Kirk Kara Wins Best Bridal Design at JCK Jewelers’ Choice Awards for 8th Year

Kirk Kara is the only jewelry designer to win first place for eight straight years in the JCK Jewelers’ Choice Awards, with two designs from Kirk Kara’s Pirouetta collection earning top awards in the Best Bridal Design in 2015 category.

The first-place winner in the Best Bridal Design, $5,001– $10,000 category was a rose gold split shank engagement ring and wedding band set (pictured left). The set features 3/8 ct. t.w. diamonds and signature handcrafted details including milgrain edging and filigree. Suggested retail is $5,810 for the set.

The finalist in the Best Bridal Design, $2,501–$5,000 category was a halo engagement ring. The ring features 3/4 ct. t.w. diamonds and signature handcrafted details including signature filigree, peek-a-boo diamonds, and rose gold accents. Suggested retail is $4,600.  

For more information, visit kirkkara.com.

Tageos and Cisper Electronics Enter Distribution Partnership

UHF RFID label manufacturer Tageos and European RFID distribution specialist Cisper Electronics BV have partnered to distribute to distribute Tageos 100 percent paper-based UHF RFID labels in Europe.

Cisper Electronics will offer Tageos’ suite of UHF RFID labels and tags, including RFID paper-based stickers and hangtags, as well as plastic-based products, to RFID solution providers in Europe.

“We are very happy to sign this partnership with Cisper Electronics,” said Nicolas Jacquemin, vice president of sales at Tageos. “It will allow Tageos to fulfill the growing demand for UHF RFID labels in Europe, in a variety of industries, through Cisper’s established network of RFID solution providers. Cisper’s customers and partners will have easier and quicker access to Tageos products and benefit from Cisper’s experienced sales support.”

Tageos UHF RFID labels and tags are available on Cisper Electronics websites Cisper.nl and AllRFIDLabels.com.

For more information, visit tageos.com.

 

Fana Launches Retail Portal

Fana has added a retail jewelry portal to its current website to provide support to jewelry retailers and sales associates. With the portal, individual associates can track their performance and earn incentives, while retailers can obtain support for sales training, look up product details, and create marketing resources for the Fana brand.

“One of the most important members in Fana’s team is the sales associate, who is our ambassador in the stores,” said Vik Jain, Fana co-owner. “We feel it is vital to give our retail associates the tools and information that enable them to educate the client about the workmanship and design influence of each Fana engagement ring.”

For more information, visit fanajewelry.com.

 

Sahajanand Technologies Wins Vision System Design 2015 Innovators Award

Sahajanand Technologies has been awarded the 2015 Silver Level Innovators Award by the Vision System Design for its flagship product, the Magnus Digital diamond panning and measurement system.

The Magnus Digital can be used in various processes such as diamond planning, laser mapping, laser marking, and ray tracing.

“We strongly believe that doing business means earning trust, confidence, and respect of our customers,” said Sahajanand Technologies CEO Rahul Gaywala. “After being recognized on the global stage, we assure that we will continue to bring the most advanced technologies for the world diamond industry in the future.”

For more information, visit sahajanand.co.in.

 

Survey Shows Strong U.S. Silver Jewelry Sales in 2014

A recent survey by the National Jeweler/Jewelers of America on behalf of the Silver Institute’s Silver Promotion Service (SPS) shows that silver jewelry experienced strong sales in the United States in 2014.

According to the survey results, 67 percent of jewelry retailers said their silver jewelry sales increased in 2014, with an average increase in silver jewelry sales of 17 percent. Retailers also said that their silver jewelry sales, as a percentage of their overall jewelry sales, were on average 34 percent of their unit volume and 30 percent of their dollar volume. Additionally, 89 percent of retailers said they believe that the current silver boom will continue for the next several years.  

“The SPS and all of the participants in the Savor Silver program were obviously very pleased by the exceptional 2014 results,” said Michael Barlerin, Silver Promotion Service director. “They are further confirmation of the significance of the role that silver jewelry is now playing at retail.”

For more information, visit savorsilver.com.

 

Edge Retail Academy to Conduct Las Vegas and Florida Seminars

The Edge Retail Academy (ERA) will hold two conferences with the Edge jewelry software provider to help retailers prepare for JCK Las Vegas and the upcoming holiday season.

Their first conference, Show Me the Money, will be held May 28 at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, the day before JCK Las Vegas. The conference will provide retailers with sales strategies in preparation for the JCK show. ERA training specialists and presenters will also show participants how to use the Edge software.  

“This one-day conference can turn a jeweler’s JCK visit into their best-ever trade show experience,” said David Brown, cofounder and president of ERA. “We’ll help them create a plan—one that works specifically for them and their store—so they can hit the show floor running.”

The second conference, Make It a Ho-Ho-Holiday, will be held October 11–13 at Howey-in-the Hills, Florida. This conference is designed to prepare jewelers for the fourth quarter/holiday season.

“This conference will help jewelers make plans for the upcoming holiday season,” said Dick Abbott, co-owner of the Edge and a former jewelry retailer. “But then it goes well beyond to help create long-term plans and business strategies. It’s a single conference with a lot of benefits.”

For more information, visit theedgeforjewelers.com.

 

Rembrandt Charms Introduces New Spring Charms 

Rembrandt Charms is adding several new charm styles to its collection, including a hamsa and lotus flower. 

The hamsa symbol is said to provide protection from the evil eye, while the lotus flower is a traditional symbol of beauty, purity, and spiritual awakening. The charms are all engravable on the back and available in silver, gold plate, 10k and 14k yellow gold, and 14k white gold.

“These two charms fit in perfectly with our Symbols & Expressions line,” said Rembrandt Charms marketing director Melanie Busch. “Symbolic and spiritual jewelry is very much on trend. It’s our goal to make certain we continue to provide variety in our charm designs. We understand that everyone wants to express their individuality.”    

For more information, visit rembrandtcharms.com. 

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