Jewelers Circular Keystone articles from August 2006

Jewelers Circular Keystone archives from August 2006

JCK Show ~ Las Vegas Ends On a Positive Note.
August 1, 2006... By JCK Staff A review of the trends, business, issues, and parties By most accounts, business was brisk and the mood upbeat at the 2006 JCK Show ~ Las Vegas. High-end exhibitors reported strong buying, but the feeling wasn't unanimous,...

MJSA"s Brand-New Vision.(Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America)(MJSA Journal)
August 1, 2006... By Hedda T. Schupak, Editor-in-Chief With a unified brand message clarifying its mission, MJSA seeks to help American jewelers cope with foreign competition. When Frank Dallahan took over as chief executive officer of Manufacturing...

Rockin' Into the 21st Century With Robbins Diamonds.(Company overview)
August 1, 2006... By Anthony DeMarco The famous Philadelphia jeweler turns to technology to appeal to a younger demographic and move from bridal specialist to full-service jeweler Jerry Robbins of Robbins Diamonds in Philadelphia says he's too old to...

The 'Bizarre' Sightholder.(Stuller Inc. ends up on Diamond Trading Company most favored list)(Editorial)(Company overview)
August 1, 2006... By Rob Bates, Senior Editor Stuller is not located in Antwerp, New York, or Mumbai. Yet, it's a sightholder. Here, executives discuss how a findings company located in America's heartland ended up on DTC's most favored list. Dr....

Do the Math, Part 1.(spotlight on jewelery industry)
August 1, 2006... By Rick Bannerot Market researcher Pamela Danziger continues to call attention to the seismic shifts occurring in luxury consumers' buying habits. Shoppers' needs and wants are in transition as old-line luxuries like jewelry give way to...

Understanding the Consumer Mind.(Marshal Cohen's book Why Customers Do What They Do: Who They Are, Why They Buy, and How You Can Anticipate Their Every Move offers tips to retailers)(Interview)
August 1, 2006... By Glen A. Beres In his new book, Why Customers Do What They Do: Who They Are, Why They Buy, and How You Can Anticipate Their Every Move , retail expert Marshal Cohen outlines how retailers and marketers can reach consumers by...

Design Focus.(profile of jewelery owner of Austin and Warburton )(Biography)
August 1, 2006... By Mark and Lainie Mann Technology Leads Michigan Jeweler to Success Brenda Warburton, a jeweler with a string of prestigious design awards, is the co-owner of Austin & Warburton in Ann Arbor, Mich. This story details how she and her...

Can I Get a Witness?(jewelry design cases)(BB Becker)(Jeanine Payer)(Editorial)
August 1, 2006... By Gary Roskin, G.G., FGA, Senior Editor When a jewelry design controversy winds up in court, the best expert witness might just be a jewelry historian-not an appraiser or a gemologist. BB Becker, Denver, engraves inspirational...

Madison Jewelers.(Tom Losonci speaks out)(Interview)
August 1, 2006... By Glen A. Beres Tom Losonci is president of Madison Jewelers, Fairfield, Conn., a full-service store that specializes in AGS- and GIA-certified diamonds and is known for expertise in bridal jewelry. The company works with many...

Gem Pricing Report.(Market overview)
August 1, 2006... By Staff Market in brief: Volatility defines the diamond market. Well-made rounds of G/VS2 or higher in 3.00+ ct. sizes are scarce. A key diamond-trading database revealed some 4.00 ct. F-G/VS rounds selling above prices in Rapaport Report...

The "I"m Just Looking" Customer.(tips to manage customers)
August 1, 2006... By Brad Huisken Before answering this month's question-how do you handle the customer who's 'just looking'?-let me say I hope that you, as a salesperson, didn't elicit the customer's response by asking the age-old question 'Can I help...

How to Select a Watch Brand.(jewelry industry)
August 1, 2006... By Steven Kaiser Jewelers looking to add a new watch line should ask themselves the following questions before selecting a brand. Will adding a new brand increase or cannibalize existing business? Adding a brand should increase total...

950 Palladium Laser-Welding Tips and Techniques.(palladium overtakes platinum)
August 1, 2006... By Mark and Lainie Mann According to Frank McAllister, chief executive officer of Stillwater Mining Co., the quantity of individual pieces of jewelry made with 950 palladium recently surpassed that of platinum products. McAllister...

Don"t Just Ask--Earn the Right to Close the Sale.(tips for salespersons)
August 1, 2006... By Martin C. Shanker It's been shown that for higher-price items, close ratios increase when sales associates ask for the sale. The most common reason for not asking is fear of being turned down. That fear comes from not successfully...

