Monday, August 23, 2010

Armed robbers hold up Yorkdale jewellery store in Toronto

http://www.thestar.com/article/575804

India seen as fastest growing jewel market as IIJS begins

http://jewelleryoutlook.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=443

Man shot during jewellery store robbery

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/crime/article/845824--man-shot-during-jewellery-store-robbery

New Exhibition of Carved Gemstones at Israel Diamond Museum

A new exhibition of jewelry, cameos and artifacts carved from gemstones will open at the Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Museum here next month. Entitled “And thou shalt breathe life into a gem”, the exhibition is based on the work of master carvers in Idar-Oberstein, Germany, and is the result of cooperation with the Deutsches Edelsteinmuseum there. It is presented under the auspices of Dr. Harald Kindermann, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the State of Israel. Brinks Israel is a sponsor of the exhibition.

The exhibition encompasses a vast range of sculptures, objets d’art, cameos, jewelry and utensils, comprising about 150 items valued at approximately one million dollars. It includes cameos, animals, human figures, flowers, fruits and sweets -- all carved from gems, yet remarkably lifelike. A wide variety of gemstones have been used – agate, carnelian, tourmaline, amethyst, quartz, rose quartz, chalcedony, onyx, ruby emeralds and sapphires.

Shmuel Schnitzer, Chairman of the Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Museum, said that this exhibition is part of the efforts of the Israeli Diamond Industry to broaden the areas of interest of the diamond community and the general public. “Carved gemstones are part of the crown jewels worldwide. They are most desired items in prestigious jewelry shops and serve as an artistic expression for jewelers who wish to be regarded as artists of miniature sculpture,” he said.

He added that the exhibition is an important manifestation of the close relations between Germany and Israel.

Yehuda Kassif, artistic director and curator of the Ramat Gan museum, said that he wanted to bring the artistic creations and the heritage of the carvers of Idar-Oberstein to the Israeli public. “These master craftsmen, thanks to their artistry, have succeeded in using the colors and textures and even the imperfections of the gemstones to create objects that come alive with warmth and spirit. My goal in curating this exhibit is to expose these unique works of art to the Israeli public, as well as to pay tribute to the great talent of the artist carvers,” he said.

The exhibition will be launched on September 7, 2010 and will be open till the end of December 2010. The opening will be attended by leaders of the diamond and jewelry communities of Israel and Idar-Oberstein, as well as high-ranking representatives of the German embassy in Israel.

The Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Museum, a member of the Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies (IDI), is a state of the art, interactive educational facility, showcasing the diamond’s journey from mine to jewel. Located in the heart of the Israeli diamond complex, it attracts thousands of visitors every year to its permanent and changing exhibitions.

Tiffany Introduced Yellow Diamonds


The reputation of Tiffany & Co. will be enhanced with the new jewellery collection of fancy yellow diamonds. Only 1 of 10,000 diamonds is considered fancy coloured and few of those meet the Tiffany standards. This rare collection includes modern and traditional designs of yellow diamonds with white pavé diamonds, sparkling Tiffany Bezet setting with pear, heart, oval, or cushion shapes in 18karat gold, Solitaire and Statement Diamond Rings, and Elsa Peretti Diamonds by the Yard. Come October, the highest quality of fancy diamonds will be at Tiffany & Co. The brand also announced the introduction of luxury handbags as part of their 2011 strategy, with select samples being introduced in New York this fall.

Western Canadian Jewellery Expo Celebrates Another Great Year


Last weekend, the WCJE celebrated yet another brilliant buying season for the industry. With a plethora of exhibitors and attendees, there was a definite vibe that the industry is recovering slowly but surely. At the end of opening day, JSN Jewellery invited attendees and exhibitors to the"Opening Night Welcome Gathering", held in the main foyer of the Shaw Centre. The floor was abuzz with excitement at what's new in the industry and what will be happening during the next year. The Canadian Jewellery Group Co-Operative Association and Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company, along with CJB Insurance Services, also through a Saturday night reception to honour all corners of the industry who work together on a daily business. Master diamond-cutter Mike Botha (CEO of Embee Diamonds and creator of the Sirius Star cut) also held a breakfast to share insights into what constitutes a well-cut diamond and his experience in the field.

