Weekend Emerging Designer Spotlight on "little h" by Hisano Takei

The Spotlight is on:

 "little h" by Hisano Takei
    www.hisanotakei.com


"I am attracted to the idea of jewelry taking different roles other than simply ornamentation.  Ideas such as jewelry suggesting garment, jewelry taking over the body of the wearer, and jewelry breaking out of the traditional role of adornment are some ideas that enthrall me. The shift in scale and use of traditional and nontraditional material in jewelry making allowed me to challenge these ideas. My work is predominantly made out of organic gems such as pearls and wool. I explore forms and ideas of jewelry through texture, color, and overall composition. The softness and curves are inviting aspects of my forms; the sensuous properties of felted jewelry are uncommon and strike new challenges for the wearer and the viewer alike."

Early admirers include First Lady, Michelle Obama - seen wearing
the Colorful Torsade from the Colorful Pearls Collection.

When Taylor Swift was channeling her inner Jacki-O she stacked
bracelets from the Tiny Freshwater Collection - CLASSIC!

Baroque Pearl Silhouette Collection

The silhouettes mimic the unique outline of baroque saltwater pearls with diamond and colored stone accents. 

Curator's Note: This collection is brilliant - rather than trying to match up baroque pearls, Hisano, the designer, chooses to celebrate the very thing that makes each pearl unique...

Golden South Sea pearls in 14k yellow gold with yellow diamond accents

Tahitian pearls in Sterling Silver with tiny accents of ruby and green diamonds.

...to the sensuous feel of her felted wool pieces.

The unexpected whimsy of using traditional jewelry making techniques
to create a woven bracelet in wool felt...for the Felt Jewelry Collection.

"I strive to create 

beautiful wearable pieces 

that provoke wonderment, attraction, and disturbance."

   little h by Hisano Takei

         www.hisanotakei.com

2nd Annual "Future of Design" Business Incubator Contest for Jewelry Designers

ANNOUNCING: The Second Annual Future of Design Business Incubator Contest for Jewelry Designers   Produced by Jeweler’s Resource Bureau & StrategyWerx       Are you the worlds next sensation? A talented jewelry design'preneur that is going to take our industry by storm? This is the only competition evaluating both your designs and business plan  and offers you the opportunity to win a HUGE industry-wide prize package        THE COMPETITION: Described as a game changer, the Future of Design Business competition seeks to discover, promote and catapult the next great jewelry designer into the market.   Applications begin NOW and the winner will be selected during a “Shark Tank”-like live presentation at MJSA Expo New York in NYC on March 12, 2013.  Submissions include our business plan-like application, marketing materials and visuals of your jewelry line. The application includes an in-depth questionnaire that teaches you about strategy and marketing planning along the way -- and gives you plenty of time to compose your answers.   The deadline is January 21st -- and you will need several days to complete your application, say last year's finalists.   Applicants will be judged on their business concept, market feasibility, saleability and aesthetic impact. The winner will be the "total package" destined for greatness. This is an unprecedented competition with a vast level of industry participation, unique judging process and a dream prize package.     Do you have what it takes?   Read more and learn about the application process at:www.FutureofDesignContest.com           Prizes:     Every entrant gets feedback and advice from the judges      Six semi-finalists win: a mentoring date (by phone if in-person isn't possible) with one of our Dream Team designers a feature on NationalJeweler.com      Three finalists also win: trip to NYC to participate in the finale The winner also receives:  sales training, consulting on strategy, financials and technology by StrategyWerx  a booth in globalDESIGN showcase for execptional jewelers in Feb. in Philly  a suite of marketing products from Jeweler's Resource and free membership to JRB's Inner Circle  a booth in the Designer Showcase at the JA NY Show in July  an ad campaign in INDESIGN magazine  photography and ad campaign creation by RSP Media Inclusion in a Jewelry Information Center media tour JVC's Patriot Act Compliance Kit and legal compliance coaching  mentorship by all the judges  promotion and publicity throughout the process  more prizes to be added as new sponsors are secured!     DATES: Application process opens NOW Application deadline is midnight PST January 21st You can work on your online application in a stop-and-start fashion till Dec. 1 Winner selected March 12, 2013     DETAILS: www.FutureofDesignContest.com    It's a business contest, not just a design contest The application process walks you through critical business strategies Every applicant gets a professional critique of/advice on his/her business plans Winner gets hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of goods and services Six semi-finalists get prizes and mentoring with a Dream Team member Three finalists are flown to New York for final judging Live finale, “Shark Tank”-style, at MJSA Expo New York in NYC on March 12, 2013 All are welcome to attend by registering for an MJSA EXPO show badge Unique judging process: Business plan submitted as well as designs  In-depth business questionnaire akin to a marketing plan  Judges interview six semi-finalists live via conference video  Three finalists make live pitch in front of judges & audience in NYC  Vast level of industry participation, probably unprecedented   JUDGES: Cindy Edelstein - Jewelers Resource Bureau /  cindy@jewelersresource.com Andrea Hill – StrategyWerx /  andrea.hill@strategywerx.com Mendel Rotenberg - Fusion Jewelry          ...... and two more to be announced after the new year!   Many of these 2012 Mentoring Dream Team members will reprise their roll:   Gurhan  Erica Courtney  Todd Reed  Lisa Jenks  Robert Lee Morris  Penny Preville     Sponsors:   •    Jeweler's Resource Bureau •    StrategyWerx •    Fusion Jewelry •    MJSA •    JA NY Show •    National Jeweler •    INDESIGN magazine •    RSP Media  •    Jewelry Information Center •   Jeweler's Vigilance Committee                                      ...... and more coming!       See website for eligibility and to sign-up for future information from The Future of Design     www.FutureOfDesignContest.com

Diamond Encrusted "Pen of the Year"

The manufacturer of a stylus called "Pen of the Year" has received the diamond mounting treatment, Diamond News reports. The Graf von Faber-Castell plunger-type fountain pen has been encrusted with polished diamonds, but only ten units will receive this treatment, the firm said. The exclusive pens will sell for $92,473.

Detailed description of these masterpieces at: http://www.israelidiamond.co.il/english/News.aspx?boneID=918&objID=12290

Pretty Sparklers in Emerald - Pantone's Pick for 2013

"Lively. Radiant. Lush…A color of elegance and beauty that enhances our sense of well-being, balance and harmony."

'Emeralds for Elephants' 2011 was created to raise awareness and critical funds for the conservation of the Asian Elephant.

DEF “GOOD AWARDS” HONOREES ANNOUNCED

DIAMOND EMPOWERMENT FUND ANNOUNCES HONOREES FOR

2^ND ANNUAL “GOOD AWARDS” JANUARY 10, 2013

Editor's Note:  DEF recently announced that Noella Coursaris Musunka, international model and founder of the Georges Malaika Foundation would also be among the honorees at the "Good Awards" - info here.

Global luxury jeweler Tiffany & Co. and Leo Schachter Diamonds will be honored for global leadership in helping empower people in Africa, at the second annual GOOD Awards on January 10, 2013.

The GOOD Awards, established by the Diamond Empowerment Fund in 2012, are the highest awards to recognize individuals and corporations in the diamond and jewelry industry for outstanding leadership in the areas of good corporate citizenship, sustainability, and promoting opportunity in Africa.

Tiffany & Co., a pillar of the diamond industry, has been in the forefront of promoting business practices and programs that benefit communities in which diamonds are sourced. Tiffany’s work in Botswana and other diamond producing countries highlights one of the many ways the company demonstrates accountability through best business practices resulting in employment, infrastructure improvements, and ultimately the empowerment of people in that region.

Leo Schachter Diamonds was one of the first diamond companies to establish a cutting factory in Botswana, employing hundreds of local Batswana. Additionally, Elliot Tannenbaum, principal of Leo Schachter Diamonds, in partnership with the government of Botswana, helped to establish the Botswana Top Achievers Program, a DEF beneficiary, that funds top students from the nation to study at the university of their choice worldwide.

Additional honorees will be announced soon. For more information on tickets, journal ads and sponsorship packages please visit www.goodawards.org.

