she has a gold necklace but no pearls.

3. Think about her lifestyle. What type of clothing does she wear most days? Business suits? Jeans and T-shirts? Trendy outfits?

Is she active? Does she need something that will stand up to gardening/tennis/yoga?

4. Pay attention to whether she changes jewelry often or sticks with the same pieces. This will help the jeweler guide your selection.

5. Consider her size. You don't, for example, want to overwhelm a petite woman with a huge piece, or buy your 5-foot-11-inch girlfriend a tiny charm.
Source: star-telegram

THE WOMEN'S JEWELRY ASSOCIATION APPOINTS NEW PRESIDENT AND OFFICERS

The Women's Jewelry Association (WJA) has appointed Yancy Weinrich, the Industry Vice President for Luxury by JCK and JCK-Las Vegas, as its new president.

Weinrich has more than 12 years of experience in the fine jewelry and watch industry and has been a member of the WJA National Board since 2000. Weinrich has also served on the Executive Board in a number of capacities including Secretary, Treasurer and President-Elect.

Yancy Weinrich, the ninth president of the WJA, will serve for a total of two years. Her appointment coincides with the organization's 25^th year anniversary.

The WJA has also appointed new officers to its National Board including: President-Elect Kendra Bridel-Weinman, Tache; Immediate Past President & Co-Vice President Fundraising Ann Arnold; Treasurer Gena Alulis, SuperFit; Secretary Phyllis Bergman, Mercury Ring Corp; Vice President, Co-Chair of Fundraising Anna Martin, ABN AMRO Bank; Vice President, Events Michelle Orman, Lup Communications; Vice President, Chapter Affairs, Sue Elliot, GIA; Vice President, Membership Ronni Klein, Displays and More; Pennella, Maurcice Lacroix USA; Vice President, Mentorship Cindy Edelstein.

The Women's Jewelry Association was founded in 1983 and has a network of 12 regional chapters. The WJA offers its members educational and networking opportunities in addition to scholarships, design competitions, annual women's business conferences, and recognition programs.
Source: diamondintelligence

Women inspect jewelry on holiday shopping season

Shoppers inspect jewelry marked down 50% at the Macy's flagship store Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007 in New York's Herald Square. Retailers opened earlier than ever on the day after Christmas on Wednesday and slashed prices with hopes of salvaging a holiday season that is falling short of already modest expectations.


Iraqi women browse for gold jewelry in the Shiite neighborhood of Kazimiyah in northern Baghdad, Iraq on Friday, Dec. 28, 2007.
Source: yahoo

Lady Serena's Jewelry opens store in Virginia

Lori LeTourneau went to her first Renaissance Festival in 2000 and fell in love with chainmaille jewelry.

She said to herself, “I can make that,’’ which would soon come to fruition.

She and her husband Tom LeTourneau have had an active website (www.ladyserenas.us) for two years and she has been making the product for four years.

And they have just opened a new store, Lady Serena’s Jewelry on Fourth Avenue in downtown Virginia.

In addition to the chainmaille necklaces, earrings, bracelets and more, Lori LeTourneau also makes leather roses and other leather items.

The new storefront will enable the couple, who now reside in Eveleth, to expand on their sales via the Internet and at some past Renaissance Festivals.

“I think there’s a market in this area,’’ Tom LeTourneau said. The store has already been seeing some sales in its first few days and has received good feedback on both the jewelry and leather items.

The unique chainmaille jewelry is originally from the 11th Century, Lori LeTourneau said, where it was mostly used as armor.

She now hand crafts the different types of metal rings (from copper to gold) into the jewelry and even shirts and vests.

It is “literally weaved out of metal,’’ Lori LeTourneau said.

The average necklace, she added, takes about eight hours to craft, and longer if the metals are softer.

Her other specialty is hand-formed leather roses in a variety of traditional and other colors.

“It will last forever,’’ she said.

The unique roses have proved to be quite successful. “We have sold a lot of these over the Internet,’’ Tom LeTourneau said.

Other leather products include belt pouches and family coats of arms on request.

They said Lady Serena’s is currently not a leather repair shop, but that is something they are looking into.
Source: virginiamn

Madrid: Helena Rohner

At 10 a.m. the Latina neighborhood of Madrid is absent the evening hustle and flow of tapas-seeking crowds. Nevertheless, a steady stream of shoppers makes a detour here — young women in vintage dresses, bourgeois mothers with blunt -cut hair, elderly ladies in nubby furs — ducking down Calle Almendro and buzzing the bell marked “Helena Rohner” on an unassuming 19th-century apartment building. They come to Ms. Rohner’s studio to scoop up her organic jewelry designs (for men, women and children) and home décor items.

