Volume 9, No. 6

May 26, 2010

We are very pleased to bring you our final pre-Las Vegas newsletter covering what's happening in the high-end of the fine jewelry industry and related news. Look for more exciting news from The Centurion emanating from Sin City. Have a great Memorial Day Weekend!

TODAY'S STORIES:

Sean Moore Promoted; Stars Wear Kwiat; JM Gets Social; 'Amazing Race' Engagement; Sethi Wins Award;

Baccarat Presents New Collection; French Watch Creator Muller; Lebowitz Seeks Position; 

Spectore, Autore, Frederique Constant/Alpina Seek Sales Reps; 14 Killed in Iraq Jewelry Store Heists

SEAN MOORE BOOSTED TO DIRECTOR, 

JEWELRY DIVISION, BORSHEIMS

It has been announced by Susan Jacques, President & Chief Executive Officer of Borsheims, Omaha, NE, that long-time team member Sean Moore (left) has been promoted. 

"Sean Moore will be moving into the position of Director of the Jewelry Division and his expertise and experience with Borsheims over the past nineteen years and his involvement in the jewelry and diamond industry will serve him well in this new role with the Company," said Jacques in a communication to employees and partners of the retailer. "I am so excited about this move," she told The Centurion. 

Moore replaces Joe Corritore, who has elected to pursue a new venture.

KWIAT SHINES ON STARS AT BLOOMBERG/VANITY FAIR FETE

Actress and Oscar nominee Anna Kendrick and actress Stephanie March chose Kwiat for the May 1 Bloomberg/Vanity Fair party. At the event, which followed the 2010 White House Correspondents Association dinner, Kendrick wore Kwiat's Vintage Collection rose-cut diamond drop earring set in 18-karat white gold. March wore Kwiat's Vintage Collection diamond drop earring and rose cut diamond cuff. For further information contact Bill Gould at bill@kwiat.com or visit Kwiat at Couture, Wynn Las Vegas, Salon Moutn 2.

JEWELERS MUTUAL GETS SOCIAL WITH BLOG, FACEBOOK, TWITTER, LINKED-IN PRESENCE

Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company has recently added Social Media efforts to its industry communications lexicon. Included are a blog called “The Jewelry Box”, a Facebook fan page, a Linked In business page and a Twitter account. Links to all of the new ......Social Media initiatives are located on the company's homepage at www.JewelersMutual.com 

ARTCARVED, BRIDES AND ROBBINS BROTHERS

TEAM FOR ENGAGEMENT OF 'AMAZING RACE' WINNERS

See the full release with images of the "proposal" ad in BRIDES and coverage on www.people.com home page below
http://tinyurl.com/2wg2nch  

SETHI COUTURE WINS RETAILER'S CHOICE AWARD FROM JQ

IN COLORED DIAMOND JEWELRY CATEGORY

Sethi Couture was awarded the JQ Retailer's Choice Award for 'Best in Colored Diamond Jewelry,' for the second consecutive year.

Featured above, rose cut and brown diamond chandelier earrings, flower station necklace with brown diamonds/black rhodium flowers and white diamond briolettes, and rose cut brown diamond flower ring from Sethi Couture.

The award marks the 6th anniversary that JQ retailers have participated in casting votes for their favorite designers in various categories, and they have certainly taken notice of Sethi Couture. "Color is my inspiration," said designer Pratima Sethi. "The natural colored diamonds and different colors of gold I pair together constantly move me and lend to my signature design aesthetic," she said during a recent interview.

Designers were honored in nine distinct categories: Designer of the Year, Bridal, Colored Gemstones, Diamonds, Color Diamonds, Gold, Platinum, Silver, and Pearls.

The winning designers will be honored at a special ceremony on June 6, 2010 at the Venetian Resort during the 2010 JCK Las Vegas show. For further information contact Pratima Sethi at pratima@sethicouture.com or visit Sethi Couture at Luxury By JCK, Salon 927 and JCK Las Vegas, Grand Plaza Booth 20101.

BACCARAT PRESENTS BOUCHONS DE CARAFE 

SPRING/SUMMER 2010 COLLECTION BY ELIE TOP

For the first time, Baccarat, renowned for its unique expertise and bold creativity in the making of fine crystal, has turned to Elie Top, jewelry and accessories designer for prominent fashion houses. In their continued interest and support of talented young designers, Baccarat asked Elie Top to create a jewelry line interpreting the Baccarat spirit in his own way. In response, the designer came up with the Bouchons de Carafe Collection, artfully contemporary and replete with couture extravagance, marking the crossroads between the worlds of fine crystal and fashion.

