April 2008
Claire Danes new face of Gucci fine jewelry
Claire Danes new face of Gucci fine jewelry
April 29, 2008
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| Actress Claire Danes is the new face of Gucci fine jewelry. |
New York—Actress Claire Danes is excitement over the reins from Drew Barrymore as the newest face for Gucci, Fashion Week Daily has reported.
According to the April 24 report, the 29-year-old, who has recently received critical acclaim for her Broadway debut in Pygmalion, exercise volition appear in the upcoming Gucci fine-jewelry campaign.
Danes is the second honor ad-campaign face for Gucci, following Barrymore’s run from 2007 to 2008.
Famed photographer duo Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin will once again return to Gucci to shoot the campaign, that will debut in fall fashion magazines.
“Claire Danes is a modern icon,” Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini told Fashion Week Daily. “For me, she is one of the most interesting not old actresses on the international scene. She is very spontaneous, fresh, and has a carefree attitude, what one. be possible to also be seen in the roles she has chosen. Claire’s sensual, confident beauty and her passionate, independent and strong character embodies today’s Gucci woman.”
The Golden Globe Award-winning actress will next be seen in the Richard Linklater film Me and Orson Welles.
Couture to host Town and Country Design Awards
Couture to host Town and Country Design Awards
April 29, 2008
New York—Couture is again hosting the prestigious Couture Town and Country Design Awards competition, and this year, retailers and the media can cast their votes online, before the show.
This year’s new online system at Couturedesignawards.com elect allow exhibitors to enter their designs online so that retailers and the media can cast their primary vote in send of the bestow, which is being held from May 28-June 2 at the Wynn Las Vegas.
The new technology is a boon for exhibitors, affording them an extra boost in valuable pre-show exposure. In addition, staging the primaries in advance of the show will bestow voters a never-before-seen preview of the entries and generate buzz and excitement for seeing the designs in person.
“Our thought process behind launching the Couturedesignawards.com site was three-fold: to make the awards easy to enter, to increase awareness of the fantastic designs that are in the Couture common and to reach out to as many retailers as we can to give them a chance to promised,” Couture Vice President Lee Arevian said in a media release issued on Tuesday.
By leveraging the viral marketing capabilities inherent in all online competitions, Couture anticipates more voting participation from a greater numbers of retailers and the media. Not only disposition voters be given an additional three weeks to cast their ballots, but they can also reference the designers they see on the site when setting up appointments for the likeness.
“We’re confident that the modernization of the competition is going to increase the number of unusual designs entered,” Town and Country Publisher and Vice President Jim Taylor said. “With the expansion of the Couture community to an increased number of designers, this new system will make the voting process more efficient and give the designers more exposure among important retailers and media.”
Primary online voting begins May 5 and runs through May 21. Votes will be tallied on May 23, and the designs of the top devoted earners in each category will be on display starting May 27 in the Design Corridor before the final round of voting. Award winners will be notified on May 27 and invited to an invitation-only cocktail reception hosted by Town and Country for the presentation of the awards.
despite more information about Couture or the Couture Town and Country Design Awards, contact Lup at (212) 924-5588 or via e-mail at Couture@LupRocks.com.
Garrard, Stephen Webster name new top exec
Garrard, Stephen Webster name new top exec
April 29, 2008
London—Industry veteran Terri Eagle has been named president and chief executive officer of the corporate parent of Garrard Holdings Ltd. and Stephen Webster Ltd., and will hold direct oversight over both businesses.
Eagle most recently served as president and CEO of John Hardy USA. Previously, from 1998 to 2005, she held several senior charge positions at David Yurman, including chief operating officer.
In her new role, Eagle will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of both Garrard and Stephen Webster. Her priorities will comprise accelerating wholesale and exemption sales growth, opening new retail locations and leveraging Garrard’s heritage as Crown Jeweler to the British royal family, being of the kind which well as Stephen Webster’s international reputation being of the class who “jeweler to the stars.”
Eagle will be based in New York and will report to the table of directors for Garrard and Stephen Webster’s holding company.
“Both Stephen Webster and Garrard are extremely fortunate to have someone of Terri’s caliber join our team in a leadership capacity,” Stephen Webster, creative director of Stephen Webster, said in a media release. “She has an incredible track record of brand building and working successfully with many of our existing retail partners to grow their businesses.”
