Archive for June 26th, 2006
Sentral adakan pameran berlian
Solo (Espos)
Sentral Jewellery Yogyakarta mengadakan pameran berlian di Hotel Novotel Solo, Jumat-Senin (23-26/6). Pimpinan Sentra Jewellery, Haryadi dalam siaran pers yang diterima Espos, Rabu (21/6), mengatakan kegiatan tersebut terbuka untuk umum.
â€Dipilihnya Solo karena Solo merupakan salah satu barometer desain berlian di Indonesia. Selain menerima tukar tambah tanpa potongan harga, dalam pameran ini kami menampilkan produk-produk terbaru,†jelasnya. - rys/*
June 26th, 2006
ANDANG GUNAWAN:Kepincut Kemilau Berlian
www.suarakarya-online.com/Minggu, 4 Juni 2006
Dalam setiap penampilannya, kemilau berlian selalu menempel di raga Andang Widhawari Gunawan - pengusaha yang juga pelopor pola makan sehat Food Combining ini. Berlian sebesar biji jagung yang menghiasi telinga dan taburan berlian kecil di tubuh macan yang melingkar di jari tengahnya terlihat sangat pas dengan gaya busananya yang klasik. Kendati kepincut berat pada berlian, Andang mengaku tak pernah membeli dari kantongnya sendiri.
“Hampir semua koleksi berlian saya merupakan hadiah dari suami,” kata perempuan kelahiran Jakarta 8 September 1955 dalam percakapan dengan Suara Karya usai menjadi pembicara yang mengulas manfaat detoksifikasi terhadap kesehatan, di Jakarta, Sabtu (3/6).
Yang dimaksud Andang dengan suaminya itu, adalah pengusaha kondang Maxi Gunawan.
Andang menuturkan, kesukaannya pada berlian sebenarnya telah dilakoni sejak remaja. Selain suka akan kilaunya, berlian juga bisa menjadi investasi yang bagus. “Hitung-hitung nabung lah, kan nanti kalau butuh-butuh kita bisa dijual lagi,” tutur Andang yang lebih suka disebut sebagai ahli terapi nutrisi itu.
Kalaupun sekarang Andang kerap tampil dengan berlian dengan ukuran mendekati biji jagung, hal itu semata demi kemudahan di masa depan. Karena pengalaman sebelumnya, membeli berlian tanpa surat sertifikat, membuat harga jualnya jatuh. “Ini penting bagi pencinta berlian, kalau memang ingin menjadikan berlian sebagai investasi, beli yang memiliki sertifikat. Karena harga jualnya lebih pasti,” kata Andang yang menyukai berlian jenis solitaire.
Ditanya seberapa banyak koleksi berliannya, Andang mengaku jumlahnya tak banyak. “Saya kan bukan kolektor, jadi jumlahnya tidak banyaklah,” kata Andang yang tetap menyebut kata rahasia atas koleksi berliannya itu.
Ia mengaku bersyukur karena memiliki selera yang sama dengan suami, yaitu sama-sama suka berlian dengan desain unik. Karena hampir semua koleksinya adalah hadiah suami, Andang tak pernah menukar apalagi menjualnya. “Masak hadiah dari orang terkasih dijual, pamali,” katanya berseloroh.
Untuk keseharian, Andang senang tampil tak terlalu mencolok. Cukup giwang dan dua buah cincin menghiasi jari kiri dan kanannya. “Kecuali menghadiri acara undangan, saya biasanya mengeluarkan koleksi yang sedikit glamour dengan kalung, tetapi tetap menyesuaikan diri dengan tema acaranya. Diluar itu, biasanya cukup giwang dan cincin,” kata perempuan yang terlihat awet muda diusianya yang ke-51 itu.
Ditanya makna berlian baginya, Andang mengutip pernyataan banyak kaum perempuan yang menyatakan bahwa berlian adalah sahabat wanita. “Makna berlian bagi saya sama seperti kebanyakan wanita lain-lah,” kata penulis buku “Food Combining, Kombinasi Makanan Serasi” dan “Pola Makan untuk Langsing & Sehat” sambil tersenyum indah.
Pergulatannya dengan dunia kesehatan ilmiah, ibu dua anak yang sebelumnya tidak memiliki latar belakang kesehatan itu berawal ketika suaminya didiagnosis sakit hati. Sang suami saat itu diberi dokter obat yang sangat banyak.
Andang yang pernah mendengar bahwa obat-obatan itu pada akhirnya akan diolah di hati juga - hati adalah tempat semua makanan yang masuk ke tubuh disaring- tiba-tiba terinspirasi untuk memberikan diet bagi suaminya. Dia lalu menawari Maxi, apakah mau ambil risiko tidak usah memakan obat, tetapi diet mengikuti menu yang akan diatur oleh Andang.
Andang lalu membeli berbagai buku diet. Dari berbagai buku itu, entah mengapa dia selalu membawa ke mana-mana buku berukuran kecil seperti novel yang tampilannya tidak terlalu menarik, yang berisi mengenai food combining atau kombinasi makanan (sehat).
“Ketika saya membuka-buka halamannya sambil lalu, saya tiba-tiba membaca bagian Loving Relationship. Saya jadi tertarik membaca, kenapa di buku diet kok ada bagian loving relationship. Ternyata isinya adalah pengalaman si penulis dengan FC. Bahkan ada cerita tentang dokter yang kena gangguan jantung dan mengalami obesitas, lalu sembuh karena ikut FC,” tutur Andang yang mengaku ketika itu tidak memiliki pengetahuan tentang nutrisi dan kesehatan.
Dengan pengenalan terhadap kombinasi makanan atau FC seperti itu, Andang menyebut proses kenal dengan FC tersebut sebagai “spiritual”. “Food combining itu seperti spiritual,” ucap ibu dua anak dari Kara dan Abhi.
Tadinya, dengan diet rendah kalori yang diterapkan kepada suaminya, si suami kadang stres karena porsi makanan sangat dibatasi. Sementara mengikuti petunjuk FC, orang bisa makan kenyang tanpa dibatasi oleh porsi, tetapi kombinasinya harus sesuai dengan aturan FC.
FC adalah pola makan yang sudah dianut manusia dari sejak zaman kuno. Kemudian, pada awal abad ke-20, pola makan ini diperkenalkan kembali oleh Dr William Howard Hay. Prinsip pola makan ini adalah, beberapa makanan akan dicerna lebih baik jika mereka tidak dimakan bersamaan dengan makanan tertentu.
Menurut Andang, pola makan hendaknya memperhatikan keseimbangan asam dan basa di dalam tubuh. Keseimbangan yang dimaksud adalah pH darah dan organ ada pada kisaran 7,3-7,5 atau sedikit ke arah basa. “Jika faktor ini tidak diperhatikan, pencernaan tidak akan jalan,” tegasnya.
Ternyata usaha Andang berhasil. Maxi sembuh dan setelah dua minggu kembali kerja. Penampilannya pun dilukiskan Andang sebagai lebih segar.
Banyak teman bertanya-tanya, bagaimana Andang membantu Maxi sembuh dari penyakit hati dengan diet. Semakin lama, semakin banyak yang bertanya, dan media massa mulai menampilkan dirinya. Dia lalu berpikir, mengapa tidak membagi pengetahuannya ke dalam buku. “Itulah ihwal lahirnya buku Food Combining tadi,” kata Andang yang juga Pemred majalah kesehatan Nirmala dan majalah makanan Santap ini.
Seiring dengan naiknya usaha yang dilakukannya ke permukaan, kritik pun juga datang. Beberapa ahli gizi memberikan kritik, yang pada gilirannya membuat Andang berpikir untuk lebih memperdalam pengetahuannya. Ia bertekad untuk mempelajari ilmu nutrisi dengan serius, maka dia lalu mendaftar program belajar jarak jauh pada sebuah universitas di Australia.
Ulangan berkala dilakukan di tempat seorang dokter yang telah ditunjuk oleh universitas tersebut, sementara ujian akhir dilakukan di Australia. Setelah itu ia menambah lagi ilmunya dengan mempelajari antara lain ilmu gizi, akupuntur, herbal, dan homeopati.
“Kayaknya hidup saya ke sini sudah ada yang mengatur. Saya kan mulai sekolah lagi waktu umur saya sudah banyak, hampir 40 tahun. Tetapi saya senang sekali mempelajari ilmu ini, jadi tidak ada beban,” kata Andang.
Belajar di usia tua tidak menjadi beban bagi perempuan yang sangat hobi membaca ini. Karena itu, ruang yang paling diakrabinya selain ruang keluarga adalah ruang perpustakaan. Kesukaannya membaca itu kadang dibawanya ketika bepergian ke luar negeri atau ke luar kota.
