Articles and News
Brand News From Todd Reed, Charles Garnier Paris, Aaron Shum, More September 30, 2015 (0 comments)
Todd Reed Wins Design Award
Boulder, CO—Jewelry designer Todd Reed (left) was recently honored with the Visionary Award from the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art’s Rocky Mountain chapter.
The 2015 Newman Awards celebrate excellence in the classical tradition within the Rocky Mountain region and honor achievement in architecture, interiors, landscape design, history and journalism, artisanship, and student work. Reed was honored with one of the most prestigious awards of the evening, the Rocky Mountain Visionary Award.
“The Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (ICAA) teaches the fundamentals of architecture through the exploration and study of the classical tradition. It exists to perpetuate the cultural memory of the past as a resource for architectural issues in the present,” he said.
Charles Garnier To Give Away Hermes Apple Watch At Centurion South Beach
Los Angeles, CA—Charles Garnier is raffling off an Apple Hermes watch at the Centurion South Beach show, October 14-16 at the Ritz Carlton South Beach. To enter the raffle, make a five-minute appointment to preview the new Charles Garnier mesh collection featuring hearts-and-arrows diamonds and natural gemstones. Click here to book your appointment and enter the watch raffle.
The mesh collection also is featured on the cover of Charles Garnier’s new catalog. Shown is the Gigi bracelet, a 12 mm mesh cuff with hearts-and-arrows diamond accents and gemstone ends. Suggested starting price (keystone) is $900. Click here to request a catalog.
Separately, the brand awarded an Apple Watch during the recent Select By Centurion Foxwoods show (below). The winner of that watch was Descar Jewelry Design of Waltham, MA.
David Gasway Joins Joshua J.
Los Angeles, CA—Joshua J. Fine Jewelry has named David M. Gasway as its director of sales for the eastern region. Gasway has more than 30 years of sales and management experience with brands such as Rolex, Mikimoto, Versace, and Hearts on Fire.
Gasway said, “After so many years representing some of the world’s most recognized brands, I have come to realize that no brand is more important than a retailer’s private label collection. By drawing on Joshua J’s incredible inventory, top-notch quality, unrivaled customer service, and one-of-a-kind customer base, I am excited to bring retailers the very best merchandise at competitive prices, to preserve the retailer’s margin, and image as an independent luxury jewelry retailer. Developing a trusting relationship between retailer and supplier in order to maximize rate of inventory return can often make the difference between a good year and a great one.”
Gasway can be reached at (203) 895-3971, or via email at david@joshuaj.com.
Frederique Constant, Others Join “Only Watch” Charity Auction
Geneva, Switzerland—Frederique Constant will again contribute to the "Only Watch" charity auction to raise funds in support of those suffering from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
This is the ninth consecutive year Frederique Constant has participated in this cause, which gathers the most prestigious watch brands of the industry every two years. The 2015 Only Watch collection is comprised of 44 one-off watches created by the finest watchmakers around the world.
For this auction, Frederique Constant designed and developed a totally unique Horological Smartwatch, a handcrafted watch that comes with a dark green dial that displays hours and minutes with a small counter at 6 o'clock, which provides the date, the activity and sleep information. All this is tucked into an 18k rose gold case engraved with the inscription "Only Watch 2015."
Powered by MotionX-365R end-to-end solution, created by the Silicon Valley's Fullpower technologies Inc, this analog-dialed horological smartwatch possesses the precise style and finesse of a classical luxury timepiece and offers the ability to monitor sleep and activity by connecting it to a mobile device.
The final touch is a luxury wooden gift box and an Apple iPhone 6 delivered with the watch.
Only Watch began a worldwide tour September 23. It has traveled to Monaco and next heads to Hong Kong, Beijing, New York, London, and wraps in Geneva November 5-7, with the auction there on November 7. The only U.S. dates are the New York showing, October 17-20 at Phillips Auction House.
Proceeds from the sale will be donated to the Monegasque Association Contre les Myopathies to help finance research for Duchene Muscular Dystrophym a degenerative neuromuscular disease affecting children, adolescents and young adults.
Separately, Perrelet has announced that its contribution to the Only Watch auction will be a one-of-a-kind Turbine Sheriff watch exclusively created for the event. It has a 48 mm- diameter pink gold case middle with a black PVD-coated bezel and alligator leather strap. The exhibition back shows its in- house mechanical self- winding movement, PERRELET Caliber P- 331.
The customary blades of Perrelet's iconic Turbine model have been replaced by a black gold- tipped sheriff's star that reveals a humorist inscription on the under-dial in reference to the great American Western movies. This timepiece pays a highly original tribute to the founder, Abraham-Louis Perrelet, pioneer of the self-winding movement in 1777.
Cuervo y Sobrinos Commemorates Pope Francis’ Cuba Visit With A Watch
Havana, Cuba—Cuervo y Sobrinos has given one of its watches to Pope Francis to commemorate his recent visit to Cuba. The watch was accompanied by a personal letter from company president Marzio Villa. The watch was a one-of-a-kind from the brand’s “Historiador” Collection, with the commemorative date of the Pope’s visit on the back case, and an immaculate white dial. It was presented with a white leather strap and an alternative in black leather for his personal choice.
The presentation was possible due to the agreement of Eusebio Leal Spengler, the Official Havana Historiador, and the Ecclesiastical Authority of Cuba.
Aaron Shum Creates Rings For Jackson Brothers
Hong Kong—To celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Jacksons and pay tribute to the late Michael Jackson, musician Jermaine Jackson invited jeweler Aaron Shum to create unique and personalized rings for his family members, with a design concept he created. The rings (below) are dedicated to the legendary family’s musical history and their memories between the beloved siblings. The Jacksons appeared on UK ITV’s Good Morning Britain, where Jermaine Jackson unveiled the Coronet patented design family rings to his brothers to celebrate the group’s 50th anniversary and honor the memory of their late brother Michael.
Designer Ralph Lauren Steps Down; Discount Whiz Will Head Luxury Brand
New York, NY—Ralph Lauren, the designer who founded an eponymous empire of fashion and home décor based on an aesthetic of landed gentry, is stepping down from his position of CEO, effective in November. In addition to apparel and home products, the brand also offers watches and in recent years has dabbled in fine jewelry.
Lauren will remain executive chairman and chief creative officer for the company. Stefan Larsson, global president of Old Navy, the low-price division of Gap Inc., has been named CEO and will report to Lauren.