Designer Lines

RAPAPORT… Flora and fauna have always been a popular theme in jewelry design and now Jeweled Garden: A Colorful History of Gems, Jewels and Nature captures some of the most extraordinary of these creations from the past two centuries in one book. Penned by Suzanne Tennenbaum and Janet Zapata, both jewelry collectors and historians, the 208-page, coffee-table book shows the jeweler’s artistry using gemstones as a color palette to design pieces that have timeless appeal.

Congratulations to the winners of the Jewelers of America (JA) 17th Annual Affiliate Design Competition held during the JA Winter Show in New York City. Twenty-three designs competed for honors in four categories: $1,000 and under; $1,001 through $3,000; $3,001 and over, as well as the Buyer’s Choice Award. A panel of industry experts comprised of editors, manufacturers and public relations consultants, evaluated the entries on craftsmanship, marketability, practicality/wearability and overall design. In a separate ballot, show attendees selected the winning design for the Buyer’s Choice Award. David Holloway, Swift’s Jewelry, Fayetteville, Arkansas, won First Place in the $1,000 and under category and the Buyer’s Choice Award for an amethyst, tanzanite, diamond and 14-karat yellow and white gold pendant. Marcus Gillihan, Shelton Jewelers, Albuquerque, New Mexico, took first place honors in the $1,001 to $3,000 category for a tourmaline, diamond and 14-karat white gold ring. First place in the $3,001 and over category went to Gerard Faini, Faini Designs Jewelry Studio, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for a fancy yellow diamond, white diamond and 18-karat white and yellow gold ring.

To help retailers bring their customers the most exclusive designs, the Independent Jewelers Organization (IJO) debuted the 2007 Master IJO Jeweler “Exclusive Collection.” A selection of fashion-forward pieces chosen by IJO members, these creations are available only to IJO retailers, giving them a selection of jewelry that consumers can’t find anywhere else in the area. This year’s trends identified by the IJO are dainty chains mixed with large stones, simplified shapes, yellow gold and pendants for layering.

Nothing says love like chocolate and diamonds and, with that thought in mind, Hearts on Fire and Godiva Chocolatiers teamed up for a Valentine’s Day promotion, where random boxes of chocolate contained diamonds. At the close of the promotion, Hearts on Fire President Mark Israel rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Bell ringing has been a tradition at Hearts on Fire since the company first started in 1996, when there was a bell ringing, accompanied by a shout, “Hearts on Fire,” each time a sale was made. Hearts on Fire along with Godiva constructed a tent outside of the NYSE that was filled with chocolate and diamonds for a private event open only to members of the Exchange, who were able to purchase chocolate, diamonds or both.