Chopard honors young stars at Cannes Film Festival

May 30, 2007

Cannes, France—Chopard celebrated its 10-year partnership with the Cannes Film Festival this year presenting the Trophée Chopard to two emerging film stars, American actor Nick Cannon and Indian actress Archie Panjabi.

The Trophée Chopard was created in 2001 through a partnership between Chopard, the Cannes Film Festival and Studio magazine, and is presented annually to honor a young actor and a young actress for their exceptional talent.

Among past recipients are such stars as Gael Garcia Bernal, Hayden Christensen, Diane Kruger, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers and Audrey Tatou.

This year's honored actor, Cannon, can be seen in the ensemble film Bobby, also starring Anthony Hopkins, Demi Moore and Sharon Stone; and actress Panjabi takes her place on the silver screen alongside Angelina Jolie in the soon-to-be-released A Mighty Heart.

At the awards ceremony, Chopard co-president and creative director Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele presented Cannon and Panjabi with trophies of her own design: a role of film handcrafted in gold by the master jewelers of Chopard.

Nick Cannon

Archie Panjabi

Bangle bracelets get glitzy update for spring

Set of 20 bangles in 18-karat gold with diamonds by Tous. Retail price available upon request.

May 01, 2007

By Beth Braverman

New York—With the focus on jewelry for the wrist expected to continue through spring and summer, retailers have reported an ever-increasing demand for stacks of bangle bracelets.

"I have definitely seen an increase in bangle sales over the past six months," says Tabby Back, owner of Old Mill Jewelers in Pound, Va. "I keep having to order more of them."

Back says he sells bangles individually, and he believes that consumers like them because they can mix and match styles for a personalized look. Selling bangles individually also allows for repeat sales and makes the look available to consumers who may only have the funds to purchase one or two bangles at a time.

While thin, yellow-gold bangles remain popular for everyday wear, diamond-encrusted pieces have emerged as an even hotter trend on the red carpet or for evening affairs.

"Why didn't I think of that?" Well actually...I DID!

Being an innovative mommy of a Barbie, I was always dreaming up ways to convert, restyle or alter clothing. Having your bra strap showing was an absolute no, no unless of course, you meant for it to show. Sewing lace, appliques or pearls on your bra or in place of straps was a favorite of mine. "Who'd a thunk it" that you could actually SELL it!!

Pearls on Your Shoulders

Tuesday, May 15th, 2007

Now that warm weather is here again, women wearing sundresses will suffer from the dreaded exposed bra strap syndrome. Margarita Couture has dedicated itself to solving this problem with decorative straps, including new straps adorned with freshwater pearls that are like pearl necklaces for your shoulders. Elite Pearl Straps retail for $35 a pair. The adjustable straps can be worn with any convertible bra (although the company recommends its Evolution by Margarita bra, a $44 five-in one push-up number.) Designer Margarita Reis, who invented the decorative bra strap in 2001, said the pearl straps were perfect for brides to wear with a wedding dress. The company has been test marketing the straps to shoppers at the four Margarita Couture kiosks in malls in Florida. Reis said that exposed straps can be tacky or fashionable, depending on the strap and the outfit, but that “standard white bra straps never look good because they aren’t designed to show.” Glad we cleared that up.

Sotheby's sells two diamonds for almost $8M

May 26, 2007

Geneva—Sotheby's auction house sold two yellow diamonds, known as the Donnersmarck Diamonds, for approximately $4.6 million and $3.2 million, during its "Magnificent and Noble Jewels" sale held here on Thursday.The sale—the most successful at Sotheby's Geneva since 2000, with the highest total for a jewelry auction so far this year—brought in a total of $40.5 million. Six lots sold for more than $1 million.Sotheby's attributes the success of the sale to the noble provenance and quality of the jewelry.The Donnersmarck Diamonds, the auction's top two lots, are a pear-shaped diamond weighing 82.48 carats and a cushion-shaped diamond weighing 102.54 carats. Sotheby's had estimated the value of each stone at $1.5 million to $1.95 million.An additional top lot of the night was a diamond necklace from the collection of an Italian Princely family, which sold for $790,583, nearly double its presale estimate of $427,000.

Necks Still Bare in Cannes

Friday, May 25th, 2007

With wheel barrels of diamond and gemstone jewelry in Cannes during the festival from official jeweler Chopard, de Grisogono, and others, there is no shortage of glamorous necklaces available for celebrities to wear. But the stars are sticking to the dress for red carpet success recipe that began at the Oscars: bracelets and dangling earrings or hoops. Necks, once again, are mostly bare. Sharon Stone managed to look chic, relaxed, and almost casual in gold lame at the amFar Cinema Against AIDS benefit thanks to her H. Stern hoop earrings and Diane Von Furstenberg Sutra bracelet.

Although neutral colors, the strongest trend from awards season, are still strong, some stars have broken out bright colors to stunning effect, notably Angelina Jolie and Helen Mirren in sunshine yellow and Kerry Washington in emerald green. Washington bucked the trend in another way: she also wore a dramatic matching emerald necklace by Boucheron.

