Fashion Trends

Last week, we showcased some of the hottest pieces worn at the Emmy Awards. But we’re not done yet! Check out some of these dazzling, up-close shots from the Emmy’s and beyond:

Gossip Girl’s Leighton Meester wore Van Cleef & Arpels’ “Two Butterfly” ring (below), a between-the-finger ring featuring round diamonds and yellow sapphires set in 18-karat yellow and white gold.

Marisol Nichols (below), of the TV show 24, wore a Katerina Maxine 18-karat white gold ring with a nearly 9-carat rubellite and diamonds ($18,400) to an Emmys party in Los Angeles.

Cote de Pablo, from the TV series NCIS, donned Brumani’s Baobab 18-karat yellow gold ring (below) with brown diamonds, aquamarine and pink tourmaline ($12,001) to an awards event in California this month.

Mad Men’s Jessica Paré (below) accessorized with an Arunashi blue moonstone and black diamond “Mushroom” ring ($7,650) for an Emmys party in Los Angeles.

Thor’s Jaimie Alexander wore a Victor Velyan ring (below) with spessartite garnet ($6,140) to a soiree in West Hollywood.

House’s Jennifer Morrison (below) wore KumKum’s Paradise night black zircon and sterling silver ring ($599) outside of the Jimmy Kimmel Live studios in Los Angeles this month.

Check out more of these great shots at 10x.

Cadmium is a soft bluish metal.

What is cadmium? Cadmium is a rare metallic element found in small deposits on almost every continent. It has a number of uses and it can be expensive due to its rarity. Cadmium is also toxic and should be handled with care. So how does it play part in the jewelry industry? Cadmium is often used in children’s jewelry. Health concerns have been raised and states continue to decide on appropriate guidelines:

The U.S jewelry industry wants states to overturn laws that limit the toxic metal cadmium in children’s trinkets and adopt new voluntary guidelines it helped create, saying stricter rules in several states create chaos for manufacturers and importers.

Persuading legislators to reopen the issue won’t be an easy sell: Many consumer and environmental advocates say the new guidelines weaken protection of children’s health.

While the voluntary rules have the support of federal regulators, states that passed much stricter limits over the past year would have to backtrack and allow higher levels of a metal that can cause cancer.

That didn’t sound likely Monday.

“Maryland ought to set whatever standard we feel is correct,” said Delegate James Hubbard, a Democrat who successfully sponsored the nation’s toughest cadmium-in-jewelry limits this spring. “We made a judgment call based on what we felt was in the best interest of the people we represent.”

A jewelry industry that has been hammered by more than a year of recalls and legal setbacks does have some momentum, now that the rules it drafted were passed last week by the respected organization ASTM International, which sets voluntary rules for a range of goods. Industry’s goal is to replace the current patchwork of regulation with a unified standard.

“Our whole mission in this is to have standards that are not floating in quicksand,” said Brent Cleaveland, head of the ASTM subcommittee that wrote the rules and executive director of the Fashion Jewelry and Accessories Trade Association. He described the limits he oversaw as “way more conservative than necessary” to protect kids’ health.

Cleaveland says his next move is to press legislatures in states that have set limits to reopen the issue and adopt the voluntary standards. If that succeeds, Cleaveland would then ask Congress to pass legislation to make the voluntary standard national law.

If the industry lobbying effort fails, state limits that are much tougher than the voluntary rules will effectively remain the national standard. That’s because manufacturers that sell in places like California and Maryland would need to comply with limits there, and wouldn’t create different products for the rest of the country.

Mandatory limits adopted over the past year already deter use of the heavy metal, which over time can also cause bone and kidney diseases, though there have been no documented deaths or serious injuries.

Read more at Business Weekly.

Recently online diamond retailer sold a $300,000 diamond via its mobile application. While it may seem like the next wave in jewelry purchasing, darker implications remain. What about sales tax? Or other underhanded sales techniques that could go unnoticed when making a high-end purchase over the phone? Then of course, there’s the practical question: Are people really prepared to make such big ticket purchases via a mobile phone ap?

Blue Nile recently sold a $300,000 diamond via its mobile app, the company confirmed to JCK.

