Gems Log

Donald Trump knows better than to pick favorites, especially when it’s between his daughter’s and his wife’s jewelry lines. He talked to WWD at a cocktail party to celebrate Ivanka’s newest jewelry collection but reporters didn’t hesitate to ask about Melania’s upcoming line of costume jewels for QVC. Always the diplomat, Trump explained that the two lines are noncompetitive. “Both of them are equally talented, but the [lines] are completely different,” he said.

Ivanka Trump Launches 2010 Fine Jewelry Collection

Ivanka Trump welcomed style-makers including Andre Leon Talley, Wendi Murdoch, Nigel Barker, Patricia Field and Robert Verdi, in addition to her family, friends and jewelry industry leaders to officially launch her new 2010 Fine Jewelry Collection and celebrate new retail partnership with top US and International retailers who will soon start selling Ivanka’s designs in their boutiques.

The event took place in the 6,000 sq. foot Penthouse of Trump Park Avenue and was the selected occasion to announce Ivanka’s involvement in the United Nations Foundation’s “Girl Up” campaign, a new initiative to improve the lives of adolescent girls in developing countries. “Girl Up” provides an opportunity for U.S. girls, as well as their families and friends, to help girls lead healthier, safer lives by creating life-changing opportunities -like school, a doctor’s visit, even a safe walk home - possible.

The new jewelry collection reinforces the brand’s earlier focus on the heirloom-chic style. Approximately 65 new styles will complement the existing assortment of approximately 100 pieces in platinum, 18K white, yellow and rose gold, featuring diamonds, onyx, black spinel, agate, pearls and rock crystals. Among the new pieces are more than 20 new styles with retail prices ranging from $550 to $2,500. Equal emphasis was given to strengthening the offerings between $3,000 and $8,000, addressing the price points most commonly associated with the shopping preferences of the independent, self-purchasing woman of today.

Ivanka Trump’s New Jewelry Collection

One of our favorite new jewelers, Ivanka Trump, talks diamonds, global expansion, Twitter, and how she’s Rocking Tradition with her new collection of signature pieces.

INSPIRATION….
Tell a little bit about what inspires you and informs your aesthetic as you design a new collection.

Ivanka: Heirloom-chic is my vision. My love of the classics focuses our work on the years between the ’20s and ’60s. The creative core of my collection rests on the modern spin we bring to those classics, turning them into signature Ivanka trump designs. Each piece in the collection appeals to strong, independent women of all ages. I’m also constantly inspired by my travels all over the world: my recent trip to the Middle East, my honeymoon to Africa, Italy, France, Morocco-vibrant cultures and rich histories motivate and inspire each piece of my collection.

DOLLARS & CENTS…

In the wake of the economic turbulence of 2009, how has your business model and approach to the jewelry business, changed?

Ivanka: The business model has developed in two distinct ways in the last year:
First, through global expansion and retail partnerships with top US retailers through a strategic distribution network that will feature wholesale units, and ultimately, a few select new stores. We are in the process of launching the collection in the Middle East by Fall 2010 through strategic retail partnerships with luxury retailers in the region and are also looking to establish the brand in Asia on a retail level.
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With the introduction of pearl cultivation technology, pearls become increasingly common, especially during the last five years. Without reducing pearl quality and natural beauty, modern cultured pearls are becoming more and more popular. Since the 21st Century began, people’s living standard has raised dramatically. Owning a piece of pearl jewelry is not an unreachable thing to do for a common person any more.

With the introduction of pearl cultivation technology, pearls become increasingly common, especially during the last five years. Without reducing pearl quality and natural beauty, modern cultured pearls are becoming more and more popular. Since the 21st Century began, people’s living standard has raised dramatically. Owning a piece of pearl jewelry is not an unreachable thing to do for a common person any more.

“Now people are happy to buy pearl jewelry because it is so affordable with higher quality and more variety of styles”, says Vicky Zhi, marketing manager of Shecy Pearls. “We are happy to sell our best quality pearls with an acceptably lowest price to our customers. It is also a trend in the jewelry industry.”

At Shecy Pearls, the most expensive pearl jewelry is $15,999, which is a strand of golden South Sea Pearl necklace. Then the next is $2,678. Most AAA quality seawater pearl jewelry is between $400 and $1600, depending on the number and size of pearls in one piece. AAA quality Freshwater Pearl jewelry is from $300 to $1,100. Most AAA quality jewelry is between $300 and $500. “Our customers are mainly ordinary office ladies and housewives, although there are many of professionals, husbands and parents that also purchase from us”, says Vicky.

Consumer demand for pearl jewelry is growing at an unprecedented level. “It is a good opportunity for us”, says Vicky. “We aim to use this opportunity to build our reputation and develop our company by providing high quality jewelry, unbeatable pricing and good customer service”. To reach this goal, Shecy Pearls has made an effort on working out a mature product quality assurance and customer service evaluation program. Currently, Shecy Pearls already has reliable loose pearl suppliers. They design and make most pearl jewelry themselves. Shecy Pearls also provide 90-day money back guarantee, free shipping, and a free nice gift package. Till now, Shecy Pearl already has over 15,000 happy customers. “So far, it is a satisfying achievement. But in a hyper-competitive business environment, improvement can never be too much to do,” says Vicky.

China Overtakes and Surpasses Japanese Pearl Market While Freshwater Pearls are Becoming the Fashion Item of Choice

Despite the recession, CathayGems announced increased 15% sales for the year of 2009 with the market for Chinese freshwater pearls holding steady

More than 25 pearl experts from around the world gathered at the inaugural World Pearl Forum in February 2009 at the Atlantis hotel, Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. The single forum saw discussion of the collective growth strategy for pearls in light of the recession and other factors influencing trade and markets across the globe.

