Desk Dig, Day Two

Yesterday’s post discussed some of the interesting new catalogs and products that came across my desk while I was traveling recently. Today we dig through the rest of the pile.

Lika Behar, creator of the eponymous Lika Behar Collection, offers up a host of rich looking—but, surprisingly, not rich-costing—24k gold jewelry.

Born in Istanbul, Behar’s family lineage is one of storied gold coin dealers. Her collection reconciles the ancient jewelry traditions of her native Turkey but also incorporates brilliant gemstones, and a sense of sophisticated fashion. Indeed, Behar began her professional career in the apparel industry, only later rediscovering her jewelry heritage. It’s this modern/traditional sensibility that makes her jewelry both wearable and something to pass on to the next generation. www.likabehar.com

24k gold ball-shape Evil Eye pendant features ceramic eye. Suggested retail, $250. 

24k gold and diamond stacking bangles (with reinforced wire), prices vary.

Everyone needs a little help these days, and the Jewelry Information Center (JIC) is helping retailers by providing essential marketing materials just when they’re needed most. JIC’s new national consumer “Jewelry Stories” advertising campaign strikes an emotional chord with shoppers—and we all know that appealing to emotion is the—ahem—golden rule of moving jewelry. The ad slicks, post cards, and in-store signage allow retailers to tie directly into the “Jewelry Stories” campaign. The ads will help generate increased purchase intent, the post cards reinforce the message and serve as invitations to bring customers to members’ stores, and the in-store signage encourages sales staff to take the campaign full circle and opens a dialogue with shoppers. JIC also provides additional instructions, tips and special event ideas for use with the materials. The materials are free to Jewelry Information Center and Jewelers of America members, are easy to use and quick to customize. The “Jewelry Stories” campaign is available on Jewelry Information Center’s newly revamped website, www.JIC.org. In addition to the campaign, JIC’s website features gift guides and consumer wish lists to reinforce the message that jewelry is an ideal gift year round. 

 
A full-page ad from JIC’s Jewelry Stories campaign.

Most Oscar jewelry coverage centers around which starlet borrowed whose jewelry to accent whatever dress their stylist chose for them to wear. (Can anyone in Hollywood get dressed by themselves anymore?) But it’s not often that our industry gets Oscar placement on a winning guy. But this year, film editor Chris Dickens wore a platinum tie accent by CliQ Jewelry as he accepted an Oscar, one of many bestowed upon Slumdog Millionaire. The piece opens with Superfit technology (makers of CliQ) and goes around, not through the fabric. It can be worn either at the base of a Windsor knot or punctuating the center of a bow tie, as it did for musician Kevin Jonas, one of the heartthrob Jonas Brothers earlier this year.

Other tied-guys in the CliQ at the Oscars were Fox executive Steve Gold and Oscar nominee Mike Elizalde. 

 
Chris Dickens in the CliQ with Oscar

Kevin Jonas of The Jonas Brothers wears a platinum and diamond CliQ tie accent.