David Yurman, Beauty in contrast

Have any of you seen the new  David Yurman add campaigns?? Well, recently Model Kate Upton who just graced back-to-back covers of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, is now swapping out her string bikinis for David Yurman’s classic cable designs.

Upton is one of four women tapped by the designer for its fall 2013 advertising campaign, with the theme  “Beauty in Contrast.” The idea behind the campaign came as an effort to highlight how “diverse elements can coexist in a delicate balance,” a theme which is chosen because of the diversity in Yurman’s designs, both his classic pieces and those from the fall 2013 collection.

The campaign features elegant and refined pieces along with more earthy and artisanal designs. The new collections coupled with iconic favorite designs are heavier alongside more minimal pieces. Overall, the brand said it selected four very different women to make up their models for Beauty in Contrast.

Upton, who is blonde and blue-eyed and was raised in Florida, represents the all-American girl while Anais Mali, a French model whose mother is from Chad and whose father is Polish, has a global/European sophistication. Dree Hemingway, a member of the famous Hemingway family, bears a patrician refinement, while Catrinel Marlon, a Romanian model who also has been in SI’s Swimsuit Issue, has a mysterious sensuality, the brand said.

“Through design, styling and imagery, we tell a story of contrast in all its mesmerizing beauty,” Yurman said. “Beauty is always more intriguing in contrast.”

Photographer Peter Lindbergh shot the campaign, which features the women wearing a combination of classic Yurman designs and selections from the fall 2013 collection, including the new miniature version of Yurman’s signature pinky ring. Beauty in Contrast debuts this month worldwide in print and online outlets as well as on DavidYurman.com.

Yurman founded his eponymous jewelry company in New York in 1980. The brand has 25 stores throughout the United States, France and China, and the jewelry is sold at retail outlets, including many independent jewelers, across the U.S.

 

As always, Live, Life, Lamour,

R.Lamour

 

 

 

Smash and Grab Jewelry heist

Recently, there has been a constant wave of jewelry heists. Most recently, police have been searching for a group of thieves who made off with more than $100,000 worth of jewelry in a brazen smash-and-grab robbery at a Kay Jewelers in Livermore, Calif. Despite the fact that much of the robbery has been caught on surveillance video, the police have not been able to identify the thieves, who got in and out of the store in only four minutes early Monday morning and are still on the loose.

Surveillance video released by the Livermore Police Department shows the three suspects crashing a vehicle through metal security doors at Kay Jewelers in the recently opened Livermore Premium Outlets. The footage also shows the masked and hooded thieves storming through the jewelry store, smashing open display cases with sledge hammers and taking as much merchandize as they could get their hands on in the short time.

“They tried to open several cases, and took whatever they could,” Livermore Police Department’s Lt. Mike Trudeau said. Within four minutes the robbers had looted the store and were well on their way.

Mall security, which is located on the opposite end of the building, arrived on the scene just as the thieves were making their getaway, and were only able to give a description of the vehicles, the police spokesman said.

“There is on-site security that is there 24 hours a day. They were on the other side of the mall when this occurred and did identify the two get-away vehicles as a white station wagon and a tan sedan,” Trudeau said. “We don’t have any suspects at this point in the investigation.”

Trudeau declined to comment on other specifics regarding the on-going investigation.

As always, Live, Life, Lamour,

R.Lamour

 

 

The launching of the Faith Ann Kiely Brand

Today’s post is about a former senior merchandising executive for fine jewelry corporations, Faith Ann Kiely and the launch of her own brand. Being that she no stranger to the jewelry world, the recent launch of her first collection accentuates her approach to the industry from a new angle.

In this article Kiely discusses how classical antiquity is incorporated into her work, while staying true to the identity of her brand and the reasons consumers will keep coming for silver as long as designs stay compelling.

