JCOC & AGTA Announce Consumer's Choice Honors Awards
from Reuters
 As a part of this year’s AGTA Spectrum Awards™, AGTA, in conjunction with MVI Marketing’s Jewelry Consumer Opinion Council (JCOC) division, introduced the new Consumer’s Choice Honors awards and the results are in! The JCOC created and deployed a consumer market research study to select the winning choices for the Consumer’s Choice Honors awards. One winning style, selected by JCOC consumer panel members, was identified in the five categories of the traditional AGTA Spectrum Awards™. More
Sapphire Sets Christie's Record, But Many Lots Fail
from Reuters
A large Kashmir sapphire ring set a world record at auction on Thursday night, fetching nearly $3.5 million, but half of the jewels on offer failed to sell in a market shaken by the financial crisis, Christie's said. Jewels netted a total of $22.5 million a day after Sotheby's sold gems for $14.85 million at flagship sales in Geneva. Only 49.71 percent of the 342 lots at Christie's found new owners, even though the auction house issued many "revised" lower estimates shortly before the sale based on its rival's poor results. The cushion-shaped sapphire, which weighs 42.28 carats, was described by Christie's as "blue velvet" due to its rare color and purity. The pre-sale estimate was $2.9 million to $3.8 million. More
American Music Awards Sparkle
from Jewelry Insider Blog
Icy diamond cuffs, dazzling statement earrings, and layered chain necklaces all made a glittering appearance at the American Music Awards at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles - and the frocks followed suit with a metallic parade of shimmery sequins in gold, silver and bronze. More
Victoria’s Secret Fantasy Bra Features Black Diamonds, Rubies
from The South Asian Women's Forum
The $5 million Black Diamond Fantasy Miracle Bra that Adriana Lima wore at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on Nov. 15 had around 3,900 diamonds totaling 1,500 carats. The two large black diamonds hanging from in between the cups totaled 100 carats. Besides diamonds and rubies, jeweler Martin Katz put a lot of passion into making the bra. More
Selling Upscale Items During an Economic Downturn
from Delaware Online
"I really think the foundation of luxury is customer service - that is what we are hearing," said Cori Galpern, worldwide marketing and advertising director for Tom Ford International, the designer's growing chain of fashion houses. "I think what we'll see because of the economic crisis is that you lose a certain amount of that aspiration customer. Somebody who will buy a couple pairs of shoes over the course of the year is making other choices. The core for a luxury brand is a customer with very considerable wealth." More
Blue Topaz Market Has the Blues
from Colored Stone Magazine
A year ago, when the Nuclear Regulatory Commission decided to enforce its long-ignored health and safety regulations for irradiated blue topaz, most retailers stopped selling this very popular gem until licensed testing facilities could be opened. Now six facilities are open—and no one seems to be using them. Why? More
Campaigning to Design Michelle Obama’s Inauguration Dress
from The Wall Street Journal
What Mrs. Obama will wear to the inauguration ceremony and ball has been one of the hot topics of fashion since Barack Obama won Nov. 4. The outfits she picks for her first official events as First Lady are likely to be discussed for years to come. Also, judging from the retail reaction to some pieces Mrs. Obama has worn so far, what she chooses for the inauguration also could end up selling well. More
Remote-Control Fashion: TV Style in the Real World
from The News & Observer
After several years on hiatus, TV's influence on fashion has come roaring back. Some might even argue it's stronger than ever, led mostly by the designer clothes, shoes, jewelry and bags on the TV shows "Lipstick Jungle" and "Gossip Girl." Ashley Vermillion Harris, owner of Vermillion, says the influence of the shows has become just as important to the fashion industry as the celebrity-driven magazines US Weekly and People. Shoppers see a favorite character or celebrity wearing something new or different, and they want the same piece - or at least a piece that has the same look or brand name. More
Lots of Color in Spring Fashion Collections
from KNXV-TV
In tough economic times like these, smart fashion designers know how to make clothing look luxurious without resorting to all of the costly embellishments. Many designers showing here at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week are doing just that in their spring-summer '09 collections. Womenswear designers in particular are relying heavily on colorful, exotic and abstract prints and manipulation of volumes of fabric, seen in billowy blouse sleeves and wide-leg, harem and drop-crotch pants, for example. More
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