Archive for February, 2009
Iceing On Top announces the launch of its collection of fine childrens jewelry, available in stores and online www.iceingontop.com. Its gold jewelry has a unique look that is sized appropriately for infants to teens and even fits adults. Iceing On Top makes the perfect childrens’ gift that lasts a lifetime.
New York, NY (PRWEB) February 26, 2009 — Iceing On Top launches its collection of fine childrens jewelry , now available in stores and online at www.iceingontop.com. Inspired by children and their need for expression, Iceing On Top’s line of eco-friendly fine gold jewelry is a unique treat for babies and kids – and especially the adults who love to dress them up! The jewelry fits infants through teens and makes the perfect childrens’ gift that lasts a lifetime. The ‘GREEN’ collection is made from recycled gold, ethically-mined materials, and organic fabric and recycled paper packaging.
Iceing On Top’s debut line of fine childrens jewelry includes 14Karat gold bangles, bracelets, earrings and necklaces. Created as gold replicas of diamond cuts, the Iceing On Top signature shapes contain: rose gold faceted hearts, yellow gold faceted pears, white gold faceted rounds and yellow gold faceted emeralds. Each golden shape, either worn alone or mixed together, reflects the unique appearance of the line and the individual style of each child.
Iceing On Top is proud to be at the vanguard of children’s jewelry lines committed to socially-responsible and environmentally-friendly fine jewelry. “Iceing On Top incorporates eco-friendly values into every facet of their collection, from the product to the packaging.” Its efforts are just the beginning at helping to increase awareness and build demand for widespread industry changes. ”It is our belief that if we are conscious in the decisions we make for ourselves and our children, we can collectively create a better world,” says creators Shella Eckhouse and Chelsey Fields.
Following their hearts and their passion, savvy sophisticates and moms, Shella and Chelsey, joined together to create Iceing On Top, fine childrens jewelry. Inspired by their own children, the magical line of baubles is ‘Iceing On Top’ of your already-delicious little one! ”When our search for original and attractive childrens’ jewelry gifts proved unsuccessful, we decided to start a unique and timeless line of our own,” says the partners.
A certified gemologist and private jeweler, Shella Eckhouse has worked with the finest diamonds and gemstones for the past twelve years. After giving birth to her daughter, she noticed the absence of upscale jewelry for children in the market. Given this opportunity and both her jewelry background and love of dressing up her own daughter, she set out to create Iceing On Top, the first jewelry collection dedicated to children.
Chelsey Fields is an entrepreneur with a background in business planning and marketing. She spent several years in the financial world analyzing companies. Her love of travel has taken her all over the globe and has inspired her to create wearable pieces of art that are both practical and environmentally-responsible.
Sparkle and shine in the must have line of 2009, because everything is better with Iceing On Top!
About Iceing On Top:
Started in 2008, Iceing On Top, fine childrens jewelry, can be found in-stores and online. With its signature look of faceted shapes, the collection creates a unique look for children.
Source: www.emediawire.com
February 27th, 2009
When it comes to weddings, the budget can be a big deal. Splurging on the dress, but saving on the accessories can be a way to save some serious dollars. From weddings in Colorado to Connecticut, Anne Bellagio provides brides with sophisticated and affordable bridal jewelry in all shapes and sizes.
Anne Belladio has been making bridal jewelry from cubic zirconia, faux and freshwater pearls, crystals and other materials to keep bridal parties from breaking the bank. Each piece contains fine craftmanship along with a unique character and appeal.
Instead of diamonds, Anne Bellagio has stuck with laboratory-grown crystal cubic zirconia stones believing that cubic zirconias are beautiful in their own right, with their own clarity, color, and brilliance. The shiny bling doesn’t stop there as Anne makes many of her crystal jewelry pieces from Swarovski crystals.
The pearl bridal jewelry is made from lustrous, glass faux pearls because they have a perfect spherical shape. Mixing in some chemistry, Anne Bellagio also uses electroplated white gold on her wedding jewelry. This type of white gold is made by combining real gold and nickel to form a durable metal with a silver shine (brides with nickel allergies beware!) I find that white gold, like silver, matches the often white and whimsical themes of weddings.
