#BrendaSmithJewelry #Holiday #TrunkShow at #HighlandDiamond

 

   

Penny Preville Premieres "Carry Beauty With You" Video Campaign

Fine Jewelry Designer, Penny Preville, 

Unveils First Multi-Media Ad Campaign 

with Print, Digital and Video Creative 

 New ad campaign includes first brand video 

titled "Carry Beauty With You"

This holiday season, fine jewelry  designer, Penny Preville will unveil a new multi-media advertising initiative, titled, “Carry Beauty With You” (#carrybeautywithyou). For the first time, this campaign will not only include traditional print and digital components, but will introduce the brand's first video. This foray into the video arena is an ambitious and unique endeavor in the jewelry category, and one that further enhances the brand's opportunity to tell a story while engaging the consumer on an emotional level. The video will introduce the brand to potential new customers while re-engaging those already loyal to the brand.

The centerpiece of this campaign - the short video - stands as a beautiful and poetic statement about adventure, timelessness, and natural beauty. Rather than seeing the traditional jewelry gift box, viewers will watch a young girl on a sprawling journey through beautiful landscapes.  The vision for this film was drawn from designer, Penny Preville's own design process, who often finds inspiration in the every day or while exploring other countries and cultures.  As such, this video is meant to celebrate and honor the creative spirit of Penny Preville’s work. By complementing the art of jewelry with the art of video, “Carry Beauty With You” reminds us to cherish life's little moments and promises to add a whole new dimension to Penny Preville's brand identity.

Like many luxury brands today, Penny Preville is preparing for the future of consumer marketing: video content.  Video is fast becoming the most powerful medium to reach consumers and invite them into the brand's culture.

Founder and head designer, Penny Preville shares, "Our first video truly underscores my vision for the brand.  Understated elegance combined with feminine beauty is the core of my design philosophy.  This video provides us a platform to showcase our jewelry in a simple and classic way, which to me, always signifies true elegance and grace."

"Carry Beauty With You" was produced and directed by 3rd Strand, a Brooklyn-based advertising agency.  It was shot in Oregon and stars Chloey Legg as the young girl, and fashion runway model, Sara Ziff, as the adult version of the girl. The corresponding print ads for "Carry Beauty With You" were shot by photographers Blair Getz Mezibov and Caitlin Beryl Warther. Both the video and print campaign will launch in November 2013.

Ziff, an American model has appeared in other ad campaigns and runway shows for Stella McCartney, Prada, Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs, and Balenciaga.   She is also a labor activist and founder of the Model Alliance, a nonprofit organization that aims to establish fair labor standards for models working in the American fashion industry.

To learn more about Penny Preville and to find your closest retailer, please visit www.pennypreville.com.  #carrybeautywithyou

#WordlessWednesday - Spotlight On The Colors of Sillam

Designer Spotlight on Sillam - The Sillam brand was founded in 1835 in Paris, and is headquartered today in Vienna, where designer Henri J. Sillam designs his artistic baubles. He is the 5^th generation to be the Head Designer and CEO of the House of Sillam, following the footsteps of the master goldsmiths before him. The brand is synonymous with the art of “haute  joaillerie"  in its highest form.

With stores around the country, Sillam is a dynamic brand yet remains exclusive and somewhat mysterious. The usage of unique stones and an innate focus on quality, workmanship and beauty are just part of what allow the Sillam collection to exude the sensual elegance that it does.

The collection is a stunning rainbow of vivid hued gemstones and ornate, sparklers. Dive into the brand, and you will find classic jewelry alongside cheeky pieces, including animals, fruits and my personal favorite, a champagne cork ring!

http://www.sillam.com/en/home/home.html

 

#JWLV - A Century of Red Carpet Glamour - Oscar Heyman at Prestige Promenade

JOIN ME AND VISIT THE LEGENDARY OSCAR HEYMAN 

AT PRESTIGE PROMENADE IN BOOTH 12 IN THE JCK SHOW!

Designer Jewel: Duncan Stevens, Opulence - Men!

We are all born originals - why is it so many of us die copies? - Edward Young

Duncan has again released a mouth-wateringly significant piece of jewellery. Signet is part of his extravagant one-off rarities and is Duncan’s first men’s ring to join the Opulence Collection, that collection of rings and necklaces which grabbed attention in the media throughout the global financial meltdown for their oversized gemstones, diamonds and weighty solid gold sculptural forms.

 

Handcrafted in 18k yellow gold, this polished men’s ring has a gently curved top which houses the fifteen specially cut square gemstones. These stones are set into three lines, its grid broken by the solitary Diamond amongst all the Onyx. Along the inside of the band is a single small round diamond used as part of a personalised message and the recipient of this ring absolutely loved it, even commenting on how the piece was even more spectacular than the drawings.

 

The opulent Signet ring will be but the beginning of his men's range, as well as some other women's sumptuous pieces to join this rarefied collection. Only a handful of these pieces have been created so far, the sheer extravagance of the materials used, keeping them reserved for the most discerning and fortunate few, and with clients including an African and European royal, as well as women of means, it is no surprise that his work continues to grab the attention of loyal clients and collectors abroad.

In 2009, Duncan released what became known as the Opulence Collection. He was not afraid to buck against the prevailing trends of that time to go smaller, more commercial and cheaper. Duncan’s intention with the Opulence Collection is a strong desire to develop a strand of one-off collectors pieces, a body of estate jewellery. Investment pieces of solid precious metals and gems, with his over-arching vision to develop no more than a hundred pieces a year of spectacular jewellery, each piece having it’s own essence, fulfilling it’s own vision, not tied into being part of a set. In a sense, the piece itself should be able to stand alone, the wearer needing no other artifice.

“Duncan Stevens whose pieces are rare objets d’art in their own right…creates pieces of high value that are infused with the energy that is present in this talented man dedicated to high end craftsmanship.” – Luxury News

Duncan has never truly felt comfortable with the idea of making multiples of pieces. He has however developed ranges of jewellery, where perhaps no more than a 100 of his smaller ready-to-wear pieces have been created (in his mind this constitutes mass production). But the pieces that reside in the Opulence collection are some of his most fabulous pieces, not only for their cost, but also for the manner in which they shall never be repeated. And there-in lies the beauty in what Duncan does, part of his design and commissioning process to create these signature pieces are carefully thought out shapes and material or in-depth meetings with his clients to ascertain their needs.

 

Attention to detail and careful selection of materials ensures that these pieces are special, each one a small part of the designer himself. Duncan never wants to compete in the saturated mass produced market, the hallmark of our industrial age, instead, he continues to produce a small quantity of special pieces and builds a portfolio of some of the most exquisite and bold one-off pieces around.

“Duncan Stevens is not only one of South Africa’s leading jewellery artists in creativity and design, he is also a remarkably clever designer. His love of innovative design can be seen in his pieces and demonstrates his commitment to unique jewellery matched with fine craftsmanship.” – Makia

About Duncan Stevens
The formation of Duncan Stevens is born of a love for jewellery and objets d’art. There is a clear aesthetic to the work designed and produced by him. The intention is to continue to create unique pieces of high value work, small batch pieces of mid-range priced jewellery and a range of affordable jewellery, all the while maintaining quality and design integrity.

The core ethos of Duncan Stevens is simple;quality over quantity. His core values are defined by a highly developed aesthetic, but matched with fine craftsmanship.  Limited editions, one-offs and small runs means every piece is catalogued, and every piece remains special.

Every time a person purchases a piece of jewellery, they know the quantity available, and that should they own a unique piece, that it belongs only to them, and will never be repeated again.

Check out www.duncanstevens.com to see images of more stunning works from Duncan Stevens or join the Duncan Stevens Jewellery Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Duncan-Stevens-Jewellery/83486492477 or get jewellery styling & gift tips @DSJewellery on Twitter

Source:  Press Release from Duncan Stevens

Designer Jewel: Spotlight on Aaron Henry Designs

Jewelry Designer Spotlight Shines on Aaron Henry Designs

"The hallmarks to AARON HENRY jewelry are design integrity, gemstone quality, fine craftsmanship and attention to detail. Fine jewelry is an art form, and the creative process extends beyond our studio into every aspect of the world, which we inhabit.

Where we travel, whom we meet and how we interact with nature and culture; our experiences and desires all influence the direction that our designs take. This is why the jewelry that we create today will remain relevant for future generations, and why our designs will continue to evolve"          Philosophy from Aaron Henry Designs

When you are born into a family which boasts three generations of Jewelers and Diamond Merchants that date to 1940, there is little doubt as to the path you will take.   Such was the lot of California born Aaron Furlong and he embraced it.  Having acquired his Bachelors of Arts Degree from UC Davis and Graduate Gemologist Certification from the Gemological Institute of America by the time he was 21 the logical next step was to learn the Trade he needed an Apprenticeship.


This was accomplished with a six year commitment to a Master Jeweler in Los Angeles, CA.  When, following the subsequent expansion of those teachings to include design, carving, and casting...Aaron Henry Designs was born.  Creating unique works inspired by nature and made entirely in America.

