Articles and News
BRAND NEWS: LE VIAN, SETHI COUTURE HONORED; VICKI CUNNINGHAM RETIRES, MORE December 12, 2012 (0 comments)
Frédérique Constant Partners To Honor European Entrepreneurs of the Year
Geneva, Switzerland–The winners of the European Entrepreneur of the Year Award and the Innovation Award were recently announced during a gala awards ceremony, and both winners received a Frederique Constant watch in recognition of their achievements. The watchmaker is a global partner in the awards.
Klarna, the safe online payment company founded in Stockholm in 2005, was granted the 2012 Entrepreneur of the Year Award. It offers a zero-friction online payment solution for consumers and merchants to interact with each other as safely and simply as possible. Klarna is one of Europe’s fastest growing companies, growing to 700 employees in seven countries in as many years.
The CEO and founder of Enecsys Ltd., Michael J. Fister, who created the micro inverter energy-harvesting device company in 2003, won the 2012 Innovation Award. Enecsys is the premier supplier of grid-connected micro inverters and monitoring systems. The micro inverter converts and controls DC power generated by solar modules into AC power for homes and businesses.
Aletta Stas, COO of Frédérique Constant presented a Heart Beat Manufacture FC-938MC4H6 to Robert Hadzetovic of Klarna, and Peter Stas, CEO of Frédérique Constant, presented a Heart Beat Manufacture FC-935MC4H6 to Fister.
From left, Marc Fister of Enecsys Ltd. holds the watch he received from Frederique Constant CEO Peter Stas; Robert Hadzetovic of Klarna with Frederique Constant COO Aletta Stas.
Jeweler Cunningham Is Next To Say “Time To Retire!”
Tulsa, OK—After more than 25 years in business, Howard and Vicki Cunningham are the latest well-known luxury jewelers to announce their retirement. Cunningham’s Fine Jewelry joins El Paso, TX-based jewelers Ellen and Charles Lacy of Lacy & Co. and supplier Andy Ban of Leslie’s in recent retirement announcements.
Jewelers Howard and Vicki Cunningham have received numerous awards in the industry in the quarter-century their store has been in business.
The decision to retire was driven on multiple levels, said Cunningham in an interview in JCK. Between some health problems for Howard, a lease about to expire, and the lingering stress from a pre-Valentine’s Day robbery in February this year, the jeweler said it’s the right time to close the store.
Cunningham's homepage announces the store's closing sale.
Following the firm’s inventory liquidation, which should be completed in January or February, the Cunninghams plan to spend time with their four grandchildren, but Vicki will remain active in the industry on the Jewelers for Children charity board.
Sarah Leonard Fine Jewelers Holds Red Carpet Bellarri Event to Celebrate 66 Years
Westwood, CA--To kick off the holiday season in true Hollywood glamour, Sarah Leonard Fine Jewelers hosted a private Red Carpet event featuring Bellarri’s award-winning creations, along with a special in-person appearance by the artist herself. Bellarri says she was was honored to be featured for this signature event, which also marked the 66th anniversay of Sarah Leonard Fine Jewelers.
The artist Bellarri, second from left, poses with some of the Sarah Leonard team, including owners David and Gail Friedman.
Le Vian, Sethi Couture Honored by NCDIA
New York, NY—Eddie Le Vian of Le Vian and Pratima Sethi of Sethi Couture were among the winners at the Natural Color Diamond Association’s annual awards gala, held December 5 in New York.
Le Vian received the association’s Excellence Award for marketing and promoting natural color diamonds, and Sethi received the Designer Award for outstanding work with natural color diamonds.
Also honored at the event were Jordan Fine of New York-based Amgad, who received the Recognition Award for dedication and support for natural color diamonds, and Eden Rachminov of Rachminov Diamonds 1891, who was presented with the Achievement Award for education and promotion of natural color diamonds.
The association also unveiled its newly relaunced website.
Circa Gets National TV Exposure
New York, NY—Jewelry buying firm Circa was featured December 9 on Fox News Channel’s national morning show “Fox & Friends.” Natasha Cornstein represented the firm on-air, describing the Circa experience and sharing tips on selling jewelry.
To support the TV exposure, the firm opened its New York and Chicago offices early and promoted the appearance on social media.