What I love about the Anne Bellagio collection is the selection and pure affordability of the pieces. Her collection can be found at annabellagio.com.
Source: www.piercemattiepublicrelations.com
February 27th, 2009
By: The Citizen
RESTON, Va. — The price of gold is once again selling at near all-time high prices. That combined with tough economic times has many people anxious to take advantage of high prices by selling their gold for scrap. The American Society of Appraisers cautions consumers to learn the ropes before jumping into a gold marketplace that may not offer the best deal.
With gold parties springing up in people’s homes and in hotel ballrooms across the country, and mail-in gold businesses multiplying, it is important for consumers to become educated about the gold market before selling their gold.
“If consumers don’t know what they have and approximately what it is worth,” said Margaret Olsen, accredited senior appraiser of the American Society of Appraisers, “they have absolutely no idea if they are getting a fair value for their gold.”
The American Society of Appraisers offers tips to consumers.
Start by looking for a stamp on the back of the jewelry that lists the karats: 24 karat gold is .999 pure, 18 karat gold is .750 pure, 14 karat gold is .583 pure and 10 karat gold is .417 pure.
It is important to note that not all gold jewelry contains the exact purity that is on the stamp. Gold from other countries may be less pure than stamped and older 14 karat jewelry, like that produced in the 1970s and earlier, may have a purity of 13.5 karats.
Next find out the current prices of gold by looking at websites like Kitco.com. The price is quoted per troy ounce. A troy ounce is 31.1 grams.
To get the price per gram, divide the daily price of gold by 31.1 grams and you will get the price for a gram of 24 karat gold. Most items are not pure gold, so if you have 18, 14, or 10 karat gold it will be worth less.
Ask the jeweler what percentage they take from the sale and what percentage the metal refinery takes and then you will have an idea of what you should be paid.
“It really is a bit complicated for the average person to know exactly what they have to begin with and to do the math to figure out what they should be paid,” said Olsen. “That is why it is really important to deal with a reputable local jeweler with ties to the community.”
Also, take time to assess whether selling gold jewelry for scrap is the best option. Broken or mismatched jewelry are the best candidates to be melted down. However, many pieces have more value when sold whole to an estate jeweler or buyer. Pieces from well-known designers, well crafted antique pieces, or pieces with gem stones should be valued because melting them down may not be the best option.
For consumers who want to have a piece of jewelry appraised, they should choose an appraiser who is an accredited member of a nationally recognized appraisal organization, such as the American Society of Appraisers, as well as a Graduate Gemologist of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or the Gemmological Association of Great Britain (FGA). For gold coins and bars, ask an accredited gold appraiser or numismatist. Also, ask about an appraiser’s credentials and make sure they are still active.
To find an appraiser or to learn more about appraisals, consumers can log on to www.appraisers.org.
ASA is an international organization of appraisal professionals and others dedicated to the education, development and growth of the appraisal profession. ASA is the oldest and only major organization representing all disciplines of appraisal specialists, originating in 1936 and incorporating in 1952. ASA’s headquarters is in the metropolitan Washington, D.C., area.
Source: www.thecitizen.com
February 26th, 2009
Men can now have their bit of one of the biggest trends of the season: large, statement jewelry. Dior Homme introduced oversized, colorful pins and necklaces in graphic resins in sharp colors. The rock star inspired line has consistently provided men with unique, cutting edge jewelry designs, and this season’s resin accessories certainly did not disappoint. Like the Winter 2008, consisting of enamel rings and thick bracelets in black and white, Dior Homme has again presented an original take on classic jewelry, in a masculine and trend-setting fashion.
In bold colors, such as deep cobalt, bright fuschia, and classic blacks, the pins come in shapes such as flowers, emblazoned with the sleek Dior Homme label in silver and insects. The most distinct pin for men to sport from this collection is a large three-insect pin, consisting of jaggedly shaped insects stacked on top of each other. The necklaces, including statement making twisted crosses, reminiscent of David Yurman, and white gold and diamond guitars are both inventive and classic, and will take you far into the winter 2009 season, as well.