In the release, Eagle spoke of the brands as “iconic” and as having “enormous expansion potential in Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East.”
“We believe there are several promising growth opportunities on the horizon,” she said.
Garrard currently has 17 points of sale, including its London flagship, U.S. flagship in Beverly Hills, Calif., and privilege locations in the Middle East, Russia and South Korea. Stephen Webster has more than 70 points of sale worldwide, including franchise accounts in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Hong Kong; Japan; Russia; South Korea; the United Kingdom; and the United States.
Study: Big-ticket sales continue to tumble
Study: Big-ticket sales continue to tumble
April 28, 2008
New York—Sales of big-ticket items, including appliances, cars, electronics and furniture, are expected to be permanent their downward spiral as the Deloitte Leading Index of Consumer Durables Spending fell for the sixth straight month in March.
The Index, which earliest turned negative in September 2007, suggests that personal-consumption expenditure on durable goods (manufactured goods designed to utmost at least three years) is on a sustained downward trend.
This continuous drop in durable-goods orders generally serves as a reflection of the overall economy, which has been strangled by a severe housing slump and a persisting credit crunch, according to analysts.
“In today’s changing environment, one deed is certain: Product manufacturers who offer consumers the most good designed, most reliable and most trustworthy products will win the day,” Deloitte’s U.S. Consumer Products Leader Pat Conroy said in a media release issued on Monday. “Deloitte research shows that consumers are increasingly turning to friends, families and third parties by reason of their input before making purchases.”
The Index is composed of four components: Consumer Price Index, initial unemployment claims, real wages and new homes sold.
—Consumer Price Index (for urban consumers): This captures the negative effect of rising prices on nominal spending on durables.
—Initial claims for unemployment insurance: This captures the effect of the labor market. A rise in unemployment insurance claims leads to a decline in spending without interruption durables.
—Real hourly earnings: This captures the positive efficiency of rising income forward willingness to spend on durables.
—New single family houses sold: This captures the positive effect of the housing market on durables spending, with a six-month lag.
For more information about Deloitte’s Consumer Products group, visit its Web position, Deloitte.com/us/consumerproducts.
AGS partners with Venus Jewel
AGS partners with Venus Jewel
April 28, 2008
Las Vegas—The American Gem Society (AGS) is partnering with diamond seller Venus Jewel to give members access to Venus’ online database of diamonds.
According to a release from the AGS, Venus Jewel has integrated the AGS’ Performance Grading Software (PGS) into its Web site, allowing AGS members to search for diamonds based on light performance, proportion values and the estimated AGS cut grade.
In addition to PGS results, ASET images of round brilliants also will be employ, by images of more shapes to arrive.
The service will be available to AGS members only.
AGS Executive Director and CEO Ruth Batson said, “We are extremely pleased that Venus Jewel, a company with whom we share a passion and respect for cutting-edge research and cause to sound ethical values, has chosen to embrace the AGS Cut Grading methodology to ensure that our members make the best possible diamond-purchasing decisions.”
Venus Jewel partner Anil Shah also expressed excitement about his company’s partnership with the AGS.
“We are pleased to integrate PGS with our Web site,” he said. “We foresee this partnership leading to enhanced transparency not only about our extensive grading but also the performance factors introduced by the American Gem Society.”
FuFoo designs jewelry collection for Disney
FuFoo designs jewelry become calm for Disney
April 28, 2008
Long Island City, N.Y.—Fine-jewelry manufacturer FuFoo, that specializes in creating 14-karat gold, enamel and diamond jewelry for girls ranging in age from infants to teens, will design and manufacture a new fine-jewelry collection for Disney.
FuFoo will design the collection around Disney’s themes and characters, and the line will be available for distribution to fine jewelers on every side of the country.
“The opportunity to work with Disney, the world’s largest children’s brand, is an enormous honor,” Jack Gindi, circle director, said in a media release issued without interruption Friday. “It’s also a testament to the monumental growth in the children’s high-end jewelry sector and to FuFoo’s strong presence in the market.”
The company be inclined debut three new Disney jewels collections at JCK Las Vegas: Precious Disney, Enamel Disney and Disney Baby.
