Happy Stories From our customers

No surprises this year, as the Internet becomes an increasingly popular and easy way to send gifts over the holidays. Not only because of the ease factor, but a wider selection if offered overall. Think about it: you may have a handful of stores in your viscinity in which to shop, but the Internet opens up a whole world – quite literally. Sites like Ten Thousand Villages, a fair trade retailer, offer you the  chance to purchase from merchants in small villages in Africa or Vietnam.

SpendingPulse, a report from MasterCard, pegged the year-over-year rise at 15.4 percent. The report, released this week and covering the period from October 31 to December 24, looks at sales in the MasterCard payment network and combines those figures with survey-derived estimates of non-credit-card purchases.

According to the report, apparel sales led the field among e-commerce categories, a sign, perhaps, that shoppers are becoming more comfortable with buying clothing sight unseen. Electronics also made a showing, and jewelry managed to log an increase as well.

In general, the results show that the Web seems to be continuing on its way to becoming as American as apple pie–or the shopping mall. Though according to various sources online sales still make up only 10 percent of all purchases, that seems likely to change.

“Today e-commerce accounts for a much larger share of overall retail sales compared to a few years ago,” Michael McNamara, vice president for MasterCard Advisors SpendingPulse, said in a statement. “And during this holiday season, it registered double-digit growth for six out of seven weeks.”

The SpendingPulse report said that this year, the Monday after Thanksgiving saw $999.3 million in e-commerce receipts, a 25.3 percent increase over that same day last year. And six days in this year’s holiday shopping season saw online sales of more than $1 billion, compared with three days in 2009.

ComScore served up its own batch of figures this week, with its report covering November 1 through December 20 and based on surveys of consumers. The analytics company reported a 12 percent increase in e-commerce spending during that time frame versus the same frame last year.

In a statement, ComScore Chairman Gian Fulgoni said a 17 percent year-over-year rise in e-commerce receipts during the last weekend before Christmas “capped the heaviest online spending week of all time at $5.5 billion.”

The company also singled out other significant dates:

• Thanksgiving Day totals rose 28 percent over last year,
• Cyber Monday (November 29) logged a 16 percent rise,
• Free Shipping Day (December 17) saw a whopping 61 percent growth figure,
• and Black Friday (November 26) saw a 9 percent increase year over year.

A report last month from Coremetrics, which derives its data differently from ComScore, put the Black Friday figure at 16 percent. That report also pointed to the increasing importance of mobile devices and social-networking sites in the e-commerce cyberscape.”We’re watching online retail, and increasingly social media and mobile, become the growth engines for retailers everywhere, as consumers embrace online shopping not only for its ease and convenience, but as a primary means of researching goods and services,” John Squire, Coremetrics’ chief strategy officer, said in a statement at the time.

Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-20026608-93.html#ixzz19JzySf97

During a recent visit to a hair stylist, I found myself in a quandry: Am I supposed to tip Kathy a bit more during this time of the year? I did. Then I ran into my mailman later in the day. Do I give him a little something? What about the trash guys? And if so, how much? I did a little research and found this.

• Shampoo Girl $10.00
• Manicurist/pedicurist $15.00 and up (usually whatever the price is of a basic service like a plain manicure – in fancy salons, consider giving more)
• Hairdresser/stylist $15.00 and up (usually whatever the price is of a basic service like a hair cut – in fancy salons, consider giving more)
• Mail carrier $10.00 for just showing up – more if he actually does helpful stuff like pay for the missing 33 cent stamp on your credit card bill envelope
• Doorman/concierge $50 to $100 – and could be much higher depending on the building and the clientele.
• Household help A cleaner (whether through a service or independent) who comes weekly or biweekly should get an amount roughly equal to what he gets paid each time he works for you.
• Nanny or babysitter Full time nannies expect a generous gift – often approaching or equal to a week’s pay. Babysitters should see anywhere between an extra $20.00 to $50.00 depending on where you live, how often she works for you and how desperate you are for her to sit on New Years Eve. Be generous with pet-sitters as well, but not to the magnitude of human sitters.
• Newspaper delivery boy (weekly) $10.00 for just showing up – more if he actually does helpful stuff like bring the newspaper up your driveway rather than tossing it in a snowdrift.
• Newspaper delivery boy (daily) If you haven’t tipped him or her on a monthly basis, between $25 and $50

This may seem like a bit much (a few did to me!) but figure it this way: spread out over the year, it’s not much at all. Often we don’t realize  how much people contribute to our day-to-day existence. And while they often get paid for their services, if they do them well, it’s really nice to show them some extra acknowledgment. Besides, it just feels really good.

Thanks for the advice, Party 411! Here’s a virtual tip for your solid tipping advice!

Hi Joe,
I have just got back from work and the ring just arrived, It looks totally stunning, you have made a fantastic job!. It has been a pleasure doing business. Have a very merry Christmas.
Many thanks again
I.S.

