JCK - Blogs

Style Obsession: Raw Gemstones

2012-05-16 05:45

Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines: Las Vegas is just a little over two weeks away. And while my head is swimming with the delightful prospect of seeing the newest, loveliest trends to grasp our industry, one style on JCK Marketplace is shouting the loudest: Raw. Uncut. Natural. Whatever you choose to call them, these diamonds and gemstones have climbed to the top of many a jewelry lover’s wish list. I love the organic, artful look of each and every piece. Sure, they don’t sparkle like...

Muzo’s Massive Emerald Score

2012-05-15 11:00

Discovering fine emeralds is the norm for miners in the Muzo emerald mines in Colombia, but unearthing chunks of rough bigger than a hen's egg with the vibrant good looks of a Jolly Rancher? Well, that's about as rare as winning the lottery—something that Muzo Worldwide execs can now essentially claim to have won, from a gemological standpoint.On Feb. 28, a 207.315 ct. rough emerald was found in the Tequendama shaft on level 74, which is located 74 meters (about 250 feet) underground.“We don’t...

5 Under $500: New Sterling Silver Jewelry From Boma

2012-05-15 10:00

Five new sterling styles from Renton, Wash.–based manufacturer, Boma Jewelry, are nice looking and hit a price point. Check them out in person at JCK Las Vegas B5140.Sterling silver ring with mother-of-pearl, color-enhanced purple mother-of-pearl, and color-enhanced purple turquoise; $69Silver necklace is 18 inches in length with a two-inch extender and abalone and black mother-of-pearl inlay; $105Hammered sterling silver hoops; $110Silver Leaf earrings with color-enhanced purple turquoise and...

Britt’s Pick: Leibish & Co.’s Black Diamond Solitaire

2012-05-15 05:45

Welcome to Britt’s Pick, a new weekly feature on my blog, On Your Market. Each Tuesday, I’ll select an eye-catching piece from JCK Marketplace and tell you a bit about it. Of course, with jewels this beautiful, the pictures do most of the talking.It was love at first sight: The organic look of Leibish & Co.’s diamond solitaire cast its spell on me at first glance. The 5.09 ct. black diamond, cradled in a simple, four-prong setting of rose gold is so unassuming, yet so rich. “The...

Get to Know Alberto Petochi of the 1884 Collection

2012-05-15 00:00

Alberto Petochi knows the significance of early Roman coins. They served as money, a medium for messages to be relayed, and notable ideas through the designs and wording etched onto them. Long ago replaced by more valuable paper currency, the coins are now collectibles, especially for Petochi, the New York City–based owner and designer of 1884 Collection. These historical artifacts are the inspiration behind the line officially launching at Couture during Jewelry Week, though it's been in 15...

World Diamond Council Embraces Change of Conflict Diamond Definition

2012-05-14 12:02

Changing the definition of conflict diamonds to include gems produced in violent conditions (which is another way of saying diamonds related to human rights abuses) is perhaps the most important—and politically charged—reform that could be made to the Kimberley Process. And at today’s World Diamond Council meeting in Vicenza, Italy, two important entities endorsed that initiative.The first was Kimberley Process chair Gillian Milovanovic. This wasn’t exactly a surprise—it’s widely assumed the...

5 Good Reads on Strategic Jewelry Merchandising

2012-05-14 11:41

Now that you’ve discovered some of the best ways to advertise your business, here are five good reads on the best way to merchandise your jewelry to the customers that respond to your marketing strategy.From the April 2012 issue of JCK, why finding unique jewelry lines isn’t enough—the pieces must also be displayed in a way that invites browsing, conversation, and, finally, buying.From Retail Details guest blogger Randi Molofsky, five tips on how to merchandise and market your jewelry online....

Up Close and Personal With Jewelry Designer Tamara Rahaminov Goldfiner

2012-05-14 05:45

Whenever I’m looking for something on JCK Marketplace, Rahaminov Diamonds seems to have it. I have to restrain myself from featuring the extraordinary company in each and every blog post and Trend Report, but once you see its showroom on JCK Marketplace, I think you’ll understand why. With nearly 500 pieces, each expertly designed and many boasting my current favorite gem, rough diamonds, the Rahaminov showroom is a tempting place to while away the hours. Take a look at the designer and...

At Home on the Range: Country & Western Styles

2012-05-14 03:03

Perfect for barbecues on balmy nights, a couple of themes in fashion and jewelry are designed to be at home on the range.The March 2012 issue of Elle reports: "Longhorn motifs and kitschy paisleys get a city slicker update" in a feature it calls "Rodeo Drive." Displaying longhorn motifs, the rope necklace is from Aurelie Bidermann; the silver ring with black sapphires is from John Hardy. The model at left wears a silver and leather pendant necklace also from John Hardy."Best Western" is the...

9 Ways Jewelers Can Make Their Windows Summer-Ready

2012-05-12 08:45

You may be ready for summer, but are your window displays?That question was posed in a feature in the June 1942 issue of JCK. Virginia Dixon writes:I know the sidewalk’s steaming and the sun is beating down quite without mercy, but now’s the time to see what your windows offer in the way of refreshing ideas to the warm and weary people who take, on the average, only six or seven seconds to pass your window.Does your window offer an inviting oasis in the sweltering canon of your street…a...

