April 2008
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.
Hearts On Fire founders honored with Shipley award
Hearts On Fire founders honored with Shipley award
April 24, 2008
Las Vegas—Hearts On Fire founding couple Susan and Glenn Rothman are the winners of the American Gem Society’s (AGS) 2008 Robert M. Shipley Award.
The Rothman’s received the award on April 12, during the AGS’ annual Conclave in Seattle.
They are the first co-winners of the award, as well as the first husband-and-wife team to take this honor.
Glenn Rothman has served as a member of the AGS Laboratories board of managers since 1999, serves as the board’s marketing committee chair and is an active member of the Jewelers during the term of Children board of directors.
Both Glenn and Susan Rothman also serve as chairman and founding board member, respectively, of the Lenny Zakim Fund in their hometown of Boston.
“Susan and I are the one and the other deeply honored to receive this award from AGS,” Glenn Rothman said. “Since starting Hearts On Fire in 1996, we’ve been motivated by our dream to always achieve excellence—this is the energy, the culture, and the unique character of Hearts upon the body Fire.”
AGS Executive Director Ruth Batson said the couple’s focus has brought them both professional and personal success.
“Through their dedication to industry education, their commitment to the jewelry retailer and incredible bounteousness and devotion to community service, the Rothmans have made a lasting impression on the American Gem Society and on all who have benefited from their dedication and involvement.”
The Robert M. Shipley award is an annual distinction given to an AGS member in recognition of outstanding service to the society, significant grant to gemology and for exemplifying the AGS’ high ideals.
Sotheby’s to offer jewels of Brazil’s ‘first lady’
Sotheby’s to offer jewels of Brazil’s ‘first lady’
April 24, 2008
Geneva—Jewelry from a number of noteworthy women determine be on the auction block during Sotheby’s spring sale of Magnificent Jewels, the auction house has announced.
Scheduled for May 15 at the Beau-Rivage Hotel in Geneva, the auction will feature the jewels of Dona Lily Marinho, a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and wife of Brazilian media magnate Roberto Marinho.
She is widely considered to be the “first lady” of Brazil.
Among the highlights of Marinho’s collection are a 20.09-carat pear-shaped diamond pendant valued at $750,000-$1.5 million, and an aquamarine and diamond parure estimated at $50,000-$80,000.
In etc. to Marinho’s jewels, Sotheby’s will venture a 206.82-carat Cartier sapphire pendant worth $1.1-$1.5 million formerly in the collection of the Dutchess of Windsor, and a diamond tiara estimated at $60,000-$100,000 from the collection of socialite and fashionista Daisy Fellowes.
Other gems included in the sale are: a 5.06-carat fancy purplish-pink diamond estimated at $2.35 million-$2.85 million; a pear-shaped fancy blue diamond weighing 3.73 carats and worth an estimated $2.8 million-$3.5 million; and a 41.73-carat fancy yellow-brown diamond with an estimated value of $310,000-$510,000.
Kassoy adds e-commerce to site
Kassoy adds e-commerce to site
April 24, 2008
Plainview, N.Y.—Kassoy has announced the launch of its new and improved Web site, Kassoy.com, now featuring e-commerce capability.
Visitors to the site be pleased find an all-new shopping cart concerning purchasing products online. Customers simply click to add items to their cart, and checkout at whatever time they’re ready.
Additional new features include an updated design and easier navigation by specific product categories and searches. Visitors to the locality can moreover read about Kassoy products, specials and upcoming events, and find company contact denunciation.
MVI offers Web services to jewelers
MVI offers Web services to jewelers
April 23, 2008
Paso Robles, Calif.—MVI Marketing Ltd., a marketing-intelligence company for the gem, jewelry and watch industries, has announced that it has acquired an interest in IT firm ITECH Solutions, a move that will allow MVI to offer Web-development services to deal out in small portions jewelers and manufacturers.
San Luis Obispo, Calif.-based ITECH specializes in providing Web development, computer and network services for augmenting businesses, and its co-founder, Forrest Hatfield, said in a media release that studies pomp visitors to a Web site make a decision on whether or not to stay within just a few seconds.
“The jewelry industry is faced with a tremendous opportunity to level the playing field in the battle with its competitors,” Hatfield said. “Our affiliation with MVI will provide clients with introduction of novelty, creativity, cost efficiencies and hard-core sales growth from day one.”
MVI and ITECH get already begun to work in continuance several Web-development projects for trinkets manufacturers and retailers. These include inventory management and integration, search-engine optimization, customer-relationship and affiliate-relationship management, e-commerce and shopping cart solutions, newsletter development and deployment, integrated customer-satisfaction research, viral marketing, adword campaigns, and banner development and placement.
“The trend toward online research and shopping is not going away,” MVI Chief Executive Officer Marty Hurwitz said in the release. “In an increasingly tougher competitive environment, the jewelry retailer, designer and manufacturer must learn to embrace the offerings of the Web and utilize them to their advantage. With MVI’s insight and knowledge of the trinkets industry and ITECH’s technological sophistication, we will help the jewelry toil purchase the Web opportunity to its best favorable opportunity.”
MVI is offering a free, confidential Web reconsideration and recommendations to any company that is considering beginning, expanding or improving its Web presence. For to a greater degree information about this service, visit MVI’s Web site, Mvimarketing.com.
Diamour taps Coleman as merchandising SVP
Diamour taps Coleman as merchandising SVP
April 24, 2008
New York—Diamond jewelry manufacturer Diamour has named Gary Coleman as its new senior vice president of merchandising, effectively immediately.
In his new position, Coleman will direct Diamour’s sales and product development teams, for example well as the continued development of its “Diamour…for the love of diamonds” stigma. He will announce to Diamour President and CEO Ajay Javeri.
Coleman has worked in jewelry retail for more than 20 years, most recently as fault president and DMM of Zale Corp.’s Zales Outlet division.
He held prior executive positions with Finlay for Lord and Taylor, Foley’s Fine Jewelry, Sam’s Club and Zales’ Diamond Park for Dillard’s Fine Jewelry.
“I’ve been fortunate to work for some of the largest jewelry companies in the world and with some of the finest leaders and mentors in those companies,” Coleman said in a media release. “I am very excited to use my experience to help buyers make decisions that will positively impact their sales and bottom line at a time when the two of those challenges are quite overwhelming.”
Based in Mumbai, India, Diamour has offices at 589 Fifth Ave. in New York City.
For more information about the companionship, phrase (888) 528-3747 or visit its Web site, Diamour.us.
Market center opens in China’s ‘jewelry city’
place of traffic center opens in China’s ‘jewelry city’
April 23, 2008
New York—Man Sang Holdings Inc. has announced the opening of its market center in China’s Pearls and Jewellery (CP and J) City in Zhuji, Zhejiang Province, China.
A grand opening ceremony, attended by Chinese government officials as spring for example representatives from the jewelry industry, was held on April 18.
The market center includes on the eve 2,380 shops and booths. When the CP and J project is completed, it will have more than 5,000 shops and booths, and will exist the largest of its kind in the world.
The opening of the center coincided with CP and J’s first pearl and jewelry fair, the Third China Zhuji Xishi Cultural Festival and the Sixth China (International) Pearl Festival, all held in CP and J City.
All of these events were aimed to promote the commercial and cultural aspects of pearl and jewelry trading to the world.
Following the grand opening ceremony, CP and J City signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding with the Gemological Institute of America that fosters cooperation between the two parties and promotes the development of both CP and J City and China’s jewelry industry as a whole.
Man Sang Chairman Cheng Chung Hing said, “The opening of CP and J City is a very important milestone in the group’s development, as it allows the group, from one side cooperating with six other leading pearl enterprises in the country, to expand its business from pearl and trinkets manufacturing and trading to now also cover development and construction of this pearl trinkets trading platform and kin supporting and logistic facilities.”
NCDIA sponsors Billboard Latin Music Awards
NCDIA sponsors Billboard Latin Music Awards
April 25, 2008
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| Recording artist and award winner Fanny Lu wore natural-colored yellow-diamond earrings by Amgad and a natural-colored diamond bracelet by Christian Tse at the April 10 Billboard Latin Music Awards. |
Hollywood, Fla.—Natural-colored diamonds got an exclusive in the limelight at the 2008 Billboard Latin Music Awards, where the Natural Colored Diamond Association (NCDIA) served as the event’s official jewelry sponsor.
Kat de Luna, Fanny Lu, Olga Tanon and Yuridia were just a few of the Latin-music luminaries to hit the April 10 red carpet in natural-colored diamonds.
Prior to the awards show, the NCDIA hosted a celebrity jewelry suite on April 8 and 9 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla. The action-packed suite, to which place celebrities, presenters and hosts picked out their favorite baubles while enjoying mojitos and hors d-oeuvres, featured more than $30 million worth of jewelry supplied by dint of. Black, Starr and Frost, and George Walton’s Gold and Diamond Co.
Among the big winners of the night was Fanny Lu, winner of the Tropical Airplay Song of the Year, New Artist: “Y Si Te Digo,” who donned 3.04-carat natural-colored yellow-diamond earrings by Amgad valued at $240,100, and a yellow-gold bracelet with 1.91 carats of pavé-set natural-colored diamonds by Christian Tse valued at $825,000. Both pieces are available at Black, Starr and Frost.
GCAL achieves ISO accreditation
GCAL achieves ISO accreditation
April 25, 2008
New York—The Gem Certification and Assurance Lab (GCAL) has received an accreditation signifying it conforms to international standards for accurate and trusty diamond grading, the New York-based lab announced on Thursday.
GCAL is the primitive diamond-grading lab in North America to receive this accreditation, known as ISO 17052:2005, and only one of three diamond-grading labs in the world to achieve this certification.
The accreditation means that GCAL’s lab is rated among the most technically competent in the world, offering clients accurate first-time grading, less retesting, enhanced consumer confidence and greater ease in selling goods overseas.
Because the ISO accreditation is internationally recognized, exporters don’t have to retest for other markets. More than 40 laboratory accreditation bodies take signed a multi-lateral recognition statement called the ILAC Arrangement, which enhances acceptance of data across the borders of member countries.
GCAL President Donald Palmieri said in a media release that the accreditation marks a tremendous milestone in the company’s growth and expansion.
“We are very proud to be the first lab in this country to conform to ISO laboratory standards, and we see it as a testament to offering the greatest number reliable and accurate grading in the industry,” he said. “Our customers expect more from GCAL and we want to live up to that expectation regardless of the time, effort or cost it takes to be the best.”