Jewelers Circular Keystone articles from July 2000

Jewelers Circular Keystone archives from July 2000

ASHFORD.COM LAUNCHES FINE JEWELRY LINE.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... Ashford.com (www.ashford.com), an Internet retailer of luxury products, has launched its own line of fine jewelry. Called the Ashford Collection, it's the first in a series of luxury and premium product lines coming from Ashford this year....

De Beers Announces Pricing Change.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... De Beers recently introduced a major change in its diamond pricing policy--and some think even more dramatic changes are on the way. The company announced that, in the future, price "adjustments" will be made more frequently--and the...

Frederick Goldman Acquires ArtCarved.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... Frederick Goldman Inc., a leading bridal jewelry manufacturer, has acquired ArtCarved, one of the oldest and best-known bridal jewelry brands. Goldman announced on May 10 that it had acquired the assets of the 150-year-old firm from its...

Signet Buys Marks & Morgan for $115 Million.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... The London-based Signet Group, parent firm of Sterling Inc., has bought Marks & Morgan, the ninth largest U.S. specialty retail jeweler, for $115 million. Its stores, which will be operated by Sterling, are located in malls throughout the...

Friedman's to Reimburse Customers Who Bought Credit Insurance.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... Friedman's Inc., the third largest U.S. retail chain jeweler, has agreed to fully reimburse its West Virginia customers for the cost of credit insurance they purchased unwittingly when they bought jewelry. Friedman's probably will have to...

Berkshire Hathaway to Buy Ben Bridge.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... Ben Bridge Jeweler, a 63-store, family-owned jewelry chain, will be sold to Berkshire Hathaway Inc. The purchase agreement was signed May 18, and completion of the transaction is expected this month. The value of the deal--a cash and stock...

Modern Jeweler Parent Company Is Sold.(Cygnus Business Media sold to CommerceConnect Media)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... Cygnus Business Media, the parent company of Modern Jeweler magazine and 48 other business-to-business publications, has been sold to CommerceConnect Media for $275 million. Cygnus, based in Melville, N.Y., also operates 16 trade shows and...

Gucci Buys Boucheron, Retakes YSL Licenses.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... The Gucci Group, an Italian luxury goods firm, has bought Boucheron, a 142-year-old Parisian luxury watchmaker and jeweler, from Schweizerhall Holding AG, a Swiss firm. The purchase, announced May 23, strengthens Gucci's position in the upper...

FTC Issues Guidelines for Internet Ads.(Federal Trade Commission)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... The Federal Trade Commission's consumer protection rules--including those for jewelry and gems--apply to ads and sales on the Internet as much as they do to print and electronic media, according to a new FTC report. "Fraud and deception are...

Courtesy, Success, and the Traveling Salesperson.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... It's July, and the serious work for buyers and sellers has begun. The major retail selling season looms just ahead. The hard work of evaluating thousands of exhibitors' products from the trade show circuit is well under way. One key to...

Moissanite Company Chairman Resigns.(Jeff Hunter resigns from Charles & Colvard)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... Jeff Hunter, chairman and CEO of Charles & Colvard (formerly C3 Inc.), the sole source of moissanite, resigned his position effective May 14. Dr. Frederick A. Russ, former dean of business administration at the University of Cincinnati,...

Tanzanite Mines Go Online.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... There's good news for tanzanite lovers-- there should be a steady supply of good-quality material for at least the next few years. Thanks in part to a South African and Tanzanian joint venture group called Afgem (African Gem Resources),...

United Pearl Producers Auction Tahitian Pearls.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... A record 210,000 pearls were sold for $9.1 million at the fifth annual Tahitian Pearl Producers auction, held in February. Sales had been estimated at $6 million. Three big lots were sold to firms in Hong Kong and Japan. Yeun Hing Hong of...

Jewelry Camping.(jewelry industry conference)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... The 21st annual Antique & Period Jewelry and Gemstone Conference, otherwise known as "Jewelry Camp," gets under way July 29 and continues through Aug. 2. This year's event will be held at Bryant College in Smithfield, R.I. The roster of...

Gubelin Gets New Look.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... The internationally recognized G[ddot{u}]belin Gemmological Laboratory is breaking away from the jewelry division of G[ddot{u}]belin AG to become a subsidiary of G[ddot{u}]belin Holding. The new laboratory, G[ddot{u}]belin Gem Lab Ltd., has...

