MJSA Heads FTC Task Force

Via the MJSA Newsletter:

MJSA Heads Task Force Reviewing

FTC Metals Guides

Following the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC's) recent announcement that it will review its Guides for the Jewelry, Precious Metal, and Pewter Industries, MJSA is joining with other industry associations to provide the FTC with recommended updates. As part of that effort, MJSA is heading a Metals Task Force to address such issues as quality marking for bonded and mixed metals, labeling requirements, and overall fineness standards.

"The rise in precious metal prices has led many jewelry makers and designers to explore new, lower-cost alloys, many of which fall outside the current Guides," says David Cochran, president/CEO of MJSA. "Silver-filled jewelry has grown in popularity, for example, and standards need to be established, just as they were for gold-filled products. We've also seen the resurgence of palladium in jewelry making, as well as an increase in jewelry combining precious and non-precious materials. The Guides need to encompass all of these developments."

For more information, click here. 

Designer Vanna K to Join Jewelry Television

Award Winning Designer Vanna K 

to Join Jewelry Television

Broadcast retail network recognizes “Every Queen Needs Her Crown™”

Jewelry Television® (JTV), the leading broadcast retailer of jewelry and loose gemstones, has teamed up with award winning diamond jewelry designer Vanna K to bring customers a new and exquisite platinum-plated sterling silver collection for Jewelry Television’s proprietary Bella Luce® Collection. Vanna will guest-host the launch of Vanna K for Bella Luce® on April 21 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. EST.

“The Vanna K Collection is quickly becoming associated with today’s most beautifully crafted bridal and fashion jewelry,” said Natalie Parman, vice president of merchandising at Jewelry Television. “As a woman with a keen eye for design and a strong sense of what other women want in jewelry, Vanna K is entirely in sync with her customers’ sensibilities, taste, and shared vision of timeless beauty.”

Exclusively produced for JTV’s Bella Luce® Brand, the Vanna K Collection combines the beautiful light of Bella Luce® (JTV’s brand of simulated gemstones) that customers know and love with feminine, elegant design aesthetics that are sure to captivate their wearers. Vanna K specializes in a jewelry creation process called micro pave, which involves the precise placement of stones over the entire piece with a microscope. This process results in incredible brilliance. Discerning viewers will appreciate the vintage-inspired collection, consisting of unique rings, earrings, tennis bracelets, and pendants which feature details such as delicate hand-engraved patterns and fine milgrain work.

The extraordinary quality and unique design that make Vanna K jewelry so alluring will be integrated in the new Vanna K for Bella Luce® platinum-plated sterling silver collection, affordably priced for the woman with fine taste.    

Jewelry designer Vanna K learned her way around the jewelry industry from her father, designer Sarkis Kitsinian. In the last decade, the Vanna K brand has enjoyed success in the fine jewelry industry, specializing in unique diamond engagement rings.

“Growing up as the daughter of a master jewelry designer, I always found myself imagining and sketching different designs and would ask my father to create pieces just for me,” said Vanna K. “Now, I’m thrilled to present my platinum-plated silver sterling collection to Jewelry Television to satisfy the growing demand of our fans and their desire for affordable designer jewelry.”

Featured in numerous national fashion magazines and worn by celebrities, Vanna K was recently awarded the prestigious 2011 Jewelers’ Choice Award at the international JCK show in Las Vegas.

The Vanna K for Bella Luce® platinum-plated sterling silver collection ranges in price from $50 to $200 and is available exclusively at JTV.com.

About Jewelry Television®
Jewelry Television® (JTV) is the only broadcast shopping network that focuses exclusively on the sale of fine jewelry and gemstones. The privately-held company was founded in 1993 and broadcasts high definition programming 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to more than 80 million unique households in the U.S. Jewelry Television® was recently ranked the 14th largest retailer of fine jewelry in the U.S. by National Jeweler. JTV.com is the fifth largest jewelry destination on the internet according to Internet Retailer’s Top 500 Guide for 2010. For more information, visit JTV.com.

Gemfields Singapore Rough Emerald Auction - March 2012

RESULTS - GEMFIELDS SINGAPORE ROUGH EMERALD AUCTION

27 March 2012

Gemfields plc (AIM: “GEM”) is pleased to announce the results of the auction of (predominantly medium to higher quality) rough emeralds held in Singapore from 19-23 March 2012.

