Trash turned to treasures: Inmates create jewelry by using discarded items

Discarded items like candy wrappers, potato chip bags and grocery sacks are commonly used by inmates to create jail house jewelry. Pieces of a grocery sack are tied to something in the prisoner’s cell and stretched. The stick from a corny dog is tied to the other end and the stretched plastic is twisted and twisted until it becomes a strong enough strand to braid, knot and weave. Brightly hued bits of packaging from sweets and junk food purchased in the jail commissary are interwoven to add flash and color. For some, it brings to mind the old adage, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” The quality of the creation depends largely on the skill of the artist. Some have more time to spend on their designs than others.

“I use square knots on mine,” said one inmate who sat waiting in court for a hearing. “Mine are kinda crude but some of these guys can really do amazing things. They spend hours on them.” Time is something inmates at the Miller County Correctional Facility often have plenty of. “They have made me flowers,” said Sheriff Linda Rambo. “I’ve gotten a ring, too.”

Rambo says the inmate who presented her with the flowers fashioned them from trash and gave them their color by meticulously scraping the lead from colored pencils to use as dye. A man in street clothes sitting in court last week had two crosses hanging from his neck. He said they were given to him during a brief stay behind bars. “People are always asking me about them,” said the man, who mentioned the crosses bear special significance because they were created by hand and are one-of-a-kind. Rambo says the crafting of the religious symbols and other items by inmates makes them feel productive in a setting where depression can overcome the mind.

“What else have they got to do,” she said. “I can’t let them wear metal crosses because of security issues.” Many inmates say they “find God” while incarcerated. Feelings of loss, isolation and a need for redemption are likely at the root of the jail residents’ increased spirituality, according to many Websites addressing the subject. “This is going to be so hard on my family, especially my daughter,” said the square-knot cross-wearing inmate. “I just got five years but I’m still positive because of the Lord.”
Source: texarkanagazette

Emirates Bank Introduces a Diamond Offer to Its Cardholders

Emirates Bank, the UAE’s leading banking service provider for three decades, announced an exclusive offer for its credit & debit cardholders on Exquisite Diamonds and Precious Stones at the Diamond Jewelry Sale. Customers can benefit from up to 60% discount on an array of diamond jewelry masterpieces when they visit the Dubai Exhibition & Convention Center, 1st Floor, between the 19th and 23rd July 2007 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Emirates Bank General Manager- Retail Banking, Mr. Louis Scotto said, “Emirates Bank is proud once again to lead the way in providing its customers with exceptional and unique offers and promotions. We hope that our cardholders will benefit from the exclusive discounts on the collection of jewelry available at the Jewelry Sale.”

The Diamond Jewelry Exhibition features designs from Karina Collections, which was established in 1996 and is renowned for beautiful diamond & precious stone jewelry. Karina Collections, one of the leading retail and wholesale companies in UAE, manufactures diamond and precious stones, studded jewelry and distributes the merchandise all over the globe.

The Karina designs are a mix of classic and contemporary styles. Exotic Mughal and Victorian style jewelry set with uncut diamonds and precious stones are also included in the range . Mughal jewelry showcases a highly sophisticated type of Stonework, Kundan, Enamel and Inlay. This combination comes with a historic aura and is associated with royalty. Victorian jewelry is set in a combination of gold and silver with both uncut diamonds and precious stones. The effect of the ornate patterns is accentuated by the oxidized silver look. Each piece of jewelry is exquisitely handcrafted, unique and precious, but remains essentially light, delicate and offers great value for money. It is the unique combination of these qualities that sets these pieces apart.

Emirates Bank cards are available in Silver and Gold variants and address the diverse needs of a progressive society migrating from cash to Cards as the preferred payment solution.

Emirates Bank cardholders get automatic enrollment to meMILES, the best credit card loyalty program in town. meMILES can be redeemed on leading frequent flyer programs and a host of carefully selected retail and dining partners. meMILES never expire, making it the most advantageous loyalty program in its range of benefits, as well as its longevity.
Source: albawaba

Study: Jewelry top 'investment of passion'

Jewelry represents the third-strongest category for "investments of passion" for high-net-worth individuals, according to a new report by Merrill Lynch and Capgemini.

The 2007 World Wealth Report finds investments of passion have become an important portfolio allocation for the world's 9.5 million high-net-worth individuals. Such investments include luxury collectibles (automobiles, boats and aircraft), jewelry, art, sports-related investments (professional teams, sailing and race horses) and other collectibles categories (wines, antiques, coins, etc.).

Luxury collectibles were the most popular investment of passion in 2006, accounting for 26 percent of all high-net-worth individuals' investments in this category.

The art market ranked second, accounting for 20 percent of all high-net-worth individuals' investments of passion. Wealthy investors—even those without a passion for collecting—increasingly see art as a method of diversifying their portfolios, given the low correlation between art prices and the cyclicality of stocks, bonds and real estate, according to the report.

