mary ann and james orloff of orloff jewelers in fresno, calif., received a salute to small business award during a gala luncheon event sponsored by union bank of california on sept. 30, 2003. the orloffs were honored for their civic leadership and community involvement. union bank and its partners established the awards program to highlight successful local companies that have displayed vision,…

the jewelry industry was awash in good tidings and cheer for the 2003 holiday season. consumers consumed in a way that had some merchants making comparisons to that greatest of all years—1999—according to telephone interviews by jck and other industry sources. overall, higher-end and luxury jewelers fared the best.

mirabelle 18k, the los angeles division of techline jewelry corp., will be the exclusive designer of the new elton john jewelry collection during his upcoming three-year engagement at caesars palace in las vegas. mirabelle is designing a series of fine-jewelry creations utilizing the show’s theme, a ruby-red grand piano.

color is in, femininity is back, and individuality is the rule of fashion. it is with these elements in place that cocktail rings stage a comeback this year. while diamond folks may be promoting the right-hand ring concept, colorful cocktail rings—the original version of that idea—are poised for a resurgence of their own.

leading jewelers of the world has launched a new web site, www.leadingjewelersoftheworld.com, for consumers, members, and prospective members. for consumers, the web site will serve as an education tool. prospective members can use the web site to learn about the association and membership in it. existing members can keep abreast of the membership benefits and stay up to date on upcoming associ…

diane wysong sengul of the precious gem has been elected president of the virginia jewelers association. an affiliate of jewelers of america, the association advocates high ethical standards, promotes professional business and leadership skills, and enhances members’ profitability by offering education, certification, marketing, and cost-saving programs.

rose jewelers of la crosse, wis., has been inducted into the jewelers of america 100 club, which honors retail jewelry stores that have been in continuous operation for a century or longer. rose jewelers, a fifth-generation family business, has been in la crosse since 1856.

the association of fundraising professionals (afp), greater houston chapter, recently honored i.w. marks with its 2003 award for outstanding philanthropic small corporation. i.w. marks, long at the forefront of charitable giving to arts, education and medical causes in houston, serves on the executive committees and boards of society for the performing arts (spa), houston grand opera (hgo), ho…

comedian howie mandel and the pointer sisters are scheduled to perform during the 2004 luxury by jck event, slated to be held may 31 through june 3 at the venetian hotel & resort in las vegas. mandel, known for his role as dr. wayne fiscus on the award-winning nbc drama st. elsewhere, also has his own syndicated talk show, the howie mandel show.

two jewelers of america affiliates, the new hampshire jewelers association and the vermont jewelers association, recently joined forces with a third—the massachusetts-rhode island jewelers association—to form the new england jewelers association, with a combined membership of 360 members.

last year saw several noteworthy retail developments. wal-mart, for example, went after the toy business in a big way, and fao schwartz declared it would go out of business. toy stores reported a year-over-year decline of 7.7%, according to mastercard advisors in a report by anne d’innocenzio of the associated press.

sterling jewelers inc., the second largest fine-jewelry specialty retailer in the united states, recently received the “employer of the year” award from the governor’s council on people with disabilities. the award was presented during the council’s annual meeting in columbus, ohio. the council accepts “employer of the year” nominations annually to recognize organizations that are proactive in …

egana of switzerland has appointed franz brunner as ceo, executive vice president, and director of all watch operations in the united states. brunner, who has more than three decades of experience in the industry, will oversee and develop egana’s watch brands (pierre cardin, paolo gucci, field and stream, carrera, junghans) and further the expansion of eganagoldpheil factories, as well as coo…

just as beryllium-treated padparadschas were making their debut in agta’s gemstone alert in the winter of 2001, treated blue sapphires were flying into the united states under the labs’ radar. in what the agta gem testing center is now calling a gemstone update instead of an alert, heated blue sapphires with an unusual color distribution are giving the labs a run for their money.

gemesis, which makes hpht fancy intense and vivid yellow “cultured” diamonds, provided these matching earrings—pear shapes weighing 1.13 cts. t.w.—and a 1.04-ct. round brilliant center stone. bottom, a characteristic rough crystal is shown with a .89-ct. princess cut, a .56-ct. round brilliant, and a .

