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BRAND NEWS: RAHAMINOV WINS DESIGN AWARD; WEBSTER’S MBE, PANDORA BUYS TROLLBEADS’ IP; MORE March 20, 2013 (0 comments)
Rahaminov Wins Two Design Awards
Los Angeles, CA—Rahaminov Diamonds has won two 2013 JCK Jewelers’ Choice Awards; one for a Paraiba tourmaline necklace that was voted the winner of the Best Necklace Design Over $10,000, and the other for a man’s wedding band (left). The one-of-a-kind necklace features a 16.48-ct. pear-shape Paraiba, 0.95 ctw round Paraiba melee, and 3.1 ctw round diamond melee. The 18k white gold and black rhodium wedding band featured more than 0.75 ctw HPHT-treated black diamonds, and won first place in Men’s Jewelry Over $1,000. The ring is part of Rahaminov’s new 2013 Edge Collection,
Rahaminov's Paraiba necklace.
Kudos also go to Norman Silverman who won the Bridal Over $10,000 category; Jye’s International who won the Best Bracelet Over $10,000 category; Le Vian, winner of the Diamond Jewelry Over $10,000 category; Simon G, who won Platinum Jewelry Under $10,000; and Heather Moore, in Personalized Jewelry Over $1,000.
Stephen Webster Receives OBE
London, United Kingdom—Jeweler Stephen Webster was awarded a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) by His Royal Highness Prince Charles last month in ceremonies at Buckingham Palace.
Jeweler Stephen Webster, right, receives the Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire from HRH Prince Charles.
The jeweler, who is as likely to be seen cruising the California coast in torn blue jeans and a vintage Thunderbird as he is dancing in royal circles, told British trade publication Retail Jeweller, “To be awarded an MBE for craftsmanship and training in the jewellery industry is a great honour and means so much to me and everyone at Stephen Webster. We have a passion for the craft and skills required to be great jewellers. I have always enjoyed passing on the knowledge which I have acquired throughout my career to people entering this amazing business. Curating the Rock Vault for the BFC has given me the ultimate platform, along with the panel to help mentor and guide emerging talent. I am so fortunate that the SW team not only support this but embrace it.”
The BFC Rock Vault Webster refers to is the British Fashion Council’s efforts to promote up and coming jewelry design talent during London Fashion Week.
Webster also is a Liveryman of the City of London, and, as a passionate advocate for responsibly sourced jewelry materials, is an ambassador for Fairtrade and Fairmined gold.
The MBE is an order of chivalry established in 1917 by King George V. It is comprised of five classes in civil and military divisions, but only the top two, Knight or Dame Grand Cross and Knight or Dame Commander, entitle the recipient, if they wish, to be addressed as “Sir” or “Dame.”
Ben Bridge Jeweler To Take Lacy & Co. Space
El Paso, TX—A soft opening is set for Saturday for Ben Bridge’s eighth Texas location, a new flagship in the former Lacy & Co. location here. According to reports, nearly all of Lacy & Co.’s former staff will join Ben Bridge under the management of Brianna Gartin, an eight-year Bridge veteran, while former owners Ellen and Charles Lacy will remain active in the business as advisors and community ambassadors. When it opens, the store will be called “Ben Bridge Jeweler, formerly Lacy & Co.”
Ben Bridge’s acquisition brings some new prominent brands—such as Marco Bicego, David Yurman, and Roberto Coin—to the El Paso area.
A grand opening celebration is slated for April 18.
Pandora Pays $33 Million for Trollbeads’ IP
Copenhagen, Denmark—Pandora has agreed to pay DK 190 million (approximately $33.3 million) to rival beadmaker Trollbeads for its intellectual property. According to this report in National Jeweler, Trollbeads had been granting Pandora some IP rights relating to its glass beads, but now Pandora will acquire all rights for the one-time sum.
Bvlgari Assets Seized, But Legal Woes Not Expected to Tarnish Brand
Rome, Italy—Although famed Italian jeweler Bvlgari—now part of the LVMH stable of luxury brands—has had its assets seized by Italy’s Guardia Di Finanza (tax police) for alleged tax evasion, the action isn’t likely to hurt the brand’s image, say experts.
According to this article in Luxury Daily, its assets were seized after the firm allegedly shifted approximately $4 billion in revenue to subsidiaries outside of Italy between 2006 and 2011. Those countries, including Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Ireland, have lower tax rates than Italy.
But neither details nor the full truth of the situation have been brought to light yet, and, according to at least one expert, many consumers feel Italy’s tax laws are unfair and therefore will be sympathetic to Bvlgari’s efforts to avoid paying.
Chow Tai Fook Ranked Top Digital Jewelry Brand in China
New York, NY—L2 Thinktank, which measures digital savvy among luxury companies, has released a ranking of how jewelry brands marketing in China are faring digitally. Globally, the luxury jewelry and watch industry continues to lag other categories in the luxury sector when it comes to digital marketing, says the firm.
In China, only one company, Hong Kong-based Chow Tai Fook, earned a “genius” ranking, coming in at the top spot on L2’s list of the 10 brands doing the best digital efforts there. Cartier, in second place, was considered “gifted” in its abilities, while the remainder of the top 10 list were ranked “average” (Swarovski and Tiffany, in third and fourth place respectively), “challenged” (Jaeger-LeCoultre, Van Cleef & Arpels, Raymond Weil, and IWC Schaffhausen in fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth places), and, finally, Bvlgari, Omega, and Rolex all were tied for ninth place but ranked “feeble” in their efforts.