April 2008

JIC calls for 2009 Gem Awards nominees

JIC calls for 2009 Gem Awards nominees
April 10, 2008

New York—The Jewelry Information Center (JIC) is inviting all of its members and, for the first time, others in the jewelry and watch industry, to submit nominations for the 2009 JIC Gem Awards.

The Gem Awards recognize achievements in journalism, marketing, style and other categories at a gala dinner in New York City in January.

The JIC’s board of directors voted to open the nominations process to non-members for the first time since the Gem Awards were launched in 2003.

“There is so a great quantity talent in our industry and in the media who cover us, that we want as many people as possible to participate in this process,” JIC board chair Myriam Gumuchian, of Gumuchian, said in a media release issued today.

Nominations for next year’s Gem Awards can be made on the JIC’s Web site, JIC.org, through May 15, 2008. Award winners be pleased be announced this summer.

The JIC’s Web site includes descriptions of the criteria for each award primitive, because source as a review of previous award winners. The JIC will select a jury for each award category in which nominations are received. These juries will consider all submissions and make their recommendations to the JIC’s Gem Award Committee.

An outline of both the timeline and process that govern the review of nominations is also included on the association’s Web site.

The 2009 JIC Gem Awards dinner will be held on Jan. 9, 2009, at Cipriani 42nd St. in New York City.

Founded as a non-profit trade association in 1946, the JIC provides public relations and marketing services to the fine-jewelry and watch industry.

For more information about the JIC, visit its Web site, JIC.org.

Star Ring presents new metal, Platina 4

Star Ring presents new metal, Platina 4
April 10, 2008

This green amethyst and diamond ring from Star Ring is set in the company’s new patented Platina 4 metal.

Chatsworth, Calif.—Fine-jewelry supplier Star Ring will be setting up shop at the JCK Show in Las Vegas with jewelry designs in its new patented metal, Platina 4, a blend of four precious metals—silver, palladium, platinum and gold—more a proprietary alloy formula.

The white metal, which is copyrighted and exclusive to Star Ring, is about one-third the price of gold, said Star Ring principal Mitchell Reiffen, and has been a bonanza for many retailers, especially in light of rising gold prices and a growing interest in choice metals.

Platina 4 contains no nickel and thus is hypoallergenic, can be sized up or down, be able to be polished or cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner, is more resistant to scratching or scuffing than 14-karat gold, and is resistant to tarnishing because of its unique makeup, the company said in a media release.

Star Ring’s complete product line, which consists of bridal, fashion, diamond and colored-stone jewelry, is available in the new metal.

The company began developing Platina 4, or P4, in October 2007, and brought the product to Star Ring’s core group of retailers in January 2008.

Star Ring’s customers are volume retailers, with companies currently carrying Platina 4 including Daniels Jewelers, DeVons Jewelers, Don Roberto Jewelers, Reeds Jewelers, Rogers and Holland, Rogers Jewelers and Whitehall Jewelers, among others. In addition, the Leading Jewelers Guild and Continental Buying Group are both working with Star Ring’s programs.

Platina 4 has already been featured in retailer flyers, and Star Ring will present a larger spread and introduction of the product to the trade at JCK Las Vegas, to be held from May 30-June 3 (booth #25107). Also in Las Vegas, from May 27-29, Star Ring will present its collection to the Continental Buying Group.

For more information, call (800) 486-7003.

GIA Alumni opens 12 chapters worldwide

GIA Alumni opens 12 chapters worldwide
April 10, 2008

Carlsbad, Calif.—The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) Alumni Association has opened 12 new chapters internationally this year and plans to open relating to 30 more by dint of. the extreme point of 2008.

This augment is due to changes implemented within the last 12 months from suggestions made by existing GIA alumni.

The new chapters have been opened in the following locations:

Sao Paulo, Brazil; Athens, Greece; Chennai, India; Mumbai, India; New Delhi, India; Beirut, Lebanon; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Denver; Gulf Coast, Fla.; Louisville, Ky.; Nashville, Tenn.; and Greenville, S.C.

“We instituted these changes in our alumni program because we wanted to better serve our graduates. We wanted to delay in touch with our alumni and help them further expand their careers with continuing education and networking opportunities,” GIA Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer Linda Ellis Harmeling said in a media exempt issued on Wednesday. “These changes were made after careful research to take an inventory of the unique needs of our alumni and working with GIA Education and the Alumni Executive Council.”

Other changes to the GIA Alumni Association this year include:

— Expanding membership to automatically include all GIA graduates who earn a diploma or certificate.

— A “Calling All Graduates” program designed to reconnect the GIA with its more than 200,000 historic graduates, many of whom the institute had lost touch with over the years.

— Discontinued dues, which expanded its active alumni members from a known population of approximately 4,000 individuals to more than 64,000 people in the first year.

— The creation and distribution of a Quick Start Guide, both online and in hard copy, which provides a resource in setting up a new chapter.

Also central to the growth of the alumni association is a continuing education program for GIA Graduate Gemologists (G.G.) and a related recognition system.

“Graduates had been asking for a long time for post-G.G. continuing education, more affiliation with other graduates in domestic and international chapters, and an electronic newsletter,” Ellis Harmeling said.

To learn more surrounding setting up a GIA Alumni Association chapter, e-mail alumni@gia.edu or visit the GIA’s Web site, GIA.edu.

To receive the electronic newsletter, go to GIA.edu/alumni/35146/alumconnect__archive.cfm.