May 2013

Fall 2013 Fashion Trends Give Women What They Want: A Little Bit of Everything

19th-Century Brooch From Parisian ­Jeweler Georges Fouquet Sells for $154,384

Art Nouveau’s emphasis on flowing lines, femininity, and natural forms is perfectly ­embodied in this late-19th-century brooch from Parisian ­jeweler Georges Fouquet. It sold for $154,384—more than six times its high estimate—at Sotheby’s Dec. 11 London auction, the Jewellery Collection of the Late Michael Wellby: An Eclectic Eye. Featuring a woman’s face, headdress, and flowing…

Bridal: Shoppers Embrace Engagement Ring Finder App & More

Oh, Vow! When asked about their fledgling engagement ring finder app, The Vow, which they debuted in October 2012, Simon and Nelly Cohen joke that the cost of creating it amounted to their life savings. Happily for the longtime married couple—co-owners of Cherie Dori and the Diadori bridal lines—their nest egg seems to have been…

Pearls: New Documentary Dives Into the History of the Pearl & More

‘Power’ Up When Taylor Higgins signed on to produce The Journey of the Pearl, a documentary about global pearl farming (including Chinese freshwaters), for the Cultured Pearl Association of America in 2010, he didn’t expect his link to the pearling world to last beyond the film. But just as collectors fall in love with the…

Colored Stones: Lemony Yellow Stakes Claim to the Season’s Most Fashionable Hue & More

Sunny-Side Up Fancy colored sapphires are popular across the board, but if you had to cast a vote for the season’s most popular hue, it would be lemony yellow, with purple and green not far behind—though even white sapphires are enjoying steady demand as a substitute for diamonds. “Consumers want colorful standout jewelry that could…

Gold: OroAfrica Debuts Certified Responsible Gold Jewelry Line & More

Out of South Africa Who better to introduce a gold ­jewelry line with a transparent chain of custody than a refiner and manufacturer from the same country? That’s what Cape Town, South Africa–based manufacturer ­OroAfrica had in mind when it debuted its Certified Responsible Gold line of Absolute wedding bands with gold sourced from Germiston,…

Diamonds: Jewelers Vigilance Committee Commits to World Diamond Council & More

JVC Committed to WDC The Jewelers Vigilance Committee, a group that provides education on legal and regulatory issues, considered but ultimately decided against leaving the World Diamond Council, the international body that represents the trade to the Kimberley Process. “At this moment, the WDC is the best vehicle for the industry to engage with governments…

Gem Pricing: U.S. Colored Stone Continues Move in Right Direction

The real test for gem dealers comes next month in Las Vegas The U.S. colored stone market continues to move in a positive direction. Dealers are reporting good demand from retail jewelers for stock. This trend was evident at the Tucson gem shows and reportedly has continued to improve into the spring. Western buyers attending…

From Mine to Store: Fabergé’s Gypsy Exuberance Bangle

The rainbow of rich jewel tones found in the traditional costumes of Russian gypsy singers inspired the gemstone selection of ­Fabergé’s Gypsy Exuberance Bangle, a sculptural piece created by the fabled jewelry house. The performers’ “primitive beauty and soulful performances became a compelling, intoxicating element of Moscow social and cultural life,” says Pia Tonna, director…

Make Time for 28 High-End Brands at Swiss Watch

On the heels of Baselworld comes Swiss Watch in Las Vegas Timing, as they say, is everything—especially when you’re talking about trade fairs for the timepiece industry. And this year’s show schedule is more complicated—no pun intended—than ever. That’s because Baselworld, the granddaddy of all watch shows, concludes its weeklong run in Switzerland on May…

JCK5: Rising Stars You Need to Visit at JCK Las Vegas

Don’t miss the Rising Stars in the Design Center at JCK. (Above)1. Frog ring in 40,000-year-old woolly mammoth tusk with tsavorite eyes, akoya pearl, and 18k gold; $3,325; Bibi van der Velden, Amsterdam; 31-20-626-9095; bibivandervelden.com   2. Bird brooch in 18k gold with aquamarine and diamonds; $4,490; Cornelia Goldsmith, Sausalito, Calif.; 415-332-0802; corneliagoldsmith.com 3. Flower…

Get Ready for a Slimmer, More Intimate LUXURY Experience

Expect a smaller, more intimate LUXURY experience in Las Vegas Like an actor slimming down for a role, LUXURY 2013 is shedding 10 percent of its exhibition space to create a more intimate experience for buyers. “We’re fine-tuning footprints at the show,” explains John Tierney, JCK Events industry vice president. Among those enjoying the roomier…

The Golden Promise: Making Sense of the Fair Trade Gold Market

Whether you know it as Fairtrade Gold or fair trade gold, ethically sourced gold is available—though jewelers in the United States may have a hard time buying or selling it “Even within the fair trade movement,” sighs Marc Choyt, president of Reflective Images, a Santa Fe, N.M., retailer, “there are a lot of politics.” When…