the jewelry business management courses, which begin jan. 12, will now serve as the gia school of business’s only diploma curriculum. the new diploma is earned upon successful completion of eight courses—four required core courses and four electives, the latter from gia’s selection of 13 business-oriented topics.

suashish diamonds limited and star diamond group usa have joined together to form a new jewelry company, suashishstar. suashish diamonds, a dtc sightholder based in mumbai, will continue to sell independently, as will the non-u.s. offices of star diamond group, which are not connected with the new venture.

alumni of the gemological institute of america can now stay in contact with each other through a recently launched online directory. it also offers potential customers and employers the opportunity to verify the credentials of participating gia alumni. the directory provides immediate verification of the training gia graduates have completed and serves as a tool for networking within the industry.

diamond staffing solutions inc., a national placement service that focuses exclusively on the fine-jewelry industry, recently launched its newly redesigned web site, www.diamondstaffing.com. the new site offers jewelers a secure way to post jobs and recruit quality personnel. the site also offers job seekers convenient access to opportunities in the industry.

in an effort to help the gemological institute of america enlarge its museum display collection, the american jewelry design council (ajdc) is collaborating with gia to create a special collection of contemporary designer jewelry. the collection will consist of signature pieces donated to gia by ajdc members.

it is telling that the first meeting of the world federation of diamond bourses consumer confidence committee did not address synthetics—the subject of much recent media attention—but rather the arguably touchier topic of high-pressure/high-temperature (hpht) treatments. among the less-than-comforting facts acknowledged by the leading gem labs in the meeting at the ddc board room: d…

ags laboratories has launched a new marketing collateral program featuring four complementary pieces to help promote its diamond grading documents to both consumers and the trade. the pieces include an eight-page “lab brochure,” two consumer-focused tri-folds and a products and services list. the lab brochure provides an overview of the lab’s history, products, and services.

gallery of diamonds in costa mesa, calif., which sponsors the “why mom deserves a diamond” contest, donated $1,000 to the orange county public library system in california. the contribution represents the proceeds from the sale of the new publication, “why mom deserves a diamond – the legendary contest.

the snag conference will take place march 17-21 at the hilton downtown in st. petersburg, fla. the conference is co-hosted by the florida craftsmen and the florida society of goldsmiths. 3m is the official corporate sponsor of the 2004 conference. the theme of the 2004 conference, “in pursuit of passion,” will be addressed by keynote speaker christiane corbat.

the end of the year annually heralds a round of prizes in the swiss watch industry for leading luxury watches. here are some of the winners:

upscale swiss watch brand rolex s.a. recently celebrated the 125th anniversary of its movements manufacturer division with a gala dinner and the opening of the newest addition to its production complex outside biel, switzerland. the movement maker was founded by the aegler family in 1878, 27 years before hans wildorf, a german citizen, co-founded the watch company he renamed “rolex” in 1908.

offered to full-time employees only: 63.3% what percentage of your employees participate?: 90% (median response) offered only to certain levels of employees (i.e., management, sales, etc.): 4.3% employee-free stores more jewelers are running stores without hired help. according to u.s. census bureau nonemployer statistics* (data on businesses that operate without payroll and are subject to fede…

amber trip 2004, the first international amber and jewellery show, will take place at the vilnius municipal town hall, vilnius, lithuania, from feb. 28 to march 2, 2004. this exhibition was arranged by the masmedos prekyba company, working in cooperation with lithuanian and foreign businesses and cultural institutions.

the revere academy of jewelry arts joined together with the florida society of goldsmiths to present six weeklong workshops on the east coast. the workshops were held at wildacres retreat in the mountains of north carolina. fifty-five students came from across the country and overseas to study with revere academy instructors who taught the same material covered in the classes at the school in s…

rio grande and neutec/usa (members of the bell group) have joined together to offer a new premium line of high-quality, affordable gold alloys with consistent batch-to-batch performance. alloys for yellow gold, nickel-based white gold, palladium white gold, red gold, and green gold are available in three grades—basic, premium, and working—to meet specific casting needs.