Spokesman John Baird told Internet Retailer: “While an extraordinary purchase, large jewelry purchases, running from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars, via smartphones happen quite frequently.”

Blue Nile has said its mobile app drives 25 percent of the company’s traffic.

The large purchase shows the growing power of smartphones in retail. A recent survey said that some two-thirds of smartphone or tablet owners have used their devices to make purchases.

Source: JCK Magazine

Julie Bowen, Emmy Award Winner and Platinum Proud

We’ve tracked platinum for months now. It increases in popularity due to its durability, luster and overall cool, industrial chic look – a great backdrop for colored gems and sparkling diamonds. The Emmy Awards are just another example of platinum’s “trending” abilities:

Following is a list of stars that celebrated tonight’s achievements in PLATINUM:

• Gwyneth Paltrow: Platinum earrings with black and white diamonds (7 carats), two platinum and diamond bracelets (100 carats total), and a platinum ring with diamonds and black onyx (5 carats) by Neil Lane.
• Drew Barrymore: Platinum and diamond earrings by Van Cleef & Arpels.
• Julie Bowen: Platinum earrings with black and white diamonds, platinum bracelet with diamonds and onyx, and several platinum rings with black and white diamonds by Neil Lane.
• Minka Kelly: Platinum and diamond drop earrings, and platinum rings by Tiffany & Co.
• Gretchen Mol: Platinum earrings with jade, onyx and diamonds, multiple vintage platinum bracelets with diamonds, jade and black enamel, and a platinum and diamond ring (12.90 carats) by Fred Leighton.
• Nina Dobrev: Platinum and diamond stud earrings by Neil Lane.
• Jayma Mays: Platinum and diamond bow brooch in her hair (10 carats), platinum and diamond cluster earrings (10 carats), and a platinum and diamond ring (5 carats) by Neil Lane.
• Cat Deely: Platinum and diamond ea rrings (14 carats), multiple platinum and diamond bracelets (37 carats total), and a platinum and yellow diamond ring (20 carats) by Bvlgari.
• Colbie Smulders: Platinum and diamond earrings, platinum ring with diamonds and aquamarine, and a platinum bracelet with diamonds and aquamarine (50 carats) by Neil Lane.
• Kaley Cuoco: Pla tinum and diamond stud earrings, and a platinum and diamond bracelet by Kwiat.
• Amber Riley: Platinum and diamond earrings (6 carats), and a platinum and diamond ring (13 carats) by Chopard.
• Mireille Enos: Multiple platinum and diamond bracelets (97 carats total), and a platinum and rose-cut diamond ring (14 carats) by Chopard.
• Maria Bello: Platinum and diamond stud earrings, and a platinum and diamond ring by Martin Katz.
• Taraji P. Henson: Art Deco platinum and diamond earrings, and a platinum dome ring with rock crystal and diamonds byFred Leighton.
• Ellie Kemper: Platinum and diamond stud earrings (8 carats) by Chopard.
• Giuliana Rancic: Platinum and diamond earrings (22 carats), and multiple platinum and diamond bracelets (43 carats) by Chopard.

Read more: Platinum Jewelry Dominates The Red Carpet at The 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards | www.DiamondNe.ws http://www.diamondne.ws/2011/09/19/platinum-jewelry-dominates-the-red-carpet-at-the-63rd-primetime-emmy-awards/#ixzz1YVYpRPSc
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution

Most don’t think of the ways in which jewelry stores give back to the community. This store has a smart plan that makes it easy for the customer to give and get in return:

While it’s experiencing some changes—relocating, closing and opening stores—one thing remains the same, Cartersville Jewelry Exchange continues to raise money for its favorite charity, Canine Assistants.

With its Batteries For Charity program, which began in 2009, the local business introduced a new concept in the jewelry industry—free watch batteries in exchange for charitable donations.

“It’s just something we wanted to do, it’s who we are,” Owner David Harrison said in a press release. “Here’s how it works: Your watch shoots craps, you need a battery, you bring it to us and we put you in a new one no charge, we ask you to contribute to our favorite charity, Canine Assistants. If its within your means dig deep, if not that’s cool, too, the battery is still on us.”

Cartersville Jewelry Exchange recently wrote a check for the $15,500 it raised through the program, and Harrison said it’s not stopping now. “Our goal is specific to raise another $15,500 to sponsor a second dog to donate to a child in need,” he added.