Jewelers Make Succession Plans a Key to Stability

Starting succession planning early ensures an easy transition for a business and its customers Stephenie Bjorkman wore cowboy boots, jeans, and a cowboy hat to her first day at work at Sami Fine Jewelry. She was 17 years old and had no intention of staying in the business, but her mother, Sami Jack, had some…

All Jewelers Need to Know About Getting the Most of Public Relations Campaigns

When promoting your business to the press, hiring the right publicist is half the battle. The other half is communicating your expectations—and aligning them with reality. It’s a timeworn story. As an independent retailer, you hire a public relations firm to heighten awareness of your store. Meetings are scheduled, media pitches are formulated, and status…

5 of the Best Educational Programs for Aspiring Bench Jewelers

The art and craft of jewelry making can be taught—for a fee Learning the art of jewelry-making used to be a family affair. Children would grow up in the business and acquire the skills—metalsmithing, stone-setting, and casting—needed to be a craftsperson. But times are changing, and educational programs that equip novice bench jewelers or designers…

Same-Sex Marriage Is Redefining Bridal Jewelry

The market for same-sex marriage and commitment jewelry heats up With same-sex marriage now legal in nine states as well as the District of Columbia, and with the issue likely to be addressed in the near future by the Supreme Court, wedding jewelry for same-sex couples is moving from a niche market into the mainstream.…

How Jewels Worn by Television Characters Are Influencing Real-Life Jewelry Trends

Trend-spotting doesn’t begin and end on the red carpet. Stay tuned in to the celeb fashion on television’s most stylish shows. Olivia Pope never wears earrings that dangle—that would seem too frivolous for the high-powered political consultant. Still, she’s petite, topping out at 5 feet, 4 inches, so she tends to wear long, beaded necklaces…

101 For the Money: How Jewelers Capitalize on Kickstarter

Kickstarter.com banks on the group ­(funding) ­mentality When designer Wendy Brandes began making texting-inspired pieces in 2010—things like LOL and OMG ring sets—she knew she was on to a good thing. But like many jewelers, she didn’t have enough cash to make the collection a reality. “I sampled the designs in New York City, but…

Next Stop JCK Las Vegas 2013: What Retailers Have on Their Wish Lists

They’ve made their lists and checked them twice! ­Retailers are ready to shop at JCK. Here’s what they’ll be bringing back from Mandalay Bay. Rose gold, yellow gold, colored gems, and sliced diamonds and stones are topping to-buy lists of retailers heading to JCK Las Vegas, coming to the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino from…

Fall 2013 Fashion Trends Give Women What They Want: A Little Bit of Everything

Black is back! So is white, army green, and…plaid? Here’s our guide to the decade-hopping ­seasonal styles and the various ­baubles they’ll require. Every Federico Fellini film seems to come with its own clutch of female archetypes. The astringent wives with their high collars and glasses. The buxom and baring women. The couture-clad society ladies.…

Industry & People: May 2013

COMINGS AND GOINGS ?François Tauriac >>Swiss luxury watch brand Richard Mille has appointed François Tauriac to managing director. Tauriac began his career as a journalist at Figaro Group and has held positions of managing editor, editor-in-chief, and publisher at the French publication TV Magazine. >>?Jewelry/accessories manufacturer Annaleece has appointed Michael Whitfield its national sales manager.…

Why Mowing Lawns Led Designer Scott Kay to Bridal Jewelry

The bridal designer found his burn Ask Scott Kay what he’ll be showing at the LUXURY show, and the reply is, regrettably, vague. But at least it’s colorful: “This is my first year at the LUXURY JCK show. So we are going to turn up the volume, let it rip, and blow your minds!” You…

Jewelry Designer Alexandra Mor Describes Her Unapologetically Bold Style

On putting her own spin on haute couture Alexandra Mor designs haute couture jewelry: marvelously elegant made-to-order pieces that ­practically scream heirloom. She also designs demi-couture ­jewelry. And don’t let the “demi” fool you: Those limited-edition gems are as elegant as any of her custom works. “It can be defined as an extension of haute…

French Actress Anouk Aimée Rocks Faux Rhinestone Bracelets for Vogue in 1965

That’s a real Russian sable wrapped around French actress Anouk Aimée in this shot from Vogue’s February 1965 issue. The jewels, however, are totally faux. Both large rhinestone bracelets are costume pieces by designer Jack Gilbert, who three decades earlier cofounded the jewelry company Vogue (no relation to the magazine), which was known for creating…

Kuwaiti Jewelers Translate Grace, Energy, and Dancing Into Inspired Designs

Octium brings its regal Kuwaiti style to American shores It’s late on a Saturday night in mid-January and Fahad Al Hajiri and Alanood Al Sabah are relaxing at their home in the fashionable Adiliya suburb of Kuwait City. You wouldn’t know it, but just a few hours ago, a crowd of 50 savvy and stylish…