Baginya, “Pengetahuan tidak akan ada habisnya. Dengan pengetahuan saya bisa melakukan apa saja yang bermanfaat,” bilang Andang dengan sorot berbinar. Tak aneh, koleksi bukunya saja sudah berjumlah ribuan, termasuk seri healing inspiration dan natural health yang teronggok di sebuah sudut baca. Semua didapat dari hadiah suami, anak, kolega atau beli sendiri.
Kendati kesuksesan dan popularitas dalam genggaman, Andang mengaku tak memiliki obsesi untuk membuat langkah sensasional selanjutnya. Membukukan pengalaman pribadinya saja sudah merupakan hal yang paling monumental dalam hidupnya. Pun dalam hal mengelola perusahaan. Sebagai Direktur Utama PT Narya Gunatra, Andang mengaku tidak terlalu ngoyo dalam hidup. “Untuk apa mengurus banyak-banyak, satu saja tapi jelas.”
Meski terkesan tidak ambisius, Andang tetaplah punya cita-cita yang harus direalisasikan. Apa itu? “Saya ingin mengajak masyarakat Indonesia memahami dengan benar pola hidup dan makan sehat. Termasuk memasyarakatkan konsumsi buah di pagi hari, yang selalu ditanggapi dengan ketakutan akan membuat sakit perut.” (Tri Wahyuni)
June 26th, 2006
Deer crashes through jewelry store window
WKYT, KY
ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. A deer was apparently unharmed after crashing through a store window in Elizabethtown.
It happened on Friday morning at the now-vacant Marshall’s Jeweler’s Store. Police say the deer crossed the north and southbound lanes of U-S Highway 31-W and then crashed through the window.
It was last seen on the highway.
Police say it isn’t the first time a deer has gone through a window in Elizabethtown, but it doesn’t happen every day.
___
Information from: The News-Enterprise, http://www.newsenterpriseonline.com
Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
June 26th, 2006
JEWELRY EXCHANGE LAUNCHES IMYA RINGS
Tacy, Israel
26 June 2006
U.S. jewelry manufacturer and direct diamond importer Jewelry Exchange, has launched a new series of anniversary rings, named IMYA (I’d Marry You Again), designed by their in-house artisans. The rings, which feature 12 full-cut diamonds and are available in white, yellow or rose gold, are priced at just US$99.
The IMYA rings are manufactured in the Jewelry Exchange’s production center in Tustin, California, and are available for purchase exclusively at Jewelry Exchange, Jewelry Factory and Jewelry Source stores, and on the website at www.jewelryexchange.com.
The Jewelry Exchange is owned by Goldenwest Diamond Corporation, and has been operating for over 25 years, doing business as the Jewelry Exchange in Los Angeles/Tustin, Chicago/Villa Park, San Francisco/Redwood City, Boston/Sudbury, Dallas, Tampa, Seattle/Renton, Philadelphia/Norristown, and Denver/Greenwood Village. The company operates as the Jewelry Factory in Washington D.C./Bethesda, New York/Hackensack, Detroit/Livonia, and Cleveland/North Randall. And in Houston, the company operates the Jewelry Source.
Jewelry Exchange has over 30,000 loose diamonds in stock.
June 26th, 2006
DRTV News Briefs: Jewelry Television to Pay E. W. Scripps $17M for Shop At Home Assets
DM News,NY
The E. W. Scripps Company and Jewelry Television have reached an agreement that will result in Jewelry Television acquiring certain assets of the Shop At Home television network. Jewelry Television will pay Scripps $17 million for fixed assets, including Shop At Home’s building and real estate, satellite uplink facilities, information technology systems, the network’s call center, Web site and production studios. Jewelry Television also intends to assume a number of agreements that Shop At Home has with broadcast television stations and operators of cable and satellite television systems to carry the network’s programming. The transaction is expected to close by month’s end. Jewelry Television announced that it intends to continue scale down operations of Shop At Home.
Incredible Discoveries announced it is working with a funding group that is in the process of looking for potential infomercial products to co-fund for the 2007 television season. Through the use of its “Get Discovered” Web site, businesses can fill out a short feasibility questionnaire to see if their product meets the basic criteria for possible infomercial funding.
