"JTV's Rock Star Designer" Competition Seeks Next Big Jewelry Design Star

Jewelry Television® Launches 

"JTV's Rock Star Designer" National Competition

JTV in search of the next big jewelry design star

Jewelry Television® (JTV), one of the country's largest retailers of fine jewelry and gemstones,  announced today that the company is launching a national competition to discover talented jewelry designers.  JTV's Rock Star Designer Contest is open to the public and the online call for entries runs from March 21 through April 30, 2015.

You can experience the interactive Multimedia News Release here:  http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7372631-jewelry-television/

"We know there are many talented jewelry designers just waiting to be discovered and given their first big break," said Jill Johnson, VP Marketing. "We decided to use our international platform to offer exposure for contestants, as well as an opportunity to help one lucky winner get started in the jewelry industry."

Entrants must submit photos of finished jewelry they have designed and made that represents their unique design style, along with a headshot and video message explaining why they should be JTV's first Rock Star Designer. 

The winner will receive:

                                 $5,000 cash prize
                                 One-on-one mentoring with JTV's international buyers
                                 Segment on JTV featuring winner's jewelry collection
                                 Exposure to 85 million households
                                 Introductions to industry insiders and manufacturers

100 jewelry designers will be selected from the applicant group by the judges' panel, consisting of industry experts. The initial finalists will be posted online for public viewing and voting, which will narrow the group to 10 semi-finalists.

The panel of judges will narrow the group to 5 finalists who will be notified on May 29th and will receive an all-expense paid trip to JTV headquarters in Knoxville, Tennessee to compete in a reality show style competition. Designers will be filmed as they work their way through 4 unique design challenges. One finalist will be eliminated after each challenge until a winner emerges. The episodes will be aired on JTV.com/RockStar and promoted on the national broadcast network.

Entrants must be at least 21 years old and be available for the challenge filming dates. For a complete list of rules and details visit JTV.com/RockStar. Learn more about JTV at www.jtv.com.

About Jewelry Television® 

Jewelry Television® (JTV) is one of the largest multichannel retailers of jewelry and gemstones in the U.S. appealing to fashion-conscious women, jewelry-making enthusiasts and private collectors. The privately-held shopping network broadcasts high definition programing, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to more than 80 million U.S. households. Committed to consumer education, the network employs numerous Graduate Gemologists and Accredited Jewelry Professionals. JTV.com offers the most comprehensive jewelry and gemstone Learning Library on the Internet, and is the third largest jewelry website according to Internet Retailer's Top 500 Guide for 2012.

GIA's Southern California Campus Welcomes Dreams of Diamonds: An Enchanting Exhibit

Dreams of Diamonds: An Enchanting Exhibit 

Comes to Southern California

Seven iconic diamond houses 

to showcase pieces for a limited time at GIA

Seven of the world’s finest diamond houses will showcase exceptionally rare diamonds and elaborate jewelry for a limited time in Southern California to coincide with the debut of “Dreams of Diamonds,” the largest book ever published on these sought-after gems. Twenty-five diamond pieces – ranging from a pair of boots set with 1,527 carats of diamonds to a 50.05 carat D color, Flawless diamond briolette – make up the exhibit, which will be on view from April 29 through May 11 at GIA’s (Gemological Institute of America) world headquarters in Carlsbad, CA. 

A 50.05 carat D color, Flawless diamond briolette courtesy of Diacore.
 Image from the “Dreams of Diamonds” book.

“The creators of ‘Dreams of Diamonds’ were able to capture extraordinary diamond pieces in enchanting, ethereal settings,” said Terri Ottaway, curator of the GIA museum. “This exhibit is an ode to the wondrous world of diamonds and we’re fortunate to share the artistry of these seven diamond houses with the public.”

White and rose 18K gold necklace by Mouawad MENA DMCC with detachable brooch.
A 48.99 total carat weight in white diamonds and a 22.90 total carat weight of pink diamonds.
Image from the “Dreams of Diamonds” book.

British photography and design duo Alastair Laidlaw and Christine Marsden combined their passion for nature and the arts with their love for the splendor of diamonds to create “Dreams of Diamonds,” a large-format book on diamonds that weighs more than 30 pounds and took six years to complete. 

"Sail" titanium earrings by Adler Joailliers
featuring 836 diamonds, 36.05 total carat weight.
Image from the “Dreams of Diamonds” book. 

Each image is itself a work of art, with beautiful diamonds and diamond jewelry in unusual, often dream-like, settings. The gems and jewels featured in their unique photos were provided by 12 of the world’s most prominent diamantaires and designers, seven of whom are loaning jewels for the exhibit at GIA.

Together, diamond houses Adler, Chatila, Chow Tai Fook, Diacore, Diarough, Mouawad and MUNNU The Gem Palace will showcase 25 of their noteworthy pieces. A total of more than 4,000 carats of diamonds will be on view at the GIA exhibit. 

