Diamond Week In Israel Boasts Over 200 Registered Buyers

More than 200 buyers registered for Diamond Week in Israel,

350 international diamond traders to exhibit on bourse floor

Ramat Gan, Israel - August 4, 2014: More than 200 foreign buyers are registered already for participation in the International Diamond Week (IDW) that will be held September 1-4 at the Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE). They will come face-to-face with more than 350 diamond firms which will exhibit their diamond stocks in the IDE's trading hall. Since the IDW is a joint effort of the world's three leading diamond exchanges, there will also be more than 120 American and Belgium firms arriving, especially for the week.  Also, during the event, the exchange will host Susan Jacques, President and CEO of GIA (Gemological Institute of America) as well as Matteo Marzotto and Corrado Facco, president and general manager, respectively, of the Fiera Di Vicenza, Italy

"Registration for the International Diamond Week continues to grow," said IDE President Shmuel Schnitzer. "We currently have more than 300 buyers registered and registration numbers continue to increase." The IDE president noted that during the IDE's two week summer holiday period - August 11-25 - the IDW organizing committee's core team members will continue to cater to the buyers' registration and hotel room booking requests. "All applicants will receive our usual 'VIP service'," Schnitzer stated.

On September 2, the exchange will honor GIA President, Susan Jacques in recognition of her exemplary service to the diamond, gem and jewelry industry and trade. Other guests of honor include Matteo Marzotto and Corrado Facco, president and general manager, respectively, of the Fiera Di Vicenza, Italy. The visit of the Fiera officials will serve to advance the cooperation between the prestigious Italian gem and jewelry trade show organizer and the IDE.

As in previous editions of the International Diamond Week, qualified and confirmed buyers will be offered up to four free hotel nights in the designated venue hotels. "We have booked rooms at several hotels close to the Ramat Gan diamond exchange complex," said Moti Besser, the IDE's general manager. "They will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis, and therefore, we urge interested buyers to register quickly and not to wait."

The September show will also feature an exclusive polished diamond auction by the Rapaport Group. Meanwhile, negotiations are also taking place with other partners for the organization of additional, value-adding events during the week.

The registration page for the International Diamond Week in Israel can be found HERE. 

Estenza Geometric Shapes in Diamonds and Colored Stone Jewelry

Estenza’s Fashion-Forward Geometric Diamond and Colored        Stone Jewelry Debuts to the U.S. Market The recently created firm has 45 years of manufacturing savvy and connections abroad to help fuel momentum for its design-focused future.  SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 5, 2014: Fashion-forward gold, diamond and colored gemstone jewelry from Estenza is now available to the U.S. market! The Estenza collection features modern classic styles and easy-to-appreciate geometric forms, including the frequently occurring navette seen in stone shapes, silhouettes with negative space and subtle effects in metal work. Estenza’s jewelry is made in 14k and 18k gold with bold cuts of gems like blue topaz and purple amethyst, with most offset by healthy accents of colorless diamond pavé. Estenza’s bridal jewelry includes American favorites like halo settings, split shanks, modified three-stone looks and more. All engagement rings have complimentary bands, as well as unique stackables to add onto existing sets or create entirely new statements. A Smart Luxe bridal line made in 14k gold offers entry price points starting at $1,050. Suggested retail prices for 14k gold fashion looks start at $2,500, while 18k gold bridal pieces start at $3,000. The recently created fine jewelry firm brings 45 years of custom design and manufacturing experience in India to the U.S. thanks to the Kedia family. Founder, jeweler and designer Vijay Kedia lends his seasoned vision to the fresh perspective of the next generation—his son and daughter-in-law Vinay and Priyanka Kedia, respectively. Vinay heads up business development while Priyanka aids on the design side. Priyanka designs pieces for wear everyday that still offer the look and feel of high jewelry. “I just don’t want to keep waiting for an occasion to wear my jewelry,” she explains. “I want to be able to wear it every day. Now other women can, too, with Estenza’s meticulously crafted jewelry made through the art of wax casting, with hand-set diamonds and gemstones that give each piece the quality and detail of one-of-a-kind high jewel.”  Retailers love the collection for its standout styling and color stories, quality of manufacture, quick turns, variety of inventory and the Kedia’s eagerness to work closely with stores to provide merchandise that moves. Fashion editors, meanwhile, will appreciate the line’s on-trend colors and oversize gemstone proportions ideal for big statements in photo shoots and on product pages.  As part of Estenza’s re-branding process for the U.S. market, the company unveiled Estenza.com, a beautifully executed website with magazine-quality professional model photography and still life product shots. The site is easy to navigate, has drop-down menus for styles, collections, gift suggestions and categories like stacking rings. Links to Estenza’s Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and Google+ accounts are also accessible, as is a blog.  Estenza has 70 U.S. accounts to date, and the firm’s fine jewelry is available for wholesale purchase only to the trade. High-resolution digital model and product shot photography is available upon request, as are samples for editorial photography.  Log onto www.estenza.com to see the full range of jewelry offerings.  About Estenza: Estenza emerged quietly on the American jewelry scene in 2013, embarking on a re-branding journey from its U.S. headquarters in San Francisco. The family-run firm has 45 years of fine jewelry manufacturing and custom-made jewelry experience in India thanks to co-founder jeweler and designer Vijay Kedia, while his son and daughter-in-law Vinay and Priyanka Kedia head up sales and marketing and assist with design. Estenza has a wide and deep bridal jewelry inventory, and a growing and popular fine fashion line in karat gold. All the jewelry is made in India, Hong Kong and Thailand. Estenza sells only to the trade, and is a member of Jewelers of America.