The Dual Drill, marketed worldwide by Global Infomercial Services LLC, and in the United States, Canada and Mexico by Reliant International Media Ltd., is quickly gaining worldwide sales due to Global Infomercial’s Global Rollout system. Global Infomercial Services uses distributors including Global Alliance members, such as Oak Lawn Marketing in Japan, Shop Australia in Australia and New Zealand, Vector Direct in the UK and Vector Versand in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. New countries airing the show are Bosnia, Croatia, Dubai, India, Iran, Philippines, Serbia and Spain. In addition, Latin America has just started airing the show, to be followed by Azerbaijan, Georgia, Greece, Israel, Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Slovenia and Turkey.
MyNetworkTV, the new primetime general entertainment broadcast network, and ION Media Networks have entered into an affiliation agreement for WPXX-TV in Memphis, Tennessee. Through the agreement, WPXX will bring MyNetworkTV programming to the nation’s 44th largest television market. Currently operated by ION under a time brokerage agreement, WPXX serves more than 500,000 households in the Memphis metropolitan area. Scheduled to launch on Sept. 5, 2006, MyNetworkTV is now cleared in 150 markets, including 26 of the top 30, representing 85 percent of U.S. television households. Twelve hours of programming will air on MyNetworkTV Monday through Saturday.
Cmedia announced that CEO and founder Michelle Cardinal received the “Woman Entrepreneur of the Year†Orchid Award by the Portland Business Journal. Ms. Cardinal was selected among more than 200 nominees for her outstanding professional accomplishments and civic involvement, which includes building Cmedia from a start-up agency into one of the nation’s largest direct response television media firms.
LiveOps, a provider of distributed contact centers, has appointed Michaella Cox as director of sales. Ms. Cox brings more than a decade of experience creating strategic and groundbreaking direct response campaigns for Fortune 500 companies and infomercial leaders. She previously served as vice president of direct response vertical for Westgate Financial. Before that, Ms. Cox served as chief operating officer for Mindstorm Technologies and was president of eBound Strategies. She also served as director of e-commerce for Video Professor.
Euro RSCG 4D recently hired Jason Graves as director of business development. Mr. Graves comes to Euro RSCG 4D DRTV with an extensive history in the DRTV industry, most recently as executive vice president of Williams Worldwide Television, and vice president of new business at Hawthorne Direct’s West Coast office. Mr. Graves is based in the company’s Carlsbad, California office.
Williams Worldwide Television (WWTV) has named Zhen Sun as operations manager. Mr. Sun’s responsibilities will include maintaining and managing overall manufacturing relationships, developing and managing the company’s order processing and fulfillment as well as logistics operations. Prior to joining WWTV, he served at Ronco Corp. from July 2004 to May 2006, during which time he was responsible for developing and implementing global sourcing strategies and business plans, executing sourcing initiatives and negotiating agreements with major suppliers.
WorldLink has named Mary C. Pouliopoulos as executive vice president of sales and marketing at WorldLink. In her new position, Ms. Pouliopoulos, who was formerly in a senior sales position with TWC Media Solutions/The Weather Channel, will be responsible for the day-to-day sales operations of WorldLink. Additionally, she will oversee marketing campaigns to heighten awareness of WorldLink and its media and agency clients worldwide.
Got news, suggestions, articles, comments or tips? E-mail sarah@dmnews.com.
June 26th, 2006
Jewelry PR News: Pierce Mattie Public Relations Announces Fantasy Diamond as Agency of Record
PR Web (press release), WA
Fantasy Diamond Corporation Retains Pierce Mattie Public Relations, Inc Fantasy Diamond Corporation has named Pierce Mattie Public Relations, Inc as their agency of record. For the first time in the company’s 50 year history, they have enlisted the assistance of a luxury niche public relations firm to garner national coverage for the brand. Luis Price, President of Fantasy Diamond Corporation joined the company in 1989 and created a new standard of excellence in the industry.
Since his acquisition of the title, Fantasy Diamond Corporation has earned a “flawless” reputation as a leader in high quality products and designs.
(PRWEB) June 26, 2006 — Fantasy Diamond Corporation Retains Pierce Mattie Public Relations, Inc Fantasy Diamond Corporation has named Pierce Mattie Public Relations, Inc as their agency of record. For the first time in the company’s 50 year history, they have enlisted the assistance of a luxury niche public relations firm to garner national coverage for the brand.
Luis Price, President of Fantasy Diamond Corporation joined the company in 1989 and created a new standard of excellence in the industry. Since his acquisition of the title, Fantasy Diamond Corporation has earned a “flawless” reputation as a leader in high quality products and designs.
