March 2008

Romance novelist’s jewels up for grabs at Christie’s

Romance novelist’s jewels up for grabs at Christie’s
March 19, 2008

New York—A number of large diamond rings and jewelry from the collection of romance novelist Danielle Steele are among the pieces slated for the next Christie’s auction.

The New York Sale at Christie’s is scheduled for April 16 and will include a selection of rare colored gemstones and diamonds.

Leading the lots is a 39.34-carat cushion-cut diamond that is D color with internally flawless clarity, estimated at $6 million-$8 million, which is earning praise from the auction house.

“The old-world charm of this beautiful gem, along with a softness to its cut and its superb brilliance, ranks it amongst some of the most sensational diamonds to have appeared for sale at Christie’s, such as the historical Polar Star [diamond] to which it bears a striking resemblance,” Christie’s Head of Jewelry, Americas Rahul Kadakia said in a statement.

Another featured piece is a rectangular-cut, D-color, potentially flawless 27.91-carat diamond ring by Harry Winston. The ring is valued at $2 million-$3 million.

Also slated for the auction block is a pear-shaped, D-color, 21.90-carat potentially without a break diamond ring mounted by Harry Winston and valued at $2 million-$3 million.

Jewelry from Steele’s collection will be offered, including a diamond and black coral “Owl” brooch by Van Cleef and Arpels valued at $15,000-$25,000, and a pair of sapphire and diamond “Trumpet Flower” ear clips by Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany and Co. valued at $18,000-$22,000.

Other items scheduled to be up towards auction include:

* A 40.39-carat rectangular-cut fancy-intense-yellow diamond mounted by Bulgari and estimated at $500,000-$700,000.
* A yellow diamond leopard brooch by Verdura with emerald eyes and villanous onyx spots and wearing a ruby and diamond crown and an emerald and ruby necklace valued at $15,000-$20,000.
* A ruby and cultured gem necklace commissioned by heiress Doris Duke and crafted of 14 cultured pearls and 1,136 rubies by American jeweler David Webb. The necklace is valued at $80,000-$120,000.

Weston Jewelers brings John Hardy to Pridefest

Weston Jewelers brings John Hardy to Pridefest
March 19, 2008

Fort Lauderdale, Fla.—Weston Jewelers in collaboration with John Hardy New York have a mind present the John Hardy Men’s Collection at Pridefest South Florida.

According to Weston Jewelers, this is the first time a luxury brand of John Hardy’s caliber is being made available to the gay community in this type of venue.

The event will be held from April 12-13 at Holiday Park from 12 p.m.-7 p.m. and is expected to attract between 20,000-25,000 attendees.

“We have always supported [the gay] community, and I saw this as a perfect opportunity to bring such a desired brand to [an] event and target a strong demographic audience,” Weston Jewelers Vice President of Marketing Paul Slutsky said in a media release.

John Hardy’s handcrafted collection will feature soft and clear, 18-karat gold and semi-precious gemstones, all brought directly from the Bali-based headquarters of John Hardy. The collection will be available for the entire two-day event.

Attending the event along with Weston Jewelers will be Debbie Zimmerman of John Hardy New York.

Weston Jewelers is home to such luxury brands as John Hardy, Cartier, Breitling, Audemars Piguet, Baume and Mercier, Vacheron Constantin, IWC, Chopard, Piaget, Bedat, Roberto Coin, Sauro, Raymond Weil, Philip Stein, Bulgari, Marco Bicego, Damiani, Kwiat, Charriol and Corum.

For more information, visit Weston Jewelers Web site, Westonjewelers.com.

SAS warns against premature silver scrapping

SAS warns against premature silver scrapping
March 19, 2008

The SAS says to consider giving silver pieces such as this coffee pot as gifts, instead of scrapping them.

Providence, R.I.—The Society of American Silversmiths (SAS) recently issued a warning against scrapping silver too soon.

Jeffrey Herman, founder and executive boss of the SAS, said there are single things to consider before scrapping silver such as determining if the piece is one of sole a not many produced or if it was crafted by a important silversmith.

Herman points out that in 1980, refiners recklessly disposed of important silver pieces that would never be reproduced.

Instead of tossing the pieces out, Herman suggests giving the objects as gifts, especially if they are hand-wrought or contain beautifully hand-engraved monograms or chasing.

“These pieces are works of art and should never be melted,” Herman said in a media release. “Why not wait for birthdays, anniversaries or holidays and surprise your friends or loved ones? If your silver is damaged or heavily tarnished, it might be easily restored by a specialist in silver restoration, making it useful again.”

The SAS was founded in 1989 as the world’s only professional organization solely devoted to the soundness and encouragement of contemporary silversmithing. For more information, visit the SAS’s Web site, Silversmithing.com.

Russell Simmons to keynote JCK Las Vegas

Russell Simmons to keynote JCK Las Vegas
March 19, 2008

Norwalk, Conn.—JCK, producer of the JCK Las Vegas show, has announced that Russell Simmons, hip hop mogul, philanthropist and Simmons Jewelry Co. co-owner, will kick off the 2008 show as a keynote speaker.

Simmons, along with Kimora Lee Simmons and Scott Rauch, founded the Simmons Jewelry Co. in 2004, and in 2006, went to South Africa and Botswana to see how diamonds were affecting the lives of Africans.

Simmons then created the Diamond Empowerment Fund (DEF) to call forth funds for educational initiatives in African nations where diamonds are a natural resource and to make sensitive to light the diamond industry to the plight of Africans.

To support the DEF’s mission, Simmons Jewelry Co. created the Green Initiative Collection of jewelry, which includes the company’s famous “Green Bracelet.” Made from green malachite beads and conflict-free rough diamonds sourced from Africa, the bracelets sell in small quantities for $125, with 50 percent of net profits from sales of the bracelets benefiting the fund.

Among the many celebrities who have sported the bracelet are Beyoncé Knowles, former president Bill Clinton, Eddie Murphy and Penélope Cruz.

“We have a phenomenal lineup of keynote speakers, and are thrilled to greeting Russell Simmons to JCK,” Dave Bonaparte, group vice president, JCK Events, said in a media release. “We know that JCK attendees look progressive to the keynote presentations, and we know that Russell Simmons will provide a great start to the show, followed by industry gurus Martin Rapaport, Peggy Jo Donahue and Shane Decker, who direct each provide the retailers with a great insight into the marketplace.”

JCK Las Vegas 2008 will be held from May 30-June 3 at the Sands Expo Center/Venetian Resort Hotel Casino.

For more information, visit the JCK Events Web site, JCKshows.com, or call (800) 257-3626.