Similar to Philip Lim’s crochet carnation pins, Dior Homme has presented a unique and colorful spring and summer look to contrast the economic downturn and add a little color to the season. Pair these brilliantly hued pins with a simple outfit for a pop of color or throw on one of the line’s colorful red string and sterling silver necklaces. Instead of sporting a pocket square or flower on your lapel this spring, throw on a unique Dior piece for a fresh, hip look.
What do you think of this very unique line of men’s jewelry?
Source: www.piercemattiepublicrelations.com
February 25th, 2009
Collaborative art studio to give attendees insight on the process of creating a work of art
Atlanta (Vocus/PRWEB ) February 23, 2009 — AMALGAMarts, a collaborative art studio in Scottdale, is offering a series of demonstrations on the various aspects of jewelry making at the 2009 American Craft Council Show in Atlanta (March 13-15 at the Cobb Galleria Centre). These informative sessions address selected parts of the AMALGAM artists’ custom jewelry-making process and will take place periodically on all three days of the Craft Show. 10,000 visitors are expected to attend the event, the largest of its kind in the Southeast.
Through each presentation the members of AMALGAMarts will demonstrate the jewelry-making process by showing how layers of depth and texture are added to works through roll printing and etching. Next, they will demonstrate how surface embellishments are made with patinas and keum-boo. Attendees can watch a solder-free chain grow before their eyes and witness earrings being forged from sheet and wire. Not only will artists demonstrate their craft on individual pieces, but components created using these techniques will be combined to create a piece of wearable art.
The schedule for AMALGAM demonstrations are as follows:
* Friday, 1-3 p.m.: Patterns and Patinas with Kathryn Walker
* Friday, 3-5 p.m.: Forged earrings with Wendy Tonsits
* Saturday, 11-1 p.m.: Silver etching with Priscilla Fritsch and Kathryn Walker
* Saturday, 1-3 p.m.: Creative stone setting with Brian Gibney
* Saturday, 3-5 p.m.: Keum Boo with Priscilla Fritsch
* Sunday, 10 a.m.-12 noon: Chain-making with Wendy Tonsits
* Sunday, 12 noon-4 p.m.: Putting it all together — Cold connections with Brian Gibney
The American Craft Council Show in Atlanta will take place on Friday and Saturday, March 13-14: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sunday, March 15: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Cobb Galleria Centre. Regular admission is $12 for one day, $18 for a two-day pass and all three days’ admission for $20. Children 12 and under are admitted free. American Craft Council members and those who join the non-profit organization at the show ($25 annual membership fee) are admitted free all weekend. To preview the show and to purchase tickets online, please visit: www.craftcouncil.org/atlanta.
Craft enthusiasts wanting an early opportunity to meet featured artists and buy their works before the show should plan to attend the Preview Party on Thursday, March 12 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Cobb Galleria Centre. Tickets for the Preview Party are $75 each and can be purchased at CraftCouncil.org/Atlanta. Proceeds from the Preview Party jointly benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Atlanta/Youth Art Connection and the American Craft Council.
For directions to Cobb Galleria Centre, visit: CobbGalleria.com. Free parking is available.
About the American Craft Council
The American Craft Council is a national, nonprofit public educational organization founded in 1943 by craft advocate Aileen Osborn Webb. The mission of the Council is to promote understanding and appreciation of contemporary American craft. Programs include the bimonthly magazine AMERICAN CRAFT, annual juried shows, the 2009 leadership conference, the Aileen Osborn Webb Awards honoring excellence, a specialized library, workshops and seminars.
Source: www.prweb.com
February 24th, 2009
BY VELMA DANIELS
Guest columnist
“Gems and Jewelry.” Ove Dragsted. Macmillan Color Series. $22.95. and “New York Fashion.” Caroline Milbank. Abrams. $22.95.
