Jewelers Circular Keystone articles from April 2003

Jewelers Circular Keystone archives from April 2003

Solid business at winter shows boosts optimism. (Up Front).
April 1, 2003... Busy, crowded aisles at the Jewelers of America show in New York, solid business from major retailers at The JCK Show - Orlando, a high-end buying blitz at the Centurion show in Tucson, Ariz., and busy stone dealers at the various Tucson gem...

Antwerp Diamond Center robbery is largest ever. (Up Front).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Thieves emptied 123 of 160 diamond vaults in the Antwerp Diamond Center in mid-February, in what appears to be the biggest diamond theft in the history of Antwerp, a major diamond-cutting center. "We are certainly talking about many...

De Beers touts right-hand rings. (Up Front).
April 1, 2003... Following the success of its three-stone jewelry campaign, De Beers' Diamond Trading Company plans this year to promote right-hand rings. Richard Lennox, director of the diamond account for J. Walter Thompson, says the campaign exploits a hole...

'Supplier of Choice' set to go. (Up Front).(De Beers' new strategy)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Following its official blessing from the European Union, De Beers' market-shaking "Supplier of Choice" strategy will debut this summer, three years after it was first announced. Rumors that the company will prune its client list by as much...

Implementation of Kimberley process in question. (Up Front).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The launch of the Kimberley Process has been repeatedly delayed, and now no one is sure just when the diamond-tracking system will be implemented. While Kimberley certificates began being issued in January, it became clear last year that...

Jeweler Gerald Goldwyn dies. (Up Front).(Obituary)
April 1, 2003... Gerald H. Goldwyn, CEO of Richard D. Eiseman Jewelers in Dallas, died Feb. 17 in Dallas. He was 64. A much-beloved figure in the industry, Goldwyn joined Eiseman 26 years ago. Prior to moving to Texas, he worked for Marchal Jewelers on...

Wake-up call. (Counterpoint).(information on JCK Show-Las Vegas and Diamond Trading Company marketing plans)
April 1, 2003... The JCK Show ~ Las Vegas will present a new face this June. Improvements--including grouping exhibitors according to product categories, color-coded sections, and more cafes and restaurants--will make the show easier for retail jewelers to...

Winter G&G features enhancements chart. (Gem Notes).
April 1, 2003... Disclosing enhancements is straightforward if you know that the gems have been enhanced. The Winter 2002 issue of Gems & Gemology, published by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), includes an article titled "Chart of Commercially...

Stuller offers Gemewizard color software. (Gem Notes).
April 1, 2003... How do you describe color when ordering a gemstone over the phone? And what color will you get when your order is filled? The colored gem industry needs a good--and, most importantly, universally accepted--color communications tool. There are a...

ICA India Congress called a success. (Gem Notes).(International Colored Gemstone Association Congress)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA) Congress held this past January in Jaipur, India, welcomed a record 250 attendees (plus family members) and included a post-congress Sri Lankan mine tour. GIA president Bill Boyajian gave the...

Smithsonian receives Tashmarine and tourmaline. (Gem Notes).
April 1, 2003... Every piece in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History's gem and mineral collection is either donated to the museum or acquired by trading donations. That's why it's fitting to recognize jewelers who donate important collections to...

Signity introduces Melee Colors. (Gem Notes).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Melee Colors is the latest offering from Signity, Swarovsky's natural colored stones division. Designed to add color accents to jewelry, watches, and even mobile phones, Melee Colors are, in the company9s words, "tiny gemstones that come as...

Gem pricing update from The Guide.(Illustration)
April 1, 2003... Market in brief: March 1, 2003... The colored stone market is stable. The February Tucson shows saw better-than-anticipated attendance, with many of the exhibitors reporting slightly improved sales compared with 2002. Dealers at the AGTA...

De Beers plans to expand diamond market by 50%. (Diamond Notes).
April 1, 2003... De Beers has sky-high hopes for the future: It wants to enlarge the diamond market by some 50% in the next decade. De Beers managing director Gary Ralfe stated this ambitious target at a teleconference following the European Commission's...

DDC launches new Web site. (Diamond Notes).(Diamond Dealers Club )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The Diamond Dealers Club has jumped on the Internet with an ambitious new Web site that indudes a cyberspace trading floor. Offerings at www.ddcny.com include news from the club and 47th Street; pages on the club's history, by-laws, and...

Canada to circumvent De Beers' sight system. (Diamond Notes).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... For mote than a century, De Beers has sold diamonds from its mines by parceling them out at its 10-times-a-year sights. But in the latest surprising change, De Beers has announced that its new Canadian mine will sell stones outside that system....

Author tells 'Diamond Stories'. (Diamond Notes).(Renee Rose Shield's Diamond Stories: Enduring Change on 47th Street)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... What does the diamond trade, with its idiosyncratic business practices and strong code of conduct, look like to an anthropologist? The fascinating answer to that question can be found in Renee Rose Shield's Diamond Stories: Enduring Change on...

Golden Globes: (or diamond or gemstone or pearl). (Fashion Facets).(jewelry of Harry Winston and Fred Leighton remain favorites at the Golden Globe Awards)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... No longer quite the stepchild of the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes remain, nonetheless, not as serious a fashion moment as the Oscars. For celebrities, that means less pressure for perfection and more opportunity to try their hand, neck, or...

Genesis Award honors local design. (Fashion Facets).
April 1, 2003... Sometimes a new design-related event works; sometimes it doesn't. Happily, in the case of Schwarzchild Jewelers in Richmond, Va., it was the former. After a successful inaugural Genesis Award in 2001, in-house designer Trish Mitchell...

(More) Celebrity news. (Fashion Facets).
April 1, 2003... "Who's wearing what?" is an increasingly important question for many companies. With all the clamor among jewelry manufacturers to be the ones chosen, kudos to William Goldberg, Gurhan, and Akiyo Marsuoka.

Canadian jeweler receives national honors. (Fashion Facets).(Donald A. Stuart gets award)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Goldsmith Donald A. Stuart has been awarded Canada's highest honor, The Order of Canada, in recognition of his work as a craftsman, educator, and volunteer. Stuart, a four-rime winner of the "Diamonds Today" award, also is active within the...

Polygon profile #45: Rochelle L. Klieger.
April 1, 2003... Name: Rochelle L. Klieger Company Name: Ruby and Sons Jewelers School: State University of New York at Geneseo, GIA Degree: G.G. (GIA), C.G. (AGS) Industry Affiliations: AGS; RJO; New York State Jewelers Association. ...

Watch SPOT run. (Watch World).(Smart Personal Objects Technology used in watches)
April 1, 2003... "Smart wristwatches"--which display customized information such as weather, appointments, and news via a national wireless network--are expected to be available this fall in the United States from watchmakers Citizen, Fossil, and Suunto. The...

Swiss watches take top honors. (Watch World).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Some leading Swiss brands recently won top awards for their watches. * The Grand Prix d'Horlogerie, held in Geneva, Switzerland, at the end of 2002, awarded its Design Watch Award to TAG Heuer for its avant-garde Fl Micrograph digital...

Grinberg receives JIC Life Achievement Award. (Watch World).(Jewelry Information Center)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Gedalio "Gerry" Grinberg, founder and chairman of the board of the Movado Group Inc., received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jewelry Information Center during JIC's inaugural Gem Awards, presented in January at a black-tie gala....

Longines, Tissot mark major anniversaries. (Watch World).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Two well-known Swiss brands celebrate milestone anniversaries this year. On Jan. 28, Longines marked 125 years with new limited-edition timepieces and an exhibition. "Hope and Glory" has 125 sets, each of which includes a presentation case...

Chopard USA acquires new home. (Watch World).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Swiss watchmaker and jeweler Chopard USA has a new home for its North American headquarters--a five-story mansion in New York City. The company had outgrown its leased space in Rockefeller Center, says Chopard USA Ltd. president Thierry Chaunu....