Look for the next issue of CJ for a complete round-up of pictures from the weekend.
Pictured are event organizers Larry Ulliac and his wife, and Lilie Ford.

New Member at Jewelers International Showcase

The Jewelers International Showcase’s (JIS) events early this year sparked a momentum expected to continue throughout this fall and has appointed Caren Cotto as director of new business development. Cotto has been in the industry for over 12 years, starting as a sales executive for JCK Shows and Luxury and her most recent role as Show Manager for H2 Events will make her a perfect addition to the largest independent business-to-business jewellery tradeshow producers in the Americas.

OMEGA and the 35th Anniversary of the Apollo-Soyuz

In celebration of the historic Apollo-Soyuz Test Project Mission, legendary US astronauts Lt. General Thomas Stafford and Vance Brand along with Russian cosmonaut Valery Kubasov made an appearance at the OMEGA Flagship boutique in New York. To commemorate the famous handshake in space, OMEGA released 1,975 limited edition Omega Speedmaster Professional Apollo-Soyuz 35th Anniversary Chronograph watches featuring a meteorite dial and an engraved case back. The astronauts signed and donated 10 watches to celebrate the mission’s historic anniversary.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

UPDATE: Two armed suspects sought in midtown jewellery store robbery

http://www.680news.com/news/local/article/87209--two-armed-suspects-sought-in-midtown-jewellery-store-robbery

Man shot during jewellery store robbery

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/crime/article/845824--man-shot-during-jewellery-store-robbery

Chanel Debuts Anniversary Watch


The Chanel J12 Marine watch is celebrating its 10th anniversary by identifying itself as an authentic diving watch. With 3 different versions and 2 sizes, Chanel provides watch connoisseurs with options of The Big River for a sport chic look, The Foaming White for a design for those who love the sea and The Black Anchor for the original J12 design. All watches can be used underwater and are resistant to pressure equivalent to a depth of 300 meters.

Mark Lash Unveils Holiday Collection


Mark Lash has unveiled the 2010 Holiday Collection with a focus on lifestyle pieces that are fresh and modern. The collection features black and white diamonds along with gemstones inspired by earth tones found in nature. The jewellery ranges from $850 for the black onyx ring to $58,000 for the 9-row pave set bangle made with 868 diamonds. All items are crafted in their Richmond Hill, Ontario location.

Tiffany & Co. Ring Shopping Application

Tiffany & Co. has a new application for the iPhone for choosing and customizing diamond rings. Users are able to view rings true to size and search all styles that Tiffany & Co. offers categorized by shape, setting, metal, and design. The foolproof ring-sizing feature works by placing the actual ring on the screen and then finished pieces can be saved or sent through email, text message, Facebook and Twitter. Once you have that perfect ring you can send in your contact details and a Tiffany associate will be in contact within 48 hours.

Hautlence Watches Coming to North America

Totally Worth It, a New York-based company that distributes a variety of Swiss Watch brands across North America, reached a new distribution agreement with the Swiss Watch brand Hautlence. Hautlence was created in 2004 and based in Neuchatel, Switzerland. Today Hautlence is managed by the co-founder Guillaume Tetu and takes pride in creating original designs and producing the high quality Swiss is known for while differentiating from their predecessors.

JCK TORONTO CLOSES ON A HIGH NOTE

Canada's passion for fine jewellery was obvious as JCK Toronto opened up yesterday at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre's North Building. JCK Toronto has been created exclusively for the Canadian marketplace and features over 150 designers, manufacturers and suppliers showcasing new designs and collections for Canadian retailers. Canada's top retail buyers are in attendance to experience new design and technology innovation, increase their industry networking opportunities, and benefit from timely education on topics to help grow their businesses.

"We are pleased that the Canadian marketplace has come out to support JCK Toronto," said John Tierney, Event Director. "Our aim is to create a better and new experience for the Canadian marketplace and incorporated the input they had given us from last year's event. These included the return to the August 8-10 timeframe; the North Hall; and the visible presence of the educational sessions on the exhibition floor. We are pleased to welcome many VIP retail buyers who are experiencing JCK Toronto; many for the first time."