Highlights

 Robust auction revenues of USD 26.2 million

 Results reflect a significant increase of 46% over the 15 month period in achievable quality-for-quality per carat prices

 Third auction of the current financial year generating aggregate sales of USD 68.9 million

 Nine auctions held since July 2009 generating revenues totalling USD 124.7 million

 Auction results underscore the continued strong growth in global demand for Gemfields’ ethical Zambian emeralds across all quality grades

 Next auction of (predominantly lower quality) rough emeralds scheduled for June 2012 in Jaipur

Ian Harebottle, CEO of Gemfields, commented: 

"Gemfields is delighted to announce another set of very encouraging auction results, testament to the success of our marketing initiatives and the consistency of the emeralds produced at our Kagem mine. Today’s results demonstrate that Gemfields is consistently delivering on its integrated approach of combining industry-leading performance in three core areas: mining, the consistent supply of good quality well graded ethical gemstones, and pioneering coloured gemstone marketing and promotion. We have achieved record auction revenues for the financial year and will look to use this positive momentum to deliver continued growth in each of these core areas into the foreseeable future.”

Gemfields held an auction of (predominantly medium to higher quality) rough emeralds in Singapore from 19 to 23 March 2012. Thirty two companies attended the auction, with twenty nine of these placing bids. The auction saw 0.77 million carats of emeralds mined by Gemfields placed on offer, with 0.69 million carats being sold and generating auction sales of USD 26.2 million.

While the Singapore auction of July 2011, which comprised of generally superior quality material overall, yielded USD 42.71 per carat, the overall quality characteristics of the emeralds placed on offer at last week’s auction were more similar to those offered in the December 2010 auction in Johannesburg. The resultant average prices of USD 38.25 per carat achieved at the most recent auction thus demonstrates a quality-for-quality increase of some 46% over the 15 month period and provides a clear indication of robust growth in both achievable prices and demand for emeralds in general, and Gemfields ethical emeralds in particular.

Last month's auction was the third auction of the current financial year, ending 30 June 2012. The three auctions, one of which was for lower quality material, have generated aggregate sales of USD 68.9 million while the nine auctions held since July 2009 have generated USD 124.7 million in aggregate revenues.

Hamilton Jewelers Celebrates Centennial in 2012

Three generations of Siegel Family uphold company’s dedication to service and value...

Princeton, NJ (PRWEB) April 10, 2012:  The story began 100 years ago. Founded in Trenton, New Jersey, Hamilton Jewelers was established in 1912, and a legacy of tradition and service began. Irving Siegel, a former errand boy for a similar store, purchased the firm on September 11, 1927 for $15,750 in notes payable to the former owners. He stocked the simplest of items such as silver dresser sets and cigarette lighters to finery ranging from diamonds to pocket watches, all in a small storefront at 122 South Broad Street. Siegel, or “Mr. Irving”, as he was known, began with one other employee - his wife Alice. Together, they built a modest business, working every day through the depression to establish themselves in the community.

Mr. Siegel’s efforts would pay off, as the company would soon become one of the country’s leading guild jewelers and has maintained this standing with innovative designs and a passion for exemplary client service. This spirit of service – to clients and community - is the thread that unifies the 3 generations of the Siegel family for 100 years, in Princeton and central New Jersey and Palm Beach, Florida.

Hamilton began with diverse product offerings, at a time in history when most cities in America had a butcher, a cobbler, a banker, a barber, and a general mercantile store. Hamilton forged a practical business with items ranging from clocks and pocket watches to fine wedding and engagement rings. When Mr. Siegel purchased the firm, Hamilton began to stake its claim as a prominent purveyor of the world’s finest brands in timepieces as well, beginning with a relationship Mr. Siegel established with Patek Philippe in 1938 - one of the country’s first independent retailers to carry the renowned maker of fine Swiss timepieces.

Since the company’s beginning, Hamilton Jewelers has always combined the characteristics of an international jeweler with the unique hospitality of a regional family business. This penchant to bring the world’s finest offerings in jewels and timepieces to the regional communities was the pioneering tradition that began with Irving and was conveyed to his son, Martin Siegel, now Chairman, who joined the business in 1955. Hank Siegel, the third generation of the family to serve as President of the firm, followed his father Martin’s path in 1981 and is now the current President and CEO as appointed in 1992.

Hamilton specializes in fine jewelry of their own design and manufacture, and also offers premium designer names in jewelry and the best in luxury timepieces. The gift department features a distinctive selection of décor items including china, crystal and antique silver. A division dedicated to emblematic and insignia jewelry was acquired in 2010 and is now a thriving part of Hamilton’s client offerings. Other guest services include a Bridal and Gift Registry, Estate and Jewelry Buying, Business Gifts, custom jewelry design, complete timepiece and jewelry repairs, e-commerce, and in-house appraisals.

To commemorate this important milestone, the company will be publishing a coffee-table book highlighting its 100-year history, including many previously unknown details from the family’s archives. The year will also be celebrated with Centennial events including retrospectives from Hamilton’s history presented on http://www.hamiltonjewelers.com.

Hamilton now has 5 store locations in New Jersey and Palm Beach, FL, an e-commerce shop, a B2B division, and an insignia division, for a total of 8 distribution channels.

The company’s website is hamiltonjewelers.com.

Designer Renato to Appear on Jewelry Television April 18th

The Andalusia Diamond Collection features
rich blue and brilliant white diamonds as well as
luxurious yellow and stunning mocha diamonds.

Designer Renato to Appear on Jewelry Television in April

Broadcast retail network pays homage to beauty and architecture of Spain with Andalusia Diamond Collection

Knoxville, Tenn. (PRWEB) April 11, 2012 - Jewelry Television® (JTV), the leading broadcast retailer of fine jewelry and loose gemstones, has announced that Renato, a noted jewelry designer, will make a special appearance in April. JTV, dedicating the entire month to a celebration of diamonds, will welcome the internationally acclaimed designer on April 18 to represent the broadcast retail network’s newly released Andalusia Diamond Collection.

“Renato is a world traveler with international acclaim,” said Natalie Parman, vice president of merchandising at Jewelry Television. “With over 20 years in the industry, he offers a unique perspective about the latest cutting edge technologies, stones and designs that we are confident our customers will appreciate and love.”

Exclusively produced for JTV, the Andalusia Diamond Collection is inspired by the Alhambra Palace in Granada Andalusia, Spain and features rich blue and brilliant white diamonds as well as luxurious yellow and stunning mocha diamonds. Each piece is intricately designed to emulate the exquisite architectural elements of the palace. The jewelry designs are reminiscent of the gates, archways, decorative tile work and ornate vaulted ceilings one might experience during a visit to the Alhambra.

“The Andalusia Diamond Collection transports the wearer to a more magical time and place,” said Renato, jewelry designer and JTV guest host. “While the design elements pay homage to ancient architecture, the pieces in this collection are modern, yet timeless, exhibiting the quality, craftsmanship and style for which Jewelry Television has come to be known.”

Jewelry designer Renato brings over 20 years of experience in the jewelry industry to JTV. He graduated from the University of Santo Tomas with a degree in economics and has traveled extensively, working with jewelers in Thailand, Hong Kong and India. Drawing inspiration from his travels, Renato appreciates the unique culture of each city he visits and applies what he learns to designing, styling and predicting trends.

The Andalusia Diamond Collection ranges in price from $59.99 to $499.99 and is available at JTV.com.

About Jewelry Television®
Jewelry Television® (JTV) is the only broadcast shopping network that focuses exclusively on the sale of fine jewelry and gemstones. The privately-held company was founded in 1993 and broadcasts high definition programming 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to over 80 million unique households in the U.S. Jewelry Television® was recently ranked the 14th largest retailer of fine jewelry in the U.S. by National Jeweler. JTV.com is the fifth largest jewelry destination on the internet according to Internet Retailer’s Top 500 Guide for 2010. For more information, visit JTV.com.

Wolf Designs - Jewelry Boxes, Watch Winders, Watch Boxes...

Burlwood Two Watch Winder

Tempe, AZ -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/09/2012 -- With Mother’s Day and Father’s Day right around the corner, many people are already starting to think about what to get two of the most special adults in their lives.

One type of gift that never goes out of style and is always appreciated is a personal item that can make a busy mom or dad feel cared about and special. While flowers and chocolates are certainly lovely gifts, many people prefer to give their parents something that will last forever and help make their lives easier.

For example, many moms have several nice pieces of jewelry but no safe and secure place to store them when not in use. And lots of dads have an attractive watch that they wear to work every day and then sits on a dresser overnight. For parents like these, beautiful jewelry boxes or watch winders would make ideal gifts.

A company has been getting a lot of attention lately for its incredible selection of high-quality and gorgeous watch boxes and winders, jewelry cases, home gifts and much more.

Wolf Designs opened for business an amazing 177 years ago. Since that time the family-owned company has built up a well-deserved reputation as a source for products that are both attractive and useful.

Queen's Court Bronze Medium Jewelry Case

“With each generation Wolf Designs becomes an even more unique company,” an article on the company’s website noted, adding that the family’s strong traditions and ethics are passed down from one generation to the next. 

“Instilling a sense of pride at the achievements we all have made in this family led business, a business that has become a family.”

The user-friendly website features photos and complete descriptions of the many items that it sells. To make shopping even easier, category tabs across the top of the home page can help people find exactly which watch boxes, jewelry cases, vault trays or other items quickly and easily. 

For example, customers who wish to purchase a watch winder may select that tab to be brought to another page that shows dozens of available choices. Clicking on the thumbnail image of any of the winders will bring up another page with more detailed information about the product and its features, watch winder reviews, additional photos, and pricing information. 




About Wolf Designs
Wolf Designs specializes in beautiful jewelry boxes, watch winders, watch boxes, home gifts and other items. The business, which opened 177 years ago in Germany, prides itself on offering only the best-quality, durable and useful items that appeal to both men and women. Their patented technology and innovative product design in watch rotators and jewelry cases has made the company the market leader in fine quality gift items. For more information, please visit http://www.wolfdesigns.com/