2002 Swiss Watch exports match '01 figures. (Watch World).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Swiss watch exports in 2002 were "better than forecast," according to a Feb. 6 report from the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry. Export value in 2002 matched that of 2001, and last year's rise in the volume of exports ended a decade-long...

Swatch Group 2002 sales drop 2.9%. (Watch World).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The Swatch Group posted a 2.9% drop in total revenues for its divisions (including watches, movements, and electronics) for 2002, to 4.06 billion Swiss francs ($3 billion), it said in a Feb. 5 report. For finished watches alone, the group saw a...

Maximizing opportunities through turnovers. (Strategies for Selling).
April 1, 2003... You may be surprised at how often a "lost" sale can be saved by turning it over to someone else. Another salesperson may present the item with slightly more enthusiasm, zero in on the reason the customer wants to buy, or relate to the customer...

Mexican fire opal. (Jewel of the Month).
April 1, 2003... Although nine Mexican states have produced these magnificent gems, Queretaro and Jalisco--two centrally located states--are the primary origins for most opals labeled "Mexican." And while the "Hecho en Mexico" label may not be exotic enough for...

Drive time: business between watches and cars is accelerating as co-branding boosts consumer awareness and sales.
April 1, 2003... The relationship between watches and cars is getting cozier as more watch firms focus on automotive brands, events, and designs to boost consumer awareness, build sales, and attract new customers. "The tendency of more watch companies is to...

Feeling a little.(recent industry trends in designs)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Jewelry design this season feels slightly... off kilter. Stones aren't set "just so," and links just might not match. But the effect is less chaotic than it is refreshing. Thanks in part to the preciousness of the product, these off-balance...

eBay-sics: veteran eBayers offer tips for liquidating inventory on the popular auction site.
April 1, 2003... Buying jewelry on eBay is not for the faint-hearted. Not everyone would buy a ring they've never seen, from someone they've never met, with only testimony from past buyers for reassurance. And even that testimony isn't always available, nor is...

Location location, relocation: Jewelers who relocated their stores reveal the reasons behind the moves.
April 1, 2003... Is your neighborhood going to the dogs? Do you fancy owning a regional chain instead of a lone store? Or are you just wild about windows? For three jewelry retailers, the solution to these and other issues was just around the corner--or across...

Swiss design that doesn't tell time: 'Swiss watches'--how often do we say those words in the same breath? But 'Swiss jewelry' sounds like an anomaly. Perhaps no longer.
April 1, 2003... McCarthy, Cathleen When mast people speak of "European" jewelry design, they're referring to England, France, Italy, and Germany. Switzerland almost never comes up. Yet this country turns out skilled jewelers by the dozens each year,...

Irish innovation: move over, claddagh rings. Some Irish jewelry designers are telling other tales of their land and culture.
April 1, 2003... When the trade group Enterprise Ireland began surveying stores that retail Irish-made products in a North American network, it discovered some interesting facts: * Irish-Americans purchase nearly 70% of Irish-made products sold through the...

Making the case for good display: recent trends in shapes, color lighting-and even security-offer jewelers exciting new display options.
April 1, 2003... For magazine publishers, "putting your best face forward" means creating a compelling cover that will stand out among the dozens of offerings at the newsstand. For jewelers, putting your best face forward means displaying your merchandise...

Trade lives: by George! On the 100th anniversary of his father's firm George Kaplan looks back.
April 1, 2003... Lazare Kaplan may be the diamond industry's version of Zelig Name an industry trend, and the company--which turns 100 this year--was there, generally from the beginning. It was the first company to tout "Ideal Cuts," the first to start a...

Treasures from Tucson: our annual trip to the Tucson gem and mineral shows yields a trove of gem news.
April 1, 2003... Quantity was the operative word at Tucson: 33 separate shows, gems by the pile, bushel bags of pearls. Recent mine finds included Russian demantoid--in kilo bags--at Pala International's booth at the AGTA show, and spectacular transparent...

