Jewelers Circular Keystone articles from December 2005

Jewelers Circular Keystone archives from December 2005

The JCK NYC Invitational--offering a brand new marketplace for major retailers & high volume buyers.(JCK Show Buzz)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2005... The first annual JCK NYC Invitational, taking place March 5-7, 2006, at the Hilton Hotel means business... big business, with powerful keynote speakers who know hAow to exceed expectations and succeed time and again. Rudy Giuliani and Jack...

An invitation to the world of opportunities.(Illustration)
December 1, 2005... Istanbul Jewelry Show is a perfect match between the needs of Trade Buyers and the offerings of manufacturers/suppliers from all over the world. Not only the leading event of its region encompassing 55 countries, it is also amongst the top...

The places you'll go, the people you'll meet.(from the publisher)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... I've just returned from a business trip to India and Israel. What amazing places... what amazing people! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] First stop, Mumbai. The sights, sounds, and smells of this dynamic city are incredible. I did my best to...

Calendar.(Calendar)
December 1, 2005... U.S. SHOWS AND EVENTS DECEMBER 9-11 GTS--Florida Jewelers Expo, Kissimmee, Fla.; (770) 410-9771, fax (770) 410-9767. JANUARY 3-4 International Watch & Jewelry Guild Inc., Miami Beach, Fla.; (713) 783-8188, fax (713)...

Fires four graders, changes management: GIA found 'misconduct' at grading lab; Moses new head.(SPOTLIGHT)
December 1, 2005... A four-month investigation ordered by the Gemological Institute of America's board of governors found "isolated incidents of misconduct" at its noted grading lab--prompting the firing of four graders. In addition, its chief executive officer...

JBT to 'enhance' credit ratings.(SPOTLIGHT)
December 1, 2005... The Jewelers Board of Trade, the industry's credit reference bureau, has rearranged its credit-rating system to give members more data to assess the credit risks of listed accounts. Starting January 2006, it will use new "Other Condition"...

NRF: customers will spend for holidays.(SPOTLIGHT)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
December 1, 2005... The average consumer plans to spend $738.11 this holiday season, up 5.1 percent from last year, says the National Retail Federation's annual forecast. Jewelry is on the wish lists of 26.4 percent of consumers. NRF SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS ...

De Beers opens second store in United States.(SPOTLIGHT)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... De Beers LV is opening its second U.S. store the first week of December--this time, on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, Calif. The first store debuted in New York in June. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The store has "the same ambiance and...

Whitehall suffers new blow as president resigns.(SPOTLIGHT)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Shortly after Whitehall Jewellers arranged a new financing deal that will likely give a majority of control of the company to outside investors, its president and interim chief operating officer, Lucinda M. Baier, resigned. Baier also served...

Overheard.(SPOTLIGHT)
December 1, 2005... "Diamonds are sexy. In fact, the only thing I wear every day is a diamond bracelet that was a present to myself--just because it was beautiful." --Eve, as quoted in InStyle magazine, September 2005

Blue Nile sues Odimo over diamond photos.(NEWSWIRE)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Blue Nile has filed a lawsuit against rival Odimo for copyright infringement, alleging that Odimo's Diamond.com site copied photographs and copyright-protected materials from Blue Nile, according to an article in the Puget Sound Business...

House of Taylor goes for Nasdaq listing.(NEWSWIRE)
December 1, 2005... House of Taylor Jewelry has filed an application with Nasdaq to have its common stock listed on its exchange. It has also appointed Pauline Schneider to the position of chief financial officer. Schneider replaces Jack Brehm.

Jeweler sentenced for misleading IRS.(NEWSWIRE)
December 1, 2005... Benny Ray Wadsworth, 64, of Pocahontas, Ark., was sentenced to 10 months in prison and fined $25,000 for impeding IRS agents trying to investigate his taxes, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Prosecutors said that Wadsworth falsely...

South Carolina jeweler dies.(NEWSWIRE)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
December 1, 2005... George Kenneth Satterfield Sr., 73, owner of the Jewelry Warehouse, a four-store chain first established in West Columbia, S.C., died in September. Satterfield founded the Jewelry Warehouse in 1977 from a wholesale business after he was...

