Jewelry Business Guru by Cindy Edelstein

JewelryBizGuru Blog has moved to CindyEdelstein.com

Finally! I've got a new look, a new name and a new blog at www.CindyEdelstein.com. I'm so excited!

Expect a lot more content and please don't be shy to comment or ask questions on the new site. CindyEdelstein.com offers a lot more information on the rest of our projects and events, too. So much to share! I hope you join me there.

 

globalDESIGN show of exceptional jewelers to the trade -- Philly Feb. 18-20

Lark Books Curating second "500 Rings" book

500 Rings, to be juried by Bruce Metcalf, is second collection of juried rings in the 500 series. Following the widely popular 1000 Rings (Lark Books, 2004), this encore installment will be a 420-page, full color survey of contemporary rings created after 2000.

This international collection will be beautifully presented and widely distributed throughout the world in Spring 2012.They  welcome outstanding images of rings made from any materials and in all design styles.

Jewelers whose work is selected for inclusion will receive full acknowledgment in the book, a complimentary copy, and discounts on the future purchase of books. Artists retain copyright to their work. Lark accepts high-quality digital images, transparencies, and slides. No entry fee is required. Submissions must be postmarked by March 30, 2011.

Detailed entry guidelines and permission forms are included on the 500 Rings Entry Form, which can be downloaded here. 

 

Top 10 PANTONE Colors for women’s fashion chosen by New York designers for spring 2011

How will these relate to jewelry??? Tell us your plans.

JA Show New Discovery -- Jamie Kayam, Shapes of the City

Jamie Kayam is making his industry debut this week at the JA NY Show in NYC.

He has a long history as an artist and has mastered many artforms but jewelry seems to be his true calling. His debut collection are based on a signature style of easy-to-know geometric shapes, he says.

The jewels are made in NYC and all of the gemstones are handset. The collection is available in sterling and vermeil with a wide variety of crystals and some gemstones.

You can meet Jamie at the JA Show and see his whole collection [qualified retailers are invited to the show with the proper identification -- read more on www.JA-NewYork.com] and consumers can see more on his Etsy store site at http://www.etsy.com/shop/shapesofthecity?page=2.

We expect great things from this new designer.

 

Meet the New Designers of 2010 at the JA NY Show - July 25-28th

Come to NYC this week to see these designers make their industry debut at the JA NY Show at the Javits Center in NYC. Sunday July 25 through Wed. July 28th.

Two dozen of our Couture designers will be there, too, along with nearly 100 designers in the Designer Showcase area. This is the trade show to attend when you need a wide variety of jewels from designer to findings and basics and gems to watches and so much more.

The New Designer Gallery is always a highlight of the JA Show. It's where so many designers launched their careers -- dating back to the first time in 1987 when David Yurman made his industry debut.   Since then the Gallery has been home to the likes of Penny Preville, Charles Krypell, Tom Kruskal, Paul Morelli, Steven Lagos, George Sawyer, Stephen Dweck, Barbara Bixby and so many more. Every year the Gallery gives an insight into contemporary trends and design mastery and this year brings many surprises such as the one-of-a-kind masterpieces by Gregore Morin of Gregore Joailliers, the socially responsible concepts of Yilin Choo and the fashionable perspective of Russell Jones. All ten have a unique point of view. This year's Fabulous Ten will surely appeal to all the senses -- there truly is something for every type of store in the New Designer Gallery this year.   The New Designers are:   Cheryl Lynn Choo Yilin Danielle Miller Gregoré Morin of Gregoré Joailliers Heloisa Fitzgerald Julia Behrends Katie Decker Kristin Pasternak Margery Hirschey Russell Jones

CHERYL LYNN    Influenced by her reverence for fashion and art, Cheryl’s designs capture feminine beauty and the individuality of women. Cheryl is quickly becoming one of America’s top jewelry designers with celebrity fans like Zoe Saldana and Hayden Panettiere.

YILIN CHOO   Yilin’s eponymous label is a multi- award winning brand that has set out to fuse sustainability and fine jewelry. Working with the Karen hill tribe artisans of northern Thailand, Yilin brings centuries-old cultures together with modern sensibilities.

DANIELLE MILLER Much of Danielle’s jewelry has moving parts that translate the gestures of the wearer into movements of gems and metals. Pearls and stones freely slide, spin, or rock rhythmically with each turn of the body. These articulated parts engage and invite the wearer, creating an interactive experience.

GREGORÉ JOAILLIERS   Gregoré’s limited edition pieces are all designed and fabricated by hand using traditional tools and techniques. His work can be found in museums as well as the private collections of some of the world’s most famous people. First place AGTA Spectrum Awards 2009. Second place AGTA Spectrum Awards 2010.

HELOISA FITZGERALD   Heloisa Fitzgerald’s jewelry celebrates life’s timeless beauty. Her designs are inspired by her passion for art and love. Each hand-finished piece offers a simplicity which is characterized by a sophistication that is as elegant as it is mesmerizing. The beauty of Heloisa’s jewelry extends through the interchangeable, versatile designs that allow each piece to be easily transformed from casual daytime to formal evening wear.   JULIA BEHRENDS   Architectural forms, beautiful color and excellent quality combined with superb materials are the cornerstone of her innovative and sophisticated fine designer jewels. The Women’s Jewelry Association recognized Julia’s unique artistry when they awarded her the DIVA Design Award. Since then she has received multiple JCK Jewelers Choice Awards, MJSA Vision Award and has been honored with the prestigious Spectrum Award from the AGTA. KATIE DECKER   Inspired by her studies, travels, and imagination, Katie designs elegant pieces for women of all ages. Striking a balance between classic and contemporary, her designs evoke a timeless sophistication suitable for passing down through the generations. Katie concentrates on fine jewelry that may be worn from daytime to evening events. Using the highest quality materials she melds diamonds, semi-precious stones, and pearls with unique, whimsical designs available in 18k yellow, white and rose gold. KRISTEN PASTERNAK   “My ultimate goal is to create pieces of jewelry that my clients love to wear - that make them feel comfortable and confident. I hope that these designs will one day be heirloom pieces that women pass down to their daughters and granddaughters. In that respect, I always strive to make my designs classic yet modern and of the finest quality and craftsmanship.”   MARGERY HIRSCHEY   Inspired by ancient jewelry, Margery works with high karat gold and imperfect stones. She designs for women with a strong sense of individuality and style. Her work is carried in fine stores across the United States, including ABC Home in New York City, Ikram in Chicago and Roseark in Los Angeles. RUSSELL JONES Using original models of his own design, Russell creates fresh and modern pieces with high karat gold and semi-precious and precious stones. His design sensibility is clean with a very subtle nod to historical styles of jewelry.    Show info can be found at JA NY Show.

Neil Lane Debuts Bridal Line with Kay Jewelers

Celebrated jewelry designer Neil Lane and Kay Jewelers today announce the launch of Neil Lane Bridal™, a collection of 36 vintage-inspired engagement and wedding rings. Each ring is designed by Neil Lane and hand crafted, assembled, and finished by skilled artisans, with diamonds that were hand selected by Kay, said the press release.

“We are thrilled to launch the new Neil Lane Bridal collection at Kay Jewelers,” said Mark Light, President and CEO, Kay Jewelers. “Partnering with Neil Lane, we have created a one-of-a-kind bridal collection for our Kay customers that reflects Neil’s immense talent for intricate design and passion for style and glamour.”

The Neil Lane Bridal collection features 36 engagement and wedding rings, grouped in the following themes: Energy, Timeless, Essence, and Harmony. Prices range from $2,599 - $7,799. The collection is available at select U.S. Kay Jewelers stores and online at kay.com.

Far cry from what Neil usually offers ... what do you think of this kind of brand extension?

(Photo: Business Wire)

David Tishbi Adds Multi-Colored Spinner Rings and Bright Gemstones for Spring 2010

2010 is the Year of Silver as many designers seek to make affordable jewels that will keep the customers coming into their favorite jewelry stores.

Designer David Tishbi has always favored silver for his iconic, organic designs and this year he's added even more texture, colored metal accents and more attention-getting gemstones.

JCK Magazine featured the "simple but chic" lemon quartz charm ring from the Candy Collection in their April Issue. Yellows and greens are quite popular this year.

In the May issue, the meditation spinner rings from the Eternity Collection were described as "perfect for any occasion from anniversary to wedding or just the perfect gift!" 

The addition of rose and yellow gold and the blackened roller-pressed design in the silver makes these rings a very enticing, fresh look for the sterling customer.

JCK readers will also get a sneak preview of David's Fall 2010 collections in the July, August, and September issues. At such a reasonable price, people everywhere have been placing orders for pieces from David's collections. 

 

David Tishbi will present his sophisticated Eternity Collection spinner rings, at the JCK Las Vegas show in booth # DC-19133 in the Design Center.

A critical addition to anyone's jewelry collection, the timeless two-toned pieces remain a staple in anyone's wardrobe.  

Lark Books 500 Gemstone Jewels ready for pre-order on Amazon

So happy to have juried this book... it's beautiful.

So says the publisher:

Gems are the rarest and most enticing material a jeweler can work with, and this newest entry in the acclaimed 500 series showcases a rainbow of stones, from rough and natural to fully-faceted precious jewels.  The pieces include rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, pendants, and even a tiara, and they’re set in every imaginable kind of material, both precious and non-precious: gold, glass, platinum, palladium, iron, resin, silver, and more. The work ranges from Christo Kiffer's delicate and expressive "Tourmaline Moth Brooch," with its rich green tourmalines and sparkling diamonds, to a devastatingly beautiful necklace by master jeweler Daphne Krinos. 

 

THE INTERNATIONAL ROSTER OF JEWELERS INCLUDES:

Todd Reed  -  Cesar Lim  -  Eleanor Moty  -  Karl Fritsch  -  Ralph Bakker  -  Michael Zobel  - Gurhan  - Diana Vincent  -  Alex Sepkus  -  Mark Schneider  -  Barbara Heinrich  -  Gijs Bakker  -  Kent Raible  -  Pat Flynn  -  George Sawyer  -  Thomas Herman  -  Paula Crevoshay  -  Sarah Graham -Bernd Munsteiner -LAGOS -Dieter Lorenz  and hundreds more.

Memo system cited as major factor in Henry Dunay filing for Chapter 11

“Memo is one of the main reasons I had to do this,” he said. “I don’t mind if somebody calls me and says I have a customer looking for something special. But when it sits in the store for a few months just to fill in the window, that is killer," said Henry Dunay in an exclusive interview with Rob Bates of JCK Magazine.

Read the whole interview here.

Also declaring Chapter 11 this week is David Webb, Madison Avenue jewelry house extraordinaire.

In case you haven't been keeping up in the designer financial news, Michael Beaudry and JPPS Inc., the parent company for Penny Preville, also filed Chapter 11 bankrupcy protection this month. Doris Panos filed at the end of April.

Henry is the first one to mention memo as part of the problem -- but I've got to wonder how big a part it played in the others', as well. One well known designer we talked with calls it the "cancer of our industry."

When will the industry openly discuss this?

We're going to run a webinar on this topic -- from the perspecitve of protecting yourself in this dicey realm. Email me at [email protected] for more info and stay tuned to our blog and twitter and facebook and enewsletters for specifics.