san francisco’s revere academy of jewelry arts is teaming up with the learning annex to present a daylong seminar for jewelry designers. the event, “how to start your own jewelry line,” will be held in downtown san francisco on feb. 8, 2004. experienced professionals will cover the ins and outs of pursuing a career as a jewelry designer: how to develop your identity, where to find inspiration, …

design excellence and buyer enthusiasm energized the recent and highly successful goldsmiths’ fair in london. open to the public and held at the history-steeped goldsmiths’ hall from sept. 29 through oct. 5, the show celebrated its 21st anniversary with 6,500 attendees—2,300 more than last year.

the gemological institute of america (gia) added two on-campus classes for 2004. another jewelry design class will run concurrently with the one already scheduled for jan. 29 through march 26, and an additional comprehensive wax techniques class will be held may 13 through july 9 (coinciding with a class already scheduled).

bottom line: for something to be fashionable, women have to want to wear it. starting with that basic concept, the world gold council challenged italian gold jewelry designers to create new lines for 2004. after extensive consumer research revealed several themes upon which gold jewelry customers around the world base their purchases, 54 italian designers and manufacturers of gold jewelry deve…

the gemological institute of america’s web site, www.gia.edu, is the largest and most comprehensive gemological web resource in the world, according to data collected by internet researchers, and it ranks among the most visited sites in the world. the site offers comprehensive educational and scientific information for visitors and contains more than 6,500 pages.

the gemological institute of america (gia) alumni association has launched the richard t. liddicoat scholarship campaign to raise funds for on-campus and distance education scholarships. k.r. gems & diamonds international and the platinum guild international have agreed to match every dollar raised, up to a combined $20,000, to kick off the campaign.

talk about a big wedding! more than 17 million people were on hand to watch “bachelorette” trista rehn finally tie the knot with ryan sutter in the california desert. television camera lights may be bright, but it was diamond and platinum jewelry that really sparkled at the ceremony. rehn and sutter chose platinum wedding bands from designer tacori to express their commitment.

in tucson this year, the only juried gem, gem art, jewelry, sculpture, and mineral show will take place at the historic manning house in downtown tucson feb. 5-10. along with its third annual people’s choice awards, this year will mark the first attempt by the manning house to coordinate with the local tucson museum of art, which will be featuring a jade exhibit along with a series of artists’ …

a growing number of retailers are designing and manufacturing specific product lines for their stores, providing them with a niche in their marketplace, an exclusive for the products enhancing their own brand, and a product category to generate new revenue. designing a product line for the store isn’t the same as designing a custom order.

the gemological institute of america (gia) has selected gia graduate gemologist (g.g.) carolyn a. segars, mt. pleasant, s.c., as its 2004 outstanding distance education graduate of the year. presented annually by the distance education training council (detc), the award is given to one exceptional gia distance education student who has achieved extraordinary standards of academic and personal e…

in october 2003, luxury swiss watchmaker jaeger-lecoultre held the world premiere of its “master class” workshop, designed for watch enthusiasts, collectors, and professionals, in new york city. it’s the first time any swiss luxury watchmaker has invited watch fans to disassemble and reassemble a complicated mechanical movement.

one of the world’s first diamond mines may become a tourist attraction. de beers has set aside 16 million rands to transform the kimberley, south africa, “big hole” from a worn-out mine into a tourist destination. “we want this to be a major attraction,” said roger ketley, secretary for de beers consolidated mines.

the american gem trade association (agta) this year celebrates the 20th edition of its annual design competition. founded in 1984 to recognize outstanding design and innovation in jewelry using natural colored gemstones, the agta spectrum awards have grown to be one of the industry’s foremost design competitions.

the 24 karat club of southern california recently organized a new scholarship fund for students who wish to further their jewelry education at gia. scholarships will be given in the amount of $500 to anyone in the united states who demonstrates outstanding drive and promise for a career in the jewelry industry.

the first annual bench jewelers conference & expo will be held april 23-25, at the sheraton chicago northwest hotel & conference center in arlington heights, ill., and will include workshops, seminars, demonstrations, networking opportunities, and an exhibitor show. admission to the exhibit floor on saturday and sunday is free with advanced registration or $10 at the door.