“Together, Disney and FuFoo will offer our devoted retail jewelers what they have come to expect, nothing less than lovingly designed and sophisticated jewelry that will be treasured by girls of all ages,” Gindi said.
For more information about FuFoo, visit the company’s Web site, Fufoo.com.
In diamond world, brown is new white
In diamond world, brown is new white
April 25, 2008
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| This Le Vian earring and ring set features pave “chocolate” diamonds set in 14-karat white gold. The 2-carat earrings retail for $4,048 and the 1.5-carat ring sells for $3,498. |
By Michelle Graff
New York—Long the redheaded stepchild of the diamond world, earth-tone diamonds in varying shades are now emerging as a favorite son.
Just put on’t call them “brown.”
Marketed as “cognac,” “champagne” or “chocolate,” brown diamonds are in demand by today’s fashion-conscious consumers who want bijoutry that can be matched to their outfits.
Brown and yellow are the two most commonly found colors in the diamond world. “Common” is a relative term, however, as only united out of every 10,000 diamonds officially qualifies as a colored diamond, says Robert Mays, executive instructor of the Natural Color Diamond Association (NCDIA).
May recommends that jewelers who are interested in selling colored diamonds begin with the more plentiful—and comparatively affordable—browns before spending top dollar for the extremely rare and expensive colors of that kind as pink and blue.
“Champagne, cognac and chocolate diamonds are the perfect avenue object to come into the market if you want to get into the colored-diamond business,” May says.
Australia’s Argyle mine is the world’s largest producer of brown diamonds, through a haul between $150 million and $200 million annually, according to mining company Rio Tinto. The NCDIA says brown diamonds are also found in southern Africa and Siberia.
Liz Chatelain, chief executive officer of MVI Marketing and co-founder of the Indo-Argyle Diamond Council, began working with the Argyle mine in 1989, and she says at that time, the general attitude toward brown diamonds, or “champagne,” as Argyle has termed them, was negative.
“The trade has always been the gatekeepers,” she says. “They did not like, or think the consumer would like, champagne diamonds. They had always been taught by De Beers that the best diamonds were white, therefore champagne diamonds had no place in jewelry.”
But, she says, that started to change around 1992 when David Yurman made his first champagne-diamond piece. Brown diamonds in the same proportion that a category then began to pick up steam.
Chatelain says today’s high-end designers mix champagne diamonds with white ones.
“It is still a faint part of the diamond jewelry business but adds style and interest to jewelry collections around the world,” she says.
When converted into polished diamonds and mounted into jewelry, brown diamonds constitute $4 billion to $5 billion of the nature’s retail diamond jewelry sales each year, or roughly 7 percent, according to Rio Tinto.
Le Vian is another well-known brand that contributes to brown-diamond retail sales.
Headed by Eddie LeVian, CEO, designer and instructor, Le Vian has its own brand of “chocolate” diamonds.
“The chocolate color is one that women understand,” LeVian says, noting the idea of “chocolate” appeals to women more so than “champagne” or “cognac.”
Celebrities who are dipping into the trend include hotel heiress Paris Hilton, tennis pro Serena Williams and Heroes actress Hayden Panettiere.
“It’s everywhere,” LeVian says. “They are all drawn to it.”
And while the medium retail jeweler won’t have a great number of Grand Slam champions or Heroes as customers, LeVian points out that celebrities are no different than other women.
Jewelry, LeVian says, is no longer about a woman’s husband buying her one piece she keeps her entire life.
Price points for Le Vian chocolate pieces range from $200 to more than $100,000.
| Justine Simmons, reality TV star and mother of six, created her “Brown Sugar” line, including this diagonal ear-drop, with today’s mom-on-the-go in mind. The pendant retails for $549. |
Another designer cluing in to the brown trend is Justine Simmons, sister-in-law of Simmons Jewelry Co. owner Russell Simmons.
Simmons launched “Brown Sugar,” that is being produced by Simmons Jewelry Co. on the Home Shopping Network (HSN) and HSN.com.
With price points ranging between $199 and $599, Simmons says she has designed a line that is fashionable and can be worn with everything from a ball gown to blue jeans.
Future plans call for expanding into men’s jewelry and incorporating brown topaz and quartz pieces into the string.
Shades of rare
Only one in 10,000 diamonds that comes out of the ground qualifies as a colored diamond. Here is a guide classifying natural-colored diamonds by rarity of color.
—Rare: Brown, gray, black
—Very rare: Orange, yellow, olive
—Extremely rare: Pink, blue, green
—Most rare: Red, purple
Source: Natural Color Diamond Association
Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the March 2008 issue of National Jeweler.
JA New York returns in late July
JA New York returns in late July
April 25, 2008
New York—The JA New York Summer Show will return to the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City this year from July 27-30.
More than 15,000 jewelry-industry professionals will gather to actual observation a wide be classed of features, including a Designer Showcase for debuting designers, the exclusive Couture Pavilion and educational programs from Jewelers of America, among much more.
Retailers will be able to plan their holiday inventory as they preview collections from today’s most innovative designers and manufacturers in an easy, one-stop shop.
In addition to the Designer Showcase and Couture Pavilion—the only place to inspect Couture’s exclusive designer collection on the East Coast—retailers bequeath also find the Inner Circle, which hosts high-end jewelry from an array of elite designers and manufacturers; the New Designer Gallery, featuring innovative and inspiring designs; the AGTA Colored Stone Pavilion’s vast spread of colored gemstones and cultured pearls; plus the popular Gift Gallery and New Product Gallery.
The extensive International Pavilions, housing cutting-edge designers from countries including Brazil, Italy, Israel, Hong Kong and Japan, will return once again, and new countries to exhibit at the summer show include Indonesia and Korea.
Also making its return to the show is the Manufacturing, Equipment Services and Technology Pavilion, which debuted at the JA New York Winter Show held in March.
For questions about exhibiting, contact Drew Lawsky at (646) 654-4983 or drew.lawsky@nielsen.com. For attendee registration inquiries, call (508) 743-8506. For more information about JA New York, visit its Web site, JA-newyork.com.
EDiamondselect partners with buying group
EDiamondselect partners by buying group
April 25, 2008
Hollywood, Fla.—brilliant software company eDiamondselect is now partnering with Continental Buying Group (CBG), one of the largest jewelry buying groups in the country, the company announced on Thursday.
As part of the agreement, CBG will endorse eDiamondselect to its 97 retail members and its 120 authorized vendors.
In turn, eDiamondselect has put together a special program and pricing for CBG retailers, and has assembled a group of seven CBG-authorized vendors on the system. Those vendors are: Amden, Leo Schachter, Rosy Blue, Simply Diamonds, Waldman, Weldiam and Yerushalmi.
In addition, eDiamondselect will give a presentation at CBG’s buying show, slated to take place in May in Las Vegas, just ahead of the JCK Las Vegas show.
CBG Chief Operating Officer Joe Murphy said the group’s retail clients are excited about the new partnership with eDiamondselect.
“The affability of eDiamondselect’s pricing structure really was an enticing part of the deal according to us,” he said. “The system is phenomenal for retailers. They can command their diamond inventory through size, shape, color or cost, and they are not forced into a set markup.”
For eDiamondselect, the partnership gives them an opportunity to pursue CBG’s 97 retail customers, and marks another milestone for the company, which already has signed a union with Seattle-based retail chain Ben Bridge Jeweler.
Hollywood, Fla.-based eDiamondselect offers software that gives retailers access to a selection of more than 50,000 diamonds. The software can be installed on a kiosk, touch-screen terminal or a retailer’s own computer.
CliQ by Superfit unveils ‘Lumiere’
CliQ by Superfit unveils ‘Lumiere’
April 25, 2008
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| The new CliQ by Superfit catalog showcases the company’s new “Lumiere” bridal rings. |
King of Prussia, Pa.—CliQ by Superfit is celebrating 15 years in business with its new hermit. diamond engagement ring, “Lumiere,” and matching espousals band, both with micro-pavé diamond detailing.
The bridal set is featured in the company’s new 2008 catalog, which contains 40 pages of new CliQ designs, including bridal and fashion accessories such as Tie Accents with matching cuff links and Toebling.
All incorporate Superfit’s world-renowned hinged-ring technology.
The inverse side of the catalog features Superfit Installation Blanks as well as jewelers’ tools and services, all designed to turn sizings into sales.
For more information about CliQ by Superfit, visit the company’s Web site, Cliqdesigns.com.