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
December 1, 2005... In "What's New Bench & Lab" in the September issue, pages 156 and 157, contact information for Gesswein was not included for two products, Castaldo Titanium Label and 3M FX Polishing Wheels. Gesswein can be contacted at (800) 544-2043 ext....

Industry facing constant change: Rapaport Conference looks at 'confusion and uncertainty'.(DIAMONDS)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The abundance of challenges the diamond industry faces was on display at the third Rapaport International Diamond Conference in September. From synthetics to out-of-control rough prices, speakers noted that the industry was in a...

Sales up, prices higher: TanzaniteOne profits skyrocket.(GEMS)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... TanzaniteOne enjoyed significantly higher revenue in the first half of 2005, according to a company report. TO said its January-June revenue of $22.4 million--up from $13.7 million for the previous six-month period--resulted from "increased...

Mystery clock sells for nearly $300,000.(GEMS)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... A clock whose hands appear to float with no visible means of support sold for $295,914 at Antiquorum's Geneva auction Oct. 16. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Cartier mystery clock No. 2345 sits atop a black onyx base and stands 140 mm high...

Imperial red diamonds offer lower-cost color.(GEMS)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Natural red, purple, and pink diamonds are so rare they're the most valuable colored diamonds in the world. But Alex Grizenko, chief executive officer of Lucent Diamonds in Denver, says his company's Imperial Reds are available to consumers...

Faithful expressions: religious jewels offer style and statement.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Regardless of seasons, runways, or red carpets, religious jewelry remains perennially in style. From crosses and Stars of David to, most recently, Kabala bracelets, jewelry gives the faithful a means of expression, and precious jewelry makes...

A serious move for lighthearted links.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Links of London, the world-renowned 15-year-old jeweler that specializes in whimsy and makes a virtue of eccentricity, has unveiled a collection that departs slightly from its playful roots. The Annoushka collection, which features five...

Overheard.(FASHION)
December 1, 2005... Andre Leon Talley: The Vogue editors have such access to so many clothes and they are so fashion conscious, sometimes it's really intimidating. It's awful to walk down the Vogue hall because everyone's in the latest this, the last word of...

Launch pad.(FASHION)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Japan native Osamu Koyama loves hip-hop music and making fine jewelry, so launching his company, Complete Technique, which combines the two passions, was an easy decision. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Brooklyn-based designer makes...

Accolades.(NEWSWIRE)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... British retailer Links of London garnered some awards in 2005, including the U.K. Jewellery Brand of the Year award from Retail Jeweller magazine and Best Retail Website in the U.K. from New Media Age Publishing as part of its Effectiveness...

Appointments include CEOs, managing directors: luxury watch brands announce management changes.(WATCHES)(Juan-Carlos Torres appointed at Vacheron Constantin)(Hamdi Chatti appointed at Harry Winston Inc.)(Philippe Belais appointed at Philippe Belais)
December 1, 2005... It's been a busy half-year for the watch business, as several luxury brands announced management changes and appointments, including these: * Juan-Carlos Torres is the new chief executive officer of luxury watch brand Vacheron...

Watch companies make timely response to Katrina disaster.(WATCHES)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The watch industry responded quickly to the hurricane disasters in September on the U.S. Gulf Coast, making sizable donations for Red Cross relief efforts. Examples included Rolex Watch USA, which donated $1 million, and also matched...

Strong business sparks feeling of optimism: Hong Kong Watch Fair enjoys 14 percent gain in orders.(WATCHES)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The 24th annual Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair reported healthy gains in orders, an increase in foreign visitors, and optimism about 2006's business. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The five-day trade fair in September, at the Hong Kong...

Alfex wins Good Design Award.(WATCHES)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Swiss watch brand Alfex has been awarded the Good Design Award of The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design. The award was given for Alfex's Two Time Bango. Set in a superelastic fine rubber bracelet, there are two dials at...

Baume & Mercier.(NEWSWIRE)
December 1, 2005... Movie stars Meg Ryan and Kiefer Sutherland are also the stars of Swiss luxury watch brand Baume & Mercier's new international ad campaign, Baume & Mercier & Me, which launched in September. It's the first time Baume & Mercier has used...

Tissot.(NEWSWIRE)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Auto-racing pioneer and Indy Racing League racer Danica Patrick is the first female U.S. brand "ambassador" for Tissot, the 153-year-old Swiss watch. She was slated to appear in marketing and advertising showcasing Tissot's products,...