the 2004 american gem society international conclave, to be held march 31 through april 3 in atlanta, has scheduled powerful business leaders to provide presentations to attendees. michael gerber will provide the opening luncheon keynote address. documented in his mega-best seller the e-myth: why most small businesses don’t work and what to do about it, michael gerber’s e-myth point of view pro…

this is an important year for elected federal officials: the u.s. presidency, every seat in the house of representatives, and one third of senate seats are on the ballot and being hotly contested. and that’s affecting what’s being done—or not done—in congress this year. “everything congress does is thought of in washington, d.

colored stone supplier maxam magnata of tucson, ariz., is launching two new colors of dyed chalcedony: sunfire (golden yellow) and verdana (chartreuse green). magnata released sea blue chalcedony last year in tucson. magnata is following closely the agta’s 2004 color report, which states that soft romantic pastels—such as warm golden hues and deep verdant greens—are in vogue.

hatching profits. fabergé eggs—the jewel-encrusted status symbols of russian royalty—are now available as jewelry, typically sold in high-end jewelry stores. retailers who want to offer egg jewelry but can’t do so under the fabergé label might consider eggstravaganza, an atlanta, ga.

baseball lost one of its best-loved characters in january when legendary relief pitcher tug mcgraw succumbed to brain cancer at age 59. famous for pitching—and being—a screwball, mcgraw was beloved by both the new york mets, for whom he pitched the 1969 world series and the 1973 national league championships, and the philadelphia phillies, for whom he threw the closing pitch that wo…

aber mining, the minority partner in the diavik diamond mine in canada’s northwest territories, has signed a nonbinding letter of intent to acquire part of famed retailer harry winston. while an internal memo from harry winston chairman ronald winston indicated only that aber would invest in winston, canadian press accounts portrayed it more as an outright acquisition.

jewelers of america strongly supports a bill under consideration by the u.s. congress that would require mail-order, telephone, and internet merchants to collect sales tax on transactions conducted with out-of-state purchasers. h.r. 3184, the simplified sales and use tax act of 2003, and a companion bill in the u.

the spring edition of the atlanta jewelry show, feb. 28 to march 1 at the cobb galleria centre in atlanta, ga., will feature more than 800 booths displaying jewelry in every product category. the show also will offer an expanded educational program with headliners such as jewelry designer robert lee morris, as well as a full-day, pre-show gem identification conference.

facets 2003 reached another milestone when it opened for public view at the hilton in colombo, sri lanka, on sept. 8, 2003. facets 2003 attracted thousands of local and foreign buyers and registered total sales of approximately 1,000 million sri lankan rupees, a record. the event was organized by the sri lanka gem and jewellery association.

david stern jewelers opened its second showroom recently during a grand-opening event at the new worth avenue store in palm beach, fla. a portion of all proceeds went to the susan g. komen breast cancer foundation. both the palm beach store and the boca raton store will be supporting numerous charities with monthly events and trunk shows.

fourteenth-century london was no pleasant place—famine, the black plague, royal intrigue, murder, and war were all on the historical agenda—but in the midst of all the madness, the twelve great livery companies of the city of london were formed. intended to provide support and protection to members, these new, formal guilds also established standards and prices for their respective …

the international gemological institute (igi), has funded the relighting of the cable (or necklace) lights that outline the tops of the four east river bridges in new york city. the city’s official relighting ceremony took place nov. 5 at the river café overlooking the brooklyn bridge. the ceremony was hosted by department of transportation commissioner iris weinshall.

m. adam namerow of sterling jewelers took top honors at the schuetz design competition for his rendering of a geometrically composed pocket watch made of 18k gold, leo diamonds, black onyx, and opal. namerow’s design was chosen from a field of 89 entries from 17 countries based upon overall design, wearability, manufacturability, and appeal.

ever since the jewelers board of appraisal review (j-bar) courses debuted in las vegas at the jck show, the jeweler’s vigilance committee (jvc) has sold more than 300. to date, more than 70 students have taken and passed the exam, says jvc executive director and general counsel cecilia gardner. the elementary appraisal course provides valuation basics with an emphasis on the legal responsibilit…

after a period where many feared that de beers wanted to eliminate the secondary market, the company now says it will support that market. in talks with the world federation of diamond bourses, de beers managing director gary ralfe said the diamond trading company hopes to increase supplies to the secondary market through its subsidiary diamdel in 2004.