A Letter to Bill Boyajian.
August 1, 2006... Frank Dallahan Dear Bill, Your departure from GIA has caused real concern in a number of quarters. The gem and jewelry industry from a long-term perspective will be diminished by your leaving. Many in the industry think it was a...

What"s in a Name?(debate over Paraiba)
August 1, 2006... Hedda T. Schpak Is the recent debate over whether the name Paraíba should be used for all tourmaline sporting a vivid green-blue color or reserved only for stones actually mined in Paraíba, Brazil, a matter of monumental...

Metalmania.(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2006... Ben Janowski I write this column at a time when metal prices have soared-and dipped-and many manufacturers wonder about where it goes next and how to respond. Speculative booms make us nervous. We can make some good guesses about...

The Industry Authority.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Mark Smelzer We've received more terrific news here at JCK . We recently undertook an online research study to take the pulse of the industry with regard to people's perception of JCK and the other trade magazines in the jewelry business....

Diamond Issues Discussed in Vegas.
August 1, 2006... By Rob Bates Here is a sampling of the diamond seminars at the recent JCK Show ~ Las Vegas. Pipeline to Shrink The diamond and jewelry pipeline is undergoing a tremendous squeeze, analyst Ken Gassman said in a seminar on 'Changes...

De Beers Wins Battle for Its Name.(De Beers L.V.)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... By Rob Bates De Beers LV, the retail chain, can stop a New York diamond dealer from selling diamonds under the name 'De Beers' on the Internet, a judge ruled recently. New York diamond dealer Marvin Rosenblatt incorporated the name...

Albany Jeweler Arrested for Fobbing Off Fakes.(Spinelli's Custom Jewelry)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... By Rob Bates A jeweler in the Albany, N.Y., area has been arrested after allegedly selling 'diamonds' that were actually synthetic moissanite and cubic zirconia. Peter Spinelli, owner of Spinelli's Custom Jewelry in Colonie, N.Y., has...

Goldman Welcomes Another White Metal in Bridal.(Frederick Goldman's ArtCarved division's products)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Edited by Jennifer Heebner Frederick Goldman's ArtCarved division recently unveiled four bridal lines in palladium, a member of the platinum family. The jewelry includes the Floral, Petite, Surprise, and Geometric collections of solitaire...

Rings for Separation.
August 1, 2006... Edited by Jennifer Heebner Everybody knows about buying engagement rings to cement loving bonds, but have you heard about the band that signals a split? The Break-Up Ring is now available from Werner Haring , a designer in Pforzheim,...

Damiani Launches Loren Collection.
August 1, 2006... Edited by Jennifer Heebner 'Just as Loren always wears Armani clothes, she also always wears Damiani jewelry,' explained public relations manager Wendell Figueroa Ruiz 10 days after the launch of Damiani's Sophia Loren collection . The...

Escada Unveils Bridal Jewelry Collection.
August 1, 2006... Edited by Jennifer Heebner International fashion brand Escada will woo chic brides with jewelry from The Sparkling Love Collection . Collections include Love Paper, Timeless Love, Two for Love, Sense of Love, and Pink Heart in karat gold...

Pearl Royalty.(Pearl Princess program of Tahiti)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Edited by Jennifer Heebner Nearly two decades ago, the Cultured Pearl Information Center introduced the Pearl Princess program, which crowned one young woman as pearl royalty in an effort to promote the gems around the world. That...

Revere Offers Design Project.
August 1, 2006... Edited by Jennifer Heebner The Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts is incorporating an independent design project into its Jewelry Technician Intensive course this fall. The academy's founder and director, Alan Revere, will work with...

Design Embraces Emotion.(2006 OroArezzo fair)(program to encourage jewelery designers)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Edited by Hedda T. Schupak A highlight of the 2006 OroArezzo fair was 'The Project House: From an Emotion to a Jewel,' a program intended to encourage future designers to break out of the 'golden cage' of traditional jewelry design. The...

Arezzo Weathers Gold Volatility.(Industry overview)
August 1, 2006... Edited by Hedda T. Schupak Between the rising-and volatile-price of gold, and the dollar-to-euro ratio, these are tough times for the Italian jewelry industry. But 2005 statistics from the Arezzo jewelry district in Tuscany are somewhat...

Worldmart Opens in China.
August 1, 2006... Edited by Hedda T. Schupak An international jewelry trading platform called Worldmart Jewelry & Gems Emporium Centre has opened in the Panyu district of Guangzhou, China. It aims to allow China's jewelers to penetrate the international...

Israel Diamond Exchange to Build Fifth Tower.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Edited by Hedda T. Schupak The Israel Diamond Exchange board of directors has approved the building of a new tower, the fifth building in the exchange complex. The 28-story building will add approximately 28,000 square meters to the...