Many of the remarkable diamonds shown in the book have passed through GIA’s laboratory for grading and evaluation. “Dreams of Diamonds” will be on display in Carlsbad from April 29 through May 11. The Institute’s museum is free and open to the public Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Reservation is required. For more details, visit GIA’swebsite or call 800-421-7250.

About GIA

An independent nonprofit organization, GIA (Gemological Institute of America), established in 1931, is recognized as the world’s foremost authority in gemology. GIA invented the famous 4Cs of Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat Weight in the early 1950s and in 1953, created the International Diamond Grading System™ which, today, is recognized by virtually every professional jeweler in the world.

Through research, education, gemological laboratory services, and instrument development, the Institute is dedicated to ensuring the public trust in gems and jewelry by upholding the highest standards of integrity, academics, science, and professionalism. Visit www.gia.edu. 

#DesignerSpotlight Follow the Rising Stars of the Design Center at JCK

Rising Stars of the Design Center at JCK:  The Rising Stars showcase represents new talent from around the globe. This select group of exhibitors apply to exhibit at JCK and are chosen through a jury process. JCK is their trade show 'debut'

2015 Rising Stars

Arya Esha
A 2015 JCK Rising Star, the Arya Esha jewelry brand embodies wearable glamour distinguished by cosmopolitan chic. Arya Esha jewelry is crafted in recycled metals and uses ethically sourced gemstones and conflict free diamonds. Arya Esha already has a celebrity following, which includes Claire Danes, Jordana Brewster, and Ming-Na Wen.

Dao Fournier

Designing beautiful jewelry is an inherent passion for twin sisters Kimberly and Lucy. As an expression of their shared vision for creating rare pieces of art the sisters launched the brand Dao Fournier. Specializing in 18kt yellow gold and silver diamond jewelry, each piece has their signature two diamond trademark symbolic of their sisterhood.

Heather Guidero

http://www.heatherguidero.com

Marcia Budet

Marcia Budet is an architecture-trained, international award winning designer. She offers statement–making pieces for the not-so-shy, elegantly bold woman. Marcia's designs are made in 18k gold and sterling silver with precious and semi precious stones.

Ralph Masri

Statement fine jewelry.
http://www.ralphmasri.com

#JWLV #JCKLV JCK ROCKS THE BEACH 2015 - WITH....

REGISTER HERE 

GIA Is Accepting Applications For Scholarships Totaling $588,000 - Over 125 Scholarships!

So - you've always thought about getting a Graduate Gemology certificate or study Jewelry Design - the Gemological Institute of Ameria (GIA) has always been on your radar - something you have always wanted to do...well here is your chance!

GIA is offering more than 125 scholarships worldwide for its Fall 2015 Gemology and Jewelry Manufacturing Arts programs, courses and lab classes. This semi-annual scholarship cycle, totaling approximately $588,000, aligns with GIA’s goals of providing quality education in gemology and jewelry to the trade and aspiring professionals. The Institute is accepting applications now through April 30 on its website.

Scholarships are available for distance education eLearning courses and for classes at the Institute’s campuses in Bangkok, Carlsbad, Hong Kong, London, Mumbai, New York and Taiwan; and at the GIA branch in Dubai. Sponsored by private donors and the GIA endowment fund, the scholarships supplement GIA’s wider scope of offerings.

There are scholarships available from many of the Industry's luminary from Mikimoto and Kazanjian to Tiffany & Co. as well as location based scholarships for San Diego residents, Texas residents or even residents in the New Hampshire area and even International applicants.

GIA offers scholarships during two application periods each year for its gemology, jewelry, and design programs, courses, and lab classes – March 1 through April 30 and June 15 through October 31st.  Apply here:  https://javaapps.gia.edu/Scholarship/scholarship/scholarshipHome.jsp

For more info and the complete list of scholarships available follow the link:

http://www.gia.edu/scholarships

HIT-AND-RUN DRIVER KILLS BELOVED BAY AREA ARTIST

According to an account by KABC News in the SF Bay Area, beloved East Bay artist named Celeste Jewel Howell, 50, was hit and killed by a vehicle in West Oakland Saturday, March 7th, 2015. 

Oakland police are searching for a hit-and-run driver accused of killing her as she walked along a sidewalk.

"I don't understand, I hope they turn themselves in, I hope they do the right thing," Howell's sister Cheryl Williams said.

Williams came from Albuquerque when she heard the news and says Howell was a practicing Buddhist, living a peaceful life. "Her belief is that you just don't cause harm to anyone else. You go through life and don't cause harm to anyone else," she said.

Howell lived up to her middle name. She was an artist who created custom jewelry, much of it featured on her website and at a gallery in Berkeley. "It was really great to have her here. She was super sweet and incredibly knowledgeable about jewelry and her work," Natalie Borges said.

"I want justice to be done" Mason said and hopes police find the driver who took away something precious. "She was the love of my life and the world just lost a woman of grace," he added. 

You can find the entire story here:

http://abc7news.com/news/beloved-bay-area-artist-killed-by-hit-and-run-driver/549769/