At that time the US market for cultured pearls is projected to exceed $1.6 billion by the year 2015. Japan was plummeting fast due to the wipeout of many saltwater akoya farms due to phytoplankton, and the door was opened for China to step into the gap with inexpensive but gorgeous freshwater pearls. Now, almost a year later, China holds a clear lead with a market of $3 billion in freshwater pearls.
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Thailand’s secrets in jewelry industry bared

WHAT are the secrets of Thailand’s fine jewelry industry that it now shines in the world, hauling in for that country a hefty $3 billion in cash each year?

Answers to this puzzle were shared by Lyhz Galang, ERP manager of Naviworld Philippines, during the recently held 4th National Jewelry Forum. Naviworld is a management consulting company that has spent eight years in Thailand helping many of its jewelry manufacturers automate their processes and systems.

In a little more than a decade, Thailand has emerged as China’s chief Asian competitor in the global trade of fine jewelry. It started almost the same time the Philippines was coaching its underground jewelry-making guilds to go over-ground in the early 90’s.

Galang told Filipino jewelers gathered by the Confederation of Philippine Jewelers Inc. (CPJI) that for starter, the Thai government gave liberal tax incentives to investors who were willing to put up large production facilities. Then it opened two special export zones that specialized in hosting only jewelry manufacturing companies.

The twin government strategy was calculated to address two major issues confronting jewelry makers worldwide: the lack of domestic capital in an industry that uses expensive gem stones and precious metal, and inability to mass produce tiny but expensive rings, necklaces, bangles, earrings and more recently, navel rings.

With the special zones opened to foreign investors, Thai entrepreneurs sought foreign partners, particularly the known jewelry makers in France and Italy. When the foreign jewelry-makers took the bait, they also brought in state-of-the-art techniques and the machinery of producing quality jewelry items in large quantities.

The Thais, even if only a few of them spoke good English, joined international trade fairs displaying the best of their glittering goods and kept on cornering more orders. From a few million dollars in sales at the beginning, the Thai jewelry industry proved to be a winner. By last year, the industry has become the second biggest exporting industry in Thailand.

The development strategy worked despite the fact that Thailand did not have any gold deposits from where to get the most important base metal used in jewelry manufacturing. It had been buying its gold from Hong Kong and Singapore that also imported the gold they traded.

The biggest gold producers in the Asian region were Indonesia and the Philippines.

Precious and semi-precious gem stones like jade, opal and pearl used as raw materials were mostly bought from neighboring countries like Burma, Laos, Cambodia and for cultured pearl, Japan.

In sharp contrast, the Philippines’ jewelry export industry, despite the abundance of gold, silver, and other precious metals produced by local mines, plus natural and cultured pearls, grew at a snail’s pace to peak at $45 million last year while that in Thailand was zooming forward.

Thailand’s Blue Diamond Heist

Two decades ago, a Thai gardener climbed into the palace of a Saudi prince through a second-story window, busted open a safe with a screwdriver and stole some 200 pounds of jewelry. The former Saudi chargé d’affaires in Bangkok told the Washington Post that the gardener stuffed “rubies the size of chicken eggs” in his vacuum-cleaner bag, along with a huge, nearly flawless blue diamond, which at 50 carats would be one of the largest blue diamonds in the world.

Or at least that’s how the story goes, according to the local Thai press and the old chargé d’affaires. Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation (DSI), which is similar to the FBI, says it has no evidence to confirm the facts of the case — and doesn’t even know whether the blue stone that’s said to be larger than the Hope Diamond exists. What is certain is that the alleged theft eventually cost Thailand billions of dollars, left people dead in its wake and put an Elvis-impersonating Thai official on death row. More than 20 years later, the ripped-off Saudis still want their jewels back, and relations between the two governments remains strained.

In January, five Thai police officers were arrested and charged for a murder that is allegedly connected to the case, raising hopes that some of the questions surrounding what has come to be known in Thailand as the Blue Diamond Affair would finally be answered. For Thailand, it could mean improved diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia, potentially returning hundreds of thousands of jobs in the oil-rich nation to Thai migrant workers. But since Thailand’s statute of limitations lapsed in February for murders allegedly linked to the heist, the Thais are running out of options. It will now be up to the Saudi government to decide if Thailand’s last-ditch efforts are enough to normalize relations.
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Canadian pop diva Celine Dion and famous talk show hostess Yang Lan rolled out their new line of jewelry on Sunday in Beijing, according to a report from the China Daily.

The plans to join forces to create a jewelry line were hatched when Lan interviewed Dion backstage at Dion’s Las Vegas show at Caesars Palace in May 2007.

Dion was present via video link at the press event on Sunday, which was attended by many Chinese celebrities including actress Zhang Ziyi (“Memoirs of a Geisha,” 2005; “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” 2000) who wore a black tube dress to the launch and was seen looking at a few jewelry items for herself. Hong Kong actress Carina Lau (famous in her roles in many regionally-produced films) also attended the event, according to a report from the China Daily.

International pop star Celine Dion has teamed with Chinese businesswoman Yang Lan to produce a new line of jewelry.

As reported by China Daily, Lan conceived the idea of collaborating with Dion after interviewing the singer backstage in May 2007 at Dion’s Las Vegas show at Caesars Palace.