By focusing on the three distinctive settings that are wholly owned by Fantasy Diamond Corporation, the Chicago based manufacturing and design leader sets itself apart from its competition. Fantasy Diamond’s jewelry lines include the popular selling Endless Diamonds® brand featuring invisibly set round diamonds in fashion rings, earrings, pendants and bracelets. The invisible setting technique developed by Fantasy Diamond received a U.S. patent in 2003. This invention has spurred worldwide demand and focus on this trend. The company also designs and manufacturers the Masterpiece® jewelry line featuring innovative diamond and gold artistic designs in rings, earrings and pendants. Fantasy’s Everafter® collection of bridal jewelry includes an exciting selection of diamond engagement, wedding and anniversary rings in classic and contemporary styling.
The Public Relations Campaign begins in early June as the brand will be reintroduced to consumer editors during the JCK Trade Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. “Offering consumer editors the opportunity to see the collections in their entirety is the first step to brand recognition. We are looking forward to an exciting year of consumer education with the assistance of national and regional magazines and other media outlets” notes Venessa Correa, Sr. Account Executive and Brand Advocate for Fantasy Diamond Corporation. Above and beyond market days, Pierce Mattie Public Relations, Inc will host members of the fashion/accessories press at a 50th Anniversary event in the coming months and offer diamond education sessions with experts from Fantasy Diamond Corporation at the Pierce Mattie Media Oasis.
For more information on Fantasy Diamond Corporation, their collections and consumer resources visit www.fanasydiamond.com or call toll free 800- 621-4445
For more on Jewelry PR with Pierce Mattie Public Relations call 212-243-1431 or visit http://www.piercemattie.com
June 26th, 2006
Climbing Cost of Gold Tests Jewelers’ Mettle
latimes.com
Designers haven’t passed along the full increase to buyers, who seem to still see the metal’s allure.
From the Associated Press
June 26, 2006
DENVER — In more than 30 years in jewelry design, John Atencio has built a reputation for heavy rings, necklaces and earrings.
So when gold prices topped $730 an ounce this year, he became more cognizant of how thick his pieces are — and the accompanying higher costs. Still, although retailers such as Helzberg Diamonds say they’ve seen some designers use less gold in each piece, Atencio has been reluctant to change his style.
“When it got over $700, then the red lights were going off,” Atencio said. “Then it was kind of like … ‘How high is it going to go and are we going to be in business?’ “
Gold prices have fallen more than 20% since May 12, when they reached a 26-year high of $732 an ounce, but they are still close to $600 an ounce. Jewelers are accepting lower profit margins, feeling pressure to raise prices and sometimes tweaking their designs.
Customers, meanwhile, are still coming. U.S. sales actually seem to be rising, said John Calnon of the World Gold Council.
“It’s a counterintuitive approach,” he said. “With gold in the news constantly, the consumer is thinking about gold.”
U.S. prices for gold jewelry are more dependent on the design rather than the gold itself, he said, and customers tend to buy it for adornment rather than as an investment.
Sales totaled $17.7 billion in 2005 amid strong gold prices, a 4.4% increase over 2004. Calnon said he could not release the council’s internal forecast for gold jewelry sales this year.
Nancy Cook, 45, estimates that she visits one of Atencio’s stores monthly and that she and her husband buy six pieces a year. During a special event this spring for some of Atencio’s best customers, she had her eye on a gold and pearl piece but hadn’t decided whether to buy it.
“I have noticed a difference in prices, but if I like the piece, I really don’t worry about the price of gold,” said Cook, a landscape company owner who lives in suburban Denver. “I also think of it as an investment, because I also have four daughters.”
Despite higher costs, jewelry designer Ippolita expects to sell $20 million in retail gold jewelry this year, which would be a 100% jump, President Lauren Sharfman said.
Gold was $16 a pennyweight, or one-twentieth of an ounce, when the designer’s line, known for gold bangles, was launched six years ago. Now it’s $35 a pennyweight, Sharfman said. New York-based Ippolita hasn’t raised prices on its bangles in six years but is considering an increase this fall.
“It’s very scary when you see it go up uncontrollably. The last three months were pretty scary,” Sharfman said.
Sales also are up for retail chain Ben Bridge Jeweler, said President Ed Bridge. He said the company, owned by Berkshire Hathaway Inc., does not release sales figures.
Still, business is challenging. Since jewelers place orders months in advance, erratic prices have made it more complicated for retailers, Bridge said.
“We’re merchandising now for the holiday season and we have to figure out what gold’s going to do,” he said. “It’s nicer for us if it’s more stable.”
June 26th, 2006
