WJA Celebrates Honorees & Announces 2014 Awards for Excellence

WJA Celebrates Honorees and

 Announces 2014 Awards for Excellence

The annual gala also raises important funds for scholarships and grants 

The Women's Jewelry Association bestowed Hall of Fame honors and Awards for Excellence in 10 categories at the association's 2014 Awards for Excellence gala, held on Monday, July 28, 2014, at Pier 60 on the Chelsea Piers in New York City. The annual event is the largest fundraiser of the year for the association's scholarship and grant programs. Guests were given the chance to bid on a spectacular array of donated gifts to Broadway shows, restaurants, hotels, museums, beauty salons, and spas. There were also cigar and golf packages upon which to bid, as well as jewelry, watch, gift, and clothing prizes from well-known brands.

Among the headlined honorees: Ruth Batson, executive director and CEO of the American Gem Society and AGS Laboratories, received the Lifetime Achievement Award; David J. Bonaparte, president & CEO of Jewelers of America, received the Ben Kaiser Lifetime Achievement Award; and Richline Group was given the Corporate Award.

Click to see photos from the memorable evening on WJA's Facebook page.

The association also named Awards for Excellence winners for 2014 in 10 categories. For the first time, the nominees for these awards didn't know if they'd won until the Gala event, adding excitement to the evening. Winners included:

• Design - Heather B. Moore of Heather Moore Jewelry
• Manufacturer/Dealer/Supplier - Chana Regev of Carelle
• Retail 15+ Doors - Kim Adams of Reeds
• Retail <15 -="" calhoun="" cathy="" doors="" jewelers="" li="" of="">
• Retail Non-Traditional - Jennifer (Peck) Arthur of Amazon
• Sales - Amy Jackson of Fragments
• Marketing & Communications- Fran Pennella of Benali Consulting
• Editorial Media - Michelle Graff of National Jeweler
• Special Services - Desiree Hanson of JCK
• Watches - Rosanna Sarcona-Doherty of Cartier

Posing here with WJA President Andrea Hansen ofLuxeintelligence, are:  (l.to.r.): Desiree Hanson, JCK Events (Special Services); Chana Regev Carelle (Manufacturer/Dealer/Supplier); Fran Pennella, Benali Consulting (Marketing & Communications); Amy Jackson, Fragments Jewelry(Sales); Michelle Graff, National Jeweler (Editorial Media); Heather Moore, Heather Moore Jewelry(Design); Hansen; Rosanna Sarcona-Doherty, Cartier(Watches); Jennifer (Peck) Arthur, Amazon(Non-Traditional Retail); and Kim Adams, @Reeds Jewelers (Retail - 15 doors or more). Missing from photo: Cathy Calhoun, Calhoun Jewelers (Retail - Fewer than 15 doors)

"WJA congratulates our distinguished 2014 honorees, and celebrates the winners of our Awards for Excellence," says Andrea Hansen, president of the Women's Jewelry Association. 
"We also extend our heartfelt thanks to all of the attendees and sponsors who supported our signature event by their attendance and donations to the gala, silent auction, and raffle. Because of you, many more women will receive WJA grants and scholarships to enter or further their careers in the jewelry industry." 
 
The WJA Awards for Excellence Transformation Sponsor was Sterling Jewelers, and Richline Group was the event's Premier sponsor. Rio Tinto served as the evening's "Paparazzi" Sponsor, hosting a photo booth where attendees could pose for photos with friends and colleagues. The World Gold Council's Love Gold initiative sponsored the Gala's After Party, with music and dancing. Sponsors of Distinction included JA New York Show, Couture, Jewelers of America, and Forevermark. Sponsors of Honor included Hearts on Fire, Eurostar Diamond Traders, and Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company.
 
The WJA Awards for Excellence gala has been a part of the industry's social calendar since 1984. In 2014, WJA once again awarded more than $30,000 in scholarships and grants to deserving recipients.

via the WJA website and Facebook page

#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.

PALLADIUM ALLIANCE INT'L ANNOUNCES JEWELRY DESIGN CONTEST

PALLADIUM ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCES 

INDUSTRY’S LARGEST JEWELRY DESIGN CONTEST

Up to 100 winners; up to $1 million in prizes; up for grabs!

 

BILLINGS, Montana —Tuesday, May 29, 2012—Palladium Alliance International (PAI) announces today that it will sponsor the largest jewelry design contest in the industry to date. The competition which will exclusively showcase designs crafted in palladium will offer up to 100 designers and retailers who create in-house custom designs a chance to share up to $1 million in prizes.