You guys are so eloquent… marcus opened the box and said “holy sh*%!” lol he couldn’t believe how beautiful it was :) we are amazed at your work, we can see and feel the quality in this ring! the moissanite is beautiful beyond my expectations, and i could not be happier with my one-of-a-kind wedding set! every bride should get a moissanite :) i now have the ring set of a lifetime, which i NEVER would have been able to afford otherwise. the sparkle in the sun is actually blinding! it’s absolute perfection, and not only from a technical aspect. it’s true art the way you brought out the essence of my original ring. it’s exquisite beauty and i can’t believe it’s mine! thank you for your extreme patience and attention to detail, i couldn’t have asked for a better experience! and just in case i start to miss your sexy voice, i’m saving your messages :) lol!

This year, think outside of the box!

It’s in the presentation.

Giving a gift in a creative way is part of the event of gift-giving.

Here are techniques I found – some of which apply to jewelry, others apply to other small gifts.

But this year, literally and figuratively, think outside of the box!

1. Find several boxes of different sizes and place the item in its original box. Place it in a larger box, and then place that box in a slightly larger box. Continue this progression for as long as you like. You can let this gift get larger and larger as long as you can keep finding boxes. This trick is a great way to disguise the size of your gift, and it is fun to unwrap.

2. A very small gift, like a ring, necklace or earrings, can be placed inside of a clean empty wine or champagne bottle. Attach a ribbon to the jewelry, and lower it into the bottle, securing the ribbon on the outside of the bottle. Wrap the bottle with shiny paper and festive ribbons and watch the recipient glow when they see that the gift isn’t what it appeared to be.

3. Another interesting idea for a small-sized gift, such as an engagement ring, is to place the item (unwrapped of course) inside food. Cake or pudding can work or you can balance the ring atop a mound of whipped cream. Of course, make sure he or she doesn’t eat the item, perhaps leave the diamond clearly visible in the icing. This is a tried and true romantic way to pop the question.

4. If you have a small gift that goes with a much larger gift, such as car keys for a new car, this gift can be attached to some sort of car accessory item, like an ice scraper. Simply wrap the scraper and watch your recipient’s eyes light up when they see the keys attached to the scraper.

5. If you are giving someone tickets to an event, these can be placed between the pages of a book, preferably one that has something to do with the event. For sporting events, you can tape the tickets to the inside of a baseball glove or around a basketball, and then wrap the item.

6. Another idea for a small gift item is to place the item inside an empty paper towel holder. Wrap the gift, and insert it in the holder. Then place confetti inside, so that when the recipient looks for the gift, confetti will fly.

7. Extraordinary gifts can also be placed inside ordinary household items to add a little fun. You can insert precious jewelry inside a box of cereal, or place a CD inside a bag of chips, place a bracelet atop a can of peanuts, or tape a ring inside a bottle cap.

8. One clever way to wrap a small gift is to insert the item into the pocket of a piece of clothing. After you insert the item into the pocket, be sure to attach a little ribbon to clue the recipient in as to where to find the real gift.

9. Let’s face it, half the fun of gift-giving is surprising the recipient. This idea will cleverly disguise what’s inside, while making them curious about its strange shape. First, you need to construct a box in an unusual shape. You can do this by simply cutting away some cardboard and adding it to just about any sized box. The box can be made into a triangular, octagonal, or star shape, or just about any shape you can come up with. Although it may be just a bit difficult to wrap this self-styled box, it will keep the recipient guessing as to what’s inside.

10. If you want to wrap a men’s ring or cufflinks, one idea is to wrap it in fancy paper, and put it inside a tightly-coiled belt. Wrap the belt and enjoy the expression on his face as he uncoils the belt and sees the “real” gift.

11. A gift card can be inserted just about anywhere. You can insert it into the wrapper of a candy bar or put it into a box of chocolates. Be sure to insist the recipient open the box for a taste of candy to discover the card.

12. Of course, money can be disguised almost anywhere. It can be cleverly rolled around cigars or inserted into a small purse. Perhaps the cleverest way I’ve ever seen money given is by replacing the designer tag on an expensive piece of clothing with several bills (or a check).

13. Putting a small gift inside a bouquet of flowers is a romantic way to give. Simply wrap the gift and tape it to one of the roses and watch her eyes sparkle when she smells the flowers.

14. If you want to bake up a surprise for your loved one, get a fancy box, fill it up with fresh baked cookies, and place your gift on top of the cookies.

15. Finally, bubble wrap can add both size and texture to your gift. You can make the gift larger and wider to really keep them guessing as to what’s actually inside.

Dog Collar for the Rich and Famous

Just when you think  you’ve seen it all, along comes a diamond dog collar worth over 3 mill. Talk about doggy treats!

Dubbed “the Bugatti of dog collars” by Forbes Senior Editor Matt Miller, pooch-friendly i Love Dogs, Inc. is offering a price-busting diamond delight for the pups of the rich and famous this holiday season.

The 52-carat creation dubbed ‘Amour, Amour’ has over 1,600 hand-set diamonds in a chandelier design that features a stunning 7-carat, D-IF, brilliant-shaped diamond centerpiece.

