a return to higher-quality jewelry and an emphasis on value permeated buying trends at the sixth annual jck international jewelry show, held may 30 to june 3 in las vegas, nev. according to many exhibitors, retailers who attended the show were in a buying mood, encouraged by a strong economy and looking forward to a profitable year.

every day, it seems, jck receives a call from a retailer inquiring about the distributor of a certain watch brand, seeking the address of a watch manufacturer or searching for a new line to build sales. well, retailers, hold the phone! assembled here is a detailed listing of just about every company that imports, manufactures or distributes watches to u.

one milestone in a woman’s life is the purchase of her first piece of “real” gold jewelry. no matter how small or basic, it will take a special place in her jewelry box and reserve itself for the dressiest of occasions. if she fits the profile – a middle-class woman buying gold jewelry as a fashion accessory – this consumer probably will shop price to begin her gol…

should i, as an appraiser, include information on gemstone treatment in my reports? should i also include information on the care and handling for relevant gemstones? are appraisers required to follow the federal trade commission’s jewelry trade guides on these issues? these three questions are all related, and the approach to dealing with them should be too.

there is little question that colored stone jewelry has lost a lot of the momentum it had through the 1980s. whether this is the result of fading popularity or some structural conditions at the wholesale and retail level that limit sales is in question. how color is marketed and sold in the u.s. is about as diverse as the range of available colors and products.

the american jewelry council, though just a few weeks old, is already beginning to make its voice heard in washington, d.c. for example, it has: seven major trade organizations formally launched ajc may 13 in washington, d.c., with the goal of speaking with one voice to the congress. the founding organizations are jewelers of america, manufacturing jewelers & silversmiths of america, americ…

renowned gem cutter gabi tolkowsky has created a “triple brilliant” cut featuring 105 facets (47 more than the traditional brilliant cut). the new design, named the gabrielle™ diamond in his honor, combines the diamantaire’s art with advanced technology. “the combination of mathematical formulas, the latest computer technology and gabi’s expertise have create…

pdonahue@chilton.net why should jewelers care about south africa? after all, many of the world’s diamonds are mined in other places now and sold and controlled by groups other than south africa’s most famous diamond mining group, de beers. i asked myself that question recently as i prepared for my first trip to southern africa, on a press tour hosted by de beers.

ijo plans for fall seminar/show training will be the focus of seminars at the independent jewelers organization fall buying show and seminars, set for july 27-aug. 1 at the opryland hotel in nashville, tenn. convening in america’s music capital, ijo members can enjoy stage productions, rides, shops, museums, a showboat and nine acres of indoor gardens at the hotel complex, while taking ad…

retailing in 2010 it’s only 13 years away, but some consultants in the retail industry forecast big changes for 2010. steve johnson and jeffrey laker of anderson consulting delivered a presentation at a meeting of the national retail federation in new york city this spring on the changing face of retail.

alan revere paul revere, the revolutionary war hero, was by trade a silversmith whose classic designs are almost as well-known as his famous midnight ride. alan revere (no relation) is a jewelry designer and founder of the revere academy of jewelry arts in san francisco, cal. he likes working with silver about as much as paul revere liked the british.

finds: ancient land, modern jewels many jewelers think israeli jewelry means big hollow silver, loose diamonds, religious talismans or generic gold jewelry that more or less follows european design trends. is their impression accurate? basically, yes. but israel’s magnificent surroundings are also home to a growing group of innovative designers, some of whom are already internationally re…

citizen’s eco-drive travels at the ‘speed of light’ eco-drive, citizen’s light-powered watch line, will be the focus of the company’s largest u.s. television advertising schedule this fall. the ads, created by d’arcy, masius, benton & bowles/new york, will debut during television coverage of the u.

anniversary e.w. parker in madison, wis., will celebrate its 140th anniversary july 6. the jewelry store is madison’s oldest surviving retailer and the fifth oldest member of jewelers of america’s ja 100 club. founded in 1857 as smith jewelers, the store was purchased in 1916 by edward worthington parker and is now owned by parker’s great-grandson, john parker hendrickson.

watch companies are doing things right, says robert dietz, owner of dee’s jewelers in salisbury, n.c. their increased promotion, advertising and marketing are creating educated consumers interested in better watches. in fact with only minimal marketing, his store notched a clear uptick about two years ago.