Lan is well known in China as a talk show hostess and co-owner of Sun Television Cybernetworks. She has been called “China’s Oprah Winfrey” and is one of the nation’s wealthiest business people.

The Lan fine-jewelry line made its debut on June 28, with Chinese actresses Zhang Ziyi and Carina Lau in attendance. Dion sent her wishes through a video link.

Celine Dion And Brody Jenner Each Launch Jewelry Lines

What do celebrity spawn and reality TV star Brody Jenner and singer Celine Dion have in common? They are both joining the celebrity trend of having a jewelry line. It used to be that celebrities needed a perfume or perhaps a clothing line to feel complete but lately it’s all about jewelry.

Brody Jenner’s line is called Archangel and he has been working with designers to create the collection which will be in stores in Los Angeles later this year. The line includes standard jewelry items such as rings and necklaces as well as wallet chains and lighters.

Celine Dion has teamed up with Chinese media personality Yang Lan to create a jewelry line in China called HV Love. The collection includes diamond engagement rings, personal jewelry and women’s accessories. The company plans to open around 200 retail outlets in China by 2010.

Tiffany: always stylish, always profitable

Tiffany & Co. is a leading jewelry brand that enjoys great esteem in Japan for its engagement rings, Elsa Peretti-designed Open Heart necklaces and many other wonderful creations. In this third installment in a series of articles about the world’s high-end brands, Yomiuri Shimbun Correspondent Hiroshi Ikematsu interviews New Jersey-born Michael Kowalski, who has been chief executive officer of the U.S. company since 1999, to learn why the New York-based firm has been so successful.

Yomiuri Shimbun: What differentiates Tiffany from other prominent jewelry brands?

Michael Kowalski: Certainly, our focus on diamonds is an important differentiating factor. Diamonds represent the most significant part–the fastest growing part–of our business and will continue to be the fastest growing part of our business. We believe that Tiffany is about things that last. We are not about fashion, but we believe we are about style. We take a very long-term view of our product. We believe that much of our product is transgenerational–it extends from one generation to another.

Are you interested in expanding the product line?

No. Tiffany has always focused on jewelry and will continue to do so. We don’t view ourselves as a generalist brand. We view ourselves as product specialists. We manufacture the vast majority of our own jewelry in our own workshops. We very much are focused on our supply chain, and controlling our supply from the mine all the way to the final consumer. Tiffany is probably more vertically integrated than anyone in the world.

Are there specialist groups that source your diamonds?

Yes. We buy diamonds from everywhere in the world–Canada, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and, of course, Russia. So we have a worldwide sourcing organization of several hundred people. We grade all of our diamonds right here in New York at our own grading laboratory. We offer a Tiffany certificate. I would remind everyone it’s more than just a certificate–it’s a guarantee.

How are things with your online store?

We’re had a great success over the years in e-commerce. We launched e-commerce in 1999–we were probably one of the first luxury brands to have a dedicated e-commerce capability. It’s grown to be in the United States a significant part of our retail business.

Really it was intended to provide U.S. customers with options. We were one of the pioneers in providing customers with information about diamond quality, our diamond standards and how to buy a diamond. We started that many years ago with booklets in our stores. As we speak today, the vast majority of customers get that information by going to our Web site.

How is Tiffany’s business in Japan?

Japan, of course, has been a difficult market for us over the past several years, but we do believe that Japan as a market can continue to grow for us. We feel very good about our diamond business–our engagement business–in Japan it has continued to be one of the strongest parts of our business.

We have much more work to do in Japan, but we certainly are committed to the Japanese market and it’s still a very important part of our overall company.

In Japan, the engagement market is now very competitive, with many European brands involved.

Although I guess it’s stabilized now, since the early ’90s, the engagement market in Japan has declined significantly. Throughout all that period, we have continued to grow our business. We believe we are continuing to gain market share. Certainly, there is more competition with the arrival of De Beers, Harry Winston, Bulgari and Cartier. But we do believe that the strength of our marketing position will serve us well.

Which products are particularly favored in Japan?

I certainly think that the designs of Elsa Peretti continue to be classic jewelry of the highest design integrity, and that has always been an important part of our business in Japan. And, certainly, our diamond pendants [are popular with Japanese customers]. The retail price of a diamond pendant is not that different from the price of a fashion handbag. The point that we like to make to customers is that the handbag might be fashionable for one or two years. The diamond pendant can last a lifetime–it doesn’t go out of style–so I’m particularly fond of that.

The global economy seems to be declining. What is your strategy?

We don’t plan any dramatic change in strategy. Like all good luxury brands, we manage this company from a very long-term point of view–we are certainly going to [continue to] do that. In fact, in 2008, we plan to increase the number of stores that we are opening internationally and continue to build new domestic stores.

We’ve lived through many economic downturns before, and quite honestly we believe that it can provide opportunities for us. I think for strong brands it provides opportunities.

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N.Y. store a jewel in the crown

The history of Tiffany & Co. dates back to 1837 when Charles Lewis Tiffany (1812-1902) and John B. Young established a stationery and fancy goods emporium in New York with 1,000 dollars borrowed from Tiffany’s father. The pair drew public attention in New York by placing a nonnegotiable price tag on each item–an innovative business practice at the time.

The small business, which was later renamed Tiffany & Co., got its breakthrough in 1848. At the time, a wave of revolutions, including the February Revolution in France, swept Europe, causing the price of gems to plummet. Tiffany was able to snap up diamonds at less than half the original prices, elevating the company to one of the world’s leading jewelry merchants.