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 - India Launches New Business Development and Marketing Campaign to the Americas #JCKLV

JCK  Las Vegas is gorgeous gems and jewelry - but it is so much more.  Networking is at it's peak and the opportunity to develop a working relationship with Jewelers, Designers and Manufacturers from other countries is one you should take advantage of....India's 

Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) has a hand 

in several aspects of show, from the India Pavilion to putting together innovative Business Development Conferences.

      GJEPC – India Launches New Business Development and Marketing                                  Campaign to U.S., Canada and South America

At a news conference India’s premier gem and jewelry organization, the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) – India announced a major, new, multi-level business development campaign focused on the U.S., Canadian and South American markets.

The purpose of the campaign is to reinvigorate, strengthen and expand GJEPC’s business development efforts and build trusted relationships between India’s key jewelry industry companies and individuals and their counterparts in these American markets.

First, the Council is setting up a series of in-depth Business Development Conferences (BDCs) so that the GJEPC-India and its colleagues in the Americas will have opportunities to meet in person, discuss issues and find solutions.

Next, the groups will work on developing “best practices” directed at meeting today’s rapidly changing business landscape. The third step is to create an atmosphere that is continually replenishing and reinvigorating vendor/client relations with face-to-face meetings and social events designed to create new ideas and engender even stronger business partnerships and personal ties.

Fourth, the BDCs allow both groups to listen to important and relevant keynote topics presented for thoughtful discussions between the global colleagues as they work to build new and profitable economic bridges and enhance personal relationships.

Additionally, the Council plans to sponsor other activities that will support and bolster this work as the campaign goes forward.

According to GJEPC – India Chairman Vipul Shah,“We know that the U.S., Canadian and South American markets are uniquely important to our Indian gem and jewelry industry. India is one of the leading and preferred importing and sourcing destinations for these regions when it come to gems and jewellery. We look forward to meeting our colleagues from the Americas face-to-face to talk about all aspects of the gem and jewelry trade and how we can better work together to the greater success of all.”

The Council plans to hold several face-to-face business development meetings in Phase One of a three-year-long campaign. The Council will host ancillary events to support the campaign and other activities.

According to Shah, the first meeting will be a four-day event called the “2014 Indo/U.S. Business Development Conference” (BDC), to be held in Chicago, Illinois on Sept. 5-8, 2014.

Participants will hammer out new and better ways to work together in all aspects of the gem and jewelry trade, including manufacturing, design, production, gem and jewelry material acquisition and retail marketing.