5 Reasons Baseball and Jewelry Go Together

2012-05-11 12:00

I have been in love with the game of baseball since birth. There is a photo of me with a plastic bat and ball at only a few months of age. It’s in my blood and always will be.What does this have to do with jewelry? Come on—is there a game more perfectly suited to jewelry? The field is a diamond! The last team standing at the end of the season gets big honking championship rings you can see from space!So, in the spirit of that, here are five cool stories that combine my professional and personal...

Diamond Shavings: Your Weekly Web Roundup

2012-05-11 11:41

First, a personal note, this week I will be at the World Jewelry Forum in Vicenza, which includes the World Diamond Council and CIBJO Congress. Hope to file a blog or report or two from there.Last week … Pandora and Blue Nile try to right their ships … J.C. Penney changes things again … And the De Beers class action case may finally be over. Who’s buying lunch? … All below … Pandora revenues sink, because of stock balancing. Blue Nile sales rise, profits plummet.- Stock rises.-...

Who Wore What to the 2012 Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala

2012-05-11 10:45

Dubbed by many as "Fashion’s Oscars," the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala, held May 7 in New York City, kicked off the “Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations” exhibit. It also gave us couture hits, misses, and plenty of jewels. While the exhibition runs May 10–Aug. 19, the fashion frenzy of the Gala lasted just one night. Here are the jewelry highlights, with images and jewelry details supplied as they were available at press time.And just for fun, check out...

The De Beers Antitrust Class Action Settlement … Almost Home

2012-05-11 09:33

So when we last looked into the ridiculous soap opera that is the De Beers antitrust settlement, we noted that the objecting attorneys planned to take their case to the end of the line: the Supreme Court. There were two objectors that could appeal the settlement: One did, but the Supreme Court declined the petition to hear the case in April. And so we were waiting for the second. Well, it turns out that wait is over, according to plaintiff lawyer Joseph Tabacco. The second appellant missed...

Friday 5: Best Dressed (and Bejeweled) at the 2012 Met Gala

2012-05-11 05:45

Ah, the Met Gala. Our favorite celebrities dress to impress in the artsiest, most fashion-forward ensembles they can come up with. In celebration of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual Costume Institute opening, this is the night for fashion on the East Coast. Lucky for us viewers, the innumerable amount of couture, shining jewels, and interesting looks satiates our hunger for glamour and gives us something to drool about for months. Check out my five favorite looks from the 2012 Met Gala (...

Richard Branson Highlights First Antwerp Diamond Academy

2012-05-10 10:28

Antwerp, the Belgian city famous for its bustling diamond trade, played host to the first ever Antwerp Diamond Academy—an education-focused seminar that strives to arm local diamond dealers with innovative business strategies.The event, held on May 6 inside the historic Stadsschouwburg theater, attracted roughly 200 local dealers, who participated in intimate seminars on social media practices, IT solutions, e-invoicing, web-sale marketing, and e-commerce.Richard Branson rings the opening bell...

Dangling Door-Knockers & Discs: Forward-Facing Earrings

2012-05-10 03:03

Forward-facing ovals, both in solid discs and in open-center door-knocker styles, are dangling from ears in innumerable fashion spreads this season.Classic door-knocker–shape earrings rendered in white from Roni Blanshay for Jennifer Miller and a set of bracelets from Valentino accessorize a Ralph Lauren Collection gown and Ralph Lauren Blue Label blazer in this photo from the May 2012 issue of Town & Country.Classic door-knocker style gold mesh earrings from House of Lavande accessorize a...

Richline Introducing Jewelry Vending Machine

2012-05-09 12:36

Vending machines aren’t just for corn chips anymore.As anyone who’s been to airport lately can attest, it is now quite common to see iPods sold via vending machines. There are even, believe it or not, devices that will sell you wine, shoes, and prescription medicines. Still, many in the industry have trouble wrapping their heads around the idea of a vending machine for jewelry. But at last weekend’s Berkshire Hathaway shareholder weekend, Richline introduced its latest brainstorm: Precious...

5 Cool Jewelry Ads From 1942

2012-05-09 10:53

Last week, I focused on jewelry ads in the 1942 issues of JCK that promoted patriotism during World War II. This week, I dug back into the archive to find cool jewelry ads that stood independent of the war effort.Here were my five favorites:JCK April 1942A. Edward Fisher & Co.This is one beautiful jewelry ad. It has a great visual and the right amount of text in a generation of text-heavy ads.TelechronFather Telechron needs to put some clothes on. I have nothing against togas in general,...

Fred Leighton to Launch Wholesale Jewelry Collection

2012-05-09 09:04

If you’ve ever drooled over vintage Fred Leighton jewels on stars walking the red carpet in Hollywood, then you’ll be delighted to know about an opportunity to buy into a new line inspired by the spirit of that famous brand.Debuting during the upcoming Jewelry Week in Las Vegas, the Fred Leighton Collection—owned and operated by Kwiat, which purchased Fred Leighton in 2009—speaks to the jewelry house’s heritage, and “infuses it with a modern sensibility” that “evokes the style of a vintage era...