Pendant in 18k yellow gold. (What's New).
April 1, 2003... Pendant in 18k yellow gold features a 12-mm white South Sea pearl and .52 ct. t.w. diamonds. Suggested retail price is $5,130. Ernesto Moreira, Houston; (713) 523-2899.

Earrings in 18k white gold each feature 2.5-ct. (What's New).
April 1, 2003... Earrings in 18k white gold each feature 2.5-ct, checkerboard, cushion-cut amethyst. The pair has a suggested retail price of $795. Pendant features a 7.56ct. Bernd Munsteiner-carved amethyst in 18k white gold with diamond accents. Suggested...

Gemstone rings in 14k white or yellow gold feature a 7-mm. (What's New).
April 1, 2003... Gemstone rings in 14k white or yellow gold feature a 7-mm square buff-top stone in amethyst, gamet, or Swiss blue topaz. Suggested retail price for amethyst and gamet Is $175. Suggested retail price for the blue topaz is $185, A&Z Hayward, East...

Sterling silver 1.5-in. buckle. (What's New).
April 1, 2003... Sterling silver 1.5-in, buckle features Chinese freshwater pearis and is retail priced at $498. Douglas Magnus/Heartline, Santa Fe, N.M.; (505) 983-6777.

Multicolored button South Sea. (What's New).
April 1, 2003... Multicolored button South Sea pearl bracelet set in 18k yellow gold geometric links. Cal for price information. Jewelmer International Corp., Makati City, Philippines; (632) 810 0266, www.jewelmer.com

Pin/pendant in 18k yellow gold. (What's New).
April 1, 2003... Pin/pendant in 18k yellow gold features Italian Venetian glass with rubies and pearls. It is also available with blue Venetian glass. Suggested retail price is $636. The Cargo Hold, Charleston, S.C.; (843) 723-3341, e-mail: cargohold9@aol.com.

Early 20th-century. (What's New).
April 1, 2003... Early 20th-century reproduction of a southern Indian pearl and kundan necklace with crystal set in 22k gold with freshwater pearls is keystone priced at $500; 19th-century antique southern Indian ruby pendant with enamel, 22k gold, and a silk...

Ring in 18k white gold. (What's New).
April 1, 2003... Ring in 18k white gold features diamonds and aquamarine. Call for price information. Sagna Jewelry, Aventura, Fla; (305) 7929903, www.sagnajewelry.com.

Hoop earrings in 14k white gold. (What's New).
April 1, 2003... Hoop earrings in 14k white gold feature 44 diamonds totaling 1.15 cts. Suggested retail price is $2,650. Harold Freeman Jewelry Co., New York; (800) 221-4092, www.haroldfreeman.com.

Jasmine Watson, designer of the jewelry. (What's New).
April 1, 2003... Jasmine Watson, designer of the jewelry seen throughout the Academy Award-winning Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, has debuted the first piece in her new, nature-inspired jewelry collection. The Silver Leaf Pendant is in the Art Nouveau style...

The Festina 18k Gold Collection. (Watches).
April 1, 2003... The Festina 18k Gold Collection offers luxury timepieces for men and women that feature sophisticated designs, many with diamonds, and Swiss duartz movements. The timepieces include automatic chrdnographs with date women's diamond models...

Casio has launched the Club-G. (Watches).
April 1, 2003... Casio has launched the Club-G line of "fashionable technology packed" watches for boys and girls ages 9 to 16. The watches retail for $49, and feature shock resistant casing, 100-meter water resistance, back light, live alarms, three countdown...

"Colorful Time" is a new watch collection. (Watches).
April 1, 2003... "Colorful Time" is a new watch collection from Asch/Grossbardt Inc. The watches have Swiss movements In 14k or 18k cases with hand faceted and handset gemstones (including onyx, lapis, turquoise, coral, malachite, and mother-of-pearl)....

