Articles and News

Brand News From Antonini, Rebecca, Todd Reed, Shinola, Frederique-Constant, More April 02, 2014 (0 comments)

ANTONINI presents the Vulcano collection

Milan, Italy—Antonini this week launched the Vulcano collection, named in honor of both the wild Aeolian island where active volcanos create fluid forms of lava, and the divinity of the same name, who was the guardian of blacksmiths and goldsmiths for the ancient Romans.

Vulcano features a new finish, exclusively created by hand by the master goldsmiths at Antonini, with rhodium-plated black veins polished in several stages. Metalwork research has led to the creation of new interwoven gold and rhodium chains that are as soft as fabric, and long necklaces fastened with a brilliant-cut diamond clasp.

The collection includes large cuffs (left), pendants, and rings of twisted brambles of metal from which rows of diamonds emerge. Also included reinvented classic hoop earrings bent into organic shapes.

 

Rebecca Jewelry Gets The Word Out

Beverly Hills, CA—Rebecca’s best-selling Word collection lets customers speak from the heart by choosing a word or letter. There are infinite mix and match options for every occasion, from bracelets and necklaces in different tonalities to a variety of pendants and charms with colorful Swarovski crystals to suit any taste. Examples below:

Testi SpA of Empoli, Italy, parent company of Rebecca, is launching three new collections at the Baselworld show this week, and at JCK and Couture Shows in the United States.

Rebecca jewelry can be purchased online or at retailer stores throughout the United States. Visit www.rebecca.it for locations.

 

Todd Reed Launches Pearl Collection

Boulder, CO—Todd Reed's latest collection of Tahitian pearl jewelry should strike a chord with pearl lovers around the world. Reed has been collecting Tahitian pearls for many years in anticipation of launching this line. Reed’s ability to transform a style of jewelry that is so often perceived as 'traditional' into a completely modernized interpretation of how pearls can be used in jewelry is testament to his famed tagline, “Raw Elegance.”

A ring from Todd Reed's new Tahitian pearl collection.

 

Frederique Constant Celebrates 10 Years of Its Heart Beat Manufacture With Calibre FC-945 Silicium

Basel, Swizerland—Celebrating the 10^th year of its famous Heart Beat Manufacture series of watches, Frederique Constant introduces the new FC-945 Silicium Heart Beat Calibre, 

The accuracy of any mechanical timepiece is dependent on the accuracy of the actual timing device, the balance wheel, balance spring and the escapement. Since watches were first invented, this has involved high levels of friction, and friction means lubrication. As the lubrication used in the escapement ages, thins or dries out, the level of friction increases, and less power is transferred to the balance wheel. 

Silicium, the principal component of most semi-conductor devices, allows the watch to perform without lubrication. A multiple image of the escapement is produced and projected onto a round silicium wafer composed of three different substrates, or layers. The pieces produced by this operation only have to be cleaned on the surface. Each wheel is completely identical and requires absolutely no balancing, centering or polishing, and key to the fabrication of the Frédérique Constant Silicium escapement.

The Silicium escapement wheel can clearly be seen through the Heart Beat aperture in the dial. The new Heart Beat Manufacture Silicium Calibre is housed in a 42 mm stainless steel case with see-through sapphire crystal case back. This first Frédérique Constant Heart Beat Manufacture model with Silicium escapement wheel and specially designed dial will only be offered in a limited edition of 188 pieces in 18K gold and 1888 in steel.

Frederique Constant's 10th anniversary Heart-Beat Manufacture, left, and its World Heart Federation watches, right.

Separately, Frederique Constant has again joined forces with globally renowned actress and model, Inès Sastre to fight heart disease through support to the World Heart Federation (WHF). Sastre will once again be Frédérique Constant’s female charity ambassador. This year’s support includes a US $75,000 donation to the WHF, in addition to the design and creation of a new ladies automatic “World Heart Federation” collection of four watches in rose gold, diamonds, and mother of pearl.

Two of the watches are powered by the FC-303 calibre movement, and the two others by the FC-310, both featuring 26 jewels, automatic winding and a 38 hours of power reserve.

The rose gold plated rotor is decorated with the World Heart Federation logo and sunray bridges, as well as the delicately engraved “Hearts of Children.”

The bezel of each model is set with 48 sparkling diamonds, 0.74 ctw. More more diamonds are used as indexes, set on a vanilla dial with a guilloché World Heart Federation logo at its centre, and surrounded by a delicate mother of pearl on the outer ring.

Case diameter is 34 mm, with a depth of 9.9 mm. Each model shows hours, minutes and seconds. On the FC-303 models, the date is displayed at 6 o’clock. All have a sapphire crystal see-through case back, and are water resistant to 60 meters. Each comes with either rose gold plated or bi-color stainless steel and rose gold plated bracelet in a WHF heart-shaped gift box.

 

Shinola Introduces Lifetime Guarantee

Detroit, MI—Effective March 27 every Shinola watch now is guaranteed for life under the terms and conditions of the company’s warranty.

In case of defects covered by the warranty, all components (excluding battery, leather strap and buckle) will be repaired or the watch will be replaced free of charge. If the exact model is not available for replacement, a watch of equal value and similar style will be provided. A copy of the receipt and/or your completed warranty card is required as proof of purchase. A check or money order payable to Shinola/Detroit, LLC in the amount of $25.00 as service and handling fee must be included for all warranty and repair services. The fee is subject to change.

