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Industry News: IAC Conference Focuses on Diamonds, Pearls, And More; Diamond Prices Soften Again November 01, 2017 (0 comments)
IAC Fashion + Design Conference To Address ‘White: Palette, Prism, Possibility’
New York, NY—On Friday and Saturday, November 10-11, leaders in the luxury fine jewelry and fashion industries will explore both design and sustainability issues focusing on the use of white materials in clothing and fine jewelry, and address how those objects appeal to luxury consumers. The conference, titled "White: Palette, Prism, Possibility," is part of the annual fashion and design conference series produced by Initiatives in Art and Culture.
From bridal gowns to diamonds, pearls, and the classic white shirt, white signifies luxury. White tricks us into thinking there is no color when in fact it is a most special and authoritative color. It’s no accident that the white precious substances—diamonds, pearls, and platinum—all represent both purity and eternity. Left: diamond and pearl earrings with onyx and coral accents, by Ella Gafter. Ellagem's Talila Gafter will be one of the panelists in the session on pearls.
The conference will address both the significance of white in design and the ways in which society consumes, validates, and sometimes questions luxury objects. The event also will address how the color white relates to sustainability and what it means to the next generation of consumers.
Left, pearl, tsavorite, and opal ring by Paula Crevoshay; right, Gravity Heart unisex ring in platinum and diamond, by Wendy Brandes. Both Crevoshay and Brandes will be panelists at the conference.
The conference is sponsored in part by the Diamond Manufacturers & Importers of America (DMIA), Jewelers Mutual Insurance, UNLEASHED, and Shinola. Key session speakers include fashion designer Jason Wu, best known for creating Michele Obama’s famous white inaugural ball gown; couture fashion designer Ralph Rucci, Jacques Panis, president of Shinola; Mickey Alam Khan, founder and editor-in-chief of Luxury Daily; gem artist John Hatleberg; John King, chief quality officer, GIA Laboratory; Benjamin Zucker, authority on precious stones; British diamond and jewelry authority Jack Ogden; Hedda Schupak, editor of The Centurion Newsletter; Ronnie Vanderlinden, president of Diamex Inc, DMIA, and the United States Jewelry Council; jewelry designers Shaun Leane, Paula Crevoshay, Talila Gafter, Hisano Shepherd, Wendy Brandes, and many more.
Jason Wu, who designed Michelle Obama's famous one-shoulder white inaugural ballgown, is one of the keynote speakers at IAC's "White" design conference.
Sessions will take place at The Graduate Center, City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue (between 34th and 35th Streets) and a special VIP reception will be held at Shinola’s New York flagship boutique in Tribeca, with special remarks from the company president, Jacques Panis.
To download the full event brochure, click here or on the image below.
Click here to register. Centurion Newsletter readers will receive special pricing of $200 for the entire two-day event. Enter code CENTURION at checkout.
Diamond Prices Soften Again
New York, NY—Diamond prices softened again in October amid slow trading as businesses closed for both the Indian and Jewish holidays. The latest report from Rapaport shows polished inventory levels dropped during the month but remain higher than usual for this time of year, exerting downward pressure on prices.
Rough trading slowed in October due to low profitability and Indian manufacturers closing for three weeks over Diwali. Still, mining companies remain bullish about rough supply. In the third quarter, global production rose to its highest quarterly level since 2008.
The RapNet Diamond Index (RAPI) for one-carat diamonds slid 0.2% in October and has declined 4.7% since January 2017. Jewelers are maintaining cautious inventory controls as they adjust to the new consumer reality, and diamond buying has consequently contracted. Manufacturers have built up polished inventory, due to aggressive rough buying in the first half.
Both the U.S. and Chinese jewelry markets are showing signs of sales growth, and jewelers who can create a sense of community, tell an authentic story, guarantee ethical sourcing, and mesh online engagement with their in-store experience are gaining market share and will have a successful holiday season, says Rapaport. Separately, jewelry is one of the growing categories in luxury overall, according to the latest findings from Bain & Co.
The Rapaport Monthly Report can be purchased at store.rapaport.com/monthly-report.