Jewelry accounted for 16 percent of high-net-worth individuals' investments of passion internationally and 18 percent in North America.
Source: nationaljewelernetwork

Gold in Asia Increases on Jewelry Demand; Silver Little Changed

July 12 (Bloomberg) -- Gold rose in Asia for the fourth day in five as demand increased from jewelers, the biggest users of the precious metal. Silver was little changed.

Good demand for the metal from India and Turkey emerged earlier this week, Goldman Sachs JBWere analysts, led by Malcolm Southwood, said in a report on July 10. Jewelers accounted for 69 percent of first-quarter gold consumption, from 61 percent a year earlier, the producer-funded World Gold Council said May 16.

``The basic tone for all precious metals at the moment is range-trading, but the downside is limited because of strong physical demand,'' Nobito Kaneda, a trader at Sojitz Corp., said by phone from Tokyo today. ``Gold dipped below $660 yesterday and attracted some buying.''

Gold for immediate delivery gained as much as $1.85, or 0.3 percent, to $662.50 an ounce, and traded at $662.20 at 1:05 p.m. Singapore time. Silver for immediate delivery gained 1 cent, or 0.1 percent, to $12.91 an ounce.

Bullion declined late yesterday in New York as gains in the dollar against the euro eroded the appeal of the precious metal as an alternative investment.

The euro traded at $1.3758 at 11:45 a.m. Singapore time. It closed at $1.3746 yesterday after reaching $1.3787, the highest since it was introduced in 1999.

In Japan, gold for delivery in June 2008 gained 11 yen, or 0.4 percent, to 2,634 yen a gram ($670 an ounce) at 1:13 p.m. Singapore time on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange.

Oil Price

Oil's gains to the highest in almost 11 months may only have ``a passing impact on gold,'' David Moore, an analyst at Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Gold prices have traditionally moved in tandem with oil prices because some investors buy gold to hedge against rising consumer prices.

Central banks were vigilant on inflation and that probably lessened concerns for a sustained rise in consumer prices, Moore said by phone today from Sydney.

The return on other assets was distracting investors from investing in gold, and bullion would decline to $625 an ounce by the end of the year, he said.

Gold for August delivery gained as much as $1.5, or 0.2 percent, to $663.60 an ounce, and traded at $663.40 at 1:23 p.m. Singapore time on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.

A futures contract is an obligation to buy or sell a commodity at a set price for delivery by a specific date.

Company says it Can Fulfill Custom Jewelers Orders in 10 Days

Paragon Lake is offering a new service to help fine jewelry retailers fulfill custom orders in less than 10 business days.

The Beverly Hills, Calif.-based company says its new service cuts the process of designing and manufacturing high-quality customized jewelry, which normally takes more than a month.

The company says that when an image is submitted, it can deliver a realistic computer rendering within 36 hours. The jeweler and customer then can either approve or edit the image, and return it to Paragon Lake. The company will then be able to manufacture and deliver the piece in less than 10 business days.

Paragon Lake is also accepting applications to participate in the Beta testing of an new platform that will give retailers the ability to access and edit designs from around the world. The program is limited to 15 spots and applications will be accepted until Aug. 15.
Source: jckonline

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

Afghan ethnic jewelry and accessories booth

Precious jewelry and beautiful models

India, Thailand to pay import duties on gold jewelry

Washington, D.C.—President Bush has issued a proclamation terminating a trade policy that allowed India and Thailand to import gold jewelry without paying import duties.

Under the new policy, India and Thailand will pay a 5.5 percent import duty on gold jewelry.

The Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program, established in 1974, provides duty-free status to nearly 5,000 products exported to the United States from 131 beneficiary countries.

Under the duty-free program, India shipped approximately $2.2 billion and Thailand shipped approximately $700 million in fine, finished jewelry to the United States, constituting 33.2 percent and 10.5 percent, respectively, of U.S. jewelry imports, according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative.

The new GSP program includes two "competitive need limitations" on the eligibility of a product for duty-free status: the annual trade of a product from a country exceeds a monetary threshold ($125 million in 2006), or the annual trade of a product from a country exceeds 50 percent of U.S. imports of that product.
Source: nationaljewelernetwork

Pearls gone wild

The once dowdy gem is the darling of jewelry fashion. A new grading report from GIA promises to drive even more growth

The Marine Symphony necklace by Golay is an orgy of golden snails and gem-studded starfish.

It was BaselWorld opening day and, already, there had been a robbery. A band of thieves armed with pretty girls to distract security raided a pearl exhibitor in Hall 3 the day before the show opened. The dejected dealer lingered in the Perles de Tahiti booth to commiserate with general manager Martin Coeroli, a ubiquitous presence on the international pearl-promotion circuit.

"How much did you lose?" a visitor asked.

"A lot," said the dealer in a voice that suggested he'd resigned himself to the loss. "Seven figures. What can you do? It happens."