LVMH.(NEWSWIRE)(Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Luxury goods group LVMH (Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton) said its watches and jewelry division improved in 2005's first half, with profits up $17.4 million. (The division posted a loss for the first half of 2004 and broke even for the year.) TAG...

Monterey Classic Car Week.(NEWSWIRE)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... During the annual Monterey Classic Car Week festivities in Carmel, Calif., in August, luxury watch brand Roger Dubuis and watch retailer Lussori (formerly Greenwich Time Inc.) presented the second annual Roger Dubuis Exhibition of the most...

Pavarotti admires new opera watch.(WATCHES)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Philip Stein Teslar celebrated the launch of its new stainless-steel and 18k Opera Mini in Miami during the farewell concert tour of opera tenor Luciano Pavarotti. The company was the local sponsor of the concert. Ilonka Harezi [right],...

Thinking outside the jewelry box: purveyor of jewels keeps housewares.(BUSINESS)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Jewels and furniture might seem like unlikely mates, but they make sense for Elegant Slumming, Rehoboth Beach, Del. Owner and president Philip Livingston didn't even consider diversifying into product categories that complement jewelry, such...

10 ways to convert a lead.(BUSINESS)
December 1, 2005... [Ed. note: see "10 Ways You Can Generate Leads," JCK, November 2005, p. 65] 1 Use scripts. Script your best salesperson and train others based on that model. 2 Track conversion rates. 3 Get sales training. 4 Use "either......

New retail kiosk offers flexibility, safety, and control.(BUSINESS)
December 1, 2005... Mall kiosks may soon be getting makeovers. The tiny, merchandise-filled stands found in the aisles of shopping malls may soon be replaced with better stand-alone retail sales units. A new type of self-sustaining and flexible retail kiosk...

North / South / East / West: what are your biggest jewelry trends right now in fashion and bridal styles?(BUSINESS)
December 1, 2005... GAELLE DEVILLEFORT, manager, Peter Norman & Co. Jewelers, Los Angeles Fashion: long colored-stone earrings Bridal: cushion- and Asscher-cut diamond engagement rings JAMES WATSON, owner, H. Watson Jewelry Co., Chicago ...

Fun facts: eBay diamond jewelry stats.(BUSINESS)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The amount of diamond jewelry that eBay sells is dizzying: The category accounts for half of the site's $1.5 billion in worldwide jewelry sales. Last month JCK shared some of eBay's jewelry sales statistics (see "EBay Fast Facts," JCK,...

Memo programs.(counterpoint)
December 1, 2005... The practice of providing merchandise on a memorandum basis has been part of the jewelry industry for a long time. Memo began in the diamond business when a client requested a specific stone or several stones for purchase consideration. Over...

Too big to ignore: as a group, female consumers represent the single largest opportunity for sales growth in the domestic jewelry industry--which is why we've chosen the female consumer as JCK's Person of the Year for 2005.
December 1, 2005... Every December, the editors at JCK select an individual whom they feel has had the most impact on the jewelry industry as a whole in the previous year to be the JCK Person of the Year. Past recipients include such luminaries as John Kennedy,...

Gulf Coast jewelers begin recovery: in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, jewelers in the affected areas are starting to pick up the pieces.
December 1, 2005... Months after being hit by two of the worst hurricanes in U.S. history, jewelers, their staffs, and others in the trade on America's Gulf Coast are still recovering. Only one jeweler is known to have died, but many suffered damage or...

JCK's it list 2005: a list of who and what--people, places, brands, concepts, and products--the JCK editors predict will be newsmakers in 2006 and why. Watch for them.
December 1, 2005... Escada The German fashion house has built a lifestyle brand targeting youthful, fashion-conscious women; meanwhile, the Pluczenik Group, its fine-jewelry partner, is one sightholder that gets the jewelry/fashion connection. They're...

A peek at the future: a recent gathering of online retail executives examined the past, present, and future of consumer-based e-commerce.
December 1, 2005... What do customers really want from online retailers? How do online retailers retain those customers? Will a technology now used by 2 percent of the U.S. population replace e-mail? How are consumers using technology to personalize their...

