Articles and News
BRAND NEWS: LKI FUNDS NAMIBIAN SCHOOL, LEVINSON HOSTS SWISS WATCH EVENT, UNEEK’S NEW WEBSITE, MORE May 23, 2012 (0 comments)
New LKI Initiative To Fund Namibian School
New York, NY—Lazare Kaplan International Inc. (LKI) announces The Lazare Ongoma Initiative to raise awareness for education in Africa. The definition for Ongoma is a drum that is used to make sound, and the LKI Ongoma Initiative aims to create “that sound” and raise awareness around LKI’s support for the Five Rand Primary School located in Okahandja, Namibia, left, where LKI acts as a technical advisor for the NamGem diamond factory. LKI has long historic ties to the diamond producing countries of Africa. LKI trains and works with Namibians in the manufacturing process, polishing rough diamonds into fine gems, while its factory in Botswana, with 500 employees, was established 20 years ago in 1992.
The Lazare Ongoma Initiative goes hand in hand with The Lazare Diamond incentive program in the United States, which currently rewards retailers and their sales associates who sell and register Lazare Diamonds. LKI will make a matching donation to The Five Rand Primary School in the name of each sales associate for every registered Lazare Diamond. Through this initiative, Lazare Diamond retailers in the United States and their associates will play a part to support the school, while LKI employees will participate with direct donations.
LKI hopes to improve the Five Rand Primary School’s resources and enhance every child’s educational experience. “The Lazare Ongama Initiative was formed to raise awareness of the educational struggles in Namibia and establish a cultural connection to this community,” says Christine Tobias, Lazare’s social media sales coordinator. This is a way for LKI to thank their retailers and sales associates across the country for their support, and spread awareness that diamonds contribute to the well being of the Namibian people, through The Lazare Diamond, “the do good, feel good diamond.”
Lazare Kaplan's Charlie Rosario, center back, poses with a group of Namibian dancers holding Ongoma, or drums that make sound.
Levinson Jewelers Hosts Swiss Watch Presentation
Ft. Lauderdale, FL—Mark and Robin Levinson, co-owners of Levinson Jewelers, and Vartkess Knadjian, global president and CEO of Backes & Strauss, hosted a special presentation and private showing of the new Backes & Strauss Collection at The Capital Grille here on Friday, May 18. Guests from all over southern Florida were treated to an exclusive viewing of amazing timepieces from both Backes & Strauss and Franck Muller, which was represented by Ron Jackson, the brand’s North American president.
From left, Ron Jackson, Vartkess Knadjian, and Mark Levinson
Uneek by Benjamin Javaheri Launches New Website; Unity Collection
Los Angeles, CA—Uneek this week unveiled its new website, featuring its new Unity Collection, along with its other bridal and fashion lines. In addition to being able to view product, the new site features a new B2B microsite where retailers can download price sheets, high-resolution images, and a variety of advertising and marketing materials, such as Duratrans, postcards, brochures, and more.
The new website also features award-winning designer Benjamin Javaheri’s new bridal collection. Mr. Javaheri has created a unique design concept for this new bridal jewelry collection, called Unity. All bands fit snugly under the head of the engagement ring, creating a perfect, seamless match; i.e., the unity of the two most important pieces of jewelry a bride will ever wear. These hand-made designs feature soft, gentle edges that “complete” the look of the entire piece, but the since the design does not have to contour around the head of the engagement ring, the band can also be worn separately on another finger. There are approximately 50 styles in the new Uneek Unity Collection.
Beaudry to Launch New Collections, Marketing, Executive in Las Vegas
Beverly Hills, CA–Beaudry will be launching not only its latest jewelry but also a new marketing initiative and a new sales director at the JCK Show’s Elite Enclave next week.
The brand will present new additions to three collections, including Classic Couture, the one-of-a-kind, handcrafted diamond intensive pieces for which the brand is known; Laura Beaudry, the brand’s fashion line in semi-precious stones and 18K gold; and Beaudry Bridal, a 20-plus piece semi-mount set available in 18K and platinum.
The brand also is launching a new website, with a large library of images from all three collections and several interactive features. The firm also has partnered with OPT, an integrated platform that allows brands and retailers to consolidate and control all of their Internet marketing initiatives from one centralized interface. Beaudry’s OPT presence will increase access and availability to product information, pricing and brand images for its authorized retailers.
Finally, Beaudry also will introduce its new head of sales, Jean-Louis Bilbault. A third-generation jeweler and GIA graduate, Bilbault’s background includes both design and retail experience on a global level. His focus will be to initiate and rebuild relationships with core retailers throughout the country, and focusing on streamlining production to improve capacity and delivery time.
Aston Luxury Group Acquires Distribution for Six Italian Luxury Jewelry Brands
New York, NY—The Aston Luxury Group announced today it will take over U.S. distribution for six Italian jewelry brands, including Stefan Hafner, La Nouvelle Bague, Valente Milano, Io Si, Porrati, and Giantti. Both the brands and ALG are owned by Mumbai, India-based Gitanjali Gems Ltd., a DTC sightholder.
Jon Mitchell, ALG’s COO, said the addition of the brands to ALG’s existing lines represents a wide selection of style, price points, and target consumers, and offers an opportunity for ALG to expand its retail customer base. Two of the brands, Stefan Hafner and La Nouvelle Bague, already enjoy a following in the United States, and ALG plans to build awareness for the other brands.
VanLeles Launches Bespoke Diamond Services
London, United Kingdom—VanLeles Diamonds announces the opening of its new Belgravia (London) office and the launch of its first collection, called “Timeless Grace.” The new office, founded by former fashion model and renowned Sotheby’s and Graff jewelry expert Vania Leles, is in central London, near key landmarks Harrods and Sloane Street.
VanLeles Diamonds is a luxury company that works exclusively with ethically sourced diamonds and creates unique bespoke jewelry for special occasions. Founder Leles's work experience includes stints at Graff Diamonds on Bond Street, and later at De Beers, where she created bespoke jewelry and sourced fine investment-purpose diamonds for many clients, including royals. She then joined the jewelry team at Sotheby's, where she oversaw and participated in auctioning of some of the world's most prestigious diamond and gemstone pieces, including the sale of the magnificent jewels of the Duchess of Windsor.
For more information, please visit www.vanleles.com.