Top it off with platinum, 18kt white gold and a touch of crocodile leather, and your pet can chase her tail in over $3,200,000 worth of bling.

Down, girl.

Source: Jewelry.com

We can often feel like a dying breed – jewelers who genuinely care about our product and who believe deeply in the artisanship behind our work. So when I read this piece in the New York Times, it really resonated: Who are the jewelry makers of today? Can the same artistry exist as it did in my father’s generation? We think so.

PARIS — It is taken as gospel that the king of 20th century jewelry makers was Peter Carl Fabergé, the inimitable jeweler to the czars. Question: 100 years from now, who among the makers of today will be in the running to assume a similar title for this century?

“The first name — and I’m bored myself with saying it — is JAR,” said François Curiel, Christie’s chief jewelry specialist, referring to Joel Arthur Rosenthal, the enigmatic U.S.-born artist whose Parisian atelier turns out pieces that regularly earn two to three times their auction estimates.

“He is a jeweler in constant evolution but whose style is instantly recognizable by the members of his virtual international club.”

For most of history, collectibility was beside the point. Jewels doubled as currency because they had an intrinsic value that allowed them to be dismantled and traded.

But in the 33 years since JAR founded his company, a booming estate jewelry market has fueled collector interest in signed works; and especially over the past decade, a renaissance in high jewelry making — among independent designers as well as the traditional French houses — has revived the conversation about the next generation of work that deserves to remain intact.

It may be too soon to bracket the current period within discrete dates and describe its characteristics — as diamonds and clean, geometric lines defined the Art Deco movement of the 1920s and 30s — but most experts agree that a willingness to embrace unconventional, even common, materials is a mark of the 21st century jeweler.

An example is Michele della Valle, a jeweler based in Rome: “Recently, I used carbon fiber in an unusual way to mimic the feather-like details found around the pistils of anemone flowers,” Mr. della Valle said, taking pains to emphasize that he never experimented with materials gratuitously but used them for specific properties. “Those times where I still use titanium or zirconium, I do so strictly when required to give lightness to a piece — and mostly in conjunction with gold,” he said.

Mr. della Valle shares his appreciation for light metals with a trio of well-regarded designers in Hong Kong: Michelle Ong of Carnet, known for her fanciful, lace-inspired diamond cuffs and brooches; Edmund Chin of Etcetera, whose expert stone-setting has earned acclaim; and Wallace Chan, a gem carver with an alchemist’s knack for manipulating titanium.

Decades from now, desirability will, of course, be determined by as-yet-unforeseen market forces, though it is safe to say that a rare and beautiful jewel exhibiting a singularity and soulfulness that identifies its maker will stand the test of time — and all the more so when the personality behind the work remains elusive.

Mr. Rosenthal, for example, politely declined via e-mail a request to discuss his jewelry: “Alas, I am not for words about what I do,” he said, “believing that an artist should artiste and shut up.”

A PINK SAPPHIRE NECKLACE, BY MICHELE DELLA VALLE

Colored diamond “bonnet” ring by JAR Set with a pear-shaped light brown-pink diamond, weighing approximately 2.94 carats, within a pavé-set diamond oval plaque, to the diamond-set hoop, mounted in platinum and 18k gold. Estimate: $70,000-$100,000

“I am not arbitrary. If you happen to have ideas and defend them, people make you into a dragon. If someone walks in and says, ah, I love that necklace and I say, but it doesn’t suit you and it is part of my job to make sure you don’t get something that doesn’t suit you, people may not be happy. “Getting the right things on the right people is part of making those things. I can’t do it three generations from now but I can do it now and I have to do it now.”

– Joel Arthur Rosenthal

As most of you know by now, Elizabeth Edwards passed away after a long battle with cancer.
Elizabeth Edwards 61, wife of John Edwards, the former presidential candidate, was also a best selling author, attorney and a health care advocate. She is the mother of Cate, Jack and Emma Claire.

A few photos of the quiet, sophisticated beauty of Ms. Edwards:

The simple elegance of Elizabeth Edwards

In July 2004, Elizabeth Edwards and her daughter Cate take the stage during the Democratic National Convention in Boston.

Knowing her final hours were imminent, Elizabeth Edwards posted this reflection on her Facebook page:

“You all know that I have been sustained throughout my life by three saving graces — my family, my friends, and a faith in the power of resilience and hope. These graces have carried me through difficult times and they have brought more joy to the good times than I ever could have imagined. The days of our lives, for all of us, are numbered. We know that. And yes, there are certainly times when we aren’t able to muster as much strength and patience as we would like. It’s called being human. But I have found that in the simple act of living with hope, and in the daily effort to have a positive impact in the world, the days I do have are made all the more meaningful and precious. And for that I am grateful. It isn’t possible to put into words the love and gratitude I feel towards everyone who has and continues to support and inspire me every day. To you I simply say: you know.”

— Elizabeth Edwards, Dec. 6, 2010