In 1867, Tiffany & Co. became the first U.S. firm to receive the Award of Excellence for silverware during the Paris Exposition Universelle, a development that recognized the U.S. company as ranking with its European peers in terms of artistry and craftsmanship.

The modern history of gemology would be incomplete without reference to Tiffany & Co. The United States adopted the company’s standard for gauging the purity of silver and platinum as the official standard of purity.

Tiffany & Co.’s history has evolved in tandem with that of the United States. The company was commissioned to design a presentation pitcher for Abraham Lincoln’s presidential inauguration. During the American Civil War, the company supplied swords to Union officers. Tiffany & Co. later was assigned to revise the Great Seal of the United States and design the White House’s china.

The company presents its products in a American way–providing high-end items ranging from diamonds to moderately priced silverwork affordable for people from all walks of life.

In 1961, Tiffany & Co. became a worldwide household name thanks to the movie “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” starring Audrey Hepburn. The Fifth Avenue store has since become one of the world’s most famous tourist spots.

The company made its debut in Japan in 1972 with the opening of its first boutique in Nihombashi, Tokyo. It has since established an active presence in other parts of Asia and Europe.

Tiffany Says Profit Exceeded Analysts’ Estimates

Tiffany & Co., the world’s second- largest luxury-jewelry retailer, said fourth-quarter profit fell, beating some analysts’ estimates after international revenue surged and the company boosted sales of more-profitable pieces.

Tiffany climbed the most in more than seven years in New York Stock Exchange composite trading.

Net income declined to $118.3 million, or 89 cents a share, for the three months through Jan. 31, from $140.5 million, or $1.02, a year earlier, New York-based Tiffany said today. Profit before one-time items including the cost of discontinuing some watch styles beat analysts’ estimates, and the company increased its annual profit forecast after an inventory-valuation change.

The jeweler’s revenue advanced 9.8 percent to $1.05 billion, with international sales jumping by a fifth. Growing sales in Asia and Europe are helping the jeweler overcome a slowdown in U.S. spending. American consumers have been discouraged by the worst housing slump in a quarter century and job cuts.

“With about 40 percent of sales from international markets, it offers some downside protection from the weak economic trends,” Kristine Koerber, an analyst with JMP Securities LLC in San Francisco, wrote in a March 19 report. She rates the shares “market outperform.”

Before one-time items including the 9 cent per-share cost of discontinuing some watch styles, Tiffany earned $1.27 cents a share. Twelve analysts surveyed by Bloomberg estimated average profit of $1.21, before one-time items.

Excluding the cost of the move to stop selling some watches, gross margin widened for the quarter, the company said.

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Sterling Jewelers sued for sex discrimination

A class action filed yesterday in federal court accuses Sterling Jewelers Inc., the nation’s largest jewelry chain, of systematically denying female employees equal opportunities for promotions and paying them lower wages than their male colleagues.

The company, based in Akron, Ohio, has 1,307 stores in 50 states, and is best known for its brands Jared the Galleria of Jewelry and Kay Jewelers. Sterling is a subsidiary of UK-based Signet Group, the world’s largest specialty jewerly retailer.

Fifteen current and former employees filed the suit in federal court in Manhattan, but the class, if certified, could include more than 20,000 women who have worked there, said Joseph Sellers, a partner at Cohen Milstein Hausfeld & Toll’s Washington office.

Sellers is co-counsel for the plaintiffs with Sam Smith, of the Tampa-based Burr & Smith, and Thomas Warren, a solo practitioner based in Tallahassee, Fla.

The lawsuit comes on the heels of a January determination by the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, which found “reasonable cause to believe that [Sterling] has engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination.”

Christine Nazer, a spokeswoman for the EEOC, said the commission could not comment on determinations unless it files a related lawsuit on behalf of the United States. (And, no, she couldn’t comment on the liklihood of that happening, either.)

Gerald Maatman Jr., a partner at Seyfarth Shaw in Chicago, is handling Sterling’s defense. He also represented the company in the EEOC matter. Maatman declined to comment, referring a reporter to Sterling’s main office.

In the private suit, the plaintiffs allege that the company denied female employees equal opportunities to be promoted into and within management jobs, and paid them less than men for performing the same work. The suit seeks a change to Sterling’s personnel policies, as well as compensatory and punitive damages that could amount to “tens of millions of dollars,” Sellers said.

Sterling hit with sex discrimination suit

Fifteen current and former female employees have filed a class-action lawsuit against Sterling Jewelers, claiming they were paid less than their male counterparts, passed over for promotions and sexually harassed.

Filed late Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in Manhattan, the suit alleges specifically that Sterling lacked a system of advertising open positions or allowing employees to express interest when jobs became vacant, court documents show.

This resulted in a “tap on the shoulder system,” that allowed managers to notify and recruit employees whom they personally favored, and resulted in women being “denied equal opportunity to obtain promotions into and within management jobs,” according to court documents.”

In addition, the suit alleges that Sterling’s compensation policy “offers little or no guidance on setting wages rates,” again giving managers discretion to set compensation pursuant to “personal biases and stereotypes, rather than merit-based criteria.”

Court papers state that as a result, “women are paid less than men performing the same work, as the same levels, in the same area, and at the same time period.”

The suit also alleges that managers subjected female employees to sexual harassment and that Sterling has failed to take any action in response to complaints that women were being demeaned in the workplace.

One woman who worked as a sales associate alleges that a male “manager in training repeatedly called her and sent her text messages expressing the desire to be alone with her” and that he made “made unwelcome overtures,” saying he wanted to kiss her, which caused her “discomfort and distress” at work, court papers said.