Fun & Flirty: Trends & Ads in the April 2013 Fashion Magazines

What’s trending and who’s advertising in the April issues ELLE Pushing• Floral Lucite glasses, pavé gemstone rose chain (“Add an extra dose of sugar to delicate looks”)• Rock crystal Deco-style rings, rose gold–plated earrings with iridescent acrylic (“Edgy accessories…make muted tones more chic”)AdvertisersCartier, Rolex, Fendi, Robert Lee Morris, Tacori, H.Stern, Hearts On Fire, Parade  …

Brides Learn Sparkle-ology 101 From Chicago Jeweler Isaac Gottesman

Shopping comes down to science at dimend SCAASI Isaac Gottesman wants his customers to look at diamonds in a whole new light—preferably one that isn’t illuminating a jewelry case. Through dimend SCAASI, the bridal jewelry retail store he founded in downtown Chicago in 1997, Gottesman gives soon-to-be brides and grooms an unusually in-depth look at…

Fashion Style Struts to Fort Worth at Retailer Lane-Knight

2959 Crockett St., Fort Worth, Texas In a town more likely to find its fashion footing in denim than designer duds, Lane-Knight is helping to improve the sartorial reputation of the denizens of Fort Worth, aka Cowtown. Dawn Keifer, the astute and chic owner, works in-store most days in order to develop tight relationships with…

Seattle Jeweler Jack Menashe Happily Learns New Tricks From the Next Generation

Seattle mainstay Menashe & Sons relies on a son and daughter to uphold its sparkling reputation Jack Menashe, owner of Menashe & Sons Jewelers in Seattle, got his start in the jewelry business in the 1960s as a stock boy for a breed of retail store that’s long been extinct. “It carried jewelry and china,…

5 Indispensible Tools at Maertens Fine Jewelry & Gifts

Heather Maertens can’t live without these five things in her Lusby, Md., store COMING CLEANWe order small polishing cloths and jewelry cleaners with our store logo. We put them in the bag for special clients and give them out at special events. People love them. EYES ON THE SIZEWe keep inexpensive plastic ring sizers on…

What Jewelers Should (and Shouldn’t) Do on Social Media App Vine

The new video-sharing app allows you to showcase moving images—in six seconds or less Twitter’s recent acquisition of Vine, a video-sharing app for iPhones, underscores one inarguable fact: In social media, imagery is king. Camera phones—whose capabilities and pixel count are expanding rapidly—are ubiquitous, making the creation of artsy imagery easier than ordering a cheeseburger…

How Do You Keep Your Customers Up to Date on the Latest Fashion Trends?

Q: How do you keep your customers up to date on the latest fashion trends? A: “We keep our customers up to date by promoting articles found in your magazine as well as by using social media for inspiration. Our customers are visual shoppers, so when famous actors/actresses are spotted wearing a line we carry,…

Attracting the Right Staff Means Selling Your Business Better

There’s an art to writing help-wanted ads that attract savvy salespeople Consider your weakest salesperson. The amount he or she will sell over the course of the year is probably a lot more than the amount your most important client will spend in the same period. Marketing isn’t just about finding customers. Getting the right…

Why Betting on Kentucky Jeweler Shelia Bayes Pays Off

Shelia Bayes knows firsthand: Never underestimate a customer or a businesswoman 1. Which advertisement or promotion elicited the biggest response and why do you think it worked? We spend a lot of time—usually over drinks—coming up with creative ideas for advertising. We try to be fun and creative and not always so serious. We did…

JCK5: Using Social Media Marketing to Bring all the Customers to the Yard

Erin Weinger, style editor of THR.com, suggests ways to use social media to promote your next event. 1. Don’t send a Facebook invite to all your “friends.” Make sure you’re targeting the right fans. And consider buying a few Facebook ads, which can be effective. 2. Come up with a cool promotion that helps you…

How Jewelers Can Turn Partygoers Into Buyers

No matter how divine the diamonds or how radiant the rubies, “people don’t necessarily come to store events because they are interested in jewelry,” says Dan Schuyler, owner of Lily & Co. in Sanibel, Fla. “They come for what’s going on, for the experience.” Of course, creating experiences that lure customers to in-store events is,…

California Dreaming, Publisher’s Letter, May 2013

Welcome to our spectacular annual blockbuster, the May preshow issue of JCK! Like the September Vogue, the issue can always be counted on to weigh down the bags of postal service workers around the country—and this year is no exception. We hope you enjoy the tremendous amount of editorial in the issue, and we hope…

A Time of Fashion, Editor’s Letter, May 2013

You may be surprised to learn that Kuwait boasts a thriving fashion scene. Less glitzy and more conservative than Dubai and Qatar, its buzzed-about neighbors in the Persian Gulf, the tiny emirate—smaller, in fact, than New Jersey—is a devout yet tolerant nation where the sight of women cloaked in traditional Muslim dress is more common…

10 Things Rocking the Jewelry Industry: May 2013

1. Diamonds Get out those record books. A 101.73 ct. pear-shape D-flawless will be hitting the block at Christie’s Geneva on May 15, and while its official estimate is $20 million to $30 million, many think it could go even higher—into auction history. (The gem already has set one record, being the largest D-flawless ever…

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