“PAI is the world’s first organization dedicated to promoting palladium as a luxurious and distinctive jewelry metal,” said John Stark, Chairman of the Palladium Alliance. “A contest that encourages creation of more palladium jewelry is a natural fit for the organization.”

The competition is open to designers and retailers located in the United States and the District of Columbia. All entries must feature only genuine gemstones (if gemstones are included) and 95% palladium alloy as the only precious metal design element. A panel of industry experts will score the entries based on how well each design highlights the key qualities of palladium: its natural whiteness, durability and light weight.

Up to 100 winners will receive a refund check equal to the cost of the 950 palladium alloy used in their winning piece, up to five ounces—a virtually unheard of action in design competitions—along with a professional photo of their winning design; inclusion in a major stylist showroom throughout 2013 for possible use in celebrity dressings at major events such as the Golden Globes, Emmy Awards and Oscars; and other prizes. The three top designs will have the winners’ names and pieces featured in PAI print ads in top fashion magazines, such asInStyle, W, Elle, Marie Claire and Cosmopolitan. In addition, the Grand Prize winner will receive a contract to create a line of palladium jewelry with PAI supplying up to thirty ounces of 950 palladium alloy to facilitate manufacturing of the line. Total value of the available prizes: up to $1 million in cash and promotional consideration.

Interested designers and retailers are encouraged to review the complete contest rules at luxurypalladium.com/DesignContest. In brief, to compete, they must fill out an Official Entry form available on the website and submit a high resolution digital photo, a detailed drawing or a CAD rendering of the design they wish to be considered. Each participant may enter up to ten designs. If selected as one of the finalists (up to 100), they will then be asked to complete and submit the finished piece for final review of its overall design, craftsmanship, practicality/wearability and marketability. Pass the final review, and the entrant is declared an official winner.

The competition begins on May 29, 2012, with photos/drawings/CAD-rendered concepts due from entrants on Friday, September 21, 2012. Up to 100 finalists will be notified on Friday, October 5, 2012 to begin work on their finished pieces, which will be due for final evaluation no later than Monday, December 17, 2012. Palladium Alliance International will announce the official winners, up to 100, on Monday, January 14, 2013, along with the winners of the third, second and Grand prize. Checks reimbursing winners for the cost of the 950 palladium alloy used in their pieces will be issued February 28, 2013.

“This is an exciting opportunity for designers, retailers and PAI,” John Stark, Chairman of the Palladium Alliance, concluded. “Palladium is coming into its own as a distinctive luxury metal in jewelry design—and entrants in this extraordinary contest are about to prove just how stunning it can be.”

Palladium is a rare and lustrous silvery-white metal that, together with platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium and osmium, form the group of elements known as the platinum group of metals. It is lightweight, durable, naturally white, pure, and sensitive to the skin. It is becoming the luxury metal of choice for a growing number of fashion-forward jewelry designers and savvy consumers.

Formed in March 2006, Palladium Alliance International (PAI) is the world’s first organization dedicated to promoting palladium as a luxurious and distinctive jewelry metal which is backed by industry-leading education, marketing, public relations and technical support. To learn more, visit www.luxurypalladium.com. To learn more about the contest, visit www.luxurypalladium.com/DesignContest.

DEF's "Diamonds At The W" Support Education

DIAMOND EMPOWERMENT FUND HOSTS ‘DIAMONDS AT THE W’ DURING AGS CONCLAVE TO SUPPORT EDUCATION INITIATIVES

April 2012, New York, NY—The Diamond Empowerment Fund (DEF) will host a special ‘Diamonds at the W’ party at the W Hotel South Beach in Miami, Florida, on Thursday, April 26 from 8:30pm to 11:30 p.m., during the American Gemological Society’s (AGS) Conclave. Transportation to and from Conclave headquarters Doral Hotel and the W South Beach will be provided free of charge, as is the party.

A ‘Raffle for Education’ will be held during the event, to support DEF’s mission of empowering African youth through education in diamond producing nations. Among the prizes are two highly-sought-after tickets to Russell Simmons’ famed, celebrity filled ‘Art for Life’ benefit at his home in Southampton, New York; a four-night stay during JCK Las Vegas at THEHotel, complete with a luxurious spa treatment, donated by JCK; two tickets to the 51^st Rolex 24 at Daytona including a ‘behind the scenes garage tour’ by the Chip Ganassi Racing team compliments of the Gordon Group. Unique raffle items will also be available by media sponsor Haute Living. Attendees can purchase raffle tickets at the door or through DEF’s website, diamondempowerment.org.

