Archive for March 8th, 2006
Bridal Fashion Jewelry
DailyIndia.com
Jewellery (spelled jewelry in American English) refers to ornamental devices worn by persons, typically made with gems and precious metals. Costume jewelry is made from less valuable materials. However, jewelry can and has been made out of almost every kind of material. Examples include bracelets, necklaces, rings, and earrings, as well as items like hair ornaments or body piercing jewelry. Jewelry, particularly when made with precious materials, is generally considered valuable and desirable. Some cultures have a practice of keeping large amounts of wealth stored in the form of jewelry. Jewelry can also be symbolic, as in the case of Christians wearing a crucifix in the form of jewelry, or, as is the case in many Western cultures, married people wearing a wedding ring. And what can symbolize love and, of course, the wedding ceremony more than a diamond?
Diamonds are graded by four characteristics: cut, carat (weight), clarity, and color. All four of these properties determine how much a diamond is worth.
Cut - What is the proportion of the diamond? Round brilliant diamonds are commonly cut with 58 facets. The better proportioned these facets are on the diamond, the more light will be reflected back to the viewer’s eye. This is extremely important. When cut properly, the diamond will sparkle more. Diamond cuts are measured by the table percentage, so always ask for it. Cut also refers to the shape such as: round, pear, and oval.
Carat - How big is the diamond? Larger diamonds often cost more per carat due to their size. There are 100 points to a carat. Hence a 50 point diamond is 1/2 a carat. (There are 5 carats to a gram.)
Clarity - How clear is the stone? Clarity ranges from flawless (perfect) to I (included). Here is a summary:
Color: Diamond colors generally range from D - X for white and yellow diamonds. D is the whitest. Around S they become “Fancy” yellow Diamonds. One can also find green, pink, red, blue and brown diamonds - though these are usually irradiated.
Diamonds are often treated. If you are concerned about getting true value for your money, know what you are getting. Be sure to read the fine print.
Diamonds with inclusions are sometimes filled with glass to make them appear clearer. An inclusion is an imperfection internal to the diamond. Filler can be damaged by heat, ultrasonic cleaning, and by re-tipping. The filling does not repair the inclusion, it just makes it less visible. They can be painted to offset a yellow tinge. The paint wears off rather quickly.
Finally, now that you have that precious stone, here are some tips as to how to take care of it. Diamonds are often thought to be unshatterable. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Diamonds are brittle: If you hit a diamond hard, they WILL crack or chip if mishandled. Don’t wear your diamond when doing rough work.
Storage: Store diamonds separately. When stored with other jewelry, diamonds may scratch other jewelry (or each other).
Cleaning: The best method for cleaning is a jeweler’s polishing cloth. Many jewelers will clean your diamond ring for free if you are making another purchase in the store.
Lisa Arons is a writer at http://Beautiful-Earrings.com where you can find a variety of articles and items including necklaces, rings and bracelets. Visit http://www.beautiful-earrings.com for additional jewelry information and merchandise.
This article represents the views and opinions of the author and not of www.dailyindia.com.
March 8th, 2006
Toxic lead levels found in kids’ jewelry
03/08/2006
The Asahi Shimbun
Cheap metal accessories that have flooded the country in recent years contain high levels of lead that pose health risks if swallowed or continuously sucked on by children, Tokyo metropolitan government officials say.
When exposed to acid similar to digestive gastric juices, some of the accessories released as much as 56 times the amount of lead allowed by U.S. safety standards, they said.
Lead is a highly toxic metal that can cause brain damage, especially in young children.
Based on its test results, the Tokyo metropolitan government urged the state Monday to legally regulate the jewelry and warn consumers.
Tokyo’s research covered 76 items, including rings, necklaces, brooches, earrings and cellphone straps.
The trinkets sell for around 100 yen to 1,000 yen at supermarkets and “100-yen shops.”
The tests found that 46 items, or about 60 percent of those tested, contained more lead than the U.S. safety limit of 0.06 percent.
The accessories were mostly imports from China, South Korea and Taiwan, officials said.
