Archive for March 24th, 2006
Introducing the New Jewelry Consumer Opinion Council Annual Subscription
Business Wire (press release)
PASO ROBLES, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–March 23, 2006–The Jewelry Consumer Opinion Council (JCOC), the source for business intelligence about the gem and jewelry industry, is offering an annual subscription to access valuable consumer research and market trend information geared to help fine jewelry professionals worldwide make critical and informed decisions.
For a nominal $1,495 a year, JCOC.info subscribers will have access to monthly omnibus reports and copies of all special, in-depth studies throughout the year, including a copy of our annual JCOC Year-in-Review — in all a $2,500 plus value. JCOC.info research examines consumer buying habits and expectations in fine jewelry, economic indicators, niche markets (such as Hispanic consumers, female self-purchasers, and the men’s and youth jewelry segments), specific product categories, and much more.
Those who sign up for the new JCOC Subscription by May 15, 2006 will receive complimentary access to more than three years of archived JCOC reports. This service is not only a benefit for fine jewelry professionals, but also the finance industries, marketers in fashion, accessories and other luxury lifestyle industries.
“The consumer is the only voice that matters in jewelry and other consumer products,” explains Elizabeth Chatelain, Co-CEO of MVI Marketing Ltd., creator of the Jewelry Consumer Opinion Council e-panel, “this is why consumer research is so important to assist the fine jewelry industry and as an indicator for all other discretionary income spend in the marketplace.”
For more information, contact Marty Hurwitz of MVI Marketing Ltd. at 805-239-2994 x101; email mhurwitz@mvimarketing.com , or visit www.jcoc.info. (Press professionals can register at www.jcoc.info for special access to JCOC reports.)
The Jewelry Consumer Opinion Council (JCOC) was founded in 2001 with the mission of providing MVI Marketing clients with fast, efficient, effective, and powerful market intelligence about their jewelry products and their respective end use consumers. The JCOC is an e-panel of fine jewelry consumers throughout North America representing all ages, genders, income levels, buying categories and geographic regions. Serving as the ultimate tool for predicting behavior rather than reacting to it, the JCOC is perfect for customized research projects, overnight studies, regular monitoring of issues, tracking brands and brand equity, and low cost participation in omnibus studies.
March 24th, 2006
Know Your Jewelry
FOX News
NEW YORK — Few purchases are more mystifying for first-time buyers than fine jewelry. There’s more information out there than ever — from jewelers’ Web sites and online forums to nearly ubiquitous grading reports from independent labs. But buying expensive gems and precious metals is still largely a matter of trust between you and the jeweler.
First, educate yourself on the basics. For diamonds, that means the four Cs: cut, color, clarity and carat weight. For gold, platinum and silver, it means purity.
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You can find helpful information on these fundamentals from the Federal Trade Commission and the Better Business Bureau. The Gemological Institute of America, the most prominent diamond grading agency, provides tutorials on buying diamonds and colored gems here.
“It’s less of a blind purchase than it used to be,” says Jay Mednikow, president of 115-year-old Mednikow Jewelers in Memphis and Atlanta. “But a jeweler who knows what he’s doing can take advantage of you if he wants to.”
Thus, there is still no substitute for a reliable dealer with an established reputation. Many jewelers are GIA-certified gemologists and display their credentials prominently.
For diamonds, Mednikow recommends buying only those with grading certificates from GIA, the American Gem Society or another independent laboratory. If a jeweler says he can offer you an uncertified diamond at a discount, tell him you’ll pay to have it analyzed since the cost should be only $50 to $300 depending on the size of the stone. Read warranty and return policies carefully and make sure all guarantees are written on your sales receipt — it’s your legal contract.
You may have a hard time distinguishing between slight variations in color and clarity, but still trust your own eyes.
Mednikow recommends holding diamonds with a pair of tweezers over your finger or against a white background and under lights of different types and varying brightness. With shapes other than round-cut, which has standard specifications, and with colored gems, you will have to rely much more on the jeweler’s expertise.
If you are buying a colored stone such as a ruby, sapphire or diamond, ask if it has been “treated” to enhance the color. Some processes are routine, like heating for sapphires and rubies and oiling for emeralds, but others are temporary or undesirable.