GEM PRICING UPDATE from THE GUIDE.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... Market in brief: June 1, 2000... The colored stone market continues to grow. Prices are stable, and dealers are reporting strong sales in many categories of colored stones. Blue sapphire, one of the best-known gems among consumers, is...

Lasering Without Drilling.(jewelery)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... The Gemological Institute of America's Gem Trade Laboratory has encountered a new laser drilling method that doesn't leave a hole. Tom Moses, GTL vice president in charge of gem identification, says the result is a series of small fractures....

Diamond.com's Un-cert-ainty.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... Until recently, if you clicked on a diamond at Diamond.com (formerly Odimo.com), a strange thing happened. No matter what "cert" the diamond is sold with--European Gemological Laboratory, International Gemological Institute, or any other--up...

America's Diamond Mine Is Sold to Toronto Firm.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... Kelsey Lake, Americas only commercial diamond mine, has a new owner. The Fort Collins, Colo.-based mine produced a much-ballyhooed 28-ct. gem in 1996 but had been inoperative for a year as a result of financial problems at owner Redaurum. In...

Oved's New Treatment Is "Un-Torch-Able'.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... The Oved Diamond Company is adding a new wrinkle to the fracture-filling process. It's unveiling a new filler it claims is resistant to the high temperature of a jeweler's torch. "A lot of retailers said they didn't want to touch clarity...

Canadian Mine Considers Starting Its Own Brand.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... The new Ekati mine in Canada's Northwest Territories wants to hop aboard the "brand wagon." The mine's Graham Nicholls says it's considering starring its own "Ekari" brand--which could be sold via traditional retail outlets or on the...

N.Y. Congressman Visits DDC.(Diamond Dealers Club)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y) recently paid a visit to the Diamond Dealers Club to discuss legislation mandating that diamonds be sold with certificates of origin to ensure they don't come from conflict areas. Nadler wasn't familiar with details...

One Sightholder Acquires Another.(diamond industry)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... ESchrieber, a New York-based sightholder, has acquired J. Klagsbrun, another New York sightholder. The move will make Schrieber one of the largest diamond companies in New York. The acquisition gives the company two sights. "This gives us...

Green Diamond Sets Record at Christie's.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... A 1.73-ct. old-mine-cut fancy vivid yellowish-green diamond named the Belle Epoque recently sold at Christie's New York auction house for $886,000, or roughly $500,000 per carat, a record price. The diamond, whose saturated green hue required...

Not Just Another Pretty Picture Book.(Review)
July 1, 2000... John I. Koivula, GIA's chief research gemologist, takes terrific photomicrographs of diamonds, and his new book, The Micro World of Diamonds, published by Gemworld International Inc., is filled with them. But the book is much more than...

A Message from Roswitha Affemann.(Platinum Guild International)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... Platinum jewelry has quickly established a foothold in the United States during the past few years. The American jewelry industry's consistency, directness, and determination to reach a goal have made the United States the largest and most...

Who Is Today's Platinum Consumer?(jewelry industry)
July 1, 2000... Platinum appeals to a wide range of demographic groups--young people about to be married, maturing Baby Boomers, and even those customers who are shopping for the best value for their money. Platinum's recent reemergence on the fashion...

With Platinum Rings, They Wed.
July 1, 2000... When retailers ask brides-to-be it they want platinum jewelry, many are responding, "I do." This number is likely to increase as the white metal's popularity soars. More and more these days, couples are sealing their commitment to...

Millennium Brides Choose Silver.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... With millennium celebrations and new bridal fashions calling for a white metal look, silver is becoming increasingly popular for this year's bride. According to the Silver Information Center, brides are choosing sterling silver jewelry for...

Plus-Size Market Is Growing.(selling jewelry)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... According to a recent report in Women's Wear Daily, the plus-size market is the fastest-growing segment of the women s apparel business. Sales in the category are approximately $26 billion annually, and it accounts for slightly more than 27%...

IJDG Hosts Lunch for Fashion Editors.(International Jewelry Design Guild)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... The International Jewelry Design Guild hosted a designer jewelry preview luncheon in April at the Beacon Restaurant in New York. The event kicked off a series of Design Guild events to be held throughout 2000. Jewelry designers Whitney Boin,...