Steven Kretchmer dies in accident.(Obituary)
August 1, 2006... By Hedda T. Schupak and Rob Bates The industry is mourning the sudden loss of jewelry designer and innovator Steven Kretchmer, 52, who died July 8 as a result of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. Daughter Claudia said his...

New GIA President: We Want to 'Listen More'.(Gemological Institute of America)
August 1, 2006... By Rob Bates You will see greater transparency, openness, and an increased 'customer focus' from the Gemological Institute of America in the future, according to acting president Donna Baker. Baker recently took over as president from...

'Jacob' Arrest Shows 8300 Importance.(Jacob Arabov)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... By Rob Bates The recent arrest of Jacob Arabov-aka 'Jacob the Jeweler'-on conspiracy to commit money laundering has renewed attention to jewelers' obligations to file Internal Revenue Service Form 8300 for large cash transactions. ...

Forty-Eighth Street named after Goldberg.(William Goldberg Way)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... By Rob Bates Forty-eighth Street between Fifth and Madison Avenues in New York is now officially known as William Goldberg Way. The street, where Goldberg had long kept his office, was named after the charismatic former Diamond Dealers...

Rio Show Sees Attendance Boost.(Rio Suite Hotel & Casino)(Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show)
August 1, 2006... By Monica McLaughlin Judging by the empty display shelves on the final day, this year's Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show was a success. Held June 1-5 at the Rio Suite Hotel & Casino, the show featured over 280 exhibitors and saw...

GIA to Issue Reports for Synthetic Diamonds.(Gemological Institute of America)
August 1, 2006... By Rob Bates and Gary Roskin The Gemological Institute of America's famed grading lab is planning to issue grading reports for synthetic diamonds, GIA chairman Ralph Destino said at the World Diamond Congress in Israel. Destino's...

Mandela to Support Diamond Industry.(Nelson Mandela)(steps to counter negative publicity generated by the movie The Blood Diamond)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... By Rob Bates Former South African President Nelson Mandela has been enlisted to help the diamond industry defend itself against the film The Blood Diamond , a report says-but his appointment has kicked up an unexpected controversy. A...

De Beers Settles Two More Lawsuits.
August 1, 2006... By Rob Bates De Beers has settled two more trade-generated class-action lawsuits for $45 million. The suits-from Anco Industrial Diamond and Derek Parsons, the head of the Miami bourse-accused De Beers of anticompetitive practices. ...

Newswire.(briefs)(celebrities and endorsements)
August 1, 2006... By William George Shuster A one-of-a-kind version of Jacob & Co. 's award-winning The World Is Yours timepiece sold for $140,000 in late May in England at the 'Full Length & Fabulous' celebrity party of soccer champion David Beckham and...

Hublot Launches TV Channel.(Hublot)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... By William George Shuster Swiss luxury watch brand Hublot Geneve launched its own 24-hour television channel-Hublot TV-in June. It's the first TV channel devoted exclusively to a watch brand. The endeavor is not only a first in the watch...

Swatch Group Celebrates 333 Millionth Swatch Watch.
August 1, 2006... By William George Shuster The Swatch Group in June celebrated production of its 333 millionth Swatch Watch, its namesake industry-changing watch introduced in 1983. The milestone was marked at 'Splashtival,' a public festival in Lugano,...

NASCAR Debuts Mobile Technology Center.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... By William George Shuster NASCAR introduced a new state-of-the-art Mobile Technology Center at the running of the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge in May. It will serve as the at-track home base for NASCAR's Timing and Scoring system....

Mondaine, Luminox Form Partnership, New U.S. Agency.
August 1, 2006... By William George Shuster Two Swiss-made watch brands-Swiss-based Mondaine, creator of the Swiss Railways Watch, and U.S.-based Luminox, known for its unique watch-illumination system-have formed a new partnership. It includes an endeavor...

Chinese Luxury Tax Upsets Swiss Watchmakers.
August 1, 2006... By William George Shuster China's new 20 percent sales tax on luxury watches (i.e., over $1,200 retail), which became effective April 1, has upset Swiss watchmakers and the Swiss government. Almost all imported luxury watches sold in China...

Dispute Continues Over Distribution of Roger Dubuis Watches.
August 1, 2006... By William George Shuster The dispute continues over who is authorized to distribute luxury brand Roger Dubuis watches in North America. In June, Roger Dubuis North America, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., which was fired in November as distributor...

Parmigiani Uses "Real Women" to Promote Its Watches.(Parmigiani Fleurier)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... By William George Shuster Tired of celebrities paid to promote watches? So is Swiss luxury brand Parmigiani Fleurier, which is taking a new approach to promote its first-ever women's collection of watches. 'We refuse to hire show-...