Up to half the gold jewelry sold in the U.S. bears a false karat rating, says Mednikow. Choosing a reliable merchant is your only insurance, although national retailers like Zales and Sears are diligent about the purity of their gold.
March 24th, 2006
Cracker Jack Toys Made Into Jewelry
MakeZine.com
Did you ever wonder what the heck you were gonna do with those toys in the Cracker Jack box after you were done eating? Burnt Cucumber, aka Erin Winch, has the answer. She has a whole collection of brooches up on her Etsy site that she’s made with Cracker Jack toys pared with cute colorful buttons. What a great way to find use for all those extra buttons that are always lying around. You can check out her other crafty goods as well on her burnt cucumber site. [ via ] Link.
March 24th, 2006
Toy jewelry recalled after child’s death
Reebok charm bracelet and Dollar Tree line of kids’ jewelry recalled by manufacturers for lead poisoning risk.
CNN Money
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - Two companies recalled nearly 900,000 pieces of children’s jewelry products due to lead poisoning risks, following the death of a Minnesota child, U.S. regulators said Thursday.
The recall involves 300,000 Reebok Heart-Shaped Charm Bracelets, which was provided as a free gift with a purchase of various styles of children’s footwear at major shoe stores nationwide from May 2004 through March 2006, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said. Reebok received a report of a 4-year-old child in Minneapolis dying from lead poisoning after swallowing a piece of the bracelet, according to the CPSC.
Also recalled were 580,000 toy jewelry products sold by the Dollar Tree retail chain, including the Mood Necklace and Ring, Glow-in-the Dark Necklace and Ring as well as the UV Necklace and Ring. The products were sold at Dollar Tree, Dollar Express, Greenback and Only $1 stores nationwide from September 2003 through February 2006.
Dollar has received no reports of incidents or injuries, the CPSC said.
The companies decided to pull the products after learning that the items contained high levels of lead and posed a risk of lead poisoning, the CPSC said.
The CSPC recommends consumers immediately take the bracelet and jewelry away from their children. Those who purchased the Dollar Tree are urged to return the jewelry to the store where they purchased the item for a refund, while the CSPC says the entire Reebok bracelet should be disposed of immediately.
For more information about the recalled products, consumers can visit either company’s Web site.
March 24th, 2006
Lead poisoning prompts kids’ jewelry recall
CNN.com
4-year-old dies after swallowing bracelet
WASHINGTON (AP) — More than 800,000 pieces of children’s jewelry are being recalled by two companies because of the danger of lead poisoning that killed one child, the government said Thursday.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission said about 300,000 silver-colored, heart-shaped charm bracelets were recalled by Reebok International Ltd. after a 4-year-old child swallowed one of the bracelets and died of lead poisoning.
“I want to assure all of our consumers and our retailers that I will do everything in my power to ensure that no other family, no other child, suffers a similar tragedy,” Reebok President Paul Harrington said in a statement.
The 8-inch-long metal bracelets and charms have the name “Reebok” engraved on the side of the charm. The bracelet was provided as a free gift with the purchase of various styles of children’s footwear at major shoe stores nationwide from May 2004 through March 2006.
In a separate action Thursday, the CPSC said about 580,000 necklace and ring sets, imported by Dollar Tree Distribution Inc., are being recalled for a lead poisoning danger.
The silver-colored, adjustable rings come in a variety of designs with a toy “gem” in the center. The necklaces have a black string with silver-colored clasps and a silver-colored charm with a “gem” in the center.
The packages are printed with “Mood Necklace,” Mood Ring,” “Glow in the Dark Necklace,” “Glow in the Dark Ring,” “UV Necklace” or “UV Ring.” The “UV” jewelry packaging reads, “The Sun’s Energy Will Change The Color.” Printed on the back of the packaging is “SKU#815485″ and the name “Mannix.”
The jewelry was sold at Dollar Tree, Dollar Bills, Dollar Express, Greenbacks, Only $1 and Super Dollar Tree stores nationwide from September 2003 through February 2006.
Consumers owning either the Reebok or Dollar Tree jewelry should take it from children immediately, the CPSC said.
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
March 24th, 2006