Ricardo Migel: A Jeweler Since Age 10.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... Jewelry designer Ricardo Migel, a third-generation jeweler, can boast of Spanish ancestors who were the goldsmiths for Catalonian royalty. His own career began when he was 10 years old, working in his father's workshop in Uruguay, where his...

Elyssa B Design: Get Bead-Dazzled.(jeweler Elyssa Beth Silbert)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... Elyssa Beth Silbert, designer and principal of Elyssa B Design, finds inspiration in the swirling energy of the California coastline. She interprets the warm, sensuous, and sunny atmosphere into a collection of intricately styled accessories....

Talisman Unlimited: From TV to Jewelry.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... Talisman Unlimited was founded by Lisa Ruskin and Michael Pitkow in 1988. Both Ruskin and Pitkow have a communications background--she worked for NBC, he cofounded a theater company in Boston and was creative director of Music Promotions, an...

Bvlgari Reinterprets Its Own Classics.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... For summer and fall 2000, Bvlgari has redefined its classical aesthetic motifs. Its Spiga, Passo Doppio, Bvlgari-Bvlgari, XL, and B.zero 1 collections have been recreated with pav[acute{e}] diamonds and white gold. The new Spiga bracelet...

Tenth SIHH Is Best Yet.(Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, watch show in Switzerland)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... The Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH), the "other" Swiss luxury watch fair, which overlaps the world-famous Basel fair, marked its 10th anniversary with its best-attended show yet. The fair, which ran from March 28 to...

Revamped Seiko Focuses on Efficiency.(Seiko Corporation of America)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... After a yearlong evaluation of its operations and customer relations, Seiko Corp. of America has revamped and reduced its corporate structure. The changes, say SCA's top officials, eliminate duplication in operations, put renewed focus on...

Jaeger-LeCoultre Opens N.Y. Office, Hires Managing Director.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... Jaeger-LeCoultre, one of the most respected names in luxury watches, is raising its profile in the U.S. market with a number of changes. The Swiss firm has hired Ronald L. Wolfgang, former president of luxury brand Ebel USA, as managing...

Batt-Tronic Offers Free Batteries.(for watches)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... Batt-Tronic Corp. is offering free watch batteries to its customers to celebrate its 25th anniversary. With every purchase of 100 batteries, the company will automatically include 25 #377 (Batt-Tronic Draw 34) batteries. Batt-Tronic,...

Turquoise.
July 1, 2000... The name "turquoise" has an uncertain origin but most likely derives from a phrase meaning "Turkish stone," possibly a reference to the Persian turquoise trade route, which passed through Turkey. History and romance. Egypt's first...

Real Men Do Wear Silver.
July 1, 2000... Guys must be getting tougher When it comes to dressing up with sterling silver jewelry and watches, men are no longer afraid, say suppliers. The results are rising sales and a new market for jewelry retailers. The market for men's...

Peace, Love, and Sterling Silver.(jewelry design)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... As minimalism quietly fades away, both apparel and jewelry designs have become embellished with exotic, ethnic, or hippie-inspired touches of embroidery, beading, and fringe. In apparel, these touches often are found gracing the hems of...

Jolly Old Silver.(silversmiths)(Directory)
July 1, 2000... The words "British sterling" once brought to mind cheap men's cologne, but to jewelers looking for innovative giftware merchandise, the phrase conjures visions of an untapped source of fine silver accessories. Jewelers who want to expand...

Diamond Grading Technology: Art Meets Science.
July 1, 2000... Is diamond grading becoming easier because of new technology, or is state-of- the-art equipment making grading more complicated? New scientific technologies combined with more powerful computers are dramatically reducing time-consuming...

Everyone's Branding Diamonds!(Industry Overview)
July 1, 2000... Diamonds are being sold on the Internet at incredibly low margins. How can retailers compete? One answer may be branding. Branding, when it's successful, evokes immediate recognition and positive emotional responses. Names, slogans,...

Can De Beers Keep It Going?(De Beers Consolidated Mine Co.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... 1999 was a banner year for diamond sales. Now the challenge is to repeat the magic this year: For people at De Beers' U.S. ad agency, J. Walter Thompson, it should be time to cheer. Diamond sales jumped 12% in 1999--one of the largest...

NATURAL COLORED DIAMONDS: FULL-SPECTRUM SALES.
July 1, 2000... As the trend toward color hits its stride, natural fancy colored diamonds are striking spark among consumers. The surest sign that natural colored diamonds have attained "in" status is the number of celebrities wearing them to...