A testament to the quality and craftsmanship produced are the accolades awarded Aaron Henry Designs. The prestigious Spectrum Award from the American Gem Trade Association - featured status by The World Gold Council and DeBeers - and extensive coverage in Fashion and Industry publications...to name just a few.

One of the really interesting features of the Aaron Henry website is his step by step pictorial of the Design process...while it is very informational to his customers - I would imagine that it brings in Custom work while reinforcing the level of Craftsmanship in his pieces.  Starting with the rendering - moving through the waxes - making a mold - setting and assembly - through to finish.


Take a minute and check out the pictorial here.

Take-aways from this Designer's Story:


Retail Jeweler - if you are looking for designers that are Makers and don't ship the work abroad...Aaron Henry is for you.  There is an increased emphasis on "Made In America" by the local & national press - are you taking full advantage?  


Jewelry Designer:  does your website have a feature that builds confidence in your ability to provide a Custom piece of jewelry?   is there a technique that you are particularly skilled at that you could highlight?

Jewelry Design Student: I think the biggest thing for a student to learn from Aaron Henry is in his "Philosophy" statement...students always question how to continue to come up with new design ideas.  "Where we travel, whom we meet and how we interact with nature and culture; our experiences and desires all influence the direction that our designs take. "  So - lead a full life and glean from those experiences...you will always produce something new!


Aaron Henry Designs website:  http://www.aaronhenry.com

Jewelry in Motion: Kinetic Jewelry from Designer Andrea Rosenfeld

Jewelry designer and artist, Andrea Rosenfeld, has brought movement to her newest designs. As a kinetic artist, the jewelry is enhanced with movement and inspired by the motion and energy of the body. 

 The kinetic jewelry is designed with elements that move in rhythm with the body and/or can be gently manipulated by the wearer to create alternate compositions. These kinetic works are thought-provoking and display a playfulness that we don’t often see in jewelry design.

Andrea Rosenfeld creates kinetic jewelry that offers a dramatic combination of sculptural artistry and metaphysical energy that improves lives.

Andrea’s latest designs include a variety of pieces built with kinetic movement, while also incorporating her Reiki elements, a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing, which is signature to each piece of jewelry. 

She balances and charges the stones, increasing their ability to uplift others: Jade attracts wisdom and long life, Turquoise offers soothing energy and peace of mind and Aquamarine is a “stone of courage” to name a few.

See the latest from the artist on her Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/andrearosenfelddesigns

For more information on Andrea Rosenfeld, please contact Nicole Cornella at andrearosenfeldpr@gmail.com

MJSA Announces Custom Jeweler Level Membership

MJSA's Custom Jeweler Membership Debuts  (Report from the MJSA Up-To-Date Newsletter) Custom jewelers spend their days creating unique jewelry for their clients--and now there's an MJSA membership tailored just for them. The new MJSA Custom Jeweler membership category is affordably priced at $95, and includes free subscriptions to the monthly MJSA Journal and quarterlyMJSA Custom Jeweler; free archived articles from both publications; and discounts on the books of MJSA Press and other leading industry publications. Custom Jeweler members can also use the MJSA logo on their websites, in their studios, and at their stores, to signal their commitment to professional excellence in jewelry making and design. In addition, Custom Jeweler members can upgrade at any time to MJSA's Retail membership category. This higher level of membership allows retailers to gain access to additional services the association offers, including deep discounts on FedEx shipping, store-branded consumer financing programs through GE Money, and affordable press release preparation through the PR & Pix program. There are also discounts on subcontracting services (such as CAD/CAM), and various other discounted supplies and services for custom jewelers, provided by MJSA suppliers that participate in the MJSA Member-to-Member program. To learn more, contact MJSA at 1-800-444-MJSA (6572), e-mailinfo@mjsa.org, or visit MJSA Online at mjsa.org.

Pame' Designs - "Where Glamour Meets Adventure"

Pam Sweeney is the talent behind Pame' Designs and I have to say that I am a little jealous of her journey to the life and business she has built for herself.


Her tagline:   "Where Glamour Adventure" speaks to that journey. 

You probably know her long wrapped bracelets that can also be worn as necklaces...or bohemian leather and pearl necklaces and bracelets from the pages of the fashion magazines and Celeb photos.


From a childhood in Manhattan, learning style on the streets of New York City, flash forward to this girl that would have fit in perfectly at my heavily surf oriented California Beach High School?  yeah Corona del Mar High School...livin' the dream! ;-p

Once that glamorous style of the big city was instilled in her Pam moved to Colorado - then traveled to the crystal blue beaches of Mexico - learned to surf and fell in love with both.


Today Pame' Designs is an Aspen based company with a foot in the surf...creating jewelry using sustainable materials and making a conscious decision to give back to the countries from which the materials are derived. 

Excerpt from the Pame' Designs Website:


"Pame' Designs is a luxury jewelry company that is inspired by Pam Sweeney's global travel and love of beach, surf and exotic finds from around the world. The collection - created from the highest quality leather, silver and gold are adorned with Tahitian pearls, marcasite and semi-precious stones that carry meaning and invite conversation.


Dedicated to keeping our oceans healthy and furthering her love of nature, a portion of all jewelry sales are donated to the Surfrider Foundation or the Waterkeeper Alliance to help protect and keep our rivers and ocean healthy"

Pame' Designs: http://pamedesign.com/


Pame' Designs on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pamedesigns


Pame' Designs on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/pamedesigns

Pame' Designs Blog: http://pamedesign.tumblr.com/

Mother's Day Giveaway on Jane Basch Designs

Just happened across this exciting offer:

Mothers Day Giveaway!

Why should mom’s only be celebrated one day?  The entire month should celebrate motherhood. So with that, we are officially claiming the month of May as Mother’s Month!

To celebrate, one lucky fan will win a Jane Basch Mommy Monogram.

The sterling silver 3/4″ charm comes with one gold heart and up to three single initial monograms on a 16” chain.  To enter, leave a comment below telling us a special moment with your Mom or as a Mother and then follow us on Twitter (twitter.com/janebschdesign) or like us on Facebook (facebook.com/janebaschdesign).  

A winner will be chosen at random on May 20 and announced on May 23.

Good luck!

I like your thinking Jane...so what are you waiting for?  ... get over to Jane's blog and enter!  meet you there!

A favorite of the Fashion Magazines, Jane has been designing in the Jewelry Industry for 20 years.  

She went out on a limb and started Jane Basch Designs just three years ago. 

A finalist in the 2009 JCK Jeweler's Choice Awards...Jane Basch is a household name to celebrities like Demi Moore, Ashley Tisdale and Debra Messing...isn't it time you indulged?

Jane Basch Designs: http://www.janebasch.com

Shop Jane Basch:  http://shop.janebasch.com/

Jane's Blog:  http://www.janebasch.com/blog/

ANDREA ROSENFELD, COLLABORATES IN WOOD & METAL

ARTIST AND DESIGNER, ANDREA ROSENFELD, COLLABORATES ON COLLECTION

Artists Marry Specialized Trades to Produce One Cohesive Collection

When artists of different backgrounds collaborate on projects, whether it be in music, film, fashion or dance, elements of each artist stand out yet compliment the other, creating one final, inspired conception.  Recently featured in Women’s Wear Daily, jewelry designer and kinetic artist, Andrea Rosenfeld, took to the internet, searching for a fellow, local wood artist to collaborate with and help bring her imaginative designs to life. Ed Kelle, a graphic designer, painter and sculptor, caught Rosenfeld’s attention with his unique woodturning techniques and textures.  Together, with Rosenfeld’s sketches at the helm, the two artists have begun producing small collections of unique and organic jewelry designs that emanate from both artist’s expertise and passions.

Having more than one artistic trade come together combines an abundance of new ideas and builds a foundation for creating an energetic and one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry. With Rosenfeld’s knowledge in metalwork and gemstones and Kelle’s proficiency with woodwork comes an exciting marriage in jewelry design.   Beginning with rough sketches of design elements incorporating the wood, Rosenfeld sends her ideas off to Kelle where he begins brainstorming on ways to bring his portion of the visions to fruition.  The designers bounce ideas off of each other while working on their individual components.

“It is important that I send him either an image of the stone or the basic color tones so he and I can pick the wood that would work best,” says Rosenfeld. “From there, we discuss strength and structure based on the type of jewelry I’m designing and species of wood before individually working on our portions.”

“The contrast of the wood with metal and gems is perfect. They exist together in harmony, and the different textures play off of one another beautifully” says Kelle. “My experience in different artistic mediums, such as 2D mediums of painting and drawing, influence the 3D work of sculpture and woodturning and vice versa. I always make good use of my knowledge and experience in all fields in order to create my vision.”

Each piece speaks to an organic feel; designed around the natural movement/grain of the wood and stone. The pieces are earth-conscious, using reclaimed wood, recycled silver and stones harvested ethically (where available) and each have healing elements ignited by Rosenfeld, using Reiki, to release the metaphysical energies of the stones and metals.  Interested in promoting the healing properties of minerals, Rosenfeld studied Reiki, a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing.  Rosenfeld balances and charges the stones and metals, increasing their ability to uplift others. 

“You have to trust each other’s expertise and judgment when collaborating with a fellow artist and as artists who experiment, our goal is to expand our techniques, skills and knowledge base as well as complete the project,” says Rosenfeld. “Ed and I are eager to learn from one another.  Our conversations are peppered with energy and excitement.  We try to ‘see’ how each of us envisions our own handling of our particular materials and we connect through our collaboration.”

For more see http://andrearosenfelddesigns.com/

Second Annual Centurion Emerging Designer Awards

CENTURION 2010 EMERGING DESIGNER AWARDS

Fine Jewelry Designers, this is your chance to get your jewelry line
in front of the most desired retail stores in the U.S. Market!

Winners of the second annual Centurion Emerging Designer Awards will be given a shared exhibit space to introduce themselves to their ideal retail audience at Centurion Tucson 2010, the premiere high-end jewelry buying show.

This competition is open to all designers, regardless of experience, formal training or background in jewelry design, as long as:

 You have never exhibited as a solo artist
 You have the ability to exhibit at a trade fair
 You have the ability to supply high-end retailers should they want to purchase your line

Centurion 2009 will be held in Tucson, Arizona from January 30 (set-up and social day) – February 2, 2010. Winners will have the opportunity to exhibit their line for the duration of the show, as well as participate in the show events and experiences.

Entry Deadline: August 21 , 2009

For full rules, and to participate, visit the PDF link below, complete the form and email it along with up to 3 high-resolution images of your jewelry (you may need to break this into several emails if images are more than 1 meg each) to hh@centurionjewelry.com.

RULES AND ENTRY FORM LINK or copy and paste http://www.centurionjewelry.com/Centurion10EmergingDesignerEntryForm.pdf into your browser address window to access the entry form.

Centurion, 1745 Merrick Ave., Ste. 5, Merrick, NY 11566 USA, 516-377-5909, F. 516-377-5871, Email. info@centurionjewelry.com

________________________________________

Winners are chosen based on a design balance of creativity, originality, production quality, craftsmanship, and the ability to sell in high-end stores. For a story on the artists that won the 2009 Award see this link to JCK Online.

Couture 2009: view the most exclusive design collection in the U.S.

With over 3,000 qualified retailers already registered to attend, anticipation for Couture 2009 is building. World-class retailers come to Couture for the opportunity to excite their customers and source those collections that distinguish them as a Couture Jeweler.
Now, it's your time to view the most exclusive design collection in the U.S.
www.Couture09.com

From May 28th to June 2nd, Couture 2009 will welcome the world’s top retailers and the internationally- renowned brands, designers and emerging stars to the most exclusive and intimate destination for high-end jewelry and timepiece designs at the magnificent 5-Star Wynn Resorts. “Couture is the must-attend show in Las Vegas if you are looking for new designs and the most diversified collection of the best jewelry from the top designers in the market. The Couture show takes place in such an outstanding venue that conducting business there is just the most enjoyable, and comfortable experience.” -Jim Rosenheim of the Tiny Jewel Box in Washington, DC YOUR COMPLIMENTARY REGISTRATION AWAITS AT WWW.COUTURE09.COM More than 200 of the industry’s preeminent brands and designers will come to Couture, with more than 89% choosing to exclusively show their timeless classics and debut their newest collections only at Couture. In 2009, Couture will host its largest collection of international designers with fashion-forward and unique designs that are sure to dazzle all visitors in attendance. More than 25 new international designers have been added to complement the design staples of the Couture collections floor including: Buccellati, Charriol, Damiani, David Yurman, De Grisogono, H. Stern, Hearts On Fire, Jaeger Le-Coultre, John Hardy, Judith Ripka, Kwiat, Mikimoto, Roberto Coin, Scott Kay, and many more. See exhibitor list Back by Popular Demand: Couture 2009 Will Offer Retailer-Led Education Sessions In 2009, Couture is offering fantastic high-level, peer to peer, educational sessions, led by America’s Best Jeweler (ABJ) winners. They will share insights and best practices to real-world challenges including marketing, in-store operations, inventory management and more. Sessions are available on a first come, first served basis and are open to jewelry retailers only. Topics include: Friday, May 29 - The Social Media Dashboard Saturday, May 30 - Strategies for Compensating and Retaining Key Talent Sunday, May 31 - Running Successful Events Monday, June 1 - Ten Creative Ideas for Old Inventory To learn more about the ABJ program at Couture 2009, CLICK HERE Couture 2009 opens on Thursday, May 28 and is open to qualified retailers from any of the events taking place during Jewelry Market Week in Las Vegas. CLICK HERE TO CONFIRM YOUR REGISTRATION AT COUTURE 2009!