'Trendy' advice at JCK ~ Las Vegas. (Trade Shows).(Leon Hall to present keynote address at jewelry industry trade show)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Leon Hall, star of the popular program Fashion Emergency on E! Channel's The Style Network, will present the keynote address at The JCK Show - Las Vegas 2003, on Friday, May 30, from 8:30-9:45 a.m. at the Sands Expo and Convention Center. ...

Upgrades at Luxury by JCK. (Trade Shows).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Luxury by JCK has announced that the theme of the 2003 event will be "Luxury Lifestyle." Sarin Bachmann, industry vice president of Luxury by JCK, says that a series of improvements are planned for the show, including newly designed...

American Salon calls it quits. (Trade Shows).(jewelry trade show)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The American Salon, a jewelry trade show that was to be held May 28-June 1 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, has been canceled. The announcement was made in an e-mail from the show's organizers to those who expressed interest...

American Assay offers new services. (Lab News).(American Assay and Gemological Office)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Laser inscription of names, numbers, and custom logos on a diamond is now available from the Safeguard Quality Assurance Division of the American Assay and Gemological Office. Turnaround time for conventional inscription is 48 hours; custom...

AGS grades 'Round Fancy Brilliant Cuts'. (Lab News).(American Gem Society)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The American Gem Society Laboratories (AGSL) will begin providing cur-grading services for round brilliants with facet arrangements different from the normal round brilliant, while using parameters in place for polish, symmetry, and...

Behnam Jewelry welcomes designer Frederica. (Supplier News).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... New York City designer Frederica recently joined Behnam Jewelry Corp. Their first joint project will be a line of classic Frederica designs in 18k gold as well as sterling silver with 18k gold details, set with diamonds and colored gemstones....

Hot diamonds appoints U.S. distributor. (Supplier News).(Historic Originals appointed Prismax Management Services as distributor of jewelry line)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Historic Originals, a UK-based jewelry manufacturer, has appointed Prismax Management Services as the sole USA distributor for its "HotDiamonds" line of sterling silver and diamond jewelry. Prismax manages and distributes for a number of...

Metals refining company changes name. (Supplier News).(Refining One becomes R-One Alloys Inc.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Refining One, founded in Providence in 1994 as a provider of precious metals refining and reclamation services, has changed its name to R-One Alloys Inc. The company, which has moved into primary production of sheet, wire, tubing, grain,...

Jewelers Mutual aids college fund. (Supplier News).(Jewelers Mutual Insurance Co.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company has contributed $5,000 in memory of James B. White to the college fund that benefits children of deceased agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. White, who died Sept. 6, 2002, led the Jewelers' Security...

Chicago firm relocates, adds new generation. (Retailer News).(Hy Spreckman and Sons Inc.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Hy Spreckman & Sons Inc., Chicago, recently announced the relocation of the firm to the 12th floor of 29 E. Madison St., after nearly half a century on Chicago's historic Jewelers Row. The new, modern facilities allow on-site manufacturing,...

Thomas M. Moses honored with Liddicoat Award. (People).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) recently honored Thomas M. Moses, vice president of identification services for the GIA Gem Trade Laboratory, with the Richard T. Liddicoat Award for Distinguished Achievement, the highest honor GIA...

Industry leaders honored. (People).(by the Diamond, Jewelry and Watch Group, United Jewish Appeal-Federation of New York)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Ed and Jon Bridge of Ben Bridge Jeweler and Dilip Mehta of Rosy Blue were honored by The Diamond, Jewelry, and Watch Group of UJA-Federation of New York at its annual industry awards dinner. Ed and Jon Bridge received the Award of Excellence;...

Appointments. (People).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The Gemological Institute of America has appointed Terri Ottaway as curator of its museum. Ottaway, who holds a master's degree in geology from the University of Toronto, has worked for 22 years in the earth sciences department of the Royal...