Wearing It on the Sleeve Sleeve.(cufflinks for men)
July 1, 2000... Demand for antique and estate cufflinks is booming, as casual workplaces spawn a countertrend toward dressing up, and men (and women) rediscover classic "cuff buttons." Cufflinks have been riding the tide of men's fashion since the reign...

JCK Show Helps Visitors Face the Future.(largest jewelry and watch fair)
July 1, 2000... Appropriately, a futurist delivered the keynote address. Prospering in the age of the Internet was on the minds of many participants. In Las Vegas, you can visit a 20-story pyramid, view a patch of New York skyline, ride a Venetian...

JEWELRY ARTIST HAS ONLINE PRESENCE.(John Medeiros)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... John Medeiros of Fall River, Mass., an emblematic jewelry artist, has a Web site, www.jmeddesign.com. Medeiros specializes in art and design work for corporate, recognition, and school jewelry.

WEB SITE ADDS TRADE AREA.(Web site of Vintage Creations and Jenna Nicole)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... A trade area has been added to the Web site of Vintage Creations and Jenna Nicole, Freehold, N.J. Visitors who enter a user ID and password may view pieces from Vintage Creations' prong-set marcasite line or Sterling Filigree Collection or...

KING'S CHAIN HONORED BY BUSINESS SCHOOL.(King's Jewelry; University of Pittsburgh Katz Graduate School of Business)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... King's Jewelry, a 45-store chain headquartered in New Castle, Pa., was honored as "Western Pennsylvania Family Business of the Year" by the Family Enterprise Center at the University of Pittsburgh Katz Graduate School of Business. The...

KIRCHNER CORP. LAUNCHES BRIDAL LINE.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... Kirchner Corp.'s new bridal line, Two Become One, consists of engagement rings and wedding bands for women and men designed in yellow and white gold, symbolizing the joining of two lives into one. Rings are stamped with a 2B1 symbol....

PRECIOUS METALS FRM ADDS CLOSEOUTS.(Dillon Gage Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... Dillon Gage Inc. of Dallas, a brokerage firm and precious metals and foreign exchange dealer, has expanded its business to include buying and selling of closeout jewelry. The Dillon Gage group of companies deals in commodities,...

People.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... GIA APPOINTS TWO The Gemological Institute of America has made two appointments. Judith Shechter-Lankford has been named director of corporate sales. A Graduate Gemologist with more than 26 years of industry experience, she will be...

JA NEW YORK OFFERS EXHIBITS, SEMINARS.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... More than 1,700 jewelry companies are expected to exhibit at the JA New York Show, taking place July 30 through Aug. 2 at the Javits Center in New York City. The International Jewelry Design Guild's "Design Collections 2000" exhibit will...

Stores from Hell.(importance of customer relations in jewelry retailing)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... Any retail expert will tell you that customer service makes or breaks a business. That's because customer service matters to a time-starved populace--it's what draws people back to your store, and it's what will prevent brick-and-mortar...

Peony.(new catalog)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... Peony, a manufacturer of fine cufflinks and men's accessories, presents a 16-page, four-color catalog illustrating selections from its collection of more than 1,000 designs in 14k, 18k, and platinum. Among the items featured are cufflinks...

Ashi Diamonds LLC.(new catalog)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... Ashi Diamonds LLC, a jewelry manufacturer and wholesaler, offers its New Millennium 84-page countertop catalog to jewelry retailers.

Westec Interactive Security.(introduces PTZ Camera)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2000... Westec Interactive Security's PTZ Camera can pan the site, tilt for a better visual, and zoom in for a closet look. ("PTZ" stands for "pan, tilt, zoom.") The remote management user can get specific product information and a 180-degree...

MVI Marketing Ltd.(representing client with some 30 jewelry-related Internet domain names for sale)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2000... MVI Marketing Ltd. represents a client who has some 30 Internet domain names for sale. All have some connection to the jewelry, gem, or watch industry; some have a strong product orientation. The names are being sold by closed tender until...

Rio Grande.(introduces PMC+ clay)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2000... Rio Grande, manufacturer of Precious Metal Clay (PMC), has introduced PMC+, a clay that feels heavier in the hands. It fires at a lower temperature (1,472 degrees F) than PMC, in less time (30 minutes) . The finished piece is stronger with...