The collection draws on Baccarat’s design heritage with the "bouchon de carafe" motif. Its French name refers to the stoppers made for the fine crystal bottles that graced luxurious dining tables and elegant dressing tables in bygone days. Remarkable for their purity of line, these "stoppers" gleam with pristine reflections of light. After visiting a Baccarat exhibit of crystal brandy decanters and perfume bottles, all created between 1910 and 1920, Elie Top was inspired by those he admired most.

"I decided to go back to Baccarat’s roots", said the designer, "for me, the name Baccarat suggests chandeliers, gleaming facets and French-style luxury. I aimed to revive these design codes, but with a touch of tongue-in-cheek humor. In French, one says that a diamond is "as big as a decanter stopper !". The collection is a light-hearted take on this expression, as well as a respectful tribute to Baccarat." Please click here to see the complete Look Book for the Bouchons de Carafe collection. For further details contact Jaime E. Jiménez at jaime.jimenez@baccarat.fr or visit Baccarat in the Prestige Promenade at JCK Las Vegas, Salon 3. 

FRENCH WATCH DESIGNER MULLER AIMS AT US MARKET

WITH HIGH-END, PRIVATE LABEL APPROACH

An accomplished French watch and jewelry designer who has had a successful career creating for major watch and jewelry houses in Europe has set his sites on the U.S. market. A designer by training and a Fine Arts School graduate, Jean Muller began his career as a stylist for an international watchmaking group. He then opted for freedom and adventure by launching the BUGATTI watch brand in the 1980s, independently managing this daring project from design right through to worldwide distribution of collections.

For the past 15 years, Muller has been discreetly cooperating with the great names in Swiss watchmaking and French jewellery-making. The continuity of this family firm is ensured by the support of his wife Véronique, who handles sales & communication, and his son Benjamin, also a designer.

For a complete review of the company, please click here or email Véronique Muller at vmuller@jean-muller.com. 

MICHAEL LEBOWITZ SEEKS RETAIL OR WHOLESALE POSITION

Jewelry industry veteran Michael Lebowitz, with extensive experience in both the retail and wholesale ends of the business, is seeking an opportunity with a growing fine jewelry or watch company. "I've worked both the wholesale and retail side of the industry," said Lebowitz. "That experience coupled with my passion for jewelry and watches, present a potential employer with not only a well rounded seasoned professional, but someone who can help with a positive impact from day one. I'm willing to travel, and or relocate if the position is right." Click here to download his resume and make direct contact if interested.

TITANIUM JEWELEY SPECIALIST SPECTORE CORP.

SEEKS SALES REPRESENTATIVES IN MIDWEST, WEST

Spectore Corporation, the Florida-based Titanium jewelry specialist, is seeking sales representatives in the Midwestern and Western markets. Please email resumes to Adam Rosenberg at arosenberg@spectore.com. 

AUTORE USA, DIVISION OF THE AUSTRALIAN PEARL COMPANY,

REQUESTS SALES RESUMES FOR ALL TERRITORIES

Autoire USA is seeking US sales representatives in all territories. Please email resumes to Justin Schwarz at justin@pearlautore.com.au.

ALPINA & FREDERIQUE CONSTANT USA WATCH LINES 
SEEK SALES U.S. REPRESENTATION

Currently, a Sales Representative position is available for the Midwest/Southeast regions at Frederique Constant and Alpina Geneve timepieces. 

Alpina Frederique Constant USA Ltd has been established at the end of 2008 as the company's US subsidiary office. Philosophy of both Swiss watch brands is to offer high quality at sensible prices, or in other words: Accessible Luxury. With the small yet dynamic structure that we currently have in place, we have been able to grow in double digits during 2009 and for the first four months of 2010 growth has even increased further. On a global scale, we sell around 100,000 watches per year. Please check out our websites: www.frederique-constant.com and www.alpina-watches.com. If this position catches your interest, please send over your resume so we can review and arrange an interview. Email to Ralph Simons, President, Alpina Frederique Constant USA Ltd. at ralph@frederique-constant.com. 

IRAQ GUNMEN KILL 14 DURING JEWELRY STORE ROBBERIES

A grim reminder today of the continued bloodshed in Iraq has also touched the international jewelry industry with tragedy.

Officials in Iraq say gunmen have killed fourteen people as they robbed about a dozen jewelry shops in the capital, Baghdad. Eyewitnesses say the masked robbers used explosives and guns fitted with silencers to attack the shops located in the southwest of the city.

Many of those killed were either the jewelry shop owners or people who worked there. The robbers are believed to have fled with large quantities of gold. Police say one of the robbers was killed by security forces.

Four policemen were injured in the shootout.

This story was reported by www.AustralianNetworkNews.com and in the weekly email newsletter of Canadian Jeweller magazine, amongst other news services.

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