Obituary: William Sheperd, Pa. Jeweler. (People).(Brief Article)(Obituary)
April 1, 2003... William Sheperd, manager for many years of Wayne Jewelers and Silversmiths in Wayne, Pa., died on Dec. 5, 2002. Prior to joining Wayne Jewelers, Sheperd worked with Hamilton Jewelers of New Jersey. According to his family and colleagues, he was...

So you wanna buy a ring? (Editor's Page).(Editorial)
April 1, 2003... Recently, a Canadian jeweler pal sent me a link to an appalling Web site called soyouwanna.com. Among other inaccuracies, this site suggested that consumers buy only from members of the American Gem Corporation--which I can only assume is an...

Diamond jewelry.
April 1, 2003... Ladies 18k white gold band set with fancy yellow princess cut diamonds accented with round diamonds. Also available in platinum. Suggested retail as shown: $14,500.18 Karati/Atmadjian Inc., 631 S. Olive St., #510, LOS Angeles, CA 90014; (213)...

Gold jewelry.
April 1, 2003... Beads! On target styles, crafted in a variety of colors, finishes and price points. One of the newest collections from Aaura, Inc. JCK Booth #12068 Suggested retail: As shown, $129 - $299. Aaura Inc., 67 E. Madison St., #1900, Chicago, IL...

Colored stone jewelry.
April 1, 2003... The heavenly blue of this sapphire is captured by the beauty within the intricately, hand-applied tooling of unrivaled craftsmanship. The backside is as finely finished as the front. Triple keystone: $4,590. Parade Designs, Inc., 631 S. Olive...

Pearl jewelry.
April 1, 2003... 18k white gold lariat with star set with 0.29 ct. diamond and two Tahitian black pearls 10-11mm. Retail $1,150. China Pearl, 2596 Mission St., San Marino, CA 91108; (626) 799-9500, fax (626) 799-2023, e-mail: jan@chinapearl-USA.com. Photo by...

Silver jewelry.
April 1, 2003... John Atenclo Oceana Elements bracelet with blue topaz - sm. Suggested retail: $1,170. John Atenclo Designer Jewelry, 1201 E. 17th Ave., 2nd Fl., Denver, CO 80218; (303) 830-7733 X29, fax (303) 830-0891, e-mail: psauter@johnatencio.com, Web...

Platinum jewelry.
April 1, 2003... A. Jaffe has designed this beautifully crafted platinum semi-mounted engagement ring, which has channel and bead-set round side diamonds totaling 0.71 ct. t.w. Keystone priced at $3,002. A. Jaffe, 37 W. 26th St., New York, NY 10010; (800)...

Packaging & display.(for jewelers)
April 1, 2003... Alex Velvet presents a new product ready line, in white leather with a real wood finished accent. Suggested retail: $283. Alex Velvet, Inc., 3334 Eagle Rock Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90065; (323) 255-6900, fax (323) 255-6934, e-mail:...

Watches.
April 1, 2003... From the Bulova Overture Collection - men's chronograph. Silver-white dial, luminous hands, stainless steel case and bracelet, curved case and crystal, four-screw back, deployment buckle. Suggested retail: $399. Bulova Corporation. one Bulova...

Gifts.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Winter Collection in sterling silver with guilloche and hard enamel. Limited edition of 128 pcs. in black, blue, grey and white. Matching cuff links, shirt studs, photo frames and paper knives also available. Suggested retail: $3,900 David...

Bench & jewelry services.
April 1, 2003... Peace of Mind - Accurate, Independent Appraisal and Diamond Certification. SafeGuard jewelry appraisals and AnchorCert diamond certification available through The American Assay & Gemological Office set the standard for accuracy and...

After 100 years at the same location, Albert's Jewelers builds the ultimate store!(move to Schererville, Indiana, from East Chicago, Indiana)(Company Profile)
April 1, 2003... The Halpern family -- Fred, Charlie and Josh, owners of Albert's Jewelers in Schererville, Indiana -- had a brilliant idea. They would create the ultimate, most spectacular jewelry store imaginable. Their store would sell the most magnificent...