This year, the outlet has made several moves—closing its Jasper store and relocating it to Canton, moving the Cartersville store to another shopping center in town and opening a new location in Rome, while continuing its ongoing operation in Calhoun.

This article is part of Dispatches: The Changing American Dream, our ongoing series about how people in Cartersville are adapting to the challenges of life in the 21st Century. Source: Carterville Patch

Sotheby’s is at it again, stunning the jewelry world with its amazing pieces. On September 20, Sotheby’s kicks off its Fall season with some amazing pieces…at some amazing prices. Bring your check book!

A “Tutti Frutti” bracelet, one of Cartier’s rarest and most iconic Art Deco designs, will headline the Important Jewels sale at Sotheby’s in New York on September 20. The bracelet has a pre-sale estimate of $200,000 to $300,000.

Released by Cartier in 1928, the “Tutti Frutti” bracelet features  a flexible openwork foliate band set with carved sapphires, rubies and emeralds. It is set with old European-cut and single-cut diamonds weighing approximately 7.00 carats, and is applied with black enamel.

The auction also features signed pieces by Van Cleef & Arpels, David Webb, Buccellati and Tiffany & Co., with estimates ranging from $5,000 to $800,000. Collectors of high-quality diamonds will find a compelling selection of wearable white diamond rings ranging from 2 to 15 carats, as well as an array of fancy colored diamond jewels.

Among the items are a platinum and diamond Ring by Van Cleef & Arpels, set with an emerald-cut diamond weighing 9.19 carats, D color, VVS2 clarity, which flanked by triangular-shaped diamonds weighing approximately 2.80 carats.

Also featured is a diamond pendant necklace set with pear-shaped diamond of fancy intense blue color weighing 2.59 carats, VS1 clarity, surmounted by two diamonds weighing approximately 1.00 carat.

Another items expected to raise interest is a platinum and 18-karat pink gold and diamond Ring, set with a  round diamond weighing 5.56 carats, D color, internally flawless with excellent cut, polish and symmetry, which is flanked by two round diamonds each weighing  0.70 carat of similar perfect quality; and a platinum, gold, ruby and diamond Ring by Tiffany & Co., which is set with a Burmese ruby and diamonds weighing approximately 3.50 carats.

The Important Jewels presale exhibition will be opens to the public in New York on Friday, September 16.

Source: Diamond Dealers Club

In the last few weeks, we’ve highlighted the economic trends in relation to purchasing engagement rings. Now we have some more specifics. Overall, you’ll see couples moving toward more affordable engagement rings with smaller carat sizes and alternative gems, such as moissanite.

The average American engagement ring costs $5,200. That’s just one of the results of the just-released 2011 Engagement & Jewelry Survey from XO Group Inc., formerly The Knot Inc., and owners of TheKnot.com and WeddingChannel.com. The survey polled more than 10,000 U.S. brides and 1,000 U.S. grooms who were either engaged or married in the past year.

Below are highlights of survey data, featuring average prices, carat weights, and more:

1.		Engagement ring cost: $5,200
2.		Carat size: 1 ct. for center stone; 1.4 cts. t.w.
3.		Most popular diamond shapes: round (53%) and princess (30%)
4.		Most popular engagement ring metal: white gold (73%)
5.		Time it takes for groom to find engagement ring: 3 months
6.		Wedding band cost: $1,126 for brides; $491 for grooms
7.		Most popular wedding band metal: white gold (70% for brides, 34% for grooms)
8.		Luxury ring segment: About 12% of couples spend more than $8,000 on the engagement ring
9.		Luxury engagement ring cost: $13,500
10.		Luxury engagement ring carat size: 1.5 cts. for center stone; more than 2 cts. t.w.
11.		Luxury wedding band cost: $1,560 for brides; $731 for grooms

Other data reveals that just 14 percent of grooms claimed to have scaled down the size and cost of engagement rings purchased due to the economy, while 1 in 4 grooms spent more than he originally budgeted. Buyers are, however, still spending less than they did a few years ago; today, couples are spending just under $5,200 on the ring, compared with $5,800 for engaged couples in 2008.

Read more at JCK.