A Shinola Runwell model.

“Shinola is able to offer this guarantee because we source only the best available watch components, and utilize a handmade production process in our state-of-the-art Detroit factory that produces an exceptional level of quality. We make our watches so they can someday be passed down to the next generation, and our limited lifetime warranty ensures they will be,” said the company in a statement.

For more information on the terms and conditions of our warranty, please visit: Shinola.com.

 

Peter Cotton Appointed National Vice President Of Sales For Jack Kelege & Co.

Los Angeles, CA—Peter Cotton has been appointed vice president of national sales at Jack Kelege & Co., Cotton has worked with top guild-level stores in wholesale jewelry and watch sales and management for the last 30 years.  Most recently, he was national director of sales for Whitehouse Brothers. Prior to his Whitehouse affiliation, Peter was western sales manager for several luxury diamond jewelry designers.  His extensive background in the luxury sector also includes a 12-year stint with North American Watch Corp., where he served as western sales representative for the Corum and Piaget brands. Cotton will be instrumental in tailoring engaging Jack Kelege co-branding campaigns for each retailer to better connect with customers.

 

Judith Ripka Bought By Xcel; Joins Isaac Mizrahi and Liz Claiborne 

New York, NY--Judith Ripka will now become another division of Xcel Brands, which also owns the renowned fashion brands Isaac Mizrahi and Liz Claiborne. Xcel acquired the Ripka brand and its intellectual property for approximately $22 million, divided between cash, promissory notes, and stock shares.

Ripka is an award-winning designer renowned for her textured 18k gold jewelry. She has been in business since 1977 and in recent years gained greater household recognition with a separate, lower-priced line for TV shopping network QVC. In total, the brand has four separate price points: its White label is offered at off-price discounters such as TJX Co. stores (Marshalls and TJ Maxx); its Silver group is, as named, sterling silver, and comprises the bulk of its TV shopping channel product; its Black label, also sterling silver, features touches of 18k gold and is sold at better department stores; and its 18k gold line is sold at luxury retailers. The brand also has six company stores.

She will remain with the company as chief designer. According to reports, Xcel plans to extend the Ripka brand to other accessories such as handbags.

Read more here, here, and here.

 

Ritmo Time Group Taps Brazilian National Soccer Players For Sponsorship 

Beverly Hills, CA—Ritmo Time Group has signed seven internationally famed football (soccer) players for the Brazilian national team to a multi-year sponsorship agreement for its Ritmo Mundo and Reflex brand.  
The players and their respective club level teams at international level are: 

• David Luiz – Chelsea
• Dante – Bayern Munich
• Paulihnio – Tottenham Hotspur
• Bernard – Shakhtar Donetsk
• Willian – Chelsea
• Ramires – Chelsea
• Marquinos – Paris St. Germain. 

All represent the Brazilian national team at this years’ World Cup set to start in Brazil on June 12. The players will be involved in a global marketing campaign with eye catching Ritmo Mundo timepieces in professional environments, along with Reflex watches in their respective sports worlds.  Along with the players, the Quantum will be the centerpiece of the campaign for Ritmo Mundo, while the mono-product Reflex will feature sports themed images and lifestyle.

David Luiz is one of the soccer stars in the new Ritmo Mundo ads.

Ritmo Mundo founder and president Ali Soltani said, “I am delighted to announce our partnership with not one but several of the top football players in the world in the year the World Cup is hosted in Brazil.  These players are committed to excellence and achievement in their field with a passion to win; which are values we share at Ritmo Mundo. “

 

Girard-Perregaux’s The New Face of Tradition Chronicles Young Watch Masters’ World Tour

Basel, Switzerland—In 2012, Swiss luxury brand Girard-Perregaux introduced a print and digital journal called The New Face of Tradition. The project is a collection of stories and images of Girard-Perregaux’s Young Watch Masters, observed in their own Atelier, but also in their time outside of it, especially traveling.

All the images from the journal and its subsequent world tour have now been compiled in an elegant book that takes the reader through a journey around the world but also through the lives of the Young Watch Masters. The watchmakers’ stories, dreams and personal aspirations are profiled in the coffee-table book.

The book is designed with two sections. The first is dedicated to the 23 Young Masters and their alter egos, from rock and roll stars to mountain climbers, record collectors, and international alpine horn champions. The second section is fully dedicated to the Tour, depicting the watchmakers as they take over cities like New York, Sydney, Tokyo, Paris, Beijing, Miami and Shanghai, photographed amongst the backdrop of these cities’ iconic landmarks.

“With this book, we celebrate a new generation of watch masters. We honor their craft and their dynamic lives so as to inspire other young people around the world to pursue the tradition of watchmaking” says Michele Sofisti, Girard-Perregaux and Sowind Group CEO. “As times, generations, technology evolves, the art of watchmaking stays the same at its core and this book represents this fusion of innovation and tradition that Girard-Perregaux embraces”.

The New Face of Tradition book will be available at the Girard-Perregaux boutiques and selected point of sales worldwide. It is printed in English, French, and Chinese. A digital version will also be available for download on www.girard-perregaux.com and on www.thenewfaceoftradition.com.