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BRAND NEWS: AGS LABS CERTIFIES RITANI DIAMONDS FOR SPARKLE, NEW EVP AT GOLDMAN, CIRCA GROWS, MORE December 05, 2012 (0 comments)
AGS Labs Certify Ritani’s New Reserve Diamonds For Maximum Sparkle
New York, NY—Ritani, a leading designer of engagement rings and fine jewelry, this week unveiled Ritani Reserve Diamonds, a collection of diamonds specially graded by the American Gem Society Laboratories as demonstrating the highest possible fire and flash scintillation characteristics, the aspects that make up a diamond's sparkle.
"Everyone shopping for a diamond wants sparkle, but unlike any of the four C's, sparkle has always been the subjective aspect of the purchase process," said Brian Watkins, president of Ritani. "With the new AGS Lab Scintillation Report, Ritani is able to quantify and guarantee that Ritani Reserve Diamonds sparkle brilliantly."
Only round diamonds earning the highest scores for cut, polish, and symmetry qualify for Ritani Reserve grading by the AGS Lab. Those that achieve Ritani Reserve designation exhibit sparkle across the full crown of the diamond, still sparkle in the most diverse lighting conditions, and demonstrate exceptional interplay of white flash and colored fire. All Ritani Reserve Diamonds come with an AGS Lab Scintillation Report documenting the diamond's sparkle performance.
The science behind the Scintillation Report represents the culmination of 10 years of intensive R&D work by the American Gem Society resulting in multiple patents, peer reviewed publications, and cut grade related products. Based on this scientific foundation, the AGS Lab Scintillation Report features maps and metrics related to the most important components of diamond scintillation: flash scintillation, fire scintillation, and scintillation patterning. Together, these maps and metrics represent what AGS has trademarked as a diamond's ‘True Measure of Sparkle.”
A copy of the AGS Scintillation Report for Ritani Reserve diamonds.
"Since its founding, the AGS has worked continuously to further consumer protection and ethical business practices in the jewelry trade," said Peter Yantzer, executive director, AGS Laboratories. "The new Scintillation Report brings a much needed measure to an attribute so many consumers are looking for in their diamonds. It's exciting to see our technology being used to precisely measure the tremendous sparkle of well-cut diamonds."
Ritani will be adding princess cut diamonds to the Ritani Reserve collection in the near future.
Frederick Goldman Adds John Orrico to Executive Team
New York, NY—Frederick Goldman Inc. announces the appointment of John Orrico as executive vice president of operations. Orrico, who brings 25+ years of senior executive experience, will be responsible for manufacturing, supply chain management, procurement, production control, distribution, inventory planning and QC throughout the world, including facilities in New York, China, Mexico, and India.
Prior to joining Frederick Goldman Inc., Orrico served as senior vice president and chief supply chain officer at retailer Birks and Mayors, where he was responsible for manufacturing, product development, procurement, quality management, distribution and e-commerce, supporting a multi-channel distribution network. He also served as a vice president of merchandising supply chain at Tiffany & Co., where he was intimately involved in developing its vertical integration strategy, including re-developing the infrastructure and re-aligning internal resources to support and sustain the significant growth experienced in the 1990s.
Jonathan Goldman, CEO of Frederick Goldman, says Orrico’s experience, especially on a global scale, is essential to define and implement Goldman’s corporate strategy.
CIRCA Retail Partner Program To Expand Again
New York, NY— Jewelry buying agent CIRCA is expanding its Authorized Purchasing Agent program again for 2013. Since its inception in 2009, the program has added 50% more jewelers as authorized purchasing agents each year, to a current total of 45 luxury jewelers in 40 cities nationwide.
“The retail partnership offers an added value for everyone involved, from the customer who walks through the retailer’s door, to the jeweler who is building customer service and increasing their sales,” said Craig Miller, managing director of CIRCA’s Retail Partners Division.
CIRCA’s Authorized Purchasing Agent program offers annual and semi-annual regional buying events, where the firm’s experts go on-site to the retailer to evaluate all jewelry. They present customers with either an immediate offer and payment, or store credit worth more than the value. The program also includes a year-round, mail-in option for selling jewelry at any time.
Clayton Bromberg, president of Jacksonville, FL-based Underwood Jewelers, was among the first to become a CIRCA agent. He credits the service with helping to keep business strong during the recent downturn and giving customers an opportunity to trade up old jewelry toward the purchase of new pieces.
For more information, contact Sam Ziefer at CIRCA’s New York office, (877) 876-5493; or sziefer@circajewels.com.
Baume & Mercier Launches New Clifton Collection
Geneva, Switzerland—Watchmaker Baume & Mercier introduces its new Clifton Collection, inspired by a 1950s vintage timepiece from the company’s archives, and an evolution of its Classima collection.
The Clifton collection is a contemporary, modern interpretation of the classic round watch. It features a double-beveled design in steel or 18K red gold with alligator leather straps. The Clifton collection will retail between $2,700 and $6,300, and will be available in stores by April 2013.
Two Clifton models: left, an automatic movement with 41 mm round case, black dial with Arabic numerals and indexes, and rhodium-plated hands in polished and satin-finished steel with brown alligator strap. Right, manual-winding mechanical movement, polished & satin-finished 42 mm 18K red gold case with silver-colored, domed dial, riveted gilt Arabic numerals and indexes, and black alligator strap.