Shah said, “This September BDC is the first such event held in the U.S. For us, this is a significant outreach program to the Western Hemisphere, not only looking at our important markets, but including our colleagues, clients and competitors. In today’s world, change is constant, and we hope BDCs, such as the one upcoming in Chicago, and the many supporting activities we have planned, will make sure India’s gem and jewellery industry is tied firmly into the world’s trends, technologies and capabilities.”

“Our Indian business community is one of the front runners in following ethical business practices through various CSR activities carried out to support social causes including adopting ‘No Child Labour’ Policy. GJEPC through its strong nework and being a responsible KP member has propogated and ensured that the diamonds engaged in the trade are conflict free”, Shah stated.

GJEPC’s Vice Chairman Pankaj Parekh added, “We are looking forward to developing

close business and personal ties with people throughout the Americans. Traveling to our important markets will help us learn more about the people there and how to strengthen and grow many wide-ranging business interests together.”

Also at the meeting, Parekh said that the BDC will “share information into the Council’s ‘Buyer/Seller Matching Initiative’, and showcase the beauty, artistry and production values of gorgeous Indian jewelry.”

Parekh said they expect to see 15 manufacturer/exporters from India with 15 to 20 companies from North America participating at the Chicago event.  

The Chicago conference is being organized and run on behalf of the GJEPC – India by Whitney Sielaff and Rick Bannerot of S&B Partners, LLC. They also organized the Council’s two BDCs held in India.

The India Pavilion at JCK:

For the 11^th consecutive year the GJEPC hosted the India Pavilion with around 65 top exporter members from the gem and jewelry, including studded jewellery, diamonds &and colored gemstones. The Pavilion occupies almost 105 booths.

The Council upgraded the look and feel of the India Pavilion with upgraded lights and furniture and attendees at JCK Las Vegas got the first look at the new Pavilion. The new Pavilion has a more vibrant and sophisticated look, adding to the overall visitor experience at the Indian Pavilion.

The India Gallery at JCK:

Set up at the popular “Shark Reef” venue in the Mandalay Bay, the “India Gallery” provides 8-10 showcases displaying some of the country’s most exquisite range of Indian gem and jewellery products. The items on display were handpicked by the Council.

Key officials presenting at the news conference:

GJEPC Chairman Vipul Shan

GJEPC Vice Chairman Pankaj Parekh

About GJEPC – India:

India’s Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council – is the apex body of the Indian gem and jewellery industry and represents, promotes and markets Indian jewellery artists, designers, manufacturers and exporters from all over the country to markets throughout the world. Established in 1966, the Council represents more than 5,300 gem and jewellery members. GJEPC India works as the single powerful engine of cooperation, consolidation, education, marketing and promotion to benefit the Indian jewellery industry by showcase its products worldwide and establishing it as a leading player in the international jewellery segment.  For more information, please visit www.gjepc.org or its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GJEPC. 

#JewelryBizChat - First #WeeklyTopic - Bring Your Top 5 Productivity Tools!

TONIGHT - TUESDAY (8/5) TOPIC:  to keep it simple and easy - we want you to...bring your top 5 "Social" Resources....

Topic: Top Social Resources - bring your top 5!

These are the 5 tools you use Daily!  Twitter tools - Facebook Scheduling - Posting Tools - anything that makes your Social routine run smoother!

RE: the Twitter Hub at http://twubs.com/jewelrybizchat - the photos will change as you post them and our second Topic will give you that opportunity:

Tuesday (8/12) Topic - Your 5 Favorite Trends/Looks from #JWLV (JewelryWeekLasVegas)!  so bring the photos!

If you have never done a Twitter Chat - you can follow along and contribute in a few ways...
   
   1. if you use Hoot Suite or one of the web based apps just search #JewelryBizChat and save the search.

   2. you can use the site TweetChat http://tweetchat.com/

   3. ...or you can go over and use the Twitter Hub on Twubs.com   

The nice thing about the two outside sites is that they insert the hashtag for you!  Once the #WeeklyTopic is announced you can either chime in OR if we are talking to a JewelryBiz Icon tweet out gems as they utter them or ask your own questions....a lot like LIVE Tweeting a Seminar (PJ at MJSA is the Queen at this)!  

