JCK - Blogs

Diamond Shavings: Your Friday Web Roundup

2013-05-17 13:36

This week … They’re searching for diamonds in Kansas … A Milwaukee jewelry fixture goes into receivership … Why Macy’s is hot, and Penney’s is not … All below .. Silver, charms, diamonds lead Mother’s Day sales.- National Jeweler finds sales “flat to up.”- Centurion finds “solid gains.” Retail sales tick up in April.- Jewelry sales up 10% in March. Vegas Approacheth- My thoughts: High hopes for Vegas.- Edahn Golan on “the Vegas promise.” U.S. gold jewelry demand rises for...

Pop Culture Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of the Jewelry in Baz Luhrmann’s ‘The Great Gatsby’

2013-05-17 12:30

Editorial assistant Stephanie Schaefer cowrote this quiz with Jennifer Heebner. While critics haven’t been kind to Baz Luhrmann’s film adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic novel The Great Gatsby—the The Wall Street Journal’s Joe Morgenstern called it “dreadful,” and The Miami Herald’s Connie Ogle called it a “failure”—jewelry enthusiasts have plenty to admire on screen, given how important jewels are to depicting the decadent Roaring ’20s milieu in which the story is set. 1...

5 Things I Learned From the J.C. Penney Earnings Call

2013-05-17 12:07

J.C. Penney announced its latest financial results yesterday—and they were grim, worse than expected, showing a $348 million loss for the quarter, as well as a 16 percent sales decrease. If former CEO Ron Johnson hadn’t already departed, this latest dismal showing may have been his last straw. Whatever you think of Johnson’s plans, and clearly they had some merit, no company can go on sustaining losses this way. Of course, Johnson is gone, and his replacement is Myron “Mike” Ullman, who...

Get in Touch With Your Inner Chess Nerd With These 10 Fashion Trends

Virginia VanZanten, Associate Editor, W Magazine — 2013-05-17 12:00

This season’s bright gingham coats and dresses have put us in the mood for check.1. Friends and Associates skirt, $175, friendshop.us2. J. Crew shirt, $36.50, jcrew.com3. Marni jacket, $1,400, marni.com4. Prada dress, $870, prada new york 212-334-88885. Marc by Marc Jacobs scarf, $130.63, mywardrobe.com6. Zimmerman bikini, $210, zimmermannwear.com7. Splendid shirt, $128, shopbop.com8. Church's slippers, $410, net-a-porter.com9. Piamita Printed Pant, $285, barneys.com10. Louis Vuitton...

12 Jewelry Trends for 2013: 10 Costume Jewels to Covet

2013-05-17 12:00

Every month from now until JCK Las Vegas 2013, I'll highlight one trend from the 12 Jewelry Trends for 2013 post on my Style 360 blog—an editorial first look at new collections worldwide and expert market analysis on jewelry trends and new products. My colleague, Brittany Siminitz, manager of JCK Marketplace, an expansive online showroom of gorgeous merchandise sold at the JCK shows, will do the same on her On Your Market blog.Let’s face it: costume jewelry—gold-plated brass...

Friday 5: With These Cocktail Rings, Happy Hour Is Served

2013-05-17 05:45

Who's ready for happy hour? Your shoppers will be with our inspired menu of cocktail rings. Cheers! For more of the latest trends and products in the industry, check out JCK Marketplace, follow me on Twitter, or subscribe to my blog, On Your Market.

12 Jewelry Trends for 2013: Brass, Bronze, and Costume Jewelry From JCK Marketplace

2013-05-17 05:45

If you haven’t already read JCK senior editor Jennifer Heebner’s 12 Jewelry Trends for 2013 (what are you waiting for?), you’ve missed out on an extensive, detailed list of what to buy, sell, and stock in your store this year. And since you’ll likely want to scour the show floor for these top trends at this year’s JCK Las Vegas, I’m bringing you some of the best on-trend jewels our exhibiting brands have to offer, straight from JCK Marketplace.Trend #9: Well-made costume jewelry. I absolutely...

Picture This: Jewelry Displays at Lilly Barrack in Albuquerque, N.M.

2013-05-16 12:00

With all the shows that have taken place since the start of the year, February seems like a lifetime ago. That was the month I traveled to Albuquerque, N.M., to help judge the 2013 Saul Bell Design Awards. While there, I took an afternoon to visit jewelry stores. Among them was the Paseo Del Norte street location of Lilly Barrack, a retailer in the area with two stores, as well as a manufacturer that wholesales its Southwest-inspired silver styles at JCK Las Vegas. My fellow Rio Grande...

15 Tubular Jewelry Ads From 1983

2013-05-16 12:00

Hunting for jewelry industry highlights from 1983 for Peggy Jo Donahue, director of public affairs for MJSA and a former JCK-er, I stumbled upon these 15 totally bangin’ jewelry ads from 1983.Let me know which one of these made you cry out "Cowabunga!"Dave Grossman DesignsJCK sales rep Bill Furman tells me these were big sellers. Still, that is one sad, frightening clown.TannThe jewelry industry version of Pants on the Ground?RayovacWe all know Napoleon preferred pear-shaped sapphire and...

Great Estate: The Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show Opens May 30

2013-05-16 11:59

Vintage jewelry continues to be all the rage in celebrity and socialite spheres, boosting consumer interest in second-hand bling all around.Looking to augment your store’s collection of pre-loved pieces? One of the world’s best trade events for period jewelry and timepieces, the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show, is poised to take over the ballroom at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas May 30—a day before the JCK Las Vegas show opens. The show, now in its 18th year, will run through June 2....

