News and noise from the retail jewelry front.
Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry Relocates
Baton Rouge, La.–based Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry—which operates eight stores in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas—is relocating its sole Mississippi location from one end of the city of Ridgeland to the other. The retailer has called the Northpark mall home for the past 17 years, but when its lease expires in January it will move the unit to a larger, standalone location at open-air retail development Renaissance at Colony Park, a 4-year-old center that has recently been ramping up to near-full occupancy. The 5,000-square-foot space will feature shop-in-shops for Rolex and David Yurman—both specially designed by the brands.
Thief Uses Chili Powder to Stun Salesmen
He earns an A+ for ingenuity. But the thief in Mussafah, Abu Dhabi, who blew chili powder in the faces of sales people at a local jewelry store last week, didn’t get very far. The man, described as South Asian and in his late 20s/early 30s, cased the store last Sunday, telling salespeople he needed to return the next day. The following morning, he strolled into the store and blew the burning spice in the eyes of two sales associates, making off with $4,300 in gold ornaments. One salesman said he was in “severe pain,” while the other man’s eyes were protected by glasses. Though the spice boy initially got away, authorities soon nabbed him thanks to the store’s surveillance tapes.
North Carolina Museum Sells Reworked Costume Jewelry
Reworked vintage jewelry is the newest addition to the gift shop at the Heritage Museum in Henderson, N.C. Local jewelry designer Abbie Doyle—who specializes in reimagining vintage costume jewelry at her cheekily named store My Garden of Beadin’—has been tapped by the local American history museum to create retro-feeling brooches, shoe clips, earrings, and bracelets. (Think colored enamel roses affixed to jangly gold bangles.) As is the case with so many museum gift shops, the Heritage’s retail outpost has better luck selling merchandise that doesn’t directly correlate to its exhibitions—particularly unusual or one-of-a-kind jewelry.
Levon & Co. in Wellesley Closes Its Doors
Fine jewelry store Levon & Co. in Wellesley, Mass., is closing its doors at the end of August, says owner Levon Artinian. “There’s just not enough business. Between gold and diamonds being way up and the economy being the way it is, it’s been a double whammy on us,” he added. The retailer will still be in the local scene, though, as a freelance goldsmith for area jewelry stores.
Pinkberry Cocreates a Line of Jewelry
Pioneering frozen yogurt retailer Pinkberry is now serving up treats that won’t melt in the front seat. The company has teamed with Brooklyn-based jewelry collection Sorrelli on a collection of jewelry infused with the fro-yo chain’s vibrant color palette. Marrying colored Swarovski crystals with antique gold, the line features vintage-vibed cocktail rings, earrings, and bracelets priced from $38.40 to $74.40. The launch of the collection was timed to coincide with the opening of Pinkberry’s first location in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Ten percent of proceeds from jewelry sales will go to the American Breast Cancer Society’s Brooklyn Chapter. What could be sweeter than that?
A ring from the Pinkberry-Sorrelli jewelry collaboration (courtesy of Sorrelli)
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