In 32 of the items, the lead content was higher than 50 percent–more than 800 times allowed in the United States.
When 21 items with high lead contents were given acid extraction tests similar to the effect stomach juices would have, 14 exceeded the U.S. criteria.
One brooch released 9,900 micrograms, 56 times the 175-microgram maximum level set by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the officials said.
U.S. safety standards for children’s metal jewelry were established in February 2005.
There have been cases reported in the United States of children suffering growth retardation and other problems after accidentally swallowing metal jewelry.
Japan has safety regulations regarding lead in food and tableware, but not accessories.
The Tokyo metropolitan government has also asked industry groups to ensure the safety of such accessories.(IHT/Asahi: March 8,2006)
March 8th, 2006
HK Int´l jewelry show opens
CCTV
03-08-2006 10:35
A record 2,000 exhibitors from around the world convened Monday for the opening of the 2006 Hong Kong International Jewelry Show.
Altogether 30,000 people are expected to pass through the doors of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center during the show’s four-day run. A wide array of gems of all colors and designs are on display. The exhibition is divided into special zones where visitors can focus on their interest from loose diamonds to other precious stones. The show’s international status is being reinforced by the participation of groups from the Chinese mainland, Belgium, Israel, Italy, Japan, Thailand, Turkey, and the United States.
March 8th, 2006
USA : Jewelry retailer Finlay registers 10.7% gain in Q4 sales
Fibre2fashion.com
March 8, 2006
Leading retailer of fine jewelry and the largest operator of licensed fine jewelry departments in department stores throughout the United States Finlay Enterprises Inc announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended January 28, 2006.
For the fourth quarter ended January 28, 2006, the Company reported net income of $28.7 million, or $3.11 per diluted share, which includes pre-tax charges of $2.1 million, or $0.14 per share, associated with severance and accelerated depreciation for store closings in conjunction with the Federated and May merger.
Excluding these charges, the current year’s fourth quarter net income was $30.0 million, or $3.25 per diluted share.
This compares to last year’s fourth quarter net income of $28.1 million, or $3.02 per diluted share, which includes an after-tax credit of $0.8 million, or $0.08 per share, associated with the liquidation of Sonab, the Company’s former European subsidiary.
Excluding these credits, net income for the fourth quarter of 2004 was $27.3 million, or $2.94 per diluted share
Click to view more details
Finlay Enterprises Inc, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Finlay Fine Jewelry Corporation, is one of the leading retailers of fine jewelry and the largest operator of licensed fine jewelry departments in department stores throughout the United States with sales of $990.1 million in fiscal 2005.
The number of locations at the end of fiscal 2005 totaled 1,009, including 32 Carlyle specialty jewelry stores.
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Finlay Enterprises
March 8th, 2006
MVI releases year-in-review jewelry report
National Jeweler
MARCH 07, 2006 - Paso Robles, Calif. — Through its jewelry consumer research arm, the Jewelry Consumer Opinion Council (JCOC), MVI Marketing has released its 2005 Year-in-Review, a 61-page report consisting of key findings and analysis of jewelry consumer polling.
Through JCOC.net, launched four years ago by MVI, the group maintains a roster of more than 100,000 jewelry consumers representing a demographic cross-section of the country, whom MVI regularly surveys in its monthly omnibus studies to aid jewelers who wish to close the gap between what they think consumers want, and the actual needs of their target customers.
“Consumers’ desires often don’t come close to the industry’s perceptions,” Elizabeth Chatelain, co-CEO of MVI Marketing and JCOC.net manager, said in a release. “A tremendous disconnect still exists between the industry’s perceptions of consumer preferences and what the consumer actually wants.”
Based upon three years’ worth of JCOC’s omnibus studies surveying beliefs, trends and preferences among jewelry-buying consumers, the report encapsulates those findings into projections and recommendations for jewelers who wish to grow their market share.
Among the report’s key findings:
-For at least two-thirds of 2005, self-purchases accounted for 50 to 90 percent of the jewelry bought in any given month last year.
-Consumer awareness of diamond right-hand rings has exploded, with the 75 percent who said in 2003 that they were unaware of the product giving way to the 42 percent saying they owned one by February 2004.