In response to the suit on Wednesday, Sterling spokesman David Bouffard gave the following statement on behalf of the company: “We do not believe these charges are valid. Fairness, opportunity, integrity and respect are core values at Sterling. When these allegations first surfaced, we investigated those claims. That investigation failed to substantiate the allegations. We will defend ourselves vigorously against whatever legal action arises. We take the allegations raised in this lawsuit very seriously. We are confident that these charges do not reflect the culture of this company.”

The suit names 15 former and current female employees, though it is filed as a class action challenging the pay and promotion structure at Sterling on “behalf of themselves and all other similarly situated women,” court documents state.

The women named in the suit work, or worked, in stores operated by Sterling in California, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Texas and Wisconsin, with positions ranging from sales associate to store manager.

Sterling operates more than 1,300 retail jewelry stores in 50 states, including Kay Jewelers and Jared The Galleria of Jewelry.

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Harry Winston rated as the most prestigious jewelry brand

High net-worth consumers rated Harry Winston as the most prestigious jewelry brand, a recent survey conducted by the Luxury Institute found. Respondents in the 2008 Luxury Brand Status Index (LBSI) survey cited Harry Winston as having “a great reputation,” being “the ultimate for diamond design,” and being known for “quality and exclusivity.”

Buccellati and Van Cleef and Arpels tied for second place, while Graff placed third. Buccellati was also rated most unique and exclusive.

“The luxury jewelry industry is still very inwardly-focused,” commented Milton Pedraza, CEO of the Luxury Institute. “This important segment of luxury can benefit from understanding how multi-millionaire consumers perceive jewelry brands on critical metrics that define what luxury truly is, and is not…True luxury leaders are unflinching in their desire to learn why consumers will, or will not, recommend their brands and then take positive action.”

The survey was conducted online, using a national sample of 513 Americans with an average income of $789,000 and an average net worth of $15.1 million.

The following list comprises the 20 jewelry brands that were rated (in alphabetical order):

• Asprey
• Blue Nile
• Boucheron
• Buccellati
• Bulgari
• Carrera y Carrers
• Cartier
• Chanel
• Chopard
• David Yurman
• De Beers
• Dior
• FRED
• Graff
• Gucci
• Harry Winston
• Mikimoto
• Piaget
• Tiffany
• Van Cleef and Arpels

Harry Winston is Deemed the Most Prestigious Jewelry Brand

It comes as no great surprise and about every six months or so the results of the survey are pretty much the same. This year too, a Luxury Institute survey conducted among wealthy consumers regarding luxury brands indicates that the brand perceived as most prestigious is Harry Winston.

The survey indicates that Harry Winston enjoys a very strong image as the “ultimate for diamond design” and that it has a reputation for both quality and exclusivity.

In the second place two other luxury brands were tied – Buccellati, which is perceived as being most unique and exclusive, and Van Cleef and Arpels. Graf came in third in the ranking.

The Luxury Institute notes that the report provides jewelry manufacturers with an important tool to understand how multi-millionaire consumers perceive jewelry brands on critical metrics that define what luxury truly is.

The study included 513 wealthy consumers with an average annual income of $789,000 and over. The average net worth of the respondents is $15.1 million.

About Harry Winston

Harry Winston (03.01.1896 – 12.08.1978) was an American jeweller. He donated the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian Institution in 1958 after owning it for a decade. He once sent a 726 carat (145 g) rough diamond, “The Jonker“, through the US Postal Service, foregoing other more conventional means of secure transfer.

Harry Winston’s jewelry empire began with his acquisition of Arabella Huntington’s famous jewelry collection. The wife of railroad magnate Henry Huntington, Arabella amassed one of the world’s most prestigious collections of jewelry, largely from Parisian jewelers such as Cartier.

When Harry Winston purchased the collection after her death, the designs of the collection were quite old fashioned. Harry Winston redesigned the jewelry into more contemporary styles and showcased his unique skill at jewelry crafting. According to the Huntington museum: “He frequently boasted that Arabella’s famous necklace of pearls now adorned the necks of at least twodozen women around the world.”

One famous quote of his is, “People will stare. Make it worth their while.”

His name was mentioned in the Marilyn Monroe performance of the song “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend”.

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Renown jewelry artisan Bianca Zoie is excited to inaugurate her inspirational jewelry collection Bridal Blessings™. After six years of loving devotion in creating Bridal Blessings™ this is the first collection ever created specifically for the bride reflecting purity, feminine, beauty, nurturing kindness, comfort and sweetness of love.

This specially designed bridal jewelry collection of earrings, bracelets and necklaces feature intricate sterling silver beads with two flowers coming together creating a heart with gentle blessings falling from above representing blessings for the bride. These beads are hand-strung on silk thread along with cream, blush and white colored cultured fresh-water pearls symbolizing goodness for new beginnings. The pearls are an important reflection of beauty, honesty, integrity and devotional love. Their gentle luster and delicate surface have the energies of innocence and young spirit imparting gentleness, tranquility and emotional protection.

Isa™ is also being introduced which feature unique Miracle™ beads inspired by The Course in Miracles. These sterling silver beads have blessing images on the outside of the bead. The bead opens to hold a personal affirmation or prayer. Closed, it looks like a beautiful bead suspended on a ring with the sacred held within.

Bianca Zoie has other unique and stunning pearl and gem stone collections currently on the market.

