Articles and News
Brand News: Plevé‘s Diamond Mosaic; A. Jaffe’s Digital Co-Op; Jewelers Mutual Security Tips; More October 29, 2014 (0 comments)
New Product Introduction: Plevé Thinks Outside The Bezel
New York, NY--For a moment, forget everything you know about setting diamonds, says designer Ron Rizzo, who has teamed up with DTC sightholder Pluczenik to create a new line of diamond mosaic jewelry called Plevé. Throw out all the rules and imagine a world in which an artist can craft a beautiful mosaic out of diamonds with no restrictions—and no need for prongs.
This is how Plevé was launched. It’s a new brand and a new technique invented by Rizzo. Best described as a free form, creative use of all possible shapes, sizes and colors of diamonds in a kaleidoscopic harmony, each piece is handmade and one of-a-kind. The newly patented process uses an invisible light-cured ceramic, rather than traditional settings. The diamonds are placed onto a surface of pulverized crystal, hardened into place, and then polished. As Rizzo explains, it's a new technology as well as a new technique.
"If you look back in jewelry history", he says, "a lot of technological inventions have advanced the industry. But basically it has all been based on the same craft. This is a new craft."
The artisans who assemble Plevé jewelry are not typical stone setters; rather, they are graduates of art schools who have been recruited to bring a non-traditional range of expertise to the table. There are accomplished illustrators, sculptors, and ceramists on the team, as well as jewelry design graduates, who contribute their own esthetic sensibility to each handcrafted piece.
Following a soft launch at the Couture show last year, the collection is already in more than a dozen Saks Fifth Avenue stores nationwide and about two dozen more independent retail stores and galleries. Price points start at about $1,800, with core offerings in the $4,000 to $8,000 range.
A mix of pendants, above, and earrings, below, all featuring designer Ron Rizzo's innovative new approach to setting diamonds in a mosaic. A ring is shown top of page.
A. Jaffe Introduces Digital Co-Op Program For Facebook And Paid Search
New York, NY—A. Jaffe is introducing a special co-op program for Facebook and paid search advertising online, available exclusively through Toledo, OH-based Fruchtman Marketing.
With 97% of consumers using online media to shop locally, A. Jaffe is offering a turnkey digital marketing co-op program to provide an integrated strategy that yields measurable results. Digital marketing has become a larger factor in retailers’ marketing budgets, but most co-op programs have remained unchanged, says Fruchtman. Brands that focus only on traditional media are missing out on the opportunities that robust digital co-op programs provide. A. Jaffe’s new program harnesses the power of scalable, trackable, and cost-effective digital marketing.
The program is designed to provide brand building on the local level by driving direct traffic in support of the retailer, not just the national brand. The results are highly effective digital campaigns that not only build the brand, but drive measurable traffic to the retailer’s Facebook page and/or website. Click here for program overview.
Stuller Releases 2015-2016 Jewelry Catalog
Lafayette, LA—Stuller announces the release of Jewelry 2015-2016, the brand’s most comprehensive jewelry catalog to date.
Featuring 1,000 pages of trendy new styles, proven, timeless bestsellers, and expanded product categories, the catalog is designed to be an inspirational selling tool and buying guide for retail jewelers and their customers.
“This jewelry catalog is a one-stop-shop, easy-to-navigate resource for customers,” says Maren Rosen, Stuller vice president of jewelry and bridal. “It organizes everything we have to offer in the way of jewelry, and presents it in a clean, intuitive way. It’s our most complete assortment to date.”
Jewelry 2015-2016 incorporates a variety of value added benefits such as:
- A keyword index – Whether you’re looking for a certain motif, color or theme, the index allows jewelers to locate item(s) effortlessly.
- Expanded basic styles – Turnkey, timeless classics are available (and shown) in a variety of metal qualities, carat weights, sizes, and stone types.
- Enhanced navigation and product grouping – Now easier to find what you’re looking for and have grouped like products together.
Ritmo Mundo Watches Partners With The Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles, CA—Luxury watchmaker Ritmo Mundo has signed on as an official partner of LA Galaxy major league soccer team through the 2015 season.
This is the first professional sports team partnership for Ritmo Mundo, and the first watch partnership for the LA Galaxy. Locally headquartered in Beverly Hills on the world-famous Rodeo Drive, Ritmo Mundo’s interest in the soccer community and fanbase has grown exponentially in recent years, most notably in 2014 with the World Cup. The brand has established relationships with several Brazilian National Team players to help expand the Ritmo Mundo brand internationally.
Ritmo Mundo will utilize the partnership with the Galaxy to market it luxury collections, as well as its REFLEX brand, the new wearable LED slap watches.
“The LA Galaxy organization is consistently looking to better themselves with regards to sportsmanship, fan offering, and remaining ahead of the curve in technology and fan outreach, so this synergy is ideal as we look to broaden our scope and reach soccer fans everywhere they may be, on their mobile devices, their computers, in the stadium or at home,” Ali Soltani, president of Ritmo Mundo.
