Category: Jewelry World

Magnetic jewelry an overlooked danger
Chicago Tribune, United States
By Maurice Possley | Tribune staff reporter
December 20, 2007

The federal government brands magnets in toys a deadly hazard to children because the tiny, powerful objects can fall out and cause serious, even fatal, internal injuries when swallowed.

Yet the Consumer Product Safety Commission has not taken steps to regulate even more powerful magnets when they are sold in loose form as backings on children’s earrings, the Tribune has found. Read more about Magnetic jewelry an overlooked danger …

More women buying jewelry
Annapolis Capital, MD

BY KATIE ARCIERI, Staff Writer
Published December 18, 2007
Pam McGinnis didn’t hesitate to drop $1,000 on a Lecil Henderson necklace from Sanders Jewelers in Pasadena. Nor did she flinch when buying a new wedding band with diamonds for her husband after he lost the first one.
That’s because if something catches her eye, the 48-year-old is not afraid to splurge.
“I figure that I’m working, I like this piece, I’m going to buy it,” said Ms. McGinnis, who has worked for the Department of Defense since 1980. Read more about More women buying jewelry …

Byeon Admits Jewelry Gifts in Shin-gate Trial
Chosun Ilbo, South Korea

Former chief presidential policy secretary Byeon Yang-kyun admitted he gave jewelry worth tens of millions of won to his mistress Shin Jeong-ah, the disgraced curator at the heart of a fake-degree scandal. The admission came on his fourth trial on charges of influence peddling and bribery in connection with the scandal Monday. But Byeon said Shin had paid part of the costs with gift certificates. According to prosecutors, Byeon gave Shin a diamond ring, a luxury-brand watch, a necklace and a ring worth W47 million (US$1=W934) in total. Byeon said the jewelry was a return present for a painting Shin had given him. Read more about Byeon Admits Jewelry Gifts in Shin-gate Trial …

Wheeler jewelry finds value in prairie location
Rapid City Journal, SD

LEMMON — Success is in the details, especially when you compete in the tourism jewelry industry, according to Brad Wheeler, president of Wheeler Jewelry Manufacturing, located in this remote prairie community of about 1,400 people.

Providing customers with quality, low-cost jewelry items is the company’s specialty.

Wheeler Jewelry products are found at tourist and other outlets in all 50 states, according to Wheeler. Read more about Wheeler jewelry finds value in prairie location …

East grad makes mark in jewelry industry
Wausau Daily Herald, WI

For those who knew her when she was growing up in Wausau, it’s no surprise that Tracey Mayer has become a top jewelry designer.

It’s taken about eight years for the 1977 graduate of Wausau East High School to develop a reputation as both a designer and producer of high- end jewelry. Her creations for men and women have been spotlighted on the Home Shopping Network and in magazines such as People Espanol and Cosmopolitan. She has a line of men’s jewelry sold at Nordstrom, and she expects two other major retailers to begin selling her work in fall 2008. Read more about East grad makes mark in jewelry industry …

Toxic lead found in children’s jewelry, state says
San Francisco Chronicle, USA

(12-13) 12:15 PST Sacramento – —
State health officials have found that one-third of 125 items of children’s jewelry that investigators purchased in stores across California contained illegally high levels of lead, despite a new state law banning the toxic metal in children’s jewelry.
Lead, which is particularly harmful to children, was found in mood rings, crosses, crystal decorations on necklaces and bracelets, pendants and leaf charms, officials from the state Department of Toxic Substances Control said.
A pendant from a gumball machine at a Church’s Fried Chicken in Oakland contained the most lead of any of the items tested by state investigators – 368,000 parts per million, which is more than 600 times the limit of 600 parts per million under a state law that sent into effect Sept. 1. Read more about Toxic lead found in children's jewelry, state says …

Tainted kids’ jewelry ordered off shelves
Los Angeles Times, CA

Lead-laced items are found in 11 California stores, including Macy’s and Gap Kids. State regulators tell the retailers to remove the products.
By Marc Lifsher, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
1:22 PM PST, December 12, 2007
SACRAMENTO — Children’s jewelry with as much as 600 times the legal limit for lead contamination was found at 11 shops around California, including at Macy’s and a Gap Kids store, and ordered off the shelves — at the peak of the Christmas shopping rush, state toxic regulators said today. Read more about Tainted kids' jewelry ordered off shelves …

Pedal to metal on gold jewelry prices
Boston Globe, United States

Uncertainty pushes prices up, but shoppers unlikely to be deterred

Holiday shoppers will have to pay more or settle for less when they buy gold jewelry as the price of precious metal surges in global commodity markets.

Gold has gained more than $150 an ounce, or 25 percent, since mid-August, boosting the price of jewelry by 5 to 15 percent, jewelers said. And bigger price increases are on the way. Read more about Pedal to metal on gold jewelry prices …

Jewelry Retailers Weigh In on Holiday Trends and Sales; Reflecting on Purchases Made at JCK Las Vegas
Market Wire (press release)

With the Holiday Shopping Season in Full Swing, Retailers are Seeing the Benefits of Attending JCK
NORWALK, CT–(Marketwire – December 10, 2007) – With the holiday shopping season in full swing, jewelry retailers from around the country reflect on trends they followed and products they purchased while visiting JCK Las Vegas. High-end independent retailers including Birks & Mayors, R.F. Moeller, and Day’s Jewelers along with leading national retailers like JC Penney attend JCK Las Vegas, the most comprehensive jewelry event in North America. Read more about Jewelry Retailers Weigh In on Holiday Trends and Sales; Reflecting on Purchases Made at JCK Las Vegas …

The Bush Administration Gets Pricey Gifts
Luxist, CA

The official record of gifts given to President Bush last year reveals that he got some very luxurious gifts. The top gifts include an $11,000 Cartier Santos Dumont watch, given to Bush in April 2006 by Thailand’s prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra and a pair of black leather Hungarian riding boots stitched with an off-white leather “W” from Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany.
Bush has also received more standard gifts such as silver plates, cufflinks and vases. Read more about The Bush Administration Gets Pricey Gifts …