Articles and News
Brand News: Uneek’s Synthetic Diamond Testing; Gadbois’s Omnichannel Platform; Signet COO To Stuller November 01, 2017 (0 comments)
Uneek Jewelry Launches Aggressive Synthetic Diamond QC Testing
Los Angeles, CA—Uneek Jewelry announces another layer of its intensive quality control process: aggressively testing to ensure that no manmade diamonds slip into any of its jewelry. Left: Uneek requires all loose stones and parcels to be submitted to GIA for melee and QAD testing. Once GIA certifies the authenticity, Uneek diamond graders test them again in‐house to confirm the findings.
“We’re calling this the ‘Uneek Promise,’” says Benjamin Javaheri, designer and founder of the brand. “It guarantees that all the diamonds used to craft your Uneek jewelry are natural and untreated, not synthetic diamonds or diamond simulants.”
Since its inception more than 20 years ago, Uneek has emphasized quality control and transparency about its manufacturing methodologies and quality standards. The manufacturer holds special quality control training sessions with its retail partners, some of whom even fly to Los Angeles to tour the Uneek manufacturing facilities and learn about important brand differentiators such as Uneek’s special alloys that provide extra strength and durability to even the most delicate pieces; how Uneek ensures “zero porosity;” how its diamond graders use a microscope to pick only top melee, and more.
Now the company wants to be on the front lines in the battle against undisclosed synthetic diamonds in the supply chain.
Despite multiple incidents of synthetics being slipped into parcels of natural, the industry has been slow to react, says Cortland Shopper, Uneek’s regional vice president of sales. “Current watchdog efforts usually involve random sample tests; however, it's not a foolproof method.”
Uneek, meanwhile, has instituted a rigid triple-check process, says Javaheri. Beginning this year, Uneek now submits all parcels and loose stones—whether diamond or colored gemstone—to GIA for melee and QAD testing. After GIA certifies the authenticity, Uneek uses the J-Secure Plus synthetic identification machine in-house to test again and confirm GIA’s findings. Finally, each finished piece is tested a third time during its last quality-control check prior to being shipped.
“Uneek has been an early adapter in the identification of undisclosed lab grown diamonds,” says David Skuza, North American agent for DRC Techno, manufacturer of the J-Secure Plus machines. “Benjamin and his team at Uneek are actively protecting their customers—and their customers’ customers—by using our technology to scan every diamond that passes through their doors.” J-Secure’s technology identifies natural from laboratory grown diamonds in stones of any shape and from 0.003 carats and larger.
“The ‘Uneek Promise’ ensures that all diamonds in every piece of jewelry we make to be genuine natural untreated diamonds," Javaheri emphasizes proudly.
During the final quality control check, each finished piece is again scanned and tested prior to being shipped. Here, a Uneek diamond grader arranges finished engagement mountings in the CVD tester tray for scanning.
Gadbois Builds Omnichannel Platform
Corona Del Mar, CA—Gadbois announces the launch of its new website, GadboisJewelry.com. The site kicks off a total omnichannel platform for the brand.
“One of the key differences between a website and a platform is the capability to tap into mobile commerce through integrated iOS and Android applications,” says Jack Malinowski, vice president of sales for AUGMENTes, which created the platform for the high-end designer brand. “Gadbois took advantage of this as well as our Augmented Reality features and is now ideally positioned to attract mobile shoppers.” The brand will integrate other channels such as Facebook, Amazon and more in the coming weeks, he added.
The Gadbois brand is the result of a mother-daughter collaboration between Frances Gadbois, former designer and co-owner of JudeFrances Jewelry, and her daughter, Charlotte. The Sloane street collections are the classic backbone of the brand; the Charlize collection of 18k gold-plated sterling silver is targeted to Millennials and exclusively sold online on the brand’s website and through Amazon.
Frances and Charlotte Gadbois, above; homepage for the Millennial-targeted Charlize jewelry collection, below.
Stuller Taps Former Signet COO To Oversee Technology
Lafayette, LA—Stuller Inc. has named Bryan Morgan as chief systems and technology officer. He will oversee the global manufacturer and supplier’s IT infrastructure and Gemvision operations. He comes to Stuller from Signet Inc., where he served as chief operating officer, the most recent of a variety of executive positions with the national retailer.
Morgan also has a background of management roles with The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. and cereal manufacturer General Mills. He holds a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
“We are thrilled to add Bryan to our team,” says Stuller president and COO Danny Clark. “His industry knowledge combined with outstanding leadership and management skills will enable us to continue to strive for the best products and solutions for our customers.”
“I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to learn and grow with a top global manufacturer like Stuller,” added Morgan. “I hope to add to and continue the tradition of excellence within this company.”