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Brand News: Thollot Jewelers And FireCushion Featured On ABC-TV; Charles Garnier Watch Winners; More July 01, 2015 (0 comments)
Thollot Jewelers Designs FireCushion Ring For Couple On ABC’s ‘Extreme Weight Loss’
Thornton, CO—When the producers of ABC’s series Extreme Weight Loss contacted Troy and Joy Thollot of Thollot Jewelers to design an engagement ring for their “Love Can’t Weight” episode of the nationally televised show, the jewelers leapt at the chance.
The show featured a couple, Cain Myers and Tiffany Kasunich of New Orleans, LA, whose escalating weight problem was compounded by Myers’s gambling addiction. The couple wanted to get married, but not in their current life situation. Chris Powell, the show’s host and inspirational life coach, challenged the couple to lose more weight than any two-person team had ever lost in the history of the show. But there was an added incentive: if they did—and Myers could conquer his addiction—Powell promised to fulfill Kasunich’s dream of having a cushion-cut diamond ring, something made all but impossible by Myers’s gambling debt.
In creating the ring, the Thollots wanted it “to be more than just a ring, but a reflection of their story.” They thought Hasenfeld-Stein’s FireCushion would be a perfect choice, not only because of its brilliance, beauty, and rarity, but because of its own weight-loss story.
The connection is that FireCushion—a trademark of Hasenfeld-Stein—is an Ex Ex (excellent/excellent) cushion brilliant that has no excess weight on its underside. Excess weight does nothing for the quality or beauty of the stone, says Steve Feldman, director of sales and marketing for Hasenfeld-Stein.
A stone with no unnecessary weight reflects the couple’s own struggle to carry no excess weight. Hasenfeld-Stein cuts away the stone’s “big belly” typically found in modified cushion brilliants, says Feldman.
The ring Thollot Jewelers created with its own setting and a FireCushion center.
“Fewer than one in every 1,000 cushions in the world are GIA or Forevermark Ex Ex cushion brilliants. FireCushions are also about 15-20% larger than typical cushions of the same weight, with uniform brilliance and an average 95% light return.”
Over the course of a year, Myers and Kasunich lost a combined 272 pounds, and Myers kicked his gambling addiction. He chose a 1.54-ct. FireCushion set in a Thollot custom-designed engagement ring for his bride, and the couple married on the show, which aired on June 23. Watch here.
Host Chris Powell, above left; groom Cain Myers, center; and jeweler Troy Thollot behind the counter. Below, from top, the film crew in the store, the couple before their year-long odyssey are shown on the Extreme Weight Loss set, and happily married.
Three Jewelers Win Apple Watches From Charles Garnier Paris
Los Angeles, CA— Steel’s Jewelry of Valdosta, GA, won a $10,000, 38 mm, 18k yellow gold Apple Watch Edition, the grand prize in Charles Garnier Paris’s drawing at JCK Las Vegas.
Charles Garnier announced the winners July 1. In addition to the gold Edition, the second prize was a 42 mm Apple Watch with stainless steel case and Milanese loop, and the third prize was a 38 mm silver aluminum case Apple Watch with white sport band.
The grand prize winner was picked by Howard Hauben, president of Centurion (below top). Elizabeth Oliver accepted the 18k yellow gold Edition on behalf of Steel’s Jewelry.
The team from Steel's Jewelry, Valdosta, GA.
The second prize winner was picked by Steve Mazza of Mazza Jewelry (below top), and president of Prestige. Eli Antypas Jewelers of Toledo, OH (below bottom), won the watch and Antypas accepted on behalf of his company.
The third prize winner was picked by Victoria Gomelsky, editor-in-chief of JCK magazine and was awarded to King Jewelers of Cohasset, MA. Mark Michael accepted on behalf of King Jewelers.
The King Jewelers team in Las Vegas.
Charles Garnier congratulates all three winners. Julie Franco, vice president of sales, says, “We believe everyone was a winner. All who came to the Charles Garnier Paris booth were the first to review the famous Hearts and Arrows Diamond Collection in silver. Those who bought the collection are happy to be the first to carry the collection in their store.
“Our customers were so receptive so the drawing that will we be holding drawings at our future shows, including Leading Jewelers, IJO, JA New York, Luxury Privé, RJO St. Louis, and SJTA Atlanta. We will be announcing one winner for each show and prize will be “his” and “hers” Apple Watches.”
Rio Tinto Pink Diamond Tender Kicks Off World Tour At Sydney Opera House
Sydney, Australia--Rio Tinto’s annual Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender was launched last week during a world exclusive preview at the famed Sydney Opera House. This year’s iconic collection includes some of the most vivid pink and red diamonds ever unearthed from the Argyle mine.
The 2015 Tender, known as the “Connoisseur’s Collection”, comprises 65 diamonds weighing a total of 44.14 carats, including four Fancy Red diamonds, and is expected to attract global demand. The collection comprises five “hero” diamonds selected for their unique beauty and named to ensure there is a permanent record of their contribution to the history of the world’s most important diamonds.
Rio Tinto Diamonds & Minerals chief executive Alan Davies said, “This collection is one of the most beautiful in the history of the Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender. The unique combination of color, shape and clarity of these diamonds will ensure it is a very special collection. The Argyle Diamond Mine has changed the course of the history of pink diamonds and this year’s Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender is testament to this extraordinary mine that continues to produce the world’s most sought after gems.”
The names of some of the best diamonds in the Tender have been inspired by the world of ballet, in recognition of Argyle Pink Diamonds partnership with The Australian Ballet. They are:
- Argyle Prima, a 1.20 carat Fancy Red pear shaped diamond coveted for its unique combination of size, shape, colour and clarity which is rarely seen in the rarefied fancy coloured diamond world
- Argyle Aurora, a 1.47 carat Fancy Red oval shaped diamond, named in honour of Princess Aurora from The Sleeping Beauty
- Argyle Allegro, a 0.79 carat Fancy Red radiant shaped diamond, named after the brisk and lively ballet movement and reminiscent of the red colour dancing within this diamond
- Argyle Spectre, a 1.93 carat Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink shield shaped diamond. The vibrant pink colour and strong shape of this diamond is inspired by the ballet Le Spectre de la rose
- Argyle Éleve, a1.44 carat Fancy Intense Pink emerald shaped diamond, inspired by the ballet movement of rising high without bending and reflecting of the perfect long lines and elegance of the emerald shape.
The 2015 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender will have viewings in Sydney, Hong Kong, New York and Perth. Bids will close on October 21, 2015.
New Jewelers Mutual Video: Keep A Suspicious Incident Logbook
Neenah, WI—Nearly all crimes against jewelry businesses include elements of casing as criminals prepare to attack. In some cases, criminals and their accomplices may be in your store many times, identifying weaknesses and looking for opportunities. One of the easiest proactive and most cost-effective measures any jeweler can take is engaging your employees in identifying, documenting and referring to a suspicious incident logbook. With a new Secure Business Series video from Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company, jewelers can train their staff to connect the dots, identify and document incidents of casing and suspicious individuals before a crime occurs.
Mark Cumicek, director of loss prevention with Jewelers Mutual, says, "Identifying potential casing and criminal threats is everyone's responsibility within a jewelry business, and a suspicious incident logbook can be a great tool to raise your team's awareness. Documenting and sharing suspicious behavior among your team is an inexpensive and effective component of your security plan."
First, make sure that your associates understand what suspicious behavior looks like. In particular, look for individuals who seem more interested in the store's layout, procedures, and security features than jewelry. People who avoid eye contact or conversation also should be considered suspicious. Vehicles parked outside with occupants who may be watching the store, as well as other behavior that raises red flags may all be part of a well-coordinated casing effort.
Immediately after the suspicious incident, an associate should log the date and time, behavior and the identifying characteristics of the individuals and vehicles involved. If you and members of your team create entries and refer to the logbook regularly, you may identify patterns and proactively share trends with local law enforcement.
In addition to keeping a suspicious incident logbook, Cumicek recommends that jewelers share alerts from the Jewelers Security Alliance, Jewellers Vigilance Canada, and any local crime prevention networks they participate in with their team members. Businesses insured by Jewelers Mutual receive a complimentary membership to these groups.
Frederique Constant Horological Smartwatches Now Shipping
Geneva, Switzerland—Watchmaker Frederique Constant announces the first Horological Smartwatches have shipped to customers in Switzerland and the United States.
After three years of research and development in collaboration with Fullpower Technologies Inc. of Santa Cruz, CA, and Manufacture Modules Technologies Sàrl, Frederique Constant unveiled the Horological Smartwatch, powered by MotionX, last February. Four additional men’s models were unveiled in Basel in March.
A total of five different styles are available, priced from 990 CHF ($1,050) to 1290 CHF ($1,377). The watches offer two years’ battery life, accurate time and date, MotionX activity tracking, Sleeptracker sleep monitoring, sleep cycle alarms, get-active alerts, and dynamic coaching. Automatic OTA watch software updates are available on both iOS and Android.
GSI Lab Adds Sarine Profile To Its Grading
Kfar Saba, Israel—Gemological Science International ("GSI") gem labs has announced it will use the full Sarine Profile in its polished diamond grading and education services. This includes deriving a stone's light performance grade with Sarine Light-measured data and providing the Sarine Loupe imaging and detailed Hearts and Arrows and 3-D Cut proportions graphic renditions. With offices in the U.S., India, Israel, Belgium and Botswana, GSI provides gemstone identification, grading and education services to many of the larger US retail chains.