The Faith Ann Kiely brand was started in 2011, and officially launched to the retail market in the spring of 2013. She told us that FAK uses top-quality materials, the highest quality standards and traditional manufacturing techniques of fine jewelry. What differentiates FAK from many other brands is that it offers an uncompromising commitment to design and quality and creating the product made in America.

In terms of design, FAK’s design aesthetic seems to be truly original. It is inspired through her artistic perspective on classical antiquity, Faith Ann Kiely’s jewelry motifs are derived from an eclectic appreciation of the manifestation of beauty, art and spirit in our world, which she expresses through the fine sculpted metal work of my designs. Working with 18-karat gold and sterling silver, her intricately carved pieces, resplendent with bold faceted gemstones, are reflective of ancient times and provide a distinctly modern look.

When asked what is the most difficult thing about being a jewelry designer? she told us ”I think the most challenging aspect of being a new jewelry designer is in staying true to the DNA of your brand and design vision, regardless of current trends and/or market pressures. I believe that a brand must be authentic to its identity to truly be accepted and understood by consumers.”

Here are a few of her very intricate designs below for your perusal.

 

As always, Live, Life, Lamour,

R.Lamour

Hera Arkarakas Silver Jewelry!

As the price of gold maintains remains unstable, many jewelry designers are continuously looking for new more cost effective ways of expressing their designs. One designer in particular is Hera Arkarakas of the brand Hera who absolutely loves to combine the two metals.

In her most recent sterling silver collection she features 18-karat yellow or pink gold accents, which she says allows consumers to incorporate their existing gold jewelry with new pieces to give them a fresh, modern look.

“I wanted the collection to be very versatile to give women the ability to accessorize and capture all their unique fashion looks. As women, we live busy lives–juggling our careers, family life as well as fitting in a glamorous night or two out on the town. Jewelry is an accessory that can easily take an outfit from casual day to formal evenings,” Arkarakas said.

Arkarakas also feels that her gemstone statement rings are some of her most popular pieces, because they add color and a unique flair to outfits. The hematite mist- and champagne mist-colored stones are neutral and easy to wear, Arkarakas said, while aqua mist and violet mist add a punch of vibrant color. Below are some of the best pieces from her collection for your perusal…enjoy!

From the Paradise collection, Hera’s sterling silver rings are made with 18-karat yellow gold accents, diamonds and a violet “mystic” finish (left, $1,595) and a champagne “mystic” finish ($1,595).

This Aqua Mist design set includes pieces from both the Paradise and Lido collections. The Lido sterling silver cushion ring features a “mystic” finish ($495), and the silver Lido mini cushion ring with a “midnight” and “mystic” finish ($295). From the Paradise line is a sterling silver pear-shaped pendant ($595) and pear drop earrings ($495), both with a midnight finish.

Hera’s silver and hematite cushion drop earrings with a midnight finish ($395), from the Lido collection.

From the Cocktail Stax collection, Hera’s sterling silver bangles feature 18-karat yellow gold accents with a mystic and midnight finish, with assorted gemstones and diamonds or black spinels (from $355).

As always, Live, Life, Lamour,

R.Lamour

Two watch brands To watch

Today’s post concentrates on two watch brands which  are making great strides of…..

Recently, German watch manufacturer Glashütte Original has launched a new line of ladies watches inspired by the 1920s genre, the decade in which wearing wristwatches first became popular among women.

Launched on June 20th at a party at the Waterfall Mansion on New York’s Upper East Side, Pavonina feature’s a line of Art Deco-inspired timepieces with modernized versions of the cushion-shaped cases which were popular in the Jazz Age.

The 31 mm watches have a date window at 6 o’clock and are available in stainless steel, 18-karat red gold or a combination of the two, on a satin or leather strap or bracelet. Diamonds are available on some models or through special order.

A total of 20 variations comprise Pavonina’s line, a name derived from the Latin word for peacock, with retail prices ranging from $4,900 to $39,600.

 

 

Yves “Jetman” Rossