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Brand News: Uneek Wins 11 InStore Design Awards; Sally Morrison Returns To Natural Diamond Promotion; Jewelers Mutual ‘Love Not Canceled’ Video For Retailers May 20, 2020 (0 comments)
Uneek Jewelry Receives 11 Wins In 2020 INSTORE Design Awards Competition
Los Angeles, CA—Uneek Jewelry has won 11 awards in seven categories in the 2020 InStore Design Awards competition.
Its two biggest winners were the "Solstice" ring (left) and "La Luvia" necklace. “Solstice” features an 8.57-carat, GIA-certified VS1 radiant fancy yellow diamond flanked by 1.43 ctw of trapezoid-shaped diamonds. The yellow center diamond is mounted in an 18k yellow gold basket surrounded by 0.41 carats of diamonds in platinum. The ring, part of Uneek’s Natureal Collection, won both first place and "Retailer’s Choice" in the Colored Diamond Jewelry category.
Uneek’s “La Lluvia,” a 5.85-carat pear-shaped diamond pendant on a 41.5-inch platinum chain with 1.76 ctw round diamonds, also received first place and Retailer’s Choice awards in the Diamond Jewelry Over $5000 category. From Uneek’s Signature Collection, the pear-shaped diamond center (GIA certified J/SI1), is set in a platinum double halo with pavé round diamonds, while the platinum chain is sprinkled with navette-shaped openwork filigree alternating with milgrain-bezel stations:
In second place in the Best Engagement/Wedding Ring over $5000 category was “The Proposal,” a 10-carat K/SI2 cushion-cut diamond on a three-row shank with a rose gold middle row and filigree on the basket, accented with natural pink diamonds:
“Bleu Infinity” took third place and Retailer’s Choice awards in the Platinum Jewelry category. It features a 6.67-carat cushion natural blue sapphire flanked with two matching 1.13 ct sapphires, set on Uneek’s Silhouette shank:
One of three more Retailer’s Choice Award winners was “The Heiress,” a timeless 9.22-carat cushion-cut green tourmaline with diamond inlays around it and two Cadillac-cut side stones.
“Awards are great, but the real excitement is seeing the winning design given as a gift of adornment that will be passed down as heirloom pieces from generation to generation,” said Uneek president and lead designer, Benjamin Javaheri.
Sally Morrison Tapped To Promote Natural Diamonds At De Beers Group
London, UK—Sally Morrison is back leading the charge for natural diamonds at De Beers Group. She will hand over her responsibilities as chief marketing officer for the company’s lab-grown Lightbox division, but will start work immediately in her new role as director of PR for natural diamonds in De Beers’ Consumer and Brands division. She will focus on media, trade, and designer outreach for natural diamonds, especially in the U.S. market, and will remain based in New York.
Stephen Lussier, De Beers’ executive vice president of Consumer and Brands, said, “Sally has a real passion for the jewelry industry, and particularly for the joy that natural diamonds bring to consumers around the world. With so many people being separated from their loved ones in recent months, diamonds will play a more important role than ever in helping celebrate the connections that are so important in our lives. I’m therefore delighted that Sally will be bringing her vast experience in PR, marketing and the US diamond industry to the team.”
Morrison added, “I started my jewelry career with A Diamond is Forever and it's great to be back. De Beers Group has always been the leading voice for natural diamonds and their unique ability to signify life's most important moments. While the next months will doubtless be challenging for all of us, I'm looking forward to finding new and engaging ways to bring this most precious of gems to consumers. Meanwhile, I am very proud of what’s been achieved so far with Lightbox and look forward to watching the brand's continued success.”
Love Not Canceled: Jewelers Mutual Group Presents Video To Support Jewelry Businesses
Neenah, WI—As COVID-19 continues to impact people, communities and businesses across the nation, the Jewelers Mutual Group remains committed to supporting jewelers and raising the tide of the industry. This week, the company is offering a video for jewelers to share on their social media channels reminding customers during this pandemic that “shopping local” includes jewelry businesses.
The video features vignettes of a half-dozen leading jewelers doing self-video in their stores: John Carter, owner of Jack Lewis Jewelers, Bloomington, IN; Jason Druxman, co-owner of Avenue Jewelers, Appleton, WI; Ben Simon of Windsor Jewelers in North Carolina; Jenny O. Calleri, owner of Huntington Jewelers in Las Vegas, NV; Bill Longnecker, owner of Longnecker Jewelry in McCook, NE; and Alexis Padis of Padis Jewelry in northern California. Each talks about the importance of love and service even in tough times, outlining how a local jeweler is there to help.
The content gives jewelers an opportunity to stay in front of their customers and deliver a message about how customers can support local jewelers, even though their brick and mortar stores may be closed. Click here or on the image below to watch.
“While stores may be closed, love is not canceled,” said Ken Murray, Jewelers Mutual vice president of marketing and digital. “Special moments are still happening every day and people still want jewelry to mark those times in their lives, whether that’s with an engagement ring, a graduation pendant, or birthday earrings.
"This video is one way we’re helping jewelers share with their customers that they are still available and want to be of service in any way they can during these challenging times.”
Along with the video, Jewelers Mutual has provided several different social posts for jewelers to stay connected with their customers as well as a blog post to share highlighting how consumers can buy jewelry online.
If you are a jeweler and would like to download the social posts or would like more information on these resources, please visit our COVID-19 business page. If you are a customer and would like more information on Jewelers Mutual or jewelry insurance, please visit JewelersMutual.com.