Party-goers on the Washington scene have prompted us to take a look at two beautiful coffeetable books that are causing a real popularity clue to their subjects – stylish, which has been described as a “new kind” of fashion in both clothes and jewelry. You can hardly pick up a magazine or newspaper that there is not a mention of Michelle Obama’s daffodil inaugural outfit with the “collar of jewels” (rhinestones and yellow-lime cabochons) and Aretha Franklin’s stunning grey wide-bowed hat. Ladies are keeping the Internet hot with requests for a copy of the Franklin hat that sells for $150, but they have sold out, according to one of the fashion magazines.
Interest in both party gowns, daytime outfits and jewelry has escalated during these few weeks since the Obama events have shown a new style. And it even is showing up on the local scene.
Four of the Winter Haven Art Cottage artists are displaying a new trend in jewelry. These artists include Brenda New, Elizabeth Tanner, Crystal Kinson and Carolyn McEwen. The styles in jewelry are all very different and affordable and will be ready for opening this week at The Art Cottage at 185 Ave. D, N.W.
Interest will run high when local people see the new trends in the “new style.”
Ove Dragsted, the author of the colorful book, “Gems and Jewelry,” speaks with authority, for he was the founder and past president of the Danish Gemological Society. He reminds the readers that long before the ancient cultures of Babylon and Assyria, stones such as amethyst (not popular) and amber were coveted and revered for their beauty and “magical” properties. There are 820 full-color photos of jewelry, stones and first-time published photos in the book.
In the handsome book on New York and the world of fashion, it also traces the evolution of American style. Much has been written complimentarily about the first lady’s selection of an American designer for her inaugural outfit. But she was not the first first lady to select American designers.
Milbank’s book says Eleanor Roosevelt never would have her clothes designed by anyone but an American designer during her time as first lady. And Roosevelt also would have her daughter, Anna, dressed by American designers.
Mrs. Obama was not the first lady to choose yellow for her outstanding outfit. The author of the book said the color yellow is a wise choice.
“In 1885 New York dressmaker, M.C. Blanck designed the most stunning gown of yellow silk and beaded net for a Washington reception … And the jewelry of the elite included chains of tortoise or jet black and beads of coral, amber and garnet with braided strands of beads. Which only proves there is nothing “new under the sun,” the book said.
New York for so long has dressed America. New York was the place to be, for this is where style and fashion were most closely synchronized.
But there also is several very interesting things to notice in Milbank’s book on fashion trends.
During war times, the fashions changed with the tone of the nation. Inexpensive, simpler styles were shown and black and white emerged as the color most preferred.
After the wars, the chic shops on Sixth Avenue, Broadway and Third Avenue came forward again with the more exquisite gowns of both American and French fabrics.
“Elaborate silks, satins, velvets and coats with fur trim – accentuated by jewelry of every unique design bloomed everywhere after the wars were over… Time has not stood still at the present time for the Washington parties and the social events in Palm Beach have continued in high fashion,” the book said.
This book makes the trend even more interesting and the conscience of the people that predicted the fashion trends. Ladies always have loved pretty clothes and Milbanks said during the war years, money did not allow such luxury, the women would buy off-the-rack dresses and rip out the labels so no one would know.
Vanity, vanity, you have always been around!
Velma Daniels is a Winter Haven author and book reviewer. Her “Book Worm” column appears Sundays in the Accent section of the News Chief.
Source: www.newschief.com
February 23rd, 2009
Just as you probably don’t leave the house without adding at least one bracelet, ring, or necklace to your outfit, fashion designers don’t let their models walk onto the runway un-accessorized. At the Trovata show on Tuesday, tailored-yet-casual-and-effortless clothes were accented with jewelry from the year-old line DanniJo, designed by sisters Danielle and Jodie Snyder. Among our favorite baubles in the show were the Celia entangled chain necklace ($465) and the Jacinda ring ($82), which models wore on three or four fingers. While this was DanniJo’s first official fashion week, it’s not the line’s first fashion show. Remember Jenny Humphrey’s guerilla fashion show on “Gossip Girl”? Well, Little J’s designs were paired with DanniJo necklaces!
Keep reading for a list of other jewelry shown in New York Fashion Week.