"I had heard about JCK Toronto and felt it was important for my business that I attend," said Alvin Nandu, owner of Galt Goldsmithing & Jewellery of Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. "Since this is my first time, I am eager to see the wide assortment of merchandise and meet with many of the suppliers that I currently do business with or plan to in the future."

This year's educational sessions began with an opening keynote by Brad Huisken from IAS Training. Huisken's presentation was on the psychology of the sale. Using practical methods, realistic strategies, and useable techniques to help increase sales, Huisken offered a fun and motivational keynote presentation.

The HRA Group of Companies, including Crossworks Manufacturing and SGI, are hosting a diamond polishing event during JCK Toronto offering a glimpse of how diamonds are mined, cut and polished in Ontario. Showcasing the importance and excitement for diamonds, a 70ct necklace made up of 25 rough diamonds, was on display for the first time anywhere. Designed by Reena Ahluwalia and manufactured by Jeff Miller, the piece was commissioned by the HRA Group of Companies to celebrate diamonds that originated from the De Beers Canada Victor Mine and the development of a secondary diamond industry in Ontario.

Other exciting special events included the Pandora-sponsored Welcome Reception where retailers were able to preview Pandora's latest collections in a unique and sophisticated cocktail reception. In addition, the Canadian Jewellery Association (CJA) presented its annual CJA Chairman's award to Dan Panos from Corona. Peter Norton, chairman of the CJA, proudly presented the award to Panos during a special ceremony and reception.

CJA Teams Up With Supply Members

CJA supply members are providing a special opportunity for CJA retail members. With their new initiative, CJA supply members have chosen one unique savings opportunity to promote to retail members during the months of March, July, and October. Some promotions included are 14k gold bangles from Tecimer Jewellery Ltd, Rainbow Sapphire Jewellery from Gem Connection Ltd., custom cutting and repair by Embee Diamond Technologies and many other products and services.

RapNet and the Diamond Bourse of Canada Announce Cooperation Agreement

At a cocktail event held at the Bourse on August 10th 2010, Chairman of the Board Mr. Bhushan Vora announced the cooperation agreement between RapNet and the Diamond Bourse of Canada. They will work together so that their members will make maximum use of the trading platform and to expose Canadian members to the RapNet community of over 5,000 traders. A RapNet kiosk was built on the bourse trading floor, enabling members to view the trading prices and stock availability of over 710,000 diamonds listen on RapNet.

AGS Circle of Distinction Celebration

Jewellery industry notables and veterans gathered together for the AGS Circle of Distinction Dinner on July 25th 2010 at the Plaza Hotel to honor the industry’s finest. The prestigious Triple Zero Awards were presented to Phyllis Bergman of Mercury Ring Corp, along with Allen Brill the Chief Executive Officer of Rolex Watch USA and the Clark family of B.C. Clark Inc. Terry Burman, the Chief Executive Officer of Signet Jewelry Ltd. and Chairman of Sterling Jewelers Inc., took home The Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his impact on the jewelry industry.

Dan Panos recipient of the 2010 CJA Chairman Award

Established in 2000, the CJA Chairman’s Award recognizes those members of the Canadian Jewellery industry that have gone above and beyond to enhance the industry’s profile. Dan Panos, this year’s recipient stands alongside the previous recipients, boasting an equally impressive reputation. His professionalism and strong sense of commitment and integrity, inherent in his career, embodies the qualities sought after for this award.
Following his graduation from Ryerson University, Dan quickly found his home at Corona Jewellery in 1967 and has been a part of the company’s legacy ever since. First as a salesmen and then as Vice President of Sales, Dan Panos has been part of the Jewellery industry for nearly half a century. His countless years of experience have left an impact not only on the industry itself but on the many sales professionals that he has trained and been a mentor for. For all of these years, Dan has worked tirelessly to grow and nurture Corona’s relationship not only with its sales force, but its other stakeholders, most notably its customers and clients.
It is not only Dan’s dedication to the industry that has earned him this prestigious award, but also his involvement in the community starting at a young age as a youth leader at St. Bride’s Anglican Church in Mississauga. His dedication to help others and his cheerfulness made him extremely popular not only at Corona, but also amongst his industry colleagues and friends. His signature European hugs are well-known throughout Canada and probably around the world, as he has travelled a great deal for business.