leach & garner agrees to alter gold ads leach and garner international, providence, r.i., has agreed to more clearly state quality claims about its new leach & garner gold made in print ads and during television shopping programs. the action follows complaints to the better business bureau by two competitors.

tahitians to promote black pearls the government of french polynesia has launched a program to help the country’s 300 pearl farmers sell more black pearls in the u.s. and japan. the program is funded by a 10% increase in the country’s export tax on pearls (to $1.54 per gram), says martin coeroli, president of gie perles de tahiti, which represents the leading exporters of black pearls.

cataloging chronographs chronograph wristwatches: to stop time, by gerd r. lang and reinhard meis. 246 pages. 200 illustrations. 1993. $79.95. (jck data center cn-048) here is probably the most comprehensive book-cataloging of wrist chronographs dating from the early part of this century. it’s divided into six main sections including the precision chronograph, the face of the chronograph, the t…

las vegas leads nation’s growth las vegas was the fastest growing metropolitan area in the nation during the early 1990s, according to a new report by the u.s. census bureau. the population grew by nearly 14% to just under 1 million between april 1, 1990, and july 1, 1992. the nation’s gambling capital also has become a hot spot for the jewelry industry with the launch of the jck international …

really inspired by rome the vatican library has issued an exclusive license to design, manufacture and market fine jewelry based on the library’s vast collection of art, illuminated manuscripts, tapestries, rare coins and medallions. the vatican library collection features 150 styles in 14k and 18k gold and silver, with precious gemstones.

congratulations mary gascon, a lusby, md., jeweler and recent graduate of the gemological institute of america, was named an outstanding distance education graduate for 1994. the distance education and training council annually selects individuals who have graduated from u.s. learn-at-home programs to be so honored.

sports events help promote watches the element of time, critical to both sports and watches, helps join them commercially. also boosting the connection are booming sales of sports watches. watch firms not only are linking their brand names to sports, but also creating special models to commemorate specific events.

careerfair draws jewelry job hopefuls the jewelry industry may have been in the doldrums for the past few years, but there’s no shortage of people seeking jobs in it. about 800 people showed up for the fourth annual careerfair, held oct. 15 at the gemological institute of america in santa monica, cal.

charlie brown always lines up to kick the football even though he must know he’ll be no more successful this season than last. lucy will whip away the ball; charlie will land on his backside. but he can’t not do it. some urges are irresistible. like new year’s resolutions. so here’s an editorial grab bag for 1995.

christie’s launches `no-reserve’ auctions christie’s has begun special jewelry auctions that carry no reserve prices (the minimum at which something will be sold). the first “without reserve” auction, held nov. 15 in geneva, switzerland, was “very, very successful,” says françois curiel, christie’s jewelry director.

1995 looks good to jewelers after years of economic uncertainty – and buoyed by a hoped-for gop sweep in the november elections – jewelers once again are unabashedly upbeat. eight in 10 predict both higher sales and higher profits this year than last. most of the hundreds of jck retail jeweler panelists polled in mid-autumn also expect consumer confidence in their markets to keep growing.

mjsa formulates strategy, strengthens its finances manufacturing jewelers and silversmiths of america has completed a year-long strategic planning process, the outgoing president, fredric j. hammerle, stern metals inc., reported at the annual meeting, held in providence, r.i., in late october. as part of the reorganization, the chief elected officer will now hold the position of chairman and al…

hong kong to double size of its convention center to enhance its self-described role as the business hub and trade fair capital of asia, the hong kong trade development council is more than doubling the size of its convention and trade exhibition center in wanchai. the $623.3 million expansion will extend the facility onto an island now being reclaimed from victoria harbor directly in front of …

de beers: namibia pact bolsters diamond market de beers has signed a new diamond mining and marketing agreement with namibia that company officials call a “ringing endorsement of the single-channel marketing” system that will bolster the confidence of the world diamond trade. the agreement keeps namibia’s very-high-quality diamond production firmly in de beers’ control but, in exchange, turns o…

jewelry in cyberspace steve quick is on the edge. the cutting edge of jewelry marketing, that is. his eight-year-old gallery in chicago, steve quick jewelers, now offers merchandise through the internet global computer network. the gallery features estate jewelry and custom pieces from award-winning designers such as george sawyer, anthony girard and lapponia.

china won’t be the ruination of the world pearl market. so says he nai hua, general manager of china’s national pearl, diamond, gem and jewelry import and export corp. his comment comes in reaction to growing concern about the huge quantity of freshwater and rising number of akoya pearls produced in china.

learning is something that is a lifetime long jck’s most fundamental editorial goal is to help readers do a better job of running their businesses. in effect, we think of the magazine primarily as a form of continuing education. this doesn’t mean that we shortchange a vital part of any publication’s purpose, namely transmitting news.

birthstone jewelry is often one of the first pieces of jewelry a girl will own. i was scarcely old enough to pronounce “amethyst” when i received a tiny one on a gold chain. from the dawn of time, people have believed gemstones possess mystical powers, and that the position of the stars on one’s birth date determines personality traits and virtues.