the jewelry information center generated more than 1 billion consumer impressions in the consumer media during fiscal year 2003. utilizing product from member companies, the jic staff produces broadcast and print segments that focus on trends, occasions, gift giving and self-purchase of fine jewelry and watches.

troemner llc, a provider of precision weights, calibration services, and laboratory equipment, is now certified to the new iso 9001:2000 quality standard, which is recognized in more than 150 countries. established in 1838, troemner has been an iso 9001 registered company since 1993. troemner also meets the iso/iec 17025 general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration labora…

de beers is facing yet another lawsuit. this time, a new jersey company, anco industrial diamond, has filed a class-action suit against de beers, charging that the company has violated antitrust laws. the suit charges that de beers has conspired to “fix, raise, and stabilize the price of rough diamonds,” causing prices to “be maintained at levels higher than they would be in a competitive market.

manufacturing jewelers & suppliers of america hosted a “safe and secure” meeting in october at its headquarters in providence, r.i. the meeting focused on how businesses can ensure they are in compliance with local safety regulations, practice safe shop procedures, and securely protect against potential risks.

gemfind network, which publishes its own e-newsletter (gfenews), is now offering e-newsletters (e-mailers) for suppliers and retailers. the online marketing tool allows retail jewelers and suppliers to showcase in-store specials, events, services, and latest designer pieces. online e-mailer campaigns also give users interactive and cost-effective options not available through print, tv, direct…

jewelers of america has published the 2003 edition of its annual cost of doing business survey, which helps retail jewelers evaluate and compare their stores’ financial performances to others in the industry. the new edition, with financial data compiled from 2002, is now available to ja members for $19.

the gemological institute of america held its 2003 league of honor dinner in october in new york city. proceeds from the dinner benefited the g. robert crowningshield research fund, and crowningshield—former vice president of the gia gem laboratory—was recognized during the event. this year, there were 15 inductees to gia’s league of honor: harshad r.

v eterans of the las vegas or tucson shows might assume they can work idar-oberstein’s intergem show in a single day with time for a leisurely lunch. perched atop a steep hillside overlooking a residential district, idar’s tennis and squash center is roughly the size of six tennis courts, and during the intergem show, it houses about 90 dealers, approximately 60 of whom are stone cutters.

a jeweler-designed web site, www.jewelersonesource.com, has been launched to provide a meeting place and messaging forum for trade professionals only. the site also allows items to be posted for sale. members can showcase items with photos and certifications. for information, call (216) 650-6260 or visit www.

in november 2003, the australian pearl centre—the wholesale division of paspaley pearling company—began issuing certificates that guarantee all purchases of paspaley south sea cultured pearls are of natural color and luster and have not been artificially enhanced or treated. the certificate of guarantee also assures jewelry wholesalers and retailers that paspaley pearls have been i…

amal jhaveri, past president of the indian diamond and colorstone association, has left new york’s sugem to start his own company, “diamond projects.” the consulting business will link american companies with indian and chinese firms. “if i know a new york manufacturer who wants to link up with someone overseas, i can make that marriage happen,” he says.

jnet, the division of jewelers of america that allows retailers and suppliers to establish web sites and conduct e-commerce, recently added a search feature for loose diamonds. anyone in the trade can access jnet.com to search for and purchase loose diamonds without paying a fee or purchasing a subscription.

fallout from the sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks continues to plague the jewelry, gems, and precious metals industries. in this case, it takes the form of a new set of federal rules about to be implemented under the usa patriot act. passed by congress just weeks after the attacks on the world trade center in new york city and the pentagon outside washington, d.

jewelers advertise through various media, including print, broadcast, billboards, and bench signs, but many aren’t aware that there’s a scientific, strategic approach to media buying that can help generate the maximum return on advertising expenditure. the specific steps for evaluating your “reach”—i.

the g.l.d.a. show is one of the longest-running shows in tucson. for the past 25 years, its roughly 350 exhibit booths have been at one of the premier locations, just one block from the tucson convention center. while the venue has changed names a number of times (it’s now the radisson), g.l.d.a. has stood firm.