Need Another Reason to Stock Your Jewelry Showcases? Here It Is.

2013-05-16 05:45

According to IBM’s Big Data-based retail forecast, jewelry sales are expected to grow by more than 11 percent in this year’s second quarter (click here for more information on the forecast). Make sure your showcases are ready—find your favorites on JCK Marketplace! Visit JCK Marketplace to stock up on the latest designs and trends for your retail sales. For more of the latest trends and products in the industry, check out JCK Marketplace, follow me on Twitter, or subscribe...

Turquoise Takes a Turn

2013-05-16 03:03

With hues flattering to almost everyone, the gemstone turquoise is appearing in wonderful variety this season, the centerpiece of designs inspired by a wide range of influences.The March 2013 issue of Elle magazine styles '60s-tinged Gallic classics with turquoise accents inspired by actress Catherine Deneuve. Here the model wears turquoise and diamond earrings from David Webb and a turquoise and diamond ring from Emily & Ashley. Her yellow gold necklace is also from David Webb. She also...

Debuting in Las Vegas: Paul Klecka’s Reinterpreted Diamond Constellation Jewelry Collection

2013-05-15 12:00

It was 1989 when Paul Klecka, a jewelry designer then based in Chicago (now in Carlsbad, Calif.), first showed the world his Constellation collection. The signature look featured a single diamond seemingly floating on a sculpted piece of 18k gold or platinum jewelry. It was a hit, lauded by De Beers in its now-defunct Diamonds of Distinction awards, and eventually expanded to linear diamond styles with alternating shared prongs (like De Beers' Journey styles).Today, with the help of CAD...

High Hopes for Vegas

2013-05-15 11:20

Believe it or not, in less than a month, it will be JCK Vegas time. And this year, there is real hope in the air.This mirrors larger trends: The economy is clearly gaining steam, even if it’s still not as robust as people would like. But the mood among retailers at AGS was good—and among the jewelers we surveyed for Mother’s Day, it was even better. Stats look strong: The Commerce Dept. found jewelry sales up 10 percent (!) in March. And checking with my sources—meaning the people...

20 Easy Sterling Silver Pieces to Stock for Summer

2013-05-15 05:45

Regardless of what the mercury says, summer is in fact on its way here. So be prepared for a throng of casual, laid-back shoppers. They’ll pop into the store in their cover-ups and cut-off shorts, making you just wish that you, too, had spent the afternoon basking in the sunshine. (Oh yes, I remember that feeling!) But you get to do something better: help them find the perfect takeaway for themselves or someone else in the form of light, carefree purchases — the go-anywhere type of items that...

Get to Know Alexandre Corrot of Djula

2013-05-14 12:00

Paris-based jewelry designer Alexandre Corrot of Djula favors delicate designs dusted with diamonds.Alexandre Corrot of Djula Headquarters: “Paris, France, but I have a New York City–based representative who can be reached at djula.usa@gmail.com.”Year firm was founded: 1994Signature style: “Djula designs are lightweight, delicate, diamond-intense, and inspired by vintage looks from the Roaring ’20s, the Art Deco period, and even the 1970s. Sensuality—jewelry as a second skin—is evident...

Jewelers & Pets: Pets in Pearls Down Under (and Destined for a Calendar)

2013-05-14 11:59

Animals are like family to many in the industry. That’s why Jewelers & Pets is a new column for the Style 360 blog, and will highlight the furry friends of some of industry’s finest and the role they play in their lives. Plus, it’s also a good excuse to link to one of the many animal rescues and charities that exist to help animals in need. Want your pet to be profiled? Connect with me at jheebner@jckonline.com. When Jane Jackson, owner of A Passion for Pearls in Sydney, started encouraging...

Jen’s Obsession: Athomie Silver Jewelry Debuting at JCK Las Vegas 2013

2013-05-14 11:59

At an intimate rooftop gathering last week at the Gansevoort Park Avenue Hotel in Manhattan, champagne and tuna tartare helped fuel good spirits, but the real attraction was the jewelry debut by Athomie—a new Italian silver line designed by Stefano Russo (whose portfolio includes works from Louis Vuitton, Helmut Lang, Prada, and more) and manufactured by DiBi, a Vicenza-based silver jewelry maker that exhibits in the Italian Club section of JCK Las Vegas. The pieces featured familiar...

Britt’s Pick: Cristina Sabatini’s Pavone Feather Earrings

2013-05-14 05:45

The delicate pink of Cristina Sabatini’s pear-shaped resin drop earrings from her Pavone collection caught my eye as I perused our website’s new arrivals, but it was the feather motif, lined with sparkling stones and a contrasting green marquise accent, that held my attention. The striking combination of pink and green is perfect for spring and summer, and the peacock-feather design gives the pair a wild twist that makes for a chic addition to any ensemble. A must-see at JCK Las Vegas? I think...

Jewelry Street Style: What They’re Wearing in SoHo, New York City

2013-05-13 12:00

Jewelry Street Style offers a peek at how the jewelry-obsessed accessorize. On a beautiful afternoon in lower Manhattan, I did a little a people watching, documenting some of the jewels I saw folks wearing. Here’s a peek at what some of the trendiest passersby in SoHo were wearing last week (all strangers who agreed to let me snap their pictures).Soho, where many stylish New Yorkers conveneMy Manhattan outpost one afternoon last week; I was looking for the well accessorized.