Supplier News

Staff -- JCK Online, 8/1/1996 2:00:00 AM

ROLEX ENTERPRISE AWARD

Four U.S. citizens were among the 15 winners of the International Rolex Awards for Enterprise, given each year since 1976 to encourage and fund individual achievement.

Three were awarded the Laureate honor, which includes $50,000 and a solid gold Rolex chronometer. One received the Associate Laureate honor, which includes a $10,000 award and a steel and gold Rolex chronometer.

The four winners from the U.S. were:

Gilbert Clark, Pasadena, Cal., an engineer who designed a worldwide computer system that allows high school students to operate telescopes at international observatories by remote computer control.
Royce Hall of Tampa, Fla., an ophthalmologist who constructed an eye hospital in the bush of Tanzania.
William Rosenblatt, a medical doctor and professor at Yale University in Cambridge, Mass., who created a system to recover discarded surgical supplies and machinery for donation to developing countries.
Nabil Lawandy, a professor at Brown University in Providence, R.I., who developed a medical paint that exhibits the properties of a laser for use in low-cost cancer treatment. Lawandy is an Associate Laureate.

The winners were honored May 15 in Geneva. The U.S. winners were honored again at a May 30 celebration in New York., N.Y.

FORSCHNER CHANGES NAME TO SWISS ARMY BRANDS

The Forschner Group Inc., Shelton, Conn., parent company of Swiss Army Brand Watches, has changed its name to Swiss Army Brands Inc. to better reflect its range of products.

"The change also symbolizes the company's transformation from a purely knife company to a marketer of a broader range of products," says Peter W. Gilson, chairman of the executive committee. "We expect to evolve into a multiproduct, multibrand company."

The new name is exclusive to the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean, where the company sells Victorinox Original Swiss Army Knives and Swiss Army Brand watches.

The company began in 1855 as R.H. Forschner, a manufacturer of butcher scales. It later added a line of cutlery, then initiated a relationship with Victorinox Cutlery Co of Ibach, Switzerland, and later still began to import and sell the Swiss Army Knife.

The company was acquired by investor Louis Marx Jr., New York, N.Y., in 1974 and went public in 1983. Swiss Army Brand Watches were introduced in 1989 and now account for 43% of Forschner's $126.7 million in annual sales.

The company is listed on NASDAQ under SABI.

SUPPLIERS ON THE GROW

Packaging and display company ALEX VELVET CO. moved to newer and larger facilities at 3334 Eagle Rock Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90065; (213) 255-6900.

MAGNUM, DESIGNS BY JOEL SOSKIL, moved to larger quarters at 25 Bloomingdale Rd., Hicksville, NY 11801; (516) 827-1209.

The Beanstalk Group, New York, N.Y., was selected to oversee the international licensing program in North America and Europe for Royal Doulton Co. Two new Royal Doulton licenses have been signed. BULOVA CORP. of Woodside, N.Y., will manufacture a line of glass, wood and brass Royal Doulton clocks, including anniversary, tabletop and musical jewelry box clocks. GODINGER SILVER ART CO. will manufacture silver flatware based on the Old Country Roses Pattern.

ROBERTO COIN and PETER WEBSTER have expanded their operation beyond Italy and the United Kingdom with a new office and showroom at 579 Fifth Ave., 17 Fl., New York, NY 10017; (212) 486-4545.

Just Jules moved from New York City to 9600 N. 96 St., Room 244, Scottsdale, AZ 85258.

SASA moved from Los Angeles, Cal., to Wyoming. Its new address is P.O. Box 155, Bondurant, WY 82922. The toll-free phone number remains (800) 345-5454; the new fax number is (307) 859-8861.

NICKY MEHTA, a third generation member of a diamond family, formed a new company called Diamond Days Promotion Inc., located at 580 Fifth Ave., Suite 1407, New York, NY 10036; (800) 766-6306 or (212) 221-7665. It specializes in Belgian and Indian loose diamonds from .01 ct. to 1.0 ct. Mehta is a Registered Supplier with the American Gem Society.

PRECIOUS METALS WEST/FINE GOLD has set up a page on the Internet's World Wide Web. It offers catalog pages, technical assistance, E-mail and links to other industry sites. The address: http://www.paleoart.com/pmwest.