Style 10214-6.5mm Twisted Shank Engagement Ring With Side Stones Twisted shank engagement ring with just under 2/5ct t.w. pave’ side stones. Fits a 6.5mm (1ct) round center stone. (setting only, does not include center stone)

If you’re lucky enough to wear this purse, you better be careful not to leave it behind at a restaurant!

Inspired by the fascinating tales of Scheherazade, the ‘Mouawad 1001 Nights Diamond Purse’ is currently the most expensive purse in the world. It was designed by Robert Mouawad and it took ten artisans no less than 8,800 hours to finish it.

The heart-shaped purse was handcrafted in 18-karat gold, and studded with 4,356 colorless diamonds, 105 yellow diamonds and 56 pink ones. The total is a whooping 4,517 diamonds adding up to 381.92 karats. This all translates into $3.8 million.

Now you know why the Mouawad 1001 Nights Diamond Purse is the most expensive handbag in the world. It was unveiled at the Doha Jewellery and Watched Exhibition by the House of Mouawad, and it will continue to be displayed until Sunday.

Source: National Jeweler

The Kimberly Process is designed to certify the origin of rough diamonds from sources which are free of conflict funded by diamond production. The certification scheme aims at preventing “blood diamonds” from entering the mainstream rough diamond market and assure consumers that they were not indirectly financing war and human rights abuses. This week, it was brought into question by Human Rights Watch:

Human Rights Watch called on governments, companies and consumers to refuse to buy Zimbabwe diamonds until all members of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme agree the country is protecting people’s rights.

The Kimberley Process, which was created in 2003 to prevent so-called “blood diamonds” from financing conflict, said on June 23 that exports from Zimbabwe’s Marange fields could resume. The decision was broadly supported by African countries, while the U.S. and Canada objected.

“If diamonds from Marange are KP certified we’d be arguing for consumers not to buy those diamonds from sellers,” Tiseke Kasambala of Human Rights Watch said by phone from Johannesburg today. “The allowing of exports while there are ongoing abuses is a terrible decision.”

In 2009, restrictions were placed on the export of gems from the Marange field, which is near Zimbabwe’s border with Mozambique, after an investigation found human-rights violations and smuggling at the site. In 2008, more than 200 people were killed when Zimbabwean security forces took over the concessions, according to a Human Rights Watch report.

Kimberley Process President Mathieu Yamba said June 23 that Zimbabwe was now complying with the organization’s requirements and had guaranteed cooperation with civil society representatives and special monitoring of its exports. Yamba did not answer his phone when called for comment by Bloomberg today.

“Consensus cannot mean that everyone has to say ‘yes’,” he said June 23 in response to Canada’s objection.

Source: Bloomberg News

 

Read more about our eco-friendly jewelry.

We’ve talked about the many wonders of palladium in the past. It’s durable, light-weight, with a remarkable luster. Palladium is considered a sister-metal to platinum. though palladium is a relative newcomer in the jewelry market. Several celebrities have joined up with Palladium Alliance International to co-create a campaign extolling its virtues.

Toledo, Ohio–Palladium Alliance International (PAI) is partnering up with celebrities Pamela Anderson, Kelly Osbourne and Rose McGowan for a new campaign to promote the metal’s use in fine jewelry.

“The campaign, which will launch nationally in September, is a play on the attributes of palladium,” said Ellen Fruchtman, president of Fruchtman Marketing, which developed and is launching the campaign for PAI.

Former Baywatch star and humanitarian Pamela Anderson, E! Fashion Police host Kelly Osbourne and Charmed TV actress Rose McGowan will be featured in a series of ads that will extol the virtues of palladium jewelry.

The campaign will appear in publications including Cosmopolitan, InStyle, Glamour, W, and Elle. The PAI campaign is the largest for palladium and highlights intrinsic qualities of the metal as those matching the desires of an active, busy consumer.

In addition to print, the campaign will include extensive digital and social media aspects.

“The campaign has a lot of legs and is very consumer and media friendly,” Fruchtman said. “The celebrities we have selected are recognizable, and the headline associated with the campaign will be attention-getting.”

One of the lightest precious metals, palladium has been used in jewelry since about 1939, and is naturally white, durable and pure.

Source: National Jeweler

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