# Robert Lee Morris at Vena Cava
# Cartier‘s new Trinity line at 3.1 Phillip Lim
# Pamela Love at Yigal Azrouel
# Alexander Calder at Elise Overland
# Subversive Jewelry at Rachel Roy and at J.Mendel
# Philip Crangi at Shipley & Halmos and at Jason Wu
# Irene Neuwirth at Richard Chai
# Anna Sheffield at Bensoni
Source: www.thefrisky.com
February 23rd, 2009
BEIJING, Feb. 20 — The annual Hong Kong International Jewelry Show will open on March the fourth. The results of the tenth Hong Kong Jewelry Design Competition will be announced at the fair.
The Hong Kong International Jewelry Show is one of the top three trade fairs in the industry and is expected to attract 23-hundred jewelry brands from around the world. Fourteen exhibition halls divided by region and eight halls designated for chambers of commerce have been set up. During the five day event, a jewelry design maestro forum will be held, and an international prize for jewelry design will be issued.
The result of the tenth Hong Kong jewelry design competition will be announced and the winning pieces will be showed at the fair. The local jewelry design competition is designed to boost creativity among Hong Kong jewelry designers and promote the latest Hong Kong jewelry products to the world.
(Source: CCTV.com)
Editor: Sun Yunlong
http://news.xinhuanet.com
February 20th, 2009
When Andrea Jones decided to buy a birthstone to mark the birth of her son, she didn’t make the decision lightly or with credit.
She saved.
Now that her son, Nicholas, is 3 months old, she’s ready to buy.
These days, the jewelry industry is a mixed market. Customers like Jones are buying more cautiously. On the other end of the spectrum, customers are more interested in selling jewelry, converting unused pieces into much-needed cash when gold is trading at or near record highs.
Buying scrap gold often has been seen as a task of the pawn shop jeweler, but Peggy Jo Donahue, spokeswoman for Jewelers of America said – given gold’s rising prices – more of the traditional, specialty jewelers are using the business to offset sales decreases.
Gold closed Wednesday at $977.70 an ounce. Compare that to the roughly $700 an ounce it was selling at about two years ago.
Gold’s rising price and the sour economy have lured enough cash-hungry customers through the door that some jewelers are saying, “No.”
Joel Clarke, whose two Jackson jewelry stores carry his name, said his stores have gotten too many small diamonds. Now he’s only buying diamonds that are at least three-quarters of a carat.
“As gold rose, so did the people coming in,” said Bill Mosley, owner of Bill’s Coin & Jewelry Exchange, whose business has seen so many customers trickling through the doors that he’s only buying things that are valued at $25 or more.
“It just takes so much time to write up a purchase order and we have to do police reports on on all purchases,” Mosley said.
Jerry Lake, owner of Carter Jewelers, hasn’t set up rules about what he won’t take, but he’s had to tell a few customers their jewelry is only worth scrap gold. He has delivered the bad news to those who seemed to need the money most.
“A lot of them tell me they need it to make their mortgage payment,” Lake said. “Some have been laid off from their job and they need it for living expenses.”
In the last three or four years, Lake has seen the number of customers wanting to sell jewelry increase from two or three a month to the current average of 10 to 20 a month.
Just as consumers have been hit by the economy, so have jewelers. Nationally, jewelry sales in all stores are expected to be down 4 percent, when final 2008 numbers are tallied, Donahue said. Among retailers who only sell jewelry, sales were down 16 percent alone in November, according to the latest figures available.
Mosley has seen a 35 to 40 percent dip in jewelry sales.
It’s not just a loss of shoppers. Single ticket sales are also down. While it may have been typical to see individual tickets total $800 to $900 as late as 2007, the numbers have been on the slide, now resting in the $200 to $300 range, Clarke said.
“Us being a luxury business, we felt it first and business went down, down, down,” Clarke said. “From ‘07 forward, our sales dropped from 20 to 40 percent a month (when compared to the same time the previous year).”
Lake said during the holiday season, he sold just as many pieces as he had during the previous year, but the sales were for lower-priced items.
“When you get over $10,000 for a piece, (sales) slow down,” Lake said. “We haven’t been selling as many $10,000, $20,000, $30,000 items as before.”