Cathy Calhoun, a DEF governing board member and president of AGS, says, “Both the AGS and DEF understand the importance of education and promoting ethical business practices. AGS members develop superior skills and knowledge that ultimately helps protect the consumer. Through our industry’s support of DEF, student scholars are developing the skills and knowledge to be the next generation of leaders in Africa.”

Russell Simmons, DEF founder and advisory board chairman adds, “Access to education is critical for sustained progress, economic growth and prosperity in diamond producing countries. Diamonds are a precious resource, and through good governance by the industry they can contribute to the development of Africa’s other precious resource, its people.” Simmons was recently voted as the number one Social Change Agent in JCK’s Top 50 Power List of Movers, Shakers and Tastemakers in the Jewelry Industry.

Phyllis Bergman, DEF president, adds, “We are so pleased to be able to offer AGS attendees an opportunity to get to know DEF a bit better in such a fun, ‘ready for spring’ venue…and to aid our three beneficiaries is a wonderful statement to the industry’s generosity."

DEF’s beneficiaries include: CIDA City Campus, a business college in Johannesburg, South Africa, that is free to attendees with the requirement that they return to their native villages and teach for a period of time after graduation. The second is the African Leadership Academy, a university preparatory school in Johannesburg that draws students from all 54 countries in Africa, and emphasizes leadership skills, African History, and entrepreneurial skills. DEF provides scholarships to all students from diamond-producing nations.  The third beneficiary is the Botswana Top Achievers program that selects the top high school students countrywide in Botswana, and affords them the opportunity to study at a university of their choice anywhere in the world. Graduates then return to Botswana to contribute to its economic, social and political development.

Sponsors for the event include, W Hotel South Beach, Bombay Sapphire, Haute Living, JCK, RideCentric and special thanks to the GIA. DEF is proud to share part of the proceeds from the ‘Raffle for Education’ with Jewelers for Children...together making a difference.

Founded in 2007, The Diamond Empowerment Fund™ (D.E.F.) is a non-profit international organization with the mission to raise money to support education initiatives that develop and empower economically disadvantaged people in African nations where diamonds are a natural resource.

The Diamond Empowerment Fund (D.E.F.) envisions a future when poverty in African nations where diamonds are a natural resource is dramatically reduced through successful fund raising initiatives by the diamond jewelry industry to support projects that educate and empower Africans locally. D.E.F. envisions an effort involving the following:

* Diamond jewelry industry supporting D.E.F. through the sale of their products with

   donations to the Fund;

* People donating to the Fund and also choosing to purchase diamond jewelry products that

   support D.E.F’s mission;

* African individuals, educational and service organizations, and government entities 

   addressing poverty and education in keeping with D.E.F’s mission.

Congratulations to the MJSA!!!

From a field of over 3,300 entries, MJSA, the Industry organization dedicated to furthering professional excellence in jewelry making & design, was recognized in three categories...for the prestigious 2011 Apex Awards!


First for the MJSA Journal, the association's flagship monthly magazine, which provides technical and business information on jewelry making and design to its membership...in my opinion the MJSA Journal makes the cost of membership worth every penny!

 


MJSA Custom Jeweler, its quarterly publication which offers insights into how to capitalize on the dynamic consumer demand for personalized jewelry. By presenting design trends and first hand stories by Jewelers working in the field...this particular issue offers a wonderful story of a jeweler's custom order for Mardi Gras. But whether it is a suite of jewels for the King of Carnival or an article that talks about the newest technical options for offering your store patrons the ability to personalize pieces.


...and finally for MJSA Online (mjsa.org), which also won a 2010 APEX Award for website content and writing.  If you have ever had a question about current Laws Governing Lead & Cadmium in Children's Jewelry, Cleaning Tips for Jewelers, or Identifying Glass & Lead Filled Rubies...you know you will find that and more at the MJSA website.  Whether you are a member or not the website ALWAYS has great Industry Tips & Techniques!

APEX 2011 awards were based on excellence in graphic design, editorial content and the success of the entry -- in the opinion of the judges -- in achieving overall communications effectiveness and excellence. 


It is sponsored by Communications Concepts, the publisher ofWriting That Works: The Business Communications Report. 
http://www.apexawards.com/