last month, we launched a series of articles focusing on a process called profit mastery—the art of taking control of your business destiny.as a business owner or manager, you’re plagued by the conflict of multiple roles and limited time. you wear a series of different hats and juggle several “management” balls at the same time.

the leading jewelers guild, a member-owned jewelry organization of independent retailers, has partnered with the diamond promotion service to produce a catalog featuring the right-hand ring. this year’s catalog features designs from the five love story collections. the love story diamonds are the members’ branded bridal line and are sold exclusively at ljg retailer locations.

curt parker jewelers, st. louis, along with more than 260 local jazzercisers, sponsored the monday night football halftime show on oct. 13, 2003, when the st. louis rams took on the atlanta falcons. they raised more than $70,000 to benefit st. louis area youth through the st. louis rams foundation.

rio grande’s annual hands-on tools, equipment, and techniques exposition for jewelers takes place feb. 6-9 at the tucson east hilton. held during the tucson gem & mineral show, the 2004 catalog in motion features 5,000 sq. ft. of instructional work areas dedicated to the jewelry industry’s most exciting new innovations as well as the best traditional products and methods.

michael o’connor, a veteran public relations and marketing specialist in the jewelry industry, has been named senior vice president of platinum guild international in the united states. he will be responsible for all of pgi-usa’s public relations as well as trade relations in the eastern united states.

ross simons opened at new location on nov. 1, 2003, at the garden state plaza in paramus, n.j. the store is the company’s 15th location in nine states and second retail store in new jersey. at less than 5,000 sq. ft., the new store is smaller than the traditional ross simons location. the new model features fine jewelry, diamonds, watches and has a special kiosk system for viewing and ordering …

eleven silver strands of light, eleven facets of a gleaming heart, eleven tears, forever falling, on eleven names in a tranquil pool. on sept. 11, 2001, american express lost 11 employees in the terrorist attacks. a memorial “environment” designed by new york architect ken smith highlights an elaborately faceted 600-lb.

simcha lustig, the new chairman of the israel diamond institute, said his country was hurt by losing sightholders at the launch of “supplier of choice” but is taking action to preserve its manufacturing base. that includes more joint ventures with overseas companies. “much of the manufacturing of smaller stones is being done in places where the costs are lower,” he said.

swiss luxury watchmaker iwc is sponsoring a new expedition by the cousteau society to the coral reefs of the red sea. it’s the first time the society, founded in 1974 by the late oceanologist jacques cousteau and supported by membership fees and donations, has taken a partner. the expedition, now under way, comes 50 years after the first of cousteau’s own three expeditions to the underwater wor…

the plumb club recently welcomed two firms into its membership, levian corporation and wolf designs. the levian family have been purveyors of fine jewelry in persia since the 15th century. in 1950 the american division of the company was founded and is based in new york city. wolf designs, based in malibu, calif.

the formerly tight-knit diamond manufacturers and importers association (dmia) has gotten into an angry spat over a letter that’s being sent to washington. after a vote, the association sent a letter to washington about the industry’s current problems. recipients include the senators from new york and california and the commerce department.

the movado group has agreed to buy ebel, a top swiss luxury watch brand, from french luxury goods group lvmh (moët hennessy louis vuitton). the $47.3 million all-cash deal, announced dec. 22, will close in the first quarter of 2004. the 93-year-old ebel business—known internationally for its distinctive, innovative lines including beluga, classic wave, and 1911—did $65 million…

william levine, a sightholder and giant of the chicago jewelry industry, died recently at age 93. levine’s company was perhaps best known as the first—and still only—american sightholder not based in new york. grandson david levine says his grandfather first set up camp in chicago to avoid hurting someone’s feelings.

gemworld international inc. announces two training opportunities for the guide appraisal software at the tucson show. a one-day training session will be held on feb. 9, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. the cost of the session is $195 for single attendees; a discounted rate is available for additional students from the same business.

the 32nd bangkok gems & jewelry fair welcomed a record number of visitors to the five–day show, sept. 10-14, 2003. a fashion show and live dance performance, attended by thousands of people, kicked off the opening ceremony. the thai gem & jewelry traders association reported sales volume for the show exceeded $414 million.