170 years young: since 1835, J. & S.S. DeYoung Inc. has been a "source of the unusual" to discerning jewelry customers all over the world.
December 1, 2005... J. & S.S. DeYoung Inc. is known as a top-of-the-line purveyor of quality period jewelry and gemstones, but the company actually began its existence by focusing on diamonds. In 1835, a young diamond cutter named Simon DeYoung left Holland...

L.A. Woman.(Los Angeles Woman)(new jewelry)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Gemstone lover and jeweler Suzanne Felsen opened her second California-based boutique on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, in the fashion district. She'll continue to offer brightly colored and unusually cut gems set in 18k gold and platinum as...

Collection-quality gems dominant.(Pricing rates of gem stones)
December 1, 2005... MARKET IN BRIEF: Nov. 3, 2005... Activity in the colored stone market remains concentrated in the fine, collection-quality gemstones. The strength of the U.S. market is focused on the blue sapphire. Cushion cuts in the 2-5 ct. range are in...

Jewelry.(reports in jewelry industry)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Suzy Landa Earrings in 18k gold feature 0.25 cts. orange sapphire, 0.90 cts. rubellite, and 1.50 cts. peridot. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Suzy Landa New York (212) 874-2346 www.suzylanda.com Candela Jewelry Inc....

Watches.(WHAT'S NEW)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Wenger AquaGraph Tide's exclusive nine-jewel Swiss quartz movement can track Atlantic Ocean tides in two locations. The water-resistant stainless-steel watch features a moonphase subdial, date display, and screw-on back. Suggested retail...

L.I.D. announces several strategic changes.(SUPPLIER NEWS)(DTC sightholder L.I.D. Ltd)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Israeli DTC sightholder L.I.D. Ltd. has announced several strategic changes to help it develop its jewelry division and enhance its range of bridal and fashion lines for both major volume retailers and independent jewelers. The firm has...

Jewelers Mutual named to Ward's 50.(insurance in jewelry industry)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company, Neenah, Wis., has been named to the Ward's 50, a benchmark group of the nation's 50 top-performing insurance companies. The Ward Group, based in Cincinnati, is a management consulting firm that specializes...

Abacus Jewelers and Carl Blackburn begin brand conversion.(SUPPLIER NEWS)
December 1, 2005... Abacus Jewelers and designer Carl Blackburn have announced a strategic rebranding of Blackburn's vintage-inspired fine-jewelry collection. The designer's collection of art-deco and Edwardian-style jewelry designs will be branded by...

Ostbye & Anderson named IJO supplier of the year.(Independent Jewelers Organization )(awards in jewelry industry)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The retail members of the Independent Jewelers Organization have voted Ostbye & Anderson, Minneapolis, as 2005 Supplier of the Year. The management team and sales staff were presented the award at the IJO summer conference in Boston. ...

HMS Fine Jewelry under new ownership.(HMS Fine Jewelry)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... HMS Fine Jewelry, Dallas, an importer and distributor, has announced it is under new ownership and management. GOLD LLC, based in Los Angeles, purchased HMS in July 2005, and the company will be run and managed by partner Laurence Meskin. ...

Herff Jones acquires Anderson Jewelry.(Anderson Jewelry Inc)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Herff Jones Inc. has acquired Anderson Jewelry Inc., which is operating as a wholly owned subsidiary. Anderson Jewelry, Erlanger, Ky., manufactures licensed collegiate and pro sports jewelry and watches. Herff Jones Inc. manufactures...

R*Findings introduces cash-back reward program.(SUPPLIER NEWS)
December 1, 2005... R*Findings, Rochester, N.Y., has introduced a program called R*Buyer's Advantage, which rewards customers for increasing annual net purchases. R*Findings will track customer purchases annually between July 1 and June 30, measure the...

Rembrandt initiates contest for Teen Vogue readers.(SUPPLIER NEWS)
December 1, 2005... Rembrandt Charms, Buffalo, N.Y., will appeal to the teen and pre-teen audience through a dedicated "style story" contest for Teen Vogue's 4.25 million readers. Teen Vogue girls will be asked to tell their style story via a Rembrandt...

Goin' shopping!(editor's page)
December 1, 2005... Two things that relatively few people in the jewelry industry know about me, and my picture at left belies, are that I have curly hair and I am terribly nearsighted. Contact lenses and a flatiron normally address both, but eyeglasses and big...