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Industry News: AGS Announces New Award; Silver Sales Grow; New Ivory Ban Rules In Effect Now March 19, 2014 (0 comments)
AGS Announces the Sallie Morton Award
Las Vegas, NV—The American Gem Society is pleased to announce the Sallie Morton Guild Award, which will be given for the first time this year on April 25 at the Society’s annual conclave in San Diego, CA (April 23-26 at Hotel Del Coronado).
Sallie Morton, ECG, was very instrumental in developing the AGS National Guilds, a system that is in place today with the AGS, and the new award will be given in recognition of individuals who have gone over and above in their service to the AGS guilds each year.
“An award in Sallie’s name is very fitting,” said Ruth Batson, RJ, CEO of the American Gem Society and AGS Laboratories. “Given her immense contribution to the AGS, what better way to recognize a member’s outstanding service to our guilds than by giving them an award named after this legend.”
“For my entire professional career, I have heard stories about Sallie Morton,” said Laura Stanley, chair of the Society’s International Guilds Committee. “Chatting with her and planning this award has just reinforced what a dynamo she is, especially considering the considerable glass ceiling she shattered in the jewelry industry. She has always been a role model, and I’m delighted this award honors her life and future legacy.
“Having personally experienced the exponentially growing energy of our AGS guilds helps me understand how exciting it was when Sallie and Al Woodill, (former executive director of AGS), first worked their magic decades ago in developing our guilds.”
In addition to her guild work, Morton was the first female president of the Society (in 1974), and in 1982 became the first woman to receive its prestigious Robert M. Shipley Award.
Silver Survey Shows Fifth Consecutive Year of Growth
New York, NY—Silver jewelry sales in the United States grew for the fifth consecutive year in 2013, according to a survey conducted by National Jeweler magazine in conjunction with the Silver Promotion Service. 73% of jewelers responding to the Silver Jewelry Buying Trends Survey reported increased silver sales last year. The survey also found that silver jewelry has become an increasingly important category for many jewelers, both in driving sales and providing margin.
Highlights from the survey include the following:
- Retailers said silver jewelry sales, as a percentage of their total jewelry sales, accounted for, on average, 33% of unit volume and 29% of dollar volume.
- The average sales increase for silver jewelry sales in 2013 was 17%.
- More than one-third of respondents (36%) said silver jewelry provided their best margins, compared with 28% who cited diamond jewelry as their best margin product. 17% said bridal jewelry provided their best margins, 13% cited gold jewelry, and 6% cited platinum jewelry.
- The best-selling price points for silver jewelry remain low: 92% of respondents said the greatest amount of sales were under $500. 50% said it was for pieces costing less than $100; 42% said their strongest sales were for pieces in the $100 to $500 range. Only 2% of respondents said pieces costing more than $1,000 were best-selling silver goods, and 6% cited pieces between $500 and $1,000.
- Women age 20-40 are the group buying the most silver, say jewelers;
- 92% of retailers believe the category will continue to grow.
SPS Director Michael Barlerin said, “While we had anecdotal information from our program participants that 2013 had been an exceptional year, it was gratifying to see the quantifiable results from the survey. Additionally, the five consecutive year-over-year results are perhaps the most compelling I have ever seen.”
For more information on the survey results, click here.
New Ivory Import Ban Announced by White House Goes Into Effect Immediately
New York, NY—An updated ivory import ban has been announced by the White House as part of its new national strategy for combating wildlife trafficking. The White House has stated that this ban is the best way to help ensure that U.S. markets do not contribute to the further decline of African elephants in the wild, and Jewelers Vigilance Committee last week received updated information from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (“USFWS”) that some of the import/export provisions of the comprehensive ivory ban take effect immediately.
The new provisions state that African elephant ivory, including antiques, may no longer be imported into the United States for any commercial purpose. The only African elephant ivory that may now be brought into the country with proper documentation is ivory that is:
- Part of a lawfully taken sport hunted trophy
- Imported by a federal, state or tribal government agency for law enforcement purposes
- Imported for scientific purposes that contribute to elephant conservation
- Worked ivory contained in personal items as part of a household move or inheritance that meets specific criteria
- Worked ivory that is part of a musical instrument that meets specific criteria
- Worked ivory imported as part of a traveling exhibition that meets specific criteria
Anyone using the antique exception under the Endangered Species Act to import, export or sell across state boundaries (interstate sale) any item made from or containing part of an endangered or threatened species will need to show documentation that:
- The item is at least 100 years old;
- Was legally imported at a designated Customs “antique port”; and
- Has not been subject to certain types of repairs or modifications.
- Additionally, the particular species has to be identified on the documentation.
Click here for the full report.
The current rules for Asian ivory remain in place. Asian elephant ivory trade is permitted, with proper permits from and declaration to USFWS, only if it is a bona fide antique, or if it is pre-convention (removed from the wild prior to June 14, 1976, has not been commercially held, and is accompanied by a pre-Act affidavit. Pre-convention Asian elephant ivory can only be sold intrastate.)
Any questions on current imports and exports of plant and wildlife products can be directed to Sara Yood at sara@jvclegal.org or the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at www.fws.gov. To keep up with JVC updates and events, follow JVC on Twitter @jvclegal or visit www.jvclegal.org.