Desk Dig, St. Patrick's Edition

March 17, 2009

Here’s a look at some more interesting stuff that’s come across my desk recently.

Hip Hollywood designer Erica Courtney partnered with The Tanzanite Foundation for her 10th annual Drop Dead Gorgeous Oscar Party in February. Inspired by a visit to Tanzania, where she fell in love with the people and especially the children, Courtney created a special Tanzanite Red Carpet Collection of jewelry and dedicated the focus of her annual Oscar bash to tanzanite. She is focused on tanzanite the gemstone for the opportunities it has brought to the people of Tanzania. The Tanzanite Foundation, a non-profit industry-supported organization dedicated to the protection and promotion of the gemstone, hosted Courtney as a guest in Tanzania. The Foundation also oversees sustainable and meaningful community developmental projects in Africa.

Erica Courtney in Tanzania with local schoolchildren.

They say one man’s trash is another’s treasure. That probably means that one jeweler’s trash is also another’s treasure, which is the concept behind PrestigeJewelersVault.com. Mike Hauben, son of Howard Hauben (of H2 Events/Centurion show fame) is as creative and entrepreneurial as his dad, with a healthy dose of high-tech savvy thrown in for good measure. Mike’s the force behind PresigeJewelersVault.com, or, as he says, using dated inventory as purchasing capital.

How does he know it works? Because H2 Events held two live consumer events in Orlando and Las Vegas where retailer exhibitors traded with one another and sold what they traded for full markup, usually right after they received it in the store! It was the retailers at these events, actually, who asked H2 to create a fulltime venue for inventory swapping among select like-minded peers.

Like the Centurion show, PrestigeJewelersVault.com is by invitation only, to ensure that all retailers participating serve similar customer bases and carry merchandise of a similar level in the marketplace. For more information, contact Mike Hauben, mike@prestigejewelersvault.com.

Why wait till a woman’s a bride to engage her in a lifelong love of jewelry? Little girls who love jewelry grow up into women who love jewelry, so start her early. FuFoo Fine Jewelry has just launched Disney Precious Collections, two lines of high quality jewelry based on the most iconic motifs from Disney, one of the world’s most popular brands.

Disney Precious Collections, designed as a gift brand, has two lines: The “Enduring Enamels” collection offers 14k gold and enameled Disney characters and icons such as Snow White’s poisoned apple or the ever-classic Mickey Mouse. Each is presented in a collector keepsake “Storybook” box. Retail prices range from less than $100 to $250.

Snow White’s Apple, from FuFoo’s Enduring Enamels collection

He’s a classic! Mickey Mouse lives on in 14k gold and enamel from FuFoo’s Disney collection.

Meanwhile, the “Enchanting Gemstones” collection (retail prices average around $350) features 14k gold pieces with diamonds and special gemstones such as the Princess Tiara. What little girl doesn’t envision herself like a princess—and what big girl doesn’t want jewelry fit for a princess?

A diamond and gemstone crown necklace for your little princess!

Daylight Savings Time may come too early for those of us who hate getting up in the dark (here!) but there’s nothing dark about the results of the new collection of watches from Swarovski. Enlightened—Swarovski Elements, recently hosted an online watch design competition that drew 2043 designs from 48 countries. Prominent trends included a preference for round case and bezel shapes with a definite leaning toward a simple clock face. Leather, stingray and Jewelmesh were the most popular wristbands, and Enlightened—Swarovski elements were infused into designs, often flowing from the watch face to the band.

Here are some photos: