UP Your Influence - Leading Jewelers Guild

If you have been following this blog awhile then you know that I have a soft spot for “the local jeweler”.  You know the ones, the independent jewelry shop on the corner that half the neighborhood has used for generations. Earlier this month I had the opportunity to attend the meeting for The Leading Jewelers Guild.

LJG is what happens when a group of Independent Jewelry Retailers (across the country) get together and combine their buying power...their influence becomes National.

Mission Statement from their website:

Leading Jewelers Guild is a strategic alliance of independent jewelers that develops competitive advantages for its members.

Leading Jewelers Guild, an organization completely owned by its member jewelers, through its strategic relationships and collective buying power, offers their retail membership the opportunity to lower overall operating costs and increase buying power in a strong, relationship driven environment.

A full service merchandising and strategic planning operation, Leading Jewelers Guild is an invaluable marketing, catalog production and advertising resource dedicated to the overall business needs of the family-owned independent jeweler.

Their influence is obvious when you see the Brands that flock to their meeting. Most of you have attended a JCK Show or JA  but the really nice thing about this show is the size - smaller - more intimate.  You not only get a chance to see and touch, but you can have a conversation with the vendor and in some cases with the designer.

So what kind of brands does this show attract?

Straight from the JCK show floor - Sylvie Collection

   

...a Bridal favorite Leiberfarb (with the always delightful Anne Arnold) was there with their new yellow diamond collection that extends to pendants and earrings!

 

...and my show favorite - this two finger stunner from Hearts On Fire!!!

 

Since Bridal is a huge portion of a Jewelry Retailer’s business as you can imagine the show had several Bridal Companies represented...

  

  
   
     
   

and last but certainly not least these stunning Meteor Cut Diamonds from Lili...

    

That being said there was no shortage of great Fashion Jewelry...

  

Estelle Hedaya was onsite with the great new collections from World Trade Jewelry - Hershey Kisses and Scrabble...

   

...and now their NBA Collection...

 

Leiberfarb’s yellow diamond initials were just the perfect size to stack with the “petite letter 

pieces” that are so on trend today!

Variety Gem’s aptly named “Candy Collection”!

 

...I especially liked the blackened metal with the Blue Chalcedony...

While we’re talking candy, we can’t forget the Chocolatier...LeVian!

   

The ever popular Chamilia...

       

  

LOVED these Meteorite pieces from Fable...

 

 

 

Honora Pearl did what they do best...pearls in every color...

     

 

The stunning color of these Morganite pieces from Quality Color stopped me in my tracks...

 

...and while we are talking color...

 

For me the “Fashion Star” of the show was EFFY!  Two new collections were on view from the Celebrity favorite...

 

So - if you are a brick & mortar Jeweler looking to increase your ability to carry some of the major brands...and more importantly a support system that only a network of businesses can provide, check into one of the Jeweler’s Groups in your area.

For more info about the Leading Jewelers Guild

http://www.love-story.com/guild.aspx

contact Jimmy West (jimmywest828 at gmail.com)

#JWLV - Yael Designs and The Best Things About Industry Tradeshows...

In some industries people dread the dreary Tradeshows and endless mind numbing lectures and rubber chicken dinners at Award Shows....

BUT - in the Jewelry Industry the upcoming Show is the Designers' "Call To Action"...the Retailers may have the only dread -the dreaded finding room in your "open to buy", but only because they know they will see far more beauty than they will ever be able to afford.

...and then we come to the Press covering these events - and I have tell you I would much rather be covering a Jewelry Tradeshow than a small appliances event - though I have to say Electronics would be fun also.

Now we come to the Yael Designs part of this post...this is a Designer that steps up their game for EVERY show - introducing a NEW piece or collection at each event!

For LUXURY:

Award-winning fine jewelry design house Yael Designs debuts Serendipity Collection for Fall 2013 at JCK Luxury Las Vegas.

Highlighting vibrant, vintage-inspired rose cut faceted emeralds of rare quality, Serendipity Collection includes earrings, cocktail rings and pendants set in 18K white and yellow gold and accented with diamonds.

Since visiting emerald museums in Colombia two years ago, CEO of Yael Designs Yehouda Saketkhou has been inspired to create an emerald collection and has been searching for a source of high quality emeralds that could be cut into slices without compromising the stone’s look.

“I was about to give up my search when Pantone announced emerald as the color of 2013,” said Saketkhou. “And right then, I suddenly came across my emerald source. It was so serendipitous that we immediately knew how to name this collection.”

The emeralds in Serendipity Collection have good clarity and rich green color that is offset by lustrous diamonds and gold setting to give the pieces an organic, yet luxurious feel.

“We shared our early designs with our fans on Facebook and received a tremendously positive response,” said Yael Designs’ marketing director Stefan Patashvili. “We’re very excited to bring this fashion collection to life.”

Debuting at JCK Las Vegas in June, the Serendipity Collection features bold, sophisticated statement pieces that will work well with blacks, greys and jewel tones trending for Fall 2013.

“We wanted to bring emerald slice jewelry to luxury buyers looking to add this beautiful, high fashion stone to their collections,” said Saketkhou.

The price for Serendipity Collection starts at $3,000. Photos of the collection can be found on http://www.yaeldesigns.com/collections/serendipity. 

For JA New York

It was this stunning 36 carat Ametrine piece - don't you love the touch of whimsy in what would traditionally be a serious classic piece of jewelry?

...and at most shows they are displaying some of my favorite pieces...one of my personal favorites are the incredible dancing yellow diamonds in the Luna Collection

I don't know about you but I can't wait to see what this amazing company brings to the rest of the shows this year - looks like Chicago is next on Yael's calendar!

One more thing about Yael Designs - they aren't afraid to show jewelry from other Designers - it takes a lot of experience for a Designer to realize that your customer shops other names and to be secure enough to show the work of other Designers...confident in the knowledge that your goods stand up next to them...for an eyeful of gorgeous things from Yael and many more, follow the Facebook page of this amazing Designer  https://www.facebook.com/YaelDesigns

So go out and discover new designs - new designers - new beauty - go to an Industry Tradeshow.

#JWLV - 5 Favorites from the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show

Your Wednesday dose of major jewelry - in this case Antique Jewelry!!!

My top 5 (in no specific order) from the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show....Contact info accompanies each photo!

This Demantoid stunner stopped me in my tracks

Gorgeous piece from Vivid Diamonds

Joden went above and beyond - educating me on the Guilloche and Fine Jewelry of Carlo Giuliano more on this jeweler to the Queen at: http://historicgems.tumblr.com/post/52937064705/carlo-giuliano-master-jeweler-from-joden-world

This amazing Tiara was outstanding!  from the always top shelf Yafa Signed Jewels - http://www.yafasignedjewels.com/

Necklace to Tiara Conversion with all the hardware in the original contoured presentation case...from Morelle Davidson

Beyond Bollywood - Manish Arora for Amrapali

As a worldwide phenomenon on the fashion runway this year, Manish Arora for Amrapali enthralled audiences with its innovation and craftsmanship. 

Revitalizing its archive of traditional tribal jewelry from India, the Manish Arora for Amrapali exclusive collection is inspired by the decadence of Indian royalty, combining fierce animal forms and nature motifs with a vibrant palette of enamel and bold colored gemstones. 

This impressive collection is infused with modern and contemporary fashion-forward design and includes necklaces, earrings including spectacular ear cuffs, bracelets, rings, hair, and hand jewelry. 

About Manish Arora for Amrapali:

Manish Arora for Amrapali is the collaborative fine jewelry collection by fashion designer Manish Arora and renowned Indian Jeweler Amrapali.

Amrapali is one of the premier luxury jewelry brands internationally renowned for its beautiful and modern interpretations of the best classical jewelry from India. Amrapali creations have a rich heritage and is ever mindful of tradition with a passion and vision for re-introducing long forgotten Indian jewelry designs and techniques to the world. The result of their effort is evident. From simple beginnings, Amrapali now employs more than 2,000 skilled artisans, is a favorite of nobility, has been worn by some of Hollywood's biggest starlets, as well as is a brand often seen on the fashion runway.

For more information, please visit www.amrapalijewels.com.

Submitted by Erin Shiba