To meet consumer demand, jewelers also are ordering more jewelry from lower price points, Donahue said.
Donahue said gold prices typically rise during a recession when investors move from stocks to commodities such as gold, ultimately driving prices north.
“The economy started going south around August of 2007,” Clarke said. “At the same time, gold went up. So we started buying it to offset our sales (decreases).”
The upside is those who bought a piece of jewelry at least 20 years ago may be getting what they paid for it when they sell it these days.
Despite the recession, Lake said the engagement ring business has been steady.
“An engagement ring is not a luxury,” Lake said. “It’s a necessity. Women expect a ring, and men want to give one.”
Unlike some in the metro area, Jones chuckles at the idea of selling her jewelry, but she has been uneasy about the economy and has compared prices at three or four jewelers.
“If nothing else comes up, this is where we’ll spend the money, unless we blow a tire,” Jones said with a smile as she shopped at Joel Clarke’s Tuesday morning.
Source: www.clarionledger.com
February 20th, 2009
More people are taking advantage of a bump in the price of gold to turn their old jewelry into cash.
“I hear people saying times are hard and there’s bills to be paid,” said Richard DeBord, owner of the Santa Cruz Coin Exchange and a jeweler since 1975.
The price of gold hit $1,000 an ounce last February and March, then dropped to the mid-$900s and then to the $700-range. Now it’s back above $900 an ounce, sparking a gold rush.
Television ads invite people to mail in unwanted gold jewelry in exchange for cash. In New York, Long Islanders have been hosting gold-buying parties, bringing in a local dealer to weigh and pay for worn trinkets.
Capitola Mall has booked Gold Buyers, based in Appleton, Wis., for a three-day visit from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday to do much the same.
“You walk away with a check,” said Lisa Porter, specialty leasing manager at Capitola Mall, which is owned by Macerich. “It gives customers an opportunity to shop around. Our sister properties did it, and it generates a lot of traffic.”
Gold Buyers owner Lyssa King, whose husband Benjamin is one of the appraisers, said the company’s business model gives customers a higher payback.
“We are not open to the public other than in our mall venues around the country as we are strictly commodities brokers and refiners,” she said. “There is low overhead and no middle man.”
For those who want to compare prices, locally owned jewelry stores and pawn shops offer the same service.
Santa Cruz Pawn, the only licensed and bonded pawn shop in the city of Santa Cruz, has been in business for more than 10 years, paying cash on the spot for jewelry that might be damaged, missing pieces or just not your style.
“Most people don’t realize you can come to a pawn shop and they’ll buy gold jewelry,” said Bruce Pedersen, owner of Watsonville Pawn, which opened on Main Street last year. “People don’t know we’re here.”
He called the “cash for gold” phone number advertised on television, got referred to another phone number, where he found the voice mail was full and no longer taking messages.
He said the $900 per ounce price quote is misleading because it applies only to pure 24-karat gold. Most jewelry is 10 karat or 14 karat, so it is worth less, he said. For example, 12 karat is 50 percent gold so the price could be $450 an ounce, half the rate for 24 karat gold.
“If it’s gold over silver, it’s worth less,” said Michael Craig, owner of Monterey Bay Estate Jewelry and Antiques, explaining that silver has been going for $12 an ounce.
Prices can be volatile.
Craig, who has had his shop on Soquel Drive in Aptos for more than 16 years, saw gold jump $30 in 20 minutes Wednesday morning. He suggests customers follow the ticker on TV or online.
“If someone beats my price, fine — just call me before you sell,” he said.
“We see people wanting to sell their scrap jewelry, not their good jewelry,” Craig said, although he noted two expensive watches brought in by a man whose $43.2 million portfolio was tied up in the Bernard Madoff scandal.
DeBord, whose Coin Exchange has been at Branciforte Plaza since 1992, pointed out that local businesses pay local taxes and keep paperwork so stolen goods can be traced.
“When we buy something we are required to fill out a police report and hold it for 30 days,” he said. “If you go to a local merchant and you want to talk to us, we’re here.”
Source: www.santacruzsentinel.com
February 19th, 2009
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