The partnership will be communicated through a custom watch display within the VIP Champions Lounge (inside and adjacent to the tunnel to the locker rooms) to showcase both Ritmo Mundo and Reflex watches to Galaxy’s premium ticket holders and ancillary partners. Ritmo Mundo will also be recognized and exposed within the Galaxy’s in-stadium media assets, digital marketing, and social media platforms, to support their messaging as a new Galaxy watch partner offering two brands.
“Ritmo Mundo is a cutting-edge brand with global reach and a worldly-focused audience,” said LA Galaxy president Chris Klein. “This partnership allows for two premium brands to come together and grow within sports and fashion.”
Jewelers Mutual Offers Video And Weekly Tips For Holiday Security
Neenah, WI—With inventories at their highest and attention focused on sales rather than loss prevention, the holidays are a prime time for jewelry crime.
To assist retail jewelers, Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company has released its latest Secure Business Series video, "Holiday Security Tips." Additionally, JM this week kicks off a series of eight consecutive holiday editions of "Tip of the Week," each less than five minutes long and highly relevant to holiday security.
"From November until the end of the year, we know it's crunch time for jewelers everywhere," said David Sexton, CPCU, vice president of loss prevention consulting. "It's tough to keep your associates focused on safety as well as sales, but we hope that our video and the short “Tip of the Week” posts will help owners and managers reinforce that safety and security should be part of every associate's job."
The fifth video installment of the Secure Business Series details three tips for a secure holiday season: hire smart, instill honesty, and keep security procedures locked down. The key takeaway is to have a well-rounded staff in place and familiarize them with the best practices for operating a jewelry business.
Each Tuesday through December, Jewelers Mutual will also release a special “Holiday Tip of the Week” to provide a quick dive into a seasonal security topic. Look for suggestions on extra security for Black Friday, preparing for winter storms, and how to handle increased shipping and receiving activity.
"Time is a precious thing, so these tips were designed to be shared in under five minutes," said Sexton. "A simple reminder can be a key component to preventing losses and making your holiday season that much brighter."
To learn more, visit Jewelers Mutual's Safety and Security page at JewelersMutual.com.
Gemvision Releases Matrix Version 8
Davenport, IA—The new Matrix 8.0 is now available. Focused on creating toolsets and workflows that enable jewelers to perform their jobs more efficiently, Matrix 8 assists with designing, pricing, ordering, selling, and the jewelry manufacturing process.
Matrix was one of the first to introduce CAD to the jewelry industry. “When Matrix was initially developed, it was our job to educate jewelers on the advantages of CAD,” said Doug Kerns, Gemvision sales manager. CAD today is the new normal, he added.
Matrix 8 software enhances the CAD design experience.
Matrix 8 approaches design through the eyes of a jeweler, analyzing how jewelers run their businesses and providing solutions through new tools and functionality. Included are all-new jewelry builders, with libraries of finished bridal and fashion designs. These libraries, along with the addition of jewelry findings, place advanced design ability at a jeweler’s fingertips. Reporting tools define manufacturing needs, and detailed schematics promote enhanced workflow. Animation tools bring designs to life in front of customers.
“Gemvision has been providing technology solutions to jewelers for over 20 years, continues Kerns. “We have a number of former jewelers on staff and we are partnered with Stuller, the largest jewelry manufacturer in the USA.”
Matrix 8 is suitable for use in every kind of jewelry business, from small retail shop to large manufacturer. Jewelers can learn the new tools from their store through the Gemvision Online Academy.
Alex Soldier Designs Princess Grace Award
Beverly Hills, CA—Celebrated jewelry artist Alex Soldier again was tapped to design an incredible objet d’art to symbolize the Princess Grace Awards, presented October 8 at the 32nd Anniversary Princess Grace Awards Gala at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. The Awards ceremony included the presentation of 20 awards to emerging artists in theater, dance and film as well as the presentation of the Prince Rainier III Award to legendary screen and stage actor Dick Van Dyke.
The Prince Rainier III Award, designed and created by Alex Soldier, recognizes a celebrated artist whose own outstanding artistry is coupled with a desire to encourage and nurture the next generation of performing artists. Dick Van Dyke was honored for his significant contribution to film, along with his commitment to sustaining arts programs in public schools and helping at-risk individuals lead fulfilling lives through his ongoing work with Midnight Mission.
For the Awards, Soldier incorporated symbols representing all three disciplines close to Princess Grace's heart and lauded by the Foundation: theater, dance, and film. It is composed of connected symbols denoting these three art forms.
Left: The Princess Grace Award trophy, designed by Alex Soldier. Right, actor and 2014 recipient Dick Van Dyke poses with Soldier, who is holding the trophy.
Joseph Blank Introduces Bridal Collection
New York, NY--Joseph Blank has launched its first bridal collection, called The Bolero Collection. The contemporary design of this collection is intended to appeal to today’s Millennial-age bride. Available in all metals, with or without center stones, the collection's starting price point is $550.
The collection was soft-launched in Las Vegas, and Douglas Bank, company president and CEO says it was well received by customers. “We paid careful attention to the retail price while we were developing the collection, and we’ve hit a price point that is successful in today’s retail market.” The company plans to expand the collection with earrings and pendants.