History of the Holidays: MEMORIAL DAY

For most of us, Memorial Day is a three day vacation from work and the official beginning of summer. Perhaps we should all remember why this holiday was enacted and what sacrifice our veterans have paid for our freedoms.

The site HISTORY.COM http://www.history.com/ has the story.

Take a look:
http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=Minisite_Video_Clips&content_type_id=50195&display_order=4&mini_id=1079

The History of Memorial Day

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day because it was a time set aside to honor the nation's Civil War dead by decorating their graves. It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868, to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers, by proclamation of General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former sailors and soldiers. On May 5, 1868, Logan declared in General Order No. 11 that:

"The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit. "

During the first celebration of Decoration Day, General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, after which 5,000 participants helped to decorate the graves of the more than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried in the cemetery.

This 1868 celebration was inspired by local observances of the day in several towns throughout America that had taken place in the three years since the Civil War. In fact, several Northern and Southern cities claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day, including Columbus, Miss.; Macon, Ga.; Richmond, Va.; Boalsburg, Pa.; and Carbondale, Ill.

In 1966, the federal government, under the direction of President Lyndon Johnson, declared Waterloo, N.Y., the official birthplace of Memorial Day. They chose Waterloo—which had first celebrated the day on May 5, 1866—because the town had made Memorial Day an annual, community-wide event during which businesses closed and residents decorated the graves of soldiers with flowers and flags.

By the late 1800s, many communities across the country had begun to celebrate Memorial Day and, after World War I, observances also began to honor those who had died in all of America's wars. In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be celebrated the last Monday in May. (Veterans Day, a day set aside to honor all veterans, living and dead, is celebrated each year on November 11.)

Today, Memorial Day is celebrated at Arlington National Cemetery with a ceremony in which a small American flag is placed on each grave. Also, it is customary for the president or vice-president to give a speech honoring the contributions of the dead and lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. About 5,000 people attend the ceremony annually.

Several Southern states continue to set aside a special day for honoring the Confederate dead, which is usually called Confederate Memorial Day:

Mississippi: Last Monday in April
Alabama: Fourth Monday in April
Georgia: April 26
North Carolina: May 10
South Carolina: May 10
Louisiana: June 3
Tennessee (Confederate Decoration Day): June 3

Texas (Confederate Heroes Day): January 19
Virginia: Last Monday in May

Have a safe and joyous holiday but take time to remember those who served this mighty country!!

Liz Hurley Steals the Limelight at Cannes

"Liz Hurley steals the limelight at Cannes" Well, no doubt! In her "Lady in Red" Valentino original (that's the designer on the right) with no sign of current hubby Arun Nayar with whom she tied the knot in March this year. Hurley, was in the French city not to promote a movie of hers, but for a party thrown by jewelers Chopard, that took place later on in the evening on May 16.

May 17, 2007 Source: SAWF News
British beauty Elizabeth Hurley turned heads at the opening of the Cannes Film Festival. The actress was there for a party thrown by jeweler Chopard. According to the Daily Mail she was wearing about £1 million worth of Chopard jewelry, accessories to her £8,000 Valentino gown.

Screen legend to launch jewelry line

May 02, 2007


Screen legend Lauren Bacall, in partnership
with Weinman Bros., will launch her
signature "Bacall" jewelry line in retail stores this fall.







New York—Star and style icon Lauren Bacall has partnered with Weinman Bros. to create a branded jewelry collection bearing her name.

The collection, "Bacall," will feature a variety of gems and price points, and will hit retail stores this fall.

Founded in 1912 by David and Sam Weinman, Weinman Bros. is a privately held manufacturing firm run by Robert Weinman, grandson of founder David. Prior to the launch of Bacall, the company focused on its Generations 1912 collection, which features antique-reproduction pieces based on the original molds and models used by the company's founders.

Bacall's film career began in 1944 when she played opposite Humphrey Bogart in To Have and to Have Not. The couple went on to co-star in three movies and to get married.

Bacall also made several Broadway appearances throughout her career, winning Tony Awards in 1970 and 1981.In 1997, Bacall received the Kennedy Center Honors in recognition of her contributions to American culture.

Rose Garden

Fashion Forward
by Jeff Prine, Executive Editor

The omnipresent brilliant round diamond may be the prize specimen for diamond cuts, but there’s something romantic and refreshing about the rose cut. With all the newfangled proprietary cuts that sprout up these days, rose cuts continue to be an enduring and sought after cut for more than four hundred years. Their popularity has had resurgence lately as design trends take cues from organic inspiration and also medieval times. While most familiar in diamonds, where the cut lends a flash of brilliance, rose cuts are especially fresh in colored gemstones, where the larger sizes really show off the rosebud-like faceting.




Coomi’s 20k gold circle pendant with rose cut diamonds and black onyx necklace with 20k gold stations containing rose cut diamonds








Manak’s rose cut diamond pendant, suggested retail $11,250, and rose cut diamond pendant with natural shades of yellow and green diamonds, suggested retail $15,900




















Stephanie Albertson’s “Sono” wood bangles with rose cut sapphires, suggested retail $1,400 to $1,600.