-Hispanic consumers’ taste for platinum is on the rise, as is their consumption of diamond right-hand rings.
-Three-quarters of male respondents say they wear jewelry, and more than a quarter of them say they’d wear more if they saw a greater selection and knew more about what was available to them in the category.
March 8th, 2006
Need jewelry to go with that Gucci rental?
Handbag service plans to add more high-end products
Seattle Post-Intelligence
By JOHN COOK
P-I REPORTER
In less than three years, Bag Borrow or Steal has built a loyal following of female shoppers who pay monthly fees to rent trendy handbags from Chloe, Fendi, Marc Jacobs and other designers.
Now, the Seattle online retailing startup plans to use a new $8.25 million venture capital round to expand into high-end jewelry and watches.
Bag Borrow or Steal Chief Executive Michael Smith, who built Lands’ End into a billion-dollar business and led a turnaround at Nordstrom.com, believes that consumers are ready to embrace the concept of luxury borrowing.
And the 40-year-old executive said that Bag Borrow or Steal — which moved its headquarters from Florida to Seattle last summer — is poised to lead the way.
“I think we have the potential to be a billion-dollar company, which gives you some idea of how big I think the category can be,” Smith said. “We are obviously in the very early stages of this segment, but that is what gets me excited.”
The company’s prospects also have energized the venture capitalists, including Madrona Venture Group, which led the round.
The Seattle firm has a history of backing online retailing companies, including Amazon.com, VacationSpot.com and Home Grocer.com Existing investors — including Impact Venture Partners and Valence Capital Management — also participated.
Because of the additions of watches and jewelry, which will be introduced in the next three months, Smith said the company is considering a name change.
“A different name would be more appropriate of our vision of where the company is going,” said Smith, adding that he has a long list of potential products that would lend themselves to borrowing.
The 2-year-old company, which employs fewer than 30 people, also plans to add staff in the coming months in Seattle and at a new distribution facility near Chicago.
The company’s recent growth hasn’t been without hiccups. Demand exceeded supply during the holiday season, causing some frustration among customers who could not get the handbags they most desired.
And as Bag Borrow or Steal shifted its distribution from a Florida apartment to a Chicago warehouse last fall, it encountered additional customer service problems.
“We had all of the challenges of transitioning from a small startup, without a lot of procedures in place, to a professionally run operation,” said Smith, who has brought on retail veterans from Amazon.com, Eddie Bauer and Starbucks since his arrival as chief executive last summer. “We are through all that. That is all behind us.”
Before Smith was recruited, Bag Borrow or Steal also ran into troubles when it was revealed that the company was distributing fake Gucci bags. Smith said the company dropped the distributor that provided the knockoffs and now only works with authorized dealers.
Still, authenticating the designer handbags — some of which top $1,000 — remains a top concern as they move between the company’s customers. Smith declined to disclose the techniques it uses to track handbags, adding that “fraud is an issue in these high-end designer bags.”
“My standards are Nordstrom and Lands’ End service standards,” Smith said. “That is what we are shooting for.”
Adam Dell, founder of Impact Venture Partners and the earliest investor in the company, believes the idea will catch on with consumers. Services such as Flexcar, NetJets and Exclusive Resorts have allowed consumers to rent cars, jets and vacation homes without the hassles of owning. Now, Bag Borrow or Steal wants to take the concept further. “We think it is a big opportunity,” Dell said.
The company could face competition from handbag clubs in Europe, including Be a Fashionista and Secret-Boutique. Forest Lake, Minn.-based From Bags to Riches also is a player in the emerging category.
Memberships to Bag Borrow or Steal start at $19.95 per month, with access to some top designers costing $99.95 per month or more. The company, which distributes products from about 100 designers, also offers insurance from $5 to $40 in case the bags are damaged.
Smith says the idea of renting luxury goods is not for everyone, but he thinks it resonates with the “Sex in the City” crowd. “Right now, we have the lion’s share of the category, and in my view, this is ours to lose,” he said.
March 8th, 2006