 About the Diamond Empowerment Fund

The Diamond Empowerment Fund is a New York based non-profit organization (EIN# 20-5967103) that raises money to fund education initiatives in African diamond-producing nations. Its beneficiaries include: CIDA City Campus, South Africa’s first non-profit university to offer a four-year business degree, the African Leadership Academy, a university preparatory school in Johannesburg, South Africa, founded on the belief that ethical leadership is the key to sustainable development on the continent and drawing students from all 54 countries in Africa, and the Botswana Top Achievers program that provides the top high school students countrywide the opportunity to study at a university of their choice worldwide. Graduates then return to Botswana to contribute to its economic, social and political development.  www.diamondempowerment.org

GEMDIALOGUE® CELEBRATES THIRTY YEARS

GEMDIALOGUE® CELEBRATES THIRTY YEARS 

GemDialogue® takes pleasure in announcing a celebration of thirty years of continual service to the jewelry industry with its portable color memory system. Founded in 1982, GemDialogue® offers appraisers, dealers, jewelers and gemologists a repeatable and meaningful accurate color record for gemstones and colored diamonds. 

Howard Rubin, GG, inventor and founder of GemDialogue®, spent ten years developing the color system before offering it to the trade. GemDialogue® was engineered for the gem trade to supply portable, uniform color reference points in an affordable product. It offers a practical way to communicate with others in the gem trade, when talking about gemstone colors. 

The color communication system contains 21 basic transparent color charts showing ten different saturation levels for each color. A black to gray mask as well as a brown to light brown mask is also included. The charts and the color masks offer 60,000 color possibilities for matching. 

GemDialogue® allows grading color gemstones from transparent, translucent to opaque materials. Challenging variants such as dichroic, poorly cut, or zoned material are easily color graded. Rare material such as Paraiba, Burma and Kashmir poses no difficulty in color grading using GemDialogue®. 

Howard Rubin, who passed away early in 2012, leaves a legacy to the gemstone industry for the future. GemDialogue® is currently available and in addition to the Color Chart Manual it now contains the GemDialogue® Color ToolBox, Grading Manual, and an instructional CD. 

For further information, contact Gail Brett Levine, GG, GemDialogue® Systems, Inc., P. O. Box 18, Rego Park, NY 11374, 718.897.7305 fax 718.997.9057, gblevine@gmail.com, www.GemDialogue.com.

DEF SUPPORTS FLAVIANA MATATA FOUNDATION

DIAMOND EMPOWERMENT FUND SUPPORTS

FLAVIANA MATATA FOUNDATION 

The Diamond Empowerment Fund (DEF) has granted $10,000 to the Flaviana Matata Foundation (FMF), which empowers young orphan girls through education, skills training, and micro-finance projects in Tanzania.

Founded by international fashion model and former Miss Universe Tanzania, Flaviana Matata, the FMF (flavianamatatafoundation.org) seeks to create a future through education and improve livelihoods among the youth in Tanzania.  “When you empower a girl, you empower an entire community,” says Matata. “Providing opportunity for these young girls will encourage others to stay in school and vastly improve their chances for employment and productive livelihoods”.

Matata recently received the ‘Face of Africa’ award in recognition for her outstanding leadership and dedicated service to the African community, at the African Diaspora Awards on December 8^th in NYC.

Join the Diamond Empowerment Fund at its upcoming GOOD Awards on January 10^th in New York, as it recognizes other leaders making a difference in Africa. Your participation will help DEF’s mission to empower the next generation of leaders in Africa (goodawards.org).

About the Diamond Empowerment Fund

The Diamond Empowerment Fund is a New York based non-profit organization (EIN# 20-5967103) that raises money to fund education initiatives in African diamond-producing nations. Its beneficiaries include: CIDA City Campus, South Africa’s first non-profit university to offer a four-year business degree, the African Leadership Academy, a university preparatory school in Johannesburg, South Africa, founded on the belief that ethical leadership is the key to sustainable development on the continent and drawing students from all 54 countries in Africa, the Flaviana Matata Foundation, based in Tanzania, and supporting young girls and women with grants to cover education, including vocational training,  micro-finance and entrepreneurial activities and the Botswana Top Achievers program that provides the top high school students countrywide the opportunity to study at a university of their choice worldwide. Graduates then return to Botswana to contribute to its economic, social and political development.  www.diamondempowerment.org.