officials of the world’s largest platinum mine want to stake a bigger claim in your showcase. jewelry manufacturing accounts for an estimated 1.7 million ounces of platinum yearly worldwide, up 25% from five years ago. but there’s still room for growth, says rustenburg platinum holdings ltd., the south african company that supplies 80% of the platinum mined each year worldwide.

looking to the future & picking the winners one often-quoted thought on the importance of color – as in colored gemstones – is “what would the world be like without color?” most people probably would respond “pretty drab.” in the same vein, it’s important to think of what the jewelry industry would be like without some of its major players.

tanzanite was the hottest gem at the tucson gem and mineral shows this year – again. a special reason for the interest? prices are on the rise. wholesale prices of tanzanite will rise 25%-45%, predicts abe suleman of tuckman mines & minerals, seattle, wash. prices for most fine 3-5-ct. stones range between $260 and $350 per carat, with an upper limit of $400.

the revolution is over: the computer has captured the jewelry store with dramatic effects. thousands of jewelers have become more efficient, gaining a tighter grasp on operations and sales and – in consequence – becoming more profitable. “it has improved our lives immensely,” says allan herrud of langdon, s.

here’s how five jewelers turned their giftware departments into profit-buildersjewelers who turn their backs on giftware sales may lose out not only a potentially profitable market, but also on opportunities to sell more jewelry. here are the stories five jewelers who see giftware as a critical part of their business.

threshold resistance is a common consumer disease when it comes to visiting a jeweler. savvy store owners, of course, work effectively to dispel it. they eschew forbidding columns and marble faces that can chill. they advertise and display merchandise that is not only appealing and exciting but also affordable.

fenton art glass honors sales reps fenton art glass co. recognized its top-selling representatives of 1994 during a national sales meeting in williamstown, w.va. frances berryman of the weikels organization in greensboro, ala., was named sales associate of the year. simpson marketing inc. of chicago, ill.

buyer’s guide: padparadscha sapphire this is the seventh in a series by senior editor robert weldon designed to help jewelers buy different types of gems. what to look for: only a very precious few sapphires may claim the lofty title of padparadscha. the name is often used inappropriately – sometimes to describe flaming orange sapphires from africa.

retailer rebuts claims by manufacturer the owner of northeastern fine jewelry, albany, n.y., says a form letter sent to customers of jabel inc., an irvington, n.j., jewelry manufacturer, was slanderous and misleading in its reference to a recently settled lawsuit between the two companies. the letter was written by jabel vice president daniel herman (see letters, jck, december 1994, p.

in a march 1993 report, jewelers told jck they’d noticed a growing consumer interest in platinum jewelry. today, the momentum continues. in fact, consumers’ interest in design, value and something out of the ordinary are making platinum jewelry and retail jewelers back-to-back winners. much of the growing consumer interest in platinum jewelry can be attributed to marketing and educational effor…

appraisal workshop planned in atlanta the master valuer program will present an appraising workshop may 5-7 in atlanta, ga. it will cover valuation methods, market analyses, repairs and alterations, and valuing treated and enhanced diamonds and colored stones. “there is only one way to have true expertise in jewelry appraising, and that is by handling materials like those you will be valuing,” …

ica members to vote on enhancement code members of the international colored gemstone association will vote on a proposed international enhancement information system at this year’s ica congress. the event will be held june 18-23 in the asakusa view hotel in tokyo, japan. the vote will be the culmination of ica’s effort to establish a mandatory system of codes for all members to use in informin…

seiko to focus on distribution to jewelers as part of a restructuring effort, seiko corp. of america has streamlined distribution to concentrate on fine jewelers and fine jewelry departments. it also has lowered some prices 7%-10% and has phased out sales to several mass merchandisers. the commitment to fine jewelers has been focused in three areas, says larry sussberg, vice president of sales.

you can’t keep a gutsy group down the international pearl association, virtually written off as an industry dead duck after its first conference last year, is alive and definitely expanding. it has chosen new officers to replace those who summarily resigned in a contentious mood last year. and it has not only scheduled a second conference and show in hawaii in may, but is planning another in ta…

exhibition to feature jewels from cartier the jewelry, manuscripts and paintings of marion rumsey cartier will be on exhibit for the first time june 4-18 at st. louis university, st. louis, mo. the exhibit, called “the legacy of elma cartier” in honor of marion cartier’s mother, includes 41 benchmark pieces of jewelry and gemstones fashioned by jewelry artisans of the house of cartier.

l.a. jewelry show to be held in august the california jewelers association will present the l.a. jewelry show aug. 19-21 in the los angeles convention center. the los angeles show is not affected by cja’s recent sale of its spring pacific jewelry show to the blenheim group usa (see jck, march 1995, p.

where top consumers shop for jewelry retail jewelers can take encouragement from a new shopping-preferences study commissioned by mastercard and the national retail federation. upscale consumers say they are much more likely to shop for fine jewelry at a traditional jewelry store than at other types of stores.

italy, south africa meet in contest visitors to the vicenzaoro i fair in january in vicenza, italy, had a chance to cast a vote in gioie novelle, a competition for young italian and south african jewelry designers. leonardo matteuzzi of florence, italy, was judged the overall winner for a gold and platinum collar with diamonds and a gold nugget.

novell teams up with top designers novell enterprises, new york, n.y., a leading wedding ring manufacturer, has reached agreement to produce an exclusive line of diamond engagement rings by award-winning designers. the line – called the novell designer collective – is designed by whitney boin, christie frantz, ron hartgrove, susan helmich, linda quinn, paul robilotti and mark schnei…