...and we will end each chat by asking everyone to post "what's NEW with YOU!" like   @JewelryBizGuru's upcoming Seminars, the latest posts from @Adornmentality and @BabetteJewelry's new website!

Future Chats:
We will be looking at ALL of the important blogs and bloggers to help Jewelers and Designers find the blog/blogs that are the perfect fit for your jewels!  

We will meet some of the important writers of Industry Trade Magazines as well as your favorite Fashion Rags!  ...again helping with your list of important press folks.

We will look at the branding opportunities on the Social Platforms you are using and offer templates for the different header sizes!

...and if this catches on we will be talking with Industry insiders!

NOW - lets say you aren't a joiner but a twitter stalker - if you check the Twitter Hub on Twubs between chats you will get the conversations and any videos or photos shared!

Anyone Up For Another Go At A #JewelryBizChat?

OK - UPDATE!   We are a go for #JewelryBizChat -at this point we are looking at Tuesdays at 6pm (West Coast should have time to get home from work - East Coast will be able to get the babies tucked in and grab a glass of wine).  See the next post for more info!

_________________________________________________________

Finally emerging from the Jewelry Show aftermath...if you follow my blogs you know that I cover all 40+ shows in Tucson every Spring and just about the time I start to do Vendor/Designer Spotlights on the Tucson Gem Show blog we start the pre-show previews for Jewelry Week in Las Vegas here on the Daily Jewel.  We are finally at the Designer Spotlights here and that will continue...with over 2500 vendors at JCK alone (I also cover Couture, the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry Show and LUXURY) and there are SO many really FUN, new looks, designers and trends that I will be writing well into 2014!  ...oh and look for some new Interview activity on my Jewelry & Gem Artisans Blog which has been dormant for months!!!

...you won't miss a minute of the fun if you are following all my blogs!

OK - that got a little to advertise -y...YUCK!  back to the Topic at hand. A while back several people in the Industry (Dan Gordon, Marc Knobloch, etc.) were trying to put together a Twitter Chat to keep Industry folks and emerging artists in the know...

So - why am I thinking about this again?  Because of a recent tweet from the enthusiastic Barbara Palumbo of Adornmentality!

This is SUCH an exciting time to be writing in the Jewelry Industry - the blog format is so widely accepted now and the Industry has become so much more supportive and, with only a few exceptions, sharing!

These tweets got me thinking...maybe it's time!

Thanks for the inspiration - anyone in?

What we need to get started:

     ► I have set the time and date - but it can be changed...
     ► Registered the hashtag
     ► Set up a Twitter Hub so that folks that can't make the chat can follow along!
         http://twubs.com/jewelrybizchat
     ► Need a couple folks to commit to Moderating
     ► Scheduling - interviews

I am sure there will be a million more things to do - we can handle them as they come our way!

SO - ANYONE ELSE IN?  

#FIFA - Nothing goes together quite like Footballers and Fine Watches....

#FIFA - Nothing goes together quite like Football and Fine Watches....

Roberta Naas' great watch blog A Timely Perspective talks about the Footballers that have signed on with Ritmo Mundo.

"Ritmo Mundo has signed on a massive roster with six international football brand ambassadors. Among the soccer players joining the Ritmo Mundo team are Brazilian David Luiz, Oscar, Dante, Paulihnio, Bernard, and Ramires among others. Each ambassador is sporting a 50mm Quantum timepiece with Swiss chronograph movements until the new watches are finished."

The recent Centurion Newsletter cites Bulova and Manchester United, Hautlence and Eric Cantona, Breitling and Beckham, Christiano Ronaldo and Tag Heuer with FIFA connections and Audemars Piguet, who has had four-time Golden Ball winner Leo Messi as its brand ambassador for four years. The Argentina-born legend wears a namesake limited edition Royal Oak Leo Messi chronograph.