Open the door and you’re in an artist’s workshop. Ms. Rohner, gamine and tidy with strawberry-blond hair and bright lipstick, oversees her team as they polish and shine. “They are made to be worn, to adapt to your body, to be comfortable, well made and not trendy,” said Ms. Rohner, 39, of her silver and gold rings for men and women, some set with wood, ebony or porcelain. She tries on a large, circular ebony ring (151 euros, or $222, at $1.50 to the euro), and a ring with a swooping base set with a dollop of black porcelain (120 euros).

Ms. Rohner was born in the Canary Islands and educated at the London School of Economics. Between high school and college, she spent a year in Florence, where she stumbled into jewelry.

Her necklaces, cuff links and rings set with wood and silver are particularly striking, as are the earrings enhanced with coral, and a gold collection with wedding rings made to order. Paul Smith sells a collection of her men’s jewelry.

The home-goods collection includes a ceramic tea set that looks like a Jonathan Adler adaptation meets Art Deco on the set of “Barbarella,” and a wood candlestick set inlaid with silver. Georg Jensen recently commissioned Ms. Rohner to create a steel tea-set collection.

Yet jewelry remains her special focus, she said. “Jewelry is a question of light, the light you add to your body.”
Source: nytimes

WJA to Honor Sybil Yurman, Steven Kaiser

The Women’s Jewelry Association Board of Directors announced Wednesday their selection of Sybil Yurman, president and chief marketing officer of David Yurman, as the 2008 “Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement” honoree and Steven Kaiser, president and chief executive officer of Kaiser Time, as the recipient of the “Ben Kaiser Award.” They will be honored at the WJA 25th Annual Awards for Excellence gala, to be held in New York City on July 28 at 6 p.m.

The awards will be one of the many tributes WJA will celebrate for its 25th anniversary in 2008 on the national and chapter levels. It plans to honor the organization’s founders as well as those who have shown extraordinary support for women in the industry.

In addition, Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company has signed on for the second year in a row as a WJA “Pillar of Distinction” sponsor, said WJA president Ann Arnold.

“We are so grateful for Jewelers Mutual’s generous support and that of our other sponsors. And we are thrilled to honor these two exceptional individuals on this milestone anniversary," Arnold said.

“Sybil Yurman is an extraordinary business woman—a visionary and risk taker, who by her example has been an inspiration to so many women in our industry,” Arnold added. “And as we celebrate our past, it is fitting to honor the son of Ben Kaiser, after whom the award was first named in 1996. Steven’s generosity to WJA and the industry, like his father’s, has been exemplary."

Sybil Yurman, wife and partner of jewelry designer David Yurman, has been instrumental in the success of the renowned design house since its inception in 1979.

“Sybil Yurman is a true muse, partner and businesswoman, said Daid Yurman, who met his wife in 1969 while he was working in a sculptor's studio and she was a young artist writing grant proposals. “Sculptors tend to focus on form. She opened my eyes to a wider creative process.”

His sense of design, coupled with her keen business sense, marketing instincts, and aesthetic values—along with a mutual interest in the arts—provided a solid foundation for the relationship and the visionary company that today is a leader in the international jewelry industry.

In 2001, Sybil Yurman’s direction was a key factor in the development of the company's first lifestyle advertising campaign, which has since become iconic. The simple yet striking black and white print images feature David Yurman designs on notable faces in fashion, including Kate Moss, Amber Valetta, Naomi Watts, and Natalia Vodianova.

In 2001 David and Sybil Yurman established their namesake Humanitarian and Arts Foundation as a means to provide significant support to a variety of organizations, including ALS, YouthAIDS, Whitney Museum of Contemporary Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, Project Angel Food, Wildlife Conservation Society, and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

“I absolutely love what I do and that we have been able to capitalize on our artistic abilities to use this success to aid the causes of others,” Sybil Yurman said. “WJA has nurtured the careers of hundreds of women through its many activities, educational conferences, scholarship programs, and networking opportunities. I’m thrilled to accept this prestigious award from my WJA sisters on its 25th anniversary. The jewelry industry would not be the same without this important organization.”