Bochic’s rose cut diamond necklace with black enamel inlay, suggested retail $39,000









From left:
Stephanie Albertson’s 22k gold Elizabethan hinged bangles with rose cut sapphires, aquamarines, and rubies, suggested retail $5,500 to $6,000

Alberian & Aulde’s 18k gold “Photon” cuff bracelets in rose cut white sapphires with colored enamel underneath, and cognac diamonds with pink enamel underneath, suggested retail $2,620 to $3,900










Irene Neuwirth’s 18k rose gold bracelets set with 20 millimeter rose cut rose quartz and labradorite, suggested retail $4,650 to $4,890









Pamela Froman’s 18k white and 22k yellow crushed gold “Harlequin” swinging tear drop earrings with white and cognac rose cut diamonds, suggested retail $3,400


Mizuki at Fragments’ 18k white and yellow gold necklaces with rose cut side diamonds, suggested retail $13,900

Stephanie Albertson’s 22k gold “Five Point” earrings with rose cut aquamarines, suggested retail $5,400

Designers give consumers a dose of cuff love

April 15, 2007
By Beth Braverman

New York—Wrists will continue to be a hot spot for jewelry throughout spring and fall, with charm bracelets, bangles and cuffs rising up as the top options for 2007.

But judging from their ubiquity in spring fashion magazines and on the runways of Fall Fashion Week in New York, cuff bracelets have emerged as major must-have items for spring. They also made a strong showing at recent awards shows, with trend-setting celebs such as Beyoncé Knowles, Christina Ricci and Vanessa Minnillo wearing cuff bracelets to the Grammy Awards; and Felicity Huffman and Nicollette Sheridan donning them at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

These celebrities certainly are not the first style-savvy women to discover cuffs. From Cleopatra to Coco Chanel, women have always coveted the bold baubles.

January jewelry shows in New York and Vicenza, Italy, confirmed that designers remain on top of the trend as they offered a bevy of new creations sure to appeal to a wide-ranging consumer base.

From tough cuffs to slim and slinky [ones], designers are pulling out all the stops this spring to design attention-grabbing cuffs and bracelets," says Helena Krodel, media manager for the Jewelry Information Center.

Eighteen-karat white gold and diamond cuff by Chad Allison; suggested retail price is $26,000.

Equal-opportunity designers are utilizing both sterling silver and gold. Look for those with interesting textures such as hand-hammering, carved work or fabric-like details," she adds.

The trend appears in a variety of incarnations, with the most fashion-forward pieces measuring two or more inches in width.Organic or geometric motifs emerge as the most popular styles and cut-out designs and filigree work make for lighter pieces and keep prices down for those concerned with the bottom line.

Bright, primary-color gemstones such as turquoise and coral appear in unusual cuts or clean cabochon shapes, keeping the attention-attracting pieces popping with color. Earthy details, used here and there, such as wood, bone, pearls or shells, add personality.

For more conservative followers of fashion, crisp, concave metal cuffs or graphic black-and-white pieces will allow access to the trend without much sartorial risk.

Pair of cuffs in sterling silver with diamonds by Lyric; suggested retail price is $695 for solid cuff and $525 for cut-out cuff.

Versatile cuffs appeal to consumers because they work with this season's quintet of apparel trends: mod, minimal, ethnic, '80s and menswear-inspired. Cuff bracelets also make an easy transition from work-appropriate to evening-appropriate, and vintage-inspired, diamond-saturated pieces can add the finishing touch to a red-carpet or wedding-day look.

"Tricorno" cuff bracelet featuring peridot and diamonds set in 18-karat white gold by Garavelli; suggested retail price is $17,620.

Snug-fitting cuff styles work exceptionally well with the three-quarter length sleeves that have moved to the fashion forefront on print dresses, breezy tops and colorful tunics. Cuff bracelets also work well to complement other of-the-moment accessories such as clutch purses, cocktail rings and wide belts.

Daring fashionistas will layer two or more cuff bracelets in varying sizes, colors and textures for an impossible-to-miss, style-savvy look, or they'll push the cuffs above the elbow for a casual look that works with summer tank tops. -National Jeweler Network

Victorinox and Swiss Army combine names

May 21, 2007

Shelton, Conn.—Four years after the merger of Victorinox and Swiss Army, the combined company will brand its timepieces worldwide as "Victorinox Swiss Army" in the second half of this year.

The new logo for Victorinox Swiss Army will appear on watch dials, packaging and brand identification.

Until now, the company has marketed the same timepiece line under the brand name "Swiss Army" in North America and the Caribbean, and under the brand name "Victorinox Swiss Army" elsewhere in the world. The company expects that using one name internationally will result in more efficient and cost-effective production and after-sales service.

The North American subsidiary of Victorinox AG, Ibach, Switzerland, has already changed its name from Swiss Army Brands to Victorinox Swiss Army, as it prepares to move into its new headquarters in Monroe, Conn., in June.

The new complex includes corporate offices and a warehouse facility, occupying more than 165,000 square feet on 26 acres. -- National Jeweler Network