Berkshire delves deeper into jewelry business

Berkshire delves deeper into jewelry business
Buffett-owned Richline acquires Aurafin from private-equity firm
By Alistair Barr, MarketWatch
Last Update: 2:56 PM ET Jul 5, 2007
MarketWatch

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) – Berkshire Hathaway Inc., the insurance-focused conglomerate run by Warren Buffett, expanded deeper into the jewelry business on Thursday after its Richline Group subsidiary acquired two gold jewelry manufacturers.

Private-equity firm Norwest Equity Partners said it sold Aurafin LLC to Richline Group for an undisclosed amount. Richline also acquired Bel-Oro International to become what it said would be the largest supplier of gold jewelry to retailers. Read more about Berkshire delves deeper into jewelry business

Babakul Jewelry

Babakul Jewelry Posted Jul 4th 2007 11:03AM by Deidre Woollard Filed under: Jewelry Luxist, CA The new jewelry line Babakul is unabashedly Bohemian. The first collection, therefore, is naturally called hippie goddess and features rings, necklaces and bracelets named after goddesses and other figures from mythology. The team behind Babakul includes Kym Gold-Lubell, a designer […]

Leading Industry Executive Joins House of Taylor Jewelry's Board of Directors

Leading Industry Executive Joins House of Taylor Jewelry’s Board of Directors
CNNMoney.com

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif., July 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — House of Taylor Jewelry, Inc. today announced that John Moretz has been elected to the company’s board of directors.

Moretz, 57, is chief executive officer of GoldToeMoretz, LLC, a global leader in the hosiery industry with a portfolio of brands including Gold Toe, PowerSox, Kathy Ireland, New Balance and Under Armor. Read more about Leading Industry Executive Joins House of Taylor Jewelry's Board of Directors

Art, Story and Music Converge in Fine Jewelry

Art, Story and Music Converge in Fine Jewelry
Houston Chronicle, United States
By Seo Dong-shin
Staff Reporter

The jewelry business is traditionally a family-oriented and exclusive domain in South Korea, where newcomers forever remain outsiders in the industry. Against this backdrop, it was certainly a bold decision _ and perhaps also a clever strategy _ for two women relatively new to the industry to launch a project that insiders here have seldom tried before.

Jung Hye-ja, 59, and Kim Hue-kyeong, 48, co-CEOs of fine jewelry shop “In Story,” transposed the works of renowned Korean sculptor Moonshin (1923-1995) to fine jewelry items such as brooches, earrings, necklaces and rings.

Artist Moonshin is well known and popular in Europe, but that was not the only reason behind choosing his works for this ambitious project that eventually will test the overseas market. Read more about Art, Story and Music Converge in Fine Jewelry

Isobel 'Billie' Rosenblum had knack for getting to know, keep loyal jewelry-store customers

Isobel ‘Billie’ Rosenblum had knack for getting to know, keep loyal jewelry-store customers
Houston Chronicle, United States

Often treated her clientele like guests

By LYNWOOD ABRAM
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

Isobel “Billie” Rosenblum, who operated a successful jewelry store on the 15th floor of a downtown Houston office building, has died. She was 87.

She seldom advertised her wares and depended on her clientele to spread the word about what is now Rosenblum Fine Jewelers and her personalized salesmanship. Read more about Isobel 'Billie' Rosenblum had knack for getting to know, keep loyal jewelry-store customers

Ask Not What The Jewelry Industry Can Do For You

Ask Not What The Jewelry Industry Can Do For You
PR-GB.com (press release), Bulgaria
Written by Marc Choyt
Sunday, 01 July 2007

I just returned from the Jewelers’ Circular Keystone (JCK) Show, the largest, most important jewelry trade event in the US.
Apart from those who sought me out because of my press release, not one jeweler who walked by my booth even raised the issue of my banner which screamed out: FAIR TRADE, ECO FRIENDLY JEWELRY NOW.

Typical, I think, was my conversation with a buyer who was a “major player.” Her company is a house hold name. I asked one if she was interested Fair Trade and Eco friendly jewelry. Her look said, “Have you just arrived from the moon?” Read more about Ask Not What The Jewelry Industry Can Do For You

Weekend Review: Palma Collection Jewelry

Weekend Review: Palma Collection Jewelry
Green Options blog, CA

With all the media attention on “blood diamonds” and unsustainable metals, a more natural option has become necessary. Wood jewelry has been popular for many years, but as clear-cutting takes the spotlight, these options can hardly be labeled as sustainable.

The Palma Collection, based out of La Jolla, California, is pioneering a new, versatile option for green accessories – tagua nuts. The “fruit” of a particular breed of palm tree in tropical South America, tagua nuts are referred to as vegetable irony and it widely used as a replacement for inhumane elephant ivory. “The nut is harvested seasonally, only after it falls off the palm tree. Furthermore, it’s non-toxic,” according to the company’s website. While used specifically by the Palma Collection to make jewelry, the tagua is often used for buttons and figurines as well. Read more about Weekend Review: Palma Collection Jewelry

India's jewelry exports climb 32%

India’s jewelry exports climb 32%
Economic Times, India

MUMBAI: Exports of jewelry from India, the world’s largest producer, climbed 32 per cent in the two months ended May as overseas sales of diamonds rose.

Exports reached $3.18 billion, compared with $2.4 billion a year earlier, the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council said in an e-mailed statement on Thursday. Read more about India's jewelry exports climb 32%

One request now keeps jewelry on artist's mind

One request now keeps jewelry on artist’s mind
Chicago Suburban News, IL

Hinsdale, IL –
Hinsdale resident Colleen Smith now spends about 40 hours a week working on something that started as a request from her sister: making jewelry.
“My sister came to me and said she was going to a wedding, and she wanted me to put something together for her,” Smith said.

She created a chunky necklace of semiprecious stones.
“She got a lot of compliments on it,” Smith said, and her jewelry-making grew from there. The necklaces, bracelets and earrings are part of a collection called Colleen’s Creation. Read more about One request now keeps jewelry on artist's mind