Steven Kaiser has been an owner and executive in the watch and jewelry industry for over 25 years. He began his career in 1982 with Baume & Mercier, USA, and rose to president and chief executive officer. Under his tenure, from 1993 until 1998, Baume & Mercier grew into a leader of the luxury watch industry and increased sales 80 percent, with 25 percent fewer open doors.

In 1999 he assumed the position of executive shareholder of Benedom, Inc., a subsidiary of luxury brand mega-giant, the Louis Vuitton, Moet, Hennessey Group. Kaiser directed the successful introduction of the Christian Dior and Fred Joaillier brands to the U.S. market. He sold his Benedom interest to LVMH and in 2000 founded Kaiser Time, Inc., a full service consulting/business development, executive recruiting, and mergers and acquisitions firm. The company works with more than 100 leading manufacturers and retailers in the watch and jewelry industry, including GE MONEY, Patek Philippe, JCK/Reed Exhibitions, Tiffany & Co., and the Swatch Group.

“I’m honored to receive this special WJA award that recognized my father," Kaiser said. "He saw the potential of WJA from its infancy and encouraged me to join in 1983. I’ve watched it evolve into one of the most dynamic and important organizations, and I’m proud to be part of it,”

Kaiser is an active member of many industry organizations, where he has held important positions, including the Jewelry Information Center, Jewelers Vigilance Committee, American Watch Association, and Jewelers for Children. He is the fifth recipient of the Ben Kaiser Award.

The 2008 Awards for Excellence is being totally redesigned for WJA’s Silver Anniversary, according to dinner co-chairs Mindy Fielman of Hearts On Fire and Lisa Cochin of the Diamond Promotion Service.

“Only two awards will be given this year,” said Cochin. “We will honor all of our past presidents and recipients of the Hall of Fame and Ben Kaiser Awards in a gala event that will celebrate the extraordinary leadership that has made WJA such a vibrant organization as well as the new initiatives that will shape it for tomorrow.”

WJA’s 25th anniversary will officially be kicked off on January 22 by its Metropolitan Chapter, representing the New York City tri-state area. It will host a member event at Gracie Mansion in New York City, the official residence of the Mayor of the City of New York. Peggy Kirby, one of the original founders of the national organization and the first recipient of the Hall of Fame Award, will be recognized. And members will have the opportunity to tour the historic mansion, said incoming Metro Chapter president, Michelle Kwiat Siegel.

Other chapter and national events planned for the anniversary year will be announced soon.

WJA, founded in 1983, is the preeminent association of professional women in the jewelry, watch and related businesses. Through the national organization, headquartered in Mt. Royal, NJ, and a network of 12 regional chapters, members benefit from educational and networking opportunities, mentoring, scholarships, design competitions and recognition programs. For member or sponsorship information visit its Web site at www.womensjewelry.org .
Source: jckonline

Damiani Sparkles at Latin Grammy Awards

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

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

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

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

Diamonds and Pearls for Hillary

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

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

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

Source: jckonline

Necessity is the mother of jewelry business

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

She also makes wool flower pins with vintage buttons.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“I’m so excited about it,” she says.

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

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

43% of Women in the Gulf Prefer Diamond Jewelry

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

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

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

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

Miss Vietnam Jewelry Queen to start in October

Receiving applications as early as April, this year’s Miss Vietnam Jewelry Queen, which is aimed to extol Vietnamese beauties as well as jewelry artisans, will start nationwide this October.

The preliminary round will be kicked off on October 13 in HCM City; October 20 in Hai Phong; and in Hanoi on October 27. 30 finalists will compete for the highest title worth VND225million on the final night to be held on November 14.

Besides 225 million dong, Miss Vietnam Jewelry Queen will also be presented with an overseas trip from 5 to 7 days. Smaller prizes worth VND10million each will be given to Miss Photogenic, Best Ao Dai, Best Answer and Best Gown.

As for competing artisans, there will be a VND50million prize for Golden Hands winner; VND40million for Silver Hands; VND30million for Bronze Hands, as well as VND10million encouragement prizes.

Unlike in the two previous years, in this year’s contest, only one jury will judge both jewelry and beauties. According to the organisation committee, the final night will also see performances by well-known singers such as My Tam, Dan Truong and Dam Vinh Hung, and especially, the presence of Miss Vietnam Global 2007 Ngo Phuong Lan.

The organisation committee also said first runner up in Miss Vietnam Global 2007 Teressa Sam might attend the final night. Miss Vietnam Jewelry Queen is being organised by Gold Fashion Magazine, formerly known as Fine Arts and Jewelry Magazine.
Source: vietnamnet

Jewelry sales help impoverished women in Uganda

Trying on and shopping for jewelry is a treat, but what made it even more special Tuesday night was the fact that the money raised is going toward a good cause.

Bead for Life is an organization that supports women beaders in Uganda who are struggling with AIDS, poverty and violence. Local resident Meghan Dutton was the host and coordinated the bead party held at Hibernian Hall on Wellington Avenue. She first heard of Bead for Life through one of her mother's friends. Dutton previously was a member of ONE, which is an organization dedicated to wiping out poverty.

"It's something I'm really passionate about," Dutton said. "I have so much. I need to help."

When mother and daughter got talking, they decided, "let's do this ... we've got to have a party." Each piece of jewelry that is sold helps Ugandan women feed, clothe and educate their families.

Torkin Wakefield, Ginny Jordan and Devin Hibbard founded Bead for Life in 2004 after they visited and walked through the Acholi Quarter, a refugee camp in the capital city of Kampala. The area is home to hundreds of refugees who fled from the civil war in northern Uganda. While there, the founders noticed women who rolled strips of paper into beautiful beads.

The organization started small, working with a group of 90 Ugandan beaders, but Bead for Life has grown and now works with more than 250 beaders in four groups. The earnings from Bead for Life support more than 3,000 people and the money goes toward food, medicine and school expenses that families previously could not afford.

"It's amazing how it changes peoples' lives," Dutton said.

About 100 people showed up for Tuesday's fundraiser and by the end of the night, almost all of the jewelry was sold. The jewelry was priced from $10-$30 for necklaces and bracelets of various designs and colors. Each bead and piece of jewelry is unique because it is handcrafted from recycled magazine paper.

JoEllen McMahon and friend Mary Helene Chaplin, both of Portsmouth, attended the party. McMahon heard about it through staff members at St. George's School.

"I was really excited to come here," McMahon said. "The work is incredible ... it's emotional."

McMahon bought a long beaded necklace, a three-stranded necklace and two other one-stranded necklaces. "I am just thrilled with all of my purchases," she said.

Chaplin did not know what to expect at the party, but came with her friend because they both make jewelry on their own for enjoyment. After attending the event, the two women are interested in hosting their own Bead for Life party.

Because of the interest in the Bead for Life party, Dutton ordered more jewelry last week. It did not make it in time for Tuesday's fundraiser, but will be available Sunday at about 11:15 a.m. for viewing and purchase at Emmanuel Church, on the corner of Dearborn and Spring streets.

Dutton hopes to host more Bead for Life parties, especially after the success of the first one. "It's just an easy and great way to give money to people who have nothing," she said.
Source: newportdailynews

WJA’s West Coast Conference Inspires Women

After four successful years in New York, expectations were high for the Women’s Jewelry Association’s first “Women in the Know” West Coast Conference on Sept. 8 in Anaheim, Calif., at the Anaheim Marriot Hotel.

More than one hundred jewelry professionals from around the country and representing all facets of the industry attended the full-day event. And expectations were met—if not exceeded.

“For an inaugural event, it was phenomenal,” said WJA National President, Ann Arnold. “It was so satisfying to see how inspired and excited the attendees were, and the enthusiasm they had at the conference.”

High-profile, successful businesswomen filled the speaker line-up, which focused on business strategies, entrepreneurship, reinventing your career, networking, taking over the family business, and even the healing properties of gemstones.

But for the women there, the conference wasn’t just about inspirational speakers and motivating breakout sessions – it was also about making connections and building friendships.

“The event was great, and the networking opportunities were fabulous,” said Jayne Schultz, sales assistant for the Las Vegas-based World Jewelry Center and a member of the San Diego chapter. “I really enjoyed spending time with my WJA friends, and meeting new and prospective members.”

The first conference was sponsored by Jewelers Mutual Insurance, Platinum Guild International, and the West Coast Jewelry Show.

Opening keynote speaker Margeaux Cvar, chief executive officer of The Cvar Von Habsburg Group, discussed how to recognize and identify growth opportunities for jewelry businesses by thinking outside of the box. She emphasized the importance of creating a unique and sustainable competitive position in the jewelry industry.

“Differentiation is key,” she explained. “You have to make yourself the niche, not compete the same way the big boys do. Take a different route.”

How can you take a different route? By finding successful strategies implemented by companies that are very different in scope, but similar in structure to your business, said Cvar. “Your performance relative to competitors is irrelevant. It just means that you’re all making the same mistakes. Compare yourself to successful companies similar to your own in other industries, and see how they do business.”

Marie Bodman (pictured), president of Breitling USA, spoke about her rise from an administrative assistant to leader of the third-largest watch brand in the world. She attributed her success to persistence, luck, knowing when to ask for help, and choosing valuable employees.

Bodman also stressed the importance of building a jewelry company to be distinct and unique. “In the beginning, Breitling tried to grab every niche possible—from the product, to the way we did business,” said Bodman, who transformed Breitling from a one-person operation to one of the top brands in the industry in just 15 years. “If you’re an independent business, what can you do that big companies can’t do?” An example Bodman gave is one that she uses herself: sending personal letters to very important customers.

The conference took an introspective turn when Pamela Mitchell, CEO of The Reinvention Institute, took the stage. Mitchell explained that in today’s rapidly changing global economy, the ability to recombine your skill set to move between different job functions—and even different industries—is essential. “Reinventing yourself is the new form of job security,” she explained. “The business landscape turns over every 15 years. You have to see where things are going and be prepared to respond in the moment.”

Breakout sessions offered three speakers:

Amy Swift, co-author of Ladies Who Launch: Embracing Entrepreneurship and Creativity as a Lifestyle, discussed how women entrepreneurs can achieve success by using their intuitive capabilities, rather than following conventional business practices.

Judith Billson, founder and director of Medicine Energy Wheel, spoke about the beneficial health properties of dozens of gems, and offered suggestions about making and marketing jewelry using healing stones.

Elsa Martinez Phillips, president and co-owner of Roberto Martinez, Inc., provided tips on how to successfully transition a family business from one generation to the next.

The Conference continued with a “Women of Excellence” panel, featuring past winners of the WJA Awards for Excellence. Moderated by Bill Boyajian, managing director of the World Jewelry Center, the panel included Nancy Brewer, founder, Nancy B. & Company; Bev Hori, vice president, Ben Bridge Jeweler; Kathryn Kimmel, vice president and chief marketing officer, GIA; Caroline Stanley, president/CEO, Red Jewel, Inc.; and Erica Van Pelt, gem photographer. The group answered pointed questions regarding female stereotypes, gave advice on how to market and “brand” oneself, and offered inspirational stories about rising up in their own careers.

The “Women in the Know” West Coast Conference concluded with recognition of WJA’s Shining Stars, who were announced at its New York Conference last March.
Source: jckonline

Md. woman opens Rehoboth jewelry store

After graduating from college, Blair Elizabeth Falck realized that the cubicle-filled office world was not for her.

Instead of checking into corporate America, Falck decided to become her own boss and make her own hours. With the help of her parents, Falck now owns Blair Elizabeth, a jewelry and fashion store, in Rehoboth Beach.

Falck grew up in Maryland and graduated from the University of Richmond two years ago where she studied studio art, painting and graphic design.

After college, Falck was vacationing with family and began to contemplate her future, as she had been applying for jobs in the fashion industry.

She came to the realization that if she were to land a job in that industry she would be stuck working in an office with little vacation time.

Falck started to think about her parents' store and decided such a job would better suit her. In addition, her parents had been thinking of opening a second store, particularly in Rehoboth, for quite some time.

"I figured if my parents were ever going to open a second store, now's the time," Falck said.

For 11 years Falck's parents have owned Ta-Da in Berlin, Md., which specializes in gifts such as jewelry and glassware.

Blair Elizabeth carries similar items, but Falck's store does set itself apart from Ta-Da in subtle ways.

"We have a funkier different look than what we have in Berlin," Falck said.

Both Falck and her mother tap into their artistic sides and sell items of their own creation. Falck said Blair Elizabeth has an extensive line of jewelry, some of which Falck made herself.

Blair Elizabeth also carries some items made by Falck's mother, such as glassware and artwork.

Blair Elizabeth also carries items that aren't made by the Falck family, such as handbags, home décor and other gift items.

Falck decided to open her store in Rehoboth because of the location and the town's reputation. Falck said Rehoboth is a great shopping destination and also has a more year-round atmosphere than other beach towns in the area.
Source: delawareonline