Years ago, news that professional criminals at a jewelry fair known for its world-class selection of precious stones had hit a pearl booth would've seemed strange, if not funny. Was there a grandmothers' convention in town?

After decades of prim and proper connotations, however, the pearl is enjoying a star turn in the fashion spotlight. Taking advantage of lustrous gems that come in sizes, shapes and colors previous generations could never have imagined—bordeaux or mocha, anyone?—brand-minded pearl producers and risk-taking designers are driving a boom in the pearl industry that is redefining the global trade.

Autore's gem-accented ring places just one sublime green pearl on a pedestal.

"Ten years ago, akoyas were three-quarters of the market," says Russell Shor, a senior industry analyst at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). "Then we had the big boom in Chinese freshwaters and we started getting pearls in all kinds of colors—purples, pastel pinks, goldens—and, suddenly, pearls could fit a lot of different looks."

The abundance was visible at both the Vicenza and Basel fairs. Displays featuring never-before-seen combinations of pearls—including mixed strands of Tahitian, South Sea, akoya and freshwater gems—and far-out colors such as "chocolate," made clear that among the fashion crowd, pearls are a hot commodity.

Although definitive statistics on the pearl trade, as with colored stones, are difficult to come by, in 2005 the worldwide retail market for pearl jewelry was estimated at $4 billion to $5 billion. Chinese freshwater pearls accounted for the overwhelming majority of production with 1,500 tons of mostly low-grade pearls, according to a Golay report in The International Pearling Journal. (By comparison, white South Sea pearl production in 2005 totaled about 10 tons, for the first time surpassing the annual harvest of black pearls, which totaled about 8.5 tons.)

The flood of gems has inspired designers not typically associated with pearls—Yohji Yamamoto, for one—to action. The avant-garde Japanese fashion icon recently teamed up with Mikimoto to create a 20-piece pearl-jewelry collection. It will officially debut in July during couture week in Paris.

Robert Wan, the father of the Tahitian pearl trade, has paired the disciplines of pearling and fashion, too, with accessories that make the best of both worlds: pearl-beaded bikinis and dresses, for example.

Other designers are capitalizing on the pearl's unpredictable shape to create truly unique jewels.

Gellner's earrings add marquise-cut diamonds for a vintage look.

"Baroques are really the news," says Helena Krodel, media manager for the Jewelry Information Center in New York. "They're interesting to designers and, hence, to consumers, because they lend themselves to creating one-of-a-kind fantasy pieces. People aren't just stringing pearls anymore—they're designing around them."

But it's not just trendy designs that are lifting the pearl market to previously unimaginable heights. The upper echelons of the industry, with their $100,000 South Sea strands and auction-worthy ensembles, are seeing an equally impressive surge in demand.

"We've seen a huge increase in our South Sea business," says Maureen Gribbin, spokeswoman for Mikimoto, which just launched its own grading system for South Sea pearls, citing the growth in sales as the impetus.

Mikimoto isn't alone. Sydney's Autore is combining the introduction of a new grading system with a high-profile branding push that included its first appearance as an exhibitor at the Basel show. There, the company unveiled a standout collection of pearls in both classic and gem-intense fashion designs.

Alas, the two brands will have to contend with another power player in the pearl-grading business: GIA. The lab dedicated its annual GemFest in Basel to a discussion of its forthcoming pearl report, which will indicate whether the pearl is natural or cultured, whether it comes from a saltwater or freshwater environment, the species of mollusk in which it was grown and treatments it underwent (if any).

"GIA recognized the need to respond to the market's growth," said Ken Scarratt, director of GIA Research, Thailand, at GemFest.

Schoeffel's L'Amazone diamond and pink sapphire ring in 18-karat rose gold exemplifies the vogue for pairing pearls with colored stones.

He said identifying pearl treatments that include dyeing, heating, irradiation or bleaching, which are typically used to improve or change the color, and maeshori, a Japanese term for a process that smooths the nacre, can be very challenging, sometimes requiring sophisticated instrumentation.

Following Scarratt's talk, a panel of pearl experts took the stage. They included Shigeru Akamatsu, senior researcher at Mikimoto; Jacques Branellec, managing director of Philippines-based Jewelmer International Corp.; Coeroli of Perles de Tahiti; and Nicholas Paspaley AC, executive chairman of the Paspaley Group in Australia.

"I see this as the first international pearl certificate to provide the ability to know what we're looking at and what we're buying," said Paspaley, who was enthusiastic about the GIA report's chances for growing the market.

Supporters in the audience nodded their heads in agreement.

"To have a report that's consistent, verifiable and honest is a huge plus," said London-based Chrissie Coleman Douglas, one of the named designers at Iridesse, Tiffany and Co.'s pearl-jewelry retail venture. "I think it's the best thing that has happened to the pearl industry in eons."
Source: nationaljewelernetwork