Category: Jewelry World

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. Read more about Need jewelry to go with that Gucci rental?Handbag service plans to add more high-end products …

Dubai jewelry group pledges $1 million for marketing
[From NationalJeweler.com, March 1, 2005]

The Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group has pledged to raise $1 million in U.S. dollars to launch an integrated, global plan for marketing jewelry to consumers.

At the 3rd Dubai Conference, held Feb. 20-21, representatives of the gold, gemstone and pearl industries agreed to establish a committee to endorse a focused marketing initiative. Paul Walker, CEO of Gold Field Mineral Services, was selected to chair the committee, which was charged with positioning jewelry for growth against other lifestyle options in the market.

Conference participants agreed that a unique opportunity had been presented for all segments of the precious metals, gemstone and jewelry value chain to act together. Gaetano Cavalieri, president of CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation, publicly praised the Dubai Group’s pledge in a release. Read more about Dubai jewelry group pledges $1 million for marketing …

Michele Watches Announces the Launch of Its First Fine Jewelry Collection
[Press Release] PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance
Monday March 6, 12:52 pm ET

– Collection Will Be Available Exclusively at Neiman Marcus –
MIAMI, March 6 /PRNewswire/ — Michele Barouh, Creative Director of Michele, announced the arrival of the first Michele Jewelry Collection in select Neiman Marcus stores nationwide. This 18 karat gold collection mixes precious stones with the fun personality of the Michele brand to create distinctive and unique jewelry. The Michele Jewelry Collection is the first brand extension for the fine watch company, which was acquired by Fossil (Nasdaq: FOSL – News) in 2004. Read more about Michele Watches Announces the Launch of Its First Fine Jewelry Collection …

RFID Tag targets jewelry industry.
ThomasNet

March 6, 2006 – Measuring 16 mm dia and 2.6 mm thick, 13.56 MHz RFID Tag guarantees accurate traceability and quick inventory checks of jewelry, from manufacturers to retailers. When tag is attached to item, it cannot be removed without deactivating it, making it impossible to remove tag and place it on different item without leaving electronic or physical evidence of tampering.

Sokymat Launches Revolutionary Tamper-evident 13.56 MHz RFID Tag Designed for the Jewelry Industry Read more about RFID Tag targets jewelry industry. …

Stars come out to shine on the Oscar red carpet
CTV.ca
Updated Sun. Mar. 5 2006 8:11 PM ET

CTV.ca News
Gleaming white teeth, plunging necklines and eye-catching jewelry have become the calling card of the red carpet and this year is no exception.

The breakout colour, perhaps inspired by the much-coveted statue, is a golden yellow. Michelle Williams, Nicole Kidman, Jessica Alba and Bahar Soomekh, just to name a few, all chose to leave their little black dress at home.

Since most men toe the line with the traditional penguin suit, all eyes are on Hollywood’s better halves – the leading ladies.

The pressure is two-fold; starlets want to stand out from the pack but originality is a fine line that is often rewarded with a place on the worst dressed list. Read more about Stars come out to shine on the Oscar red carpet …

LVMH Watch and Jewelry profits spike
National Jeweler

MARCH 03, 2006 – Paris — Profits from the jewelry and watches category at LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton in 2005 increased fivefold to $45.7 million, the company announced.

The luxury conglomerate attributed the growth to strong performances by TAG Heuer and new products with in the Aquaracer, Link and Carerra ranges and the gold watches the brand designed with Tiger Woods. The group’s Zenith brand benefited at the high end with the Starissime, the first ladies’ watch with a tourbillon. Dior Watches’ Christal line also performed well for the year. Read more about LVMH Watch and Jewelry profits spike …

Pre-Oscars, jewelry does more than sparkle
National Jeweler
By Rebecca L. Fox

MARCH 03, 2006 – Los Angeles — High above Los Angeles’ Sunset Strip, surrounded by hundreds of thousands of dollars in platinum and diamond jewelry that could be wending its way down Oscar’s red carpet come Sunday, Platinum Guild International’s Michael O’Connor was invoking the name of a different kind of celebrity.

“This piece dates back to Catherine the Great,” O’Connor said as he cradled the 67.5-carat Black Orlov Diamond, set in a platinum necklace featuring 108 carats of white marquise and round diamonds. Read more about Pre-Oscars, jewelry does more than sparkle …

She matches right job with right applicant
The Charlotte Observer

Michelle Fish’s entrepreneurial spirit dates back more than a century, to a great-grandfather who started a diamond and jewelry business in 1903. But she got into the business of employment staffing by accident.

Fish came to Charlotte after graduating college in 1990, eager to trade her sleepy hometown for a bigger city. She was scheduling emergency and same-day surgery at Presbyterian Hospital when she decided to try pharmaceutical sales. The owners of a Fayetteville staffing agency saw her resume and instead recruited her to help them expand to Charlotte. She later joined another agency, staying through its buyout by a public company. Read more about She matches right job with right applicant …

Children’s Toy Jewelry Recalled Due to Aspiration Hazard
Kansas City InfoZine

The recalled jewelry could break, releasing small beads that pose an aspiration hazard to young children.

Washington, D.C. – infoZine – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. Read more about Children's Toy Jewelry Recalled Due to Aspiration Hazard …

Buffet:Major Acquisitions Needed
By JOSH FUNK AP Business Writer
ABC News

OMAHA, Neb. Mar 5, 2006 (AP)— Big purchases will be needed to improve Berkshire Hathaway Inc.’s earnings in future years, chairman Warren Buffett wrote in his annual letter to shareholders.

But whenever Buffett’s successor takes over the Omaha-based investment company, finding those major acquisitions to fuel Berkshire’s growth is likely to become more difficult especially in the first few years. Read more about Buffet:Major Acquisitions Needed …