Articles and News
BRAND NEWS: OSCAR HEYMAN’S 100TH, UNEEK’S NEW VP, YURMAN’S NEW CEO, PANDORA’S WRIST SLAP, MORE January 11, 2012 (0 comments)
Oscar Heyman & Brothers Celebrates 100 Years
New York, NY—Every centenarian should look so good! Oscar Heyman & Brothers, the jewelry house renowned for its classic diamond and gem creations since 1912, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year by launching a new look and unveiling the Oscar Heyman 100th Anniversary Collection. At left, this fire opal and diamond ring was just completed in the firm's New York workshop.
The company’s founding brothers trained in the rigorous workshops of Fabergé before leaving Eastern Europe for New York, bringing with them rarified skills and an abiding passion for gemstones. Beyond the classic diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires, Oscar Heyman specializes in phenomenal gemstones with equally glamorous appeal, including alexandrite, chrysoberyl (cat’s eye), opals, aquamarines, star rubies and star sapphires, all hand-selected for quality and color. Each piece of Oscar Heyman jewelry is ingeniously designed and meticulously crafted by American artisans using the European techniques passed down through three generations of this family business.
Among Oscar Heyman’s many renowned pieces from its 100-year history are those commissioned by such illustrious houses as Van Cleef & Arpels, Tiffany & Co. and Harry Winston, as well as the exquisite necklace design for the legendary pear-shaped 69.42 carat Taylor-Burton diamond made for Cartier.
While known as the jewelers’ jeweler—and still creating designs for the world’s most renowned jewelry houses—the Oscar Heyman brand is widely sold under its own name at the finest jewelers around the country.
“We will be celebrating this landmark event throughout the year by launching a new look for the brand, participating in shows around the world, premiering our 100th Anniversary Collection, and hosting special events with our retail partners,” said Tom Heyman, one of the third-gemeration members of the firm. “Our goal for Oscar Heyman’s 100th anniversary, indeed for the next 100 years, is to continue growing the Oscar Heyman brand name. More now than ever, we are designing and creating for our retail partners’ signature collections, and individual pieces that are coveted by jewelry lovers around the world. Exciting things are happening at Oscar Heyman and in our industry, and we will remain a major force in jewelry design and creation for the next 100 years.”
Every piece is signed and numbered, and the firm also prides itself on keeping an archive with a record of every piece ever designed and made by the company. Should a customer ever lose a piece—even an heirloom from decades earlier—it can be recreated. It’s been done more than once, says Tom Heyman.
Uneek Names New Vice President
Los Angeles—Uneek by Benjamin Javaheri announces the appointment of Eric Newnham as its new vice president. With more than 15 years’ experience in the luxury and jewelry field, Newnham brings a fresh perspective, creative ideas, and new management style to the company, says Javaheri.
Previously, Newnham was with fashion designer Ralph Lauren in sales, and was COO of jewelry firm Martin Flyer, where he refined quality, initiated new jewelry designs, and developed various departments to better service customers’ needs.
Newnham says “I have been successful in the past by surrounding myself with talented people. At Uneek I quickly recognized those same strengths and attributes amongst the staff and knew it would be a proper home for me. Benjamin and I had immediate synergy.” Adds Javaheri, “I knew that all of Eric’s attributes would bring nothing but success to my organization. I definitely look forward to what the future holds as I know it is going to be nothing short of extraordinary!”
A 9.02 ct. fancy intense yellow diamond is surrounded by micropave in this ring by Uneek.
Christina Applegate in Le Vian; Jessica Chastain and Berenice Bejo in platinum
Pasadena, CA--Actress Christina Applegate, below left, wore Le Vian’s Super Gladiator ring, below right, featuring a crisscrossing mix of the designer's signature Chocolate Diamonds and Vanilla Diamonds (4.49 cts. t.w.) to the NBC Universal 2012 Winter TCA Tour All-Star Party held here on January 6.
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Separately, Jessica Chastain, left, and Berenice Bejo, right, were spotted in Harry Winston and Chopard jewelry, respectively, during the 2011 New York Film Critics Circle Awards, held January 9, 2012. Chastain wore a platinum and diamond ring and platinum and diamond micropave ear studs by Harry Winston, while Bejo chose 15-ct. platinum and diamond hoop earrings and a four-carat platinum and diamond ring by Chopard.
William Levine Tapped by Essence Mag for Ring Shopping Tips
Chicago, IL—Ed Werner of William Levine Fine Jewels was recently featured on Essence.com in an article about shopping for an engagement ring. He regularly works with professional athletes, stars, and other big-budget shoppers, but told readers the best way to work with a budget of less than stellar proportions is to strike a balance between what they can afford today and what they’ll be happy with in future years. He also described the subtle variances of a diamond grade, pointing out that buying a stone online on the basis of a grade alone may yield a stone that looks different than what the purchaser expects. It’s like a test in school, he said—there are different degrees of an A. Read the entire article here.
Essence magazine interviewed Ed Werner of William Levine for an online article about buying an engagement ring.
Pandora Gets Another Wrist Slap
Copenhagen, Denmark—The Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA) says beleaguered jewelry company Pandora was late announcing it would not meet its 30% revenue growth target for 2011, adversely affecting its stock price. According to this article on IDEXOnline, following robust 40% growth in the first quarter of 2011, the company predicted a 30% gain for the year. But revenues plummeted in the second quarter, and in August the company said it wouldn’t make its target and fired its CEO.
The FSA notice comes barely a month after a similar reprimand from NASDAQ OMX. According to Danish law, FSA has turned the matter over to police. The company, meanwhile, maintains it had good reason to believe its forecast was accurate and that it acted swiftly once it became apparent that would not be the case.
Leo Schachter Buys Into New 47th Street Building
New York, NY—Leo Schachter & Company has purchased more than 11,000 square feet at the International Gem Tower currently under construction on 47th St. here. Upon completion in 2012, Schachter & Co. will move their New York operations into the new, state-of-the-art building.
"While our business has grown and expanded globally over the past 60 years, we never forget that our founding roots are in the heart of the 47th Street Diamond District," said Schachter principal Elliot Tannenbaum. Raizy Haas, senior vice president of Extell Development Company, who is building the tower, said Schachter’s move will help the building become a destination for top local and international jewelry companies.
David Yurman Taps Ex-Outfitter As CEO
New York—Glen Senk, who abruptly resigned from Urban Outfitters Inc. on Tuesday, will join David Yurman as CEO effective February 27, according to a brief article in Women’s Wear Daily.
Glen Senk will become a familiar face at jewelry shows. Photo: Steve Eichner for Women’s Wear Daily.
Tag Heuer To Launch Digital Gaming Project
La Chaux de Fonds, Switzerland—Watchmaker Tag Heuer will use brand ambassador and racecar driver Lewis Hamilton as the focus of a new digital project called “The Ultimate Lap.” Consumers are invited to virtually race the driver through a digital driving platform yet to be announced, says this article on LuxuryDaily.com. The watchmaker has released a teaser video on YouTube and created a Facebook tab dedicated to the project. Read the LuxuryDaily article here, and see the video here.