Beginning in 1995 Bianca Zoie has become a renown artisan jeweler with interest in design extending across lands and time. Working particularly with sterling silver, pearls and natural gemstones, she incorporates elegance, depth and timelessness of the ancients with today’s contemporary lines and adds her blessings for miracles to each piece lovingly hand-strung on silk thread. Specially designed jewelry clasps are the finishing touch to her designs.

Bianca’s interest in design extends across lands and lime. Working particularly with sterling siker, pearls and natural gem stones, she is especially interested in incorporating the elegance, depth and timelessness of the ancients with today’s contemporary lines.

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Dasia Dawson has a book of sketches filled with designs for jeans, jewelry and other clothing.

But Dasia isn’t a student at the Fashion Institute of Technology, or even Willingboro High School. Dasia is a fourth-grader at J. Cresswell Stuart Elementary School.

Dasia may be only 10 years old, but with the help of her parents and other family members, she recently launched a jewelry line called TUTU Luv Me, which they hope to expand into a full clothing line later this year.

“She had the idea, and I took it from there,” her father, Marcus Dawson, said Friday.

“TUTU” stands for “teach you to teach us.” The Dawsons say TUTU Luv Me is more than a brand — it’s a campaign.

Dasia’s mother, Shean Dawson, said they want to use the jewelry and clothing line to teach young girls to love themselves. To carry out that idea, they plan to hold monthly workshops at the Kennedy Center that will feature positive role models for girls.

The first workshop will be held Feb. 22.

The family plans to produce T-shirts this summer that will bear the brand name on the front and TUTU Luv Me slogans — “Do good in school because I Luv Me” or “No drugs because I Luv Me,” for instance — on the back.

Dasia’s father said it’s a subtle way to spread a very important message.

“It’s kind of a way of teaching them, without teaching them,” he said.

Dasia said she got the design bug from her father, who founded Motoco Inc., a clothing line for men and women. She has designed three pieces of jewelry so far: a bracelet with a heart charm, a necklace with a heart charm and a dog-tag style necklace, also with a charm. The charms are filled with lip gloss. The TUTU campaign is explained on the jewelry boxes.

The items sell for $22 each. Dasia’s father said he is currently in negotiations to have the items sold at area Target stores. The items will soon be available online.

Dasia recently participated in a fundraising event for Memorial Upper Elementary School selling her jewelry to benefit an upcoming dance. For every item purchased, $2 was donated to the dance fund. She hopes to be involved with similar events in the future.

The Dawsons are also launching a Web site, www.tutuluvme.com, and hope to have blogs where young girls can discuss various topics.

“It’s exciting,” Dasia said.

Tutu Luv Me Lip Gloss Charm Collection

Tutu Luv Me Lip Gloss Charms include an adorable charm bracelet, hot charm necklace and a cute dog tag charm. Tutu Luv Me was inspired by young girls all over the world and will show them how to love me. Remember to love me (yourself) when wearing a Tutu Luv Me Charm.

You will fall in love with this adorable gold Tiffany style lip gloss charm bracelet!

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Celebrities prefer diamond jewelry

Long, dangling diamond earrings were the outstanding diamond jewelry trend of the 14th Annual Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards held Sunday night in Los Angeles.

As with every Hollywood awards ceremony, especially in a year when a writers strike is threatening Hollywood’s ability to perform, its biggest names came out to parade in front of long lines of reporters and cameras.

Diamonds were the gems of choice, seen on large diamond studs, diamond drops and diamond chandelier earrings; stacked diamond bracelets and cuffs and diamond right hand rings. According to PR agents, diamond brooches also made a notable appearance.

Actress Ana Ortiz, totted as the “evening’s best all-diamond look,” showcased a half a million dollar diamond look by Kwiat, including diamond cluster earrings, a vintage diamond and platinum bracelet and a diamond and platinum flower brooch worn in her hair.

Kate Beckinsale wore Van Cleef & Arpel’s private museum collection pieces, including stacked diamond bracelets on both wrists, diamond stud earrings, a 1919 Art Deco diamond right hand ring and a diamond brooch.

Major diamond trends at the awards included diamond earrings of every length and style, spanning large classic diamond studs, diamond pendant earrings, diamond drops, diamond hoops and diamond chandelier earrings:

• Allison Janney – Diamond pendant earrings
• Amanda Bynes – Kwiat – Diamond Stiletto earrings
• Amy Ryan – Fred Leighton – Diamond pendant earrings
• Ana Ortiz – Kwiat – Large diamond cluster earrings
• Becki Newton – Bochic – Rose cut diamond earrings
• Brittany Snow – Neil Lane – Diamond and platinum drop earrings
• Chandra Wilson – Judith Ripka – Diamond and yellow gold chandelier earrings
• Christina Applegate – Diamond stud earrings
• Debra Messing – Neil Lane – Rough cut diamond earrings
• Dixie Carter – H. Stern – Isis diamond earrings
• Edie Falco – Kwiat – Triple drop diamond and platinum earrings, valued at over $250,000
• Ellen Pompeo – Fred Leighton – Old European cut diamond drop earrings, 2.5 carats each
• Giuliana Rancic – Bochic – Rose cut diamond earrings
• Jamie–Lynn Sigler – Fred Leighton – Cushion cut diamond drop earrings, 6 carats each
• Jane Krakowski – H. Stern – Zephyr cognac diamond studs
• January Jones – Neil Lane – Diamond earrings
• Joy Lauren – Diamond ball earrings
• Judith Light – Diamond chandelier earrings
• Kate Beckinsale – Van Cleef & Arpels – Diamond stud earrings
• Kate Hudson – Cartier – 4 carat diamond stud earrings, valued at $101,500
• Katrina Bowden – H.Stern – Stern Radiant diamond earrings
• Keisha Whitaker – Neil Lane – Diamond pendant earrings
• Kyra Sedgwick – Fred Leighton – Cushion cut diamond earrings, 5 carats each
• Maggie Siff – Kwiat – Diamond and platinum earrings from the Pagoda Collection
• Marg Helgenberger – Le Vian – Pave diamond hoop earrings
• Mary Hart – Chopard – 17 carat cushion–cut diamond earrings on a French wire
• Melora Hardin – Chopard – 10 carat cushion cut diamond drop earrings
• Michelle Pfeiffer – Neil Lane – Darkened platinum and diamond chandelier earrings
• Nicollette Sheridan – Neil Lane – Diamond pendant earrings
• Nikki Blonsky – Kwiat / Natalie K. – Diamond pendant earrings
• Perrey Reeves – Le Vian – Diamond hoop earrings
• Rebecca Gayheart – Neil Lane – Diamond and platinum earrings
• Sally Field – Martin Katz – Emerald cut diamond drop earrings with 2 carat emerald cut diamonds for a total of 7.34 carats, valued at $115,000
• Sophia Bush – Diamond drop earrings
• Tara Summers – Kwiat – Diamond Isabella earrings
• Taraji Henson – Chopard – 15 carat diamond hoop earrings
• Teri Hatcher – Neil Lane – Diamond flower pendant earrings
• Tina Fey – Lorraine Schwartz – Diamond shield earrings
• Vanessa Williams – Fred Leighton – Diamond and black onyx pendant earrings
• Vinessa Shaw – Martin Katz – Diamond tassel earrings with 4.45 carats worth of diamonds, valued at $11,000

Diamond Bracelets, such as stacked diamond bracelets, cuffs and diamond bangles, included:

• Allison Janney – Diamond bracelet
• Amanda Bynes – Kwiat – Stacked diamond line bracelets from the Evergreen and Stardust Collection
• Amy Ryan – Fred Leighton – Art Deco diamond bracelets
• Ana Ortiz – Kwiat – Vintage diamond and platinum bracelet
• Andrea Bowen – Bochic – Diamond cuff bracelet
• Christina Applegate – Neil Lane – Diamond and platinum link bracelet
• Diane Lane – Neil Lane – Diamond and platinum cuff bracelet
• Edie Falco – Kwiat – Wide diamond and platinum cuff bracelet from the Kwiat Wave Collection
• Ellen Pompeo – Fred Leighton – Diamond star cuff bracelet
• Eva Longoria Parker – Verdura – Diamond bracelet
• January Jones – Neil Lane – Colored diamond and platinum bracelet
• Kate Beckinsale – Van Cleef & Arpels (Private Museum Collection) – Stacked diamond bracelets
• Kate Hudson – Cartier – Diamond and white gold swirl bracelet, valued at $138,000
• Katrina Bowden – H.Stern – Diamond cuff bracelet
• Keisha Whitaker – Neil Lane – Diamond bracelets
• Kyra Sedgwick – Fred Leighton – Diamond bracelets
• Michelle Pfeiffer – Neil Lane – Stacked diamond bangle bracelets
• Nicollette Sheridan – Neil Lane – Wide diamond and platinum cuff bracelet
• Nikki Blonsky – Kwiat / Natalie K. – 21 wide diamond bracelets from the Trellis and Crochet Collections
• Perrey Reeves – LeVian – Diamond stacked bracelets
• Sally Field – Martin Katz – Black and white diamond line bracelets with 7 carats of diamonds each
• Sara Ramirez – H.Stern / Bochic – Three diamond bracelets
• Tara Summers – Kwiat – Diamond and platinum layered bracelets
• Taraji Henson – Chopard – Three diamond bangles
• Tina Fey – Lorraine Schwartz – Four diamond stacked bracelets
• Vanessa Williams – Fred Leighton – Diamond cuff bracelet

Diamond Right Hand Rings included:

• Becki Newton – Bochic – Diamond Right Hand Rings
• Brittany Snow – Neil Lane – Diamond and platinum Right Hand Ring
• Debra Messing – Neil Lane – Diamond Right Hand Ring
• Eva Longoria Parker – Verdura – Diamond Right Hand Ring
• Giuliana Rancic – Bochic – Diamond Right Hand Ring
• Kate Beckinsale – Van Cleef & Arpels (Private Museum Collection) – 1919 Deco Diamond Right Hand Ring
• Keisha Whitaker – Neil Lane – Diamond Right Hand Ring
• Maggie Siff – Kwiat – Diamond and platinum Right Hand Ring
• Marion Cotillard – Chopard – Diamond Right Hand Ring
• Melora Hardin – Chopard – Triangle shape diamond Right Hand Ring
• Tara Summers – Kwiat – Star diamond and platinum Right Hand Ring
• Teri Hatcher – Neil Lane – Diamond Right Hand Ring

The following celebrities wore diamonds to the 14th Annual SAG Awards:

• Allison Janney – Diamond bracelet and diamond pendant earrings
• Amanda Bynes – Kwiat – Stacked diamond line bracelets from the Evergreen and Stardust Collection; diamond Stiletto earrings; and a diamond ring from the Solaris Collection
• Amy Ryan – Fred Leighton – Two art deco diamond bracelets; diamond pendant earrings and a diamond bead ring
• Ana Ortiz – Kwiat – Vintage diamond and platinum bracelet; large diamond cluster earrings and a diamond and platinum flower hair brooch for her hair; entire all-diamond look valued at half a million dollars
• Ashley Jensen – H.Stern – Golden Stones black diamond cuff
• Becki Newton – Bochic – Rose cut diamond earrings and diamond Right Hand Rings
• Brittany Snow – Neil Lane – Diamond and platinum drop earrings and diamond and platinum Right Hand Ring
• Chandra Wilson – Judith Ripka – Diamond and yellow gold chandelier earrings
• Christina Applegate – Diamond bracelets; diamond stud earrings; diamond Right Hand Ring and diamond hair pin
• Debbie Matenopoulos – Bochic – Rose cut diamond earrings
• Debra Messing – Neil Lane – Rough cut diamond earrings and diamond Right Hand Ring
• Diane Lane – Neil Lane – Diamond and platinum cuff bracelet
• Dixie Carter – H. Stern – Paola diamond bracelet and Isis diamond earrings
• Edie Falco – Kwiat – Wide diamond and platinum cuff bracelet from the Kwiat Wave Collection and triple drop diamond and platinum earrings, valued at $250,000
• Elizabeth Reaser – Judith Ripka
• Ellen Pompeo – Fred Leighton – Diamond Star cuff bracelet and diamond drop earrings, old European cut, 2.5 carats each
• Eva Longoria Parker – Verdura – Diamond bracelet and diamond Right Hand Ring
• Giuliana Rancic – Bochic – Rose cut diamond earrings and diamond Right Hand Ring
• Glenn Close – Fred Leighton – 11 carat rose cut diamond ring
• Holly Hunter – Fred Leighton – 5 carat light pink diamond pendant
• Jamie–Lynn Sigler – Fred Leighton – Diamond cushion cut drop earrings, 6 carats each; and 18 karat gold and diamond ring
• Jane Krakowski – H. Stern – Zephyr diamond cuff bracelet and Zephyr cognac diamond studs
• January Jones – Neil Lane – Colored diamond and platinum bracelet and diamond earrings
• Josh Brolin – Neil Lane – White diamond and platinum cufflinks
• Joy Lauren – Diamond ball earrings
• Julie Christie – Neil Lane – Vintage style rose cut ball diamond jewelry
• Judith Light – Diamond wreath necklace and diamond chandelier earrings
• Kate Beckinsale – Van Cleef & Arpels (Private Museum Collection) – Stacked diamond bracelets on both hands; diamond stud earrings; 1919 art deco diamond Right Hand Ring and diamond hair clip worn on her dress
  Kate Hudson – Cartier – Diamond and white gold swirl bracelet, valued at $138,000; and 4 carat diamond stud earrings valued at $101,500
• Katrina Bowden – H. Stern – Diamond Lattice bracelet; Stern Radiant diamond earrings
• Keisha Whitaker – Neil Lane – Diamond bracelets; diamond pendant earrings and diamond Right Hand Ring
• Kyra Sedgwick – Fred Leighton – Diamond bracelets; cushion cut diamond earrings, 5 carats each; and 4 carat diamond Lozenge ring
• Maggie Siff – Kwiat – Diamond and platinum earrings from the Pagoda collection and diamond and platinum Right Hand Ring
• Marg Helgenberger – Le Vian – Black and white diamond bracelets and pave diamond hoop earrings
• Marion Cotillard – Chopard – Happy Diamond pave pendant and Happy Spirit diamond Right Hand Ring
• Melora Hardin – Chopard – 10 carat cushion cut diamond drop earrings; triangle shape diamond Right Hand Ring in diamond pave and three stacked diamond rings on the other hand, including an Ice Cube ring, a black diamond band and wide diamond eternity band
• Michelle Pfeiffer – Neil Lane – Stacked diamond and platinum bangle bracelets; darkened platinum and diamond chandelier earrings
• Nicollette Sheridan – Neil Lane – Diamond cuff bracelet and diamond pendant earrings
• Nikki Blonsky – Kwiat / Natalie K. – Diamond pendant; wide diamond bracelets from the Trellis and Chrochet Collections; diamond pendant earrings and a diamond star ring
• Perrey Reeves – Le Vian – Diamond stacked bracelets and diamond hoop earrings
• Sally Field – Martin Katz – 10 carat diamond chain necklace, valued at $45,000; black and white diamond line bracelets, featuring 7 carats of diamonds each and emerald cut diamond drop earrings with 2 carat emerald cut diamonds, valued at $115,000
• Sara Ramirez – H. Stern/Bochic – Three diamond bracelets
• Sophia Bush – Diamond drop earrings
• Steve Carrell – Neil Lane – Diamond, onyx and platinum cuffs
• Tara Summers – Kwiat – Diamond and platinum layered bracelets; diamond “Isabella” earrings and a Kwiat Star diamond and platinum Right Hand Ring
• Taraji Henson – Chopard – Three diamond bangles, 36 carats; 15 carat diamond hoop earrings and a diamond pave Right Hand Ring
• Teri Hatcher – Neil Lane – Diamond flower pendant earrings and a diamond ring
• Tina Fey – Lorraine Schwartz – Four stacked diamond bracelets and diamond Shield earrings
• Vanessa Williams – Fred Leighton – Diamond cuff; diamond and black onyx pendant earrings and an antique cushion cut diamond ring
• Vinessa Shaw – Martin Katz – 11 carat black and white diamond rings, valued at $48,000, and black and white diamond band rings, 6 carats total, valued at $21,000.