Articles and News
Brand News From Rahaminov, MaeVona, Gumuchian, Tiffany & Co., Lazare Kaplan, more May 29, 2013 (0 comments)
New Product Spotlight: Rahaminov Flower Rings, MaeVona Green Gold Bridal Rings
Los Angeles, CA—Rahaminov Diamonds is expanding its fancy diamond floral ring offerings in Las Vegas, in booth LUX 921. The collection, designed by Tamara Rahaminov Goldfiner, features colorless and fancy colored pear-shape diamonds set in 18k white or yellow gold. Each piece is one of a kind and handcrafted in the United States.
Left, Rahaminov’s diamond floral rings in yellow, colorless, or brown. Colorless features 12.59 ctw pear-shape diamonds with 0.79 ct. of melee, set in 18k white gold. Yellow ring features 14.03 ctw fancy yellow pear-shape diamonds with 0.24 ct. round diamond center and 0.97 ctw melee diamonds in 18k yellow gold; brown ring features 8.46 ctw fancy brown pear-shape diamonds with 0.11 ct. round center and 0.97 ctw melee in 18k yellow gold. Prices for all upon request; (800) 742-8864.
Separately, MaeVona is introducing a selection of engagement and wedding rings in 18k green gold along with her white and rose gold offerings. Says designer Maeve Gillies, “18k green gold is a sophisticated and subtle tone that feels more modern and delicate than 18k yellow gold and, with diamond accents, compliments many skin tones.” See the collection (examples below) at the JCK Bridal Pavilion, booth S10125.
Finally, Gumuchian will introduce its new “Nutmeg” collection at the show, inspired by the ancient spice. Booth PP54 in Prestige Promenade.
Lazare Kaplan Celebrates 110 Years By Giving Back
New York, NY—Lazare Kaplan International Inc. (LKI), will celebrate its 110th anniversary this year by making charitable donations to multiple industry organizations under its new “Hearts of Hope” donation campaign.
LKI will kick off Hearts for Hope during the JCK Luxury show in Las Vegas with a custom-made heart pendant designed specifically for the campaign. The pendant features a Lazare Diamond laser inscribed with “Hearts for Hope.” For every pendant sold during the show, a donation of $110 will be given to both Jewelers for Children (JFC) and The Lazare Ongoma Initiative (LOI).
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Since its founding in 1999, Jewelers for Children has donated more than $40 million to programs benefiting children, supported by 2,100 companies in the jewelry industry.
LOI was created in 2012 by LKI to raise awareness for a number of important causes in Africa, one of which is to improve and enhance every child’s educational experience in Namibia, one of the world’s largest producers of gem diamonds. Ongoma, which means drum, is an instrument created to make sound. LKI designed the initiative to make noise about the LOI mission.
In addition to its donation from sales of the pendant, Lazare will continue to donate to LOI via the Lazare Diamond Incentive program, where each sales associate’s reward will be matched as a donation to the Five Rand Primary School in Okahandja, Namibia.
LKI is a full supporter of ethical industry standards as a founding member of the UN Global Compact, an initiative supporting universal ethical, social, human rights, and environmental principles.
Tiffany Beats Q1 Expectations
New York, NY—Strong global sales, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, helped Tiffany & Co. beat its first quarter estimates. According to a report in Women’s Wear Daily, the jeweler registered a 2.5% gain in net income for the period ending April 30. Quarterly net sales expanded 9.3%, but the jeweler won’t boost its yearly projections based on these figures, citing continuing soft sales in the Americas and a weaker yen.
The jeweler plans to add 14 stores and redesign its website this year. Jewelry highlights include the introduction of its Ziegfeld and Great Gatsby collections, the Harmony engagement ring, and a reinterpretation of its classic Atlas collection, said the article.
Stuller Names Maren Rosen Executive Director, Jewelry and Bridal
Lafayette, LA—Stuller has named Maren Rosen executive director of jewelry and bridal. Her responsibilities will include identifying and understanding emerging trends and developing compelling product collections in jewelry, in addition to her current responsibilities over Stuller’s bridal business.
Rosen’s career includes several years in boutique retail, as well as working with some dynamic fashion industry brands, including French Connection, Alice + Olivia, and Club Monaco. As a global merchandiser at Ralph Lauren, Rosen ran two of the company’s most profitable luxury product lines, in conjunction with Lauren’s top design team, and served as lead merchandiser of the Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Outlets of America. She joined Stuller two years ago, in the bridal division.
During her tenure in Stuller’s bridal division, Rosen streamlined several process flows, including marketing and product design, developed new vendor and customer relationships, and created numerous new sales opportunities resulting in consistent growth for the category.
“Maren’s ability to translate her extensive experience in merchandising, sales and manufacturing into successful results makes her the perfect candidate to enhance our jewelry offering,” says Danny Clark, Stuller’s chief merchandising and marketing officer. “In the two years she’s been with Stuller, she’s made impactful strides for our bridal business.”
Wilkerson Launches New Website
Stuttgart, AR—A new website launched by the Wilkerson company is designed to help jewelers who are retiring or closing their business adjust to the transition and conduct due diligence about their closing needs.
Featuring clear and more intuitive navigation, the site allows jewelers to locate the information they need quickly. Brighter, larger photos and an easier-to-read typeface add to the ease. A “Services” page describes the many liquidation options and a “Frequently Asked Questions” page gets directly to the point about the key issues most retailers want addressed, including how their company’s reputation will be protected throughout the sale’s process. Also featured are testimonials from other jewelers, and a sale locator tool that shows prospective clients where previous sales have been conducted in an area around their zip code.
Wilkerson is solely focused on jewelry store liquidations like moving, retirement, or going-out-of-business sales. “We think like jewelers because many of us have been jewelers,” said president Bobby Wilkerson. “We know we’re helping someone during a transition, and we always try to make that transition as easy as possible and as happy.”
ArtCarved Sends Retailers to Paris
New York, NY—ArtCarved Bridal said bon voyage to six authorized retailers’ sales associates, sending each and a guest to Paris, France, as winners of the ArtCarved in Paris promotion that the brand executed over the last year.
In addition to the six trips to Paris, the integrated marketing and sales program was designed to educate retail sales associates about the ArtCarved Bridal brand and provide ease of use tools such as an iPad and ArtCarved app. These state of the art digital tools help both sales associates and the consumer choose from an expanded selection of engagement rings and wedding bands.
Sales associates Lindsay Soquet of Crescent Jewelers (Chatham, NJ) and Mechelle Yates of Yates & Co. Jewelers (Modesto, CA), each sold the most ArtCarved bridal product within a six month timeframe, respectively, and were each awarded a VIP trip to Paris for two, including airfare, hotel accommodations, sightseeing cruise, a gourmet French cooking class, dinner at the Eiffel Tower and a shopping spree. Four additional sales associates, randomly selected from hundreds of participating retailers, also received a trip for two. They were: Robert Mushro of JR Jewelers in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Roberto Martin of Fey & Co. Jewelers in Naperville, IL, Jenna Rickards of Ben Bridge in Austin, TX, and Donna Montalvo of Earth Treasures in Eatontown, NJ.
Left, Donna Montalvo, trip winner, with Paul Bischoff of Earth Treasures, and winners Ron and Mechelle Yates in Paris.
Frederick Goldman Inc. is the parent company of the ArtCarved Bridal brand. The brand’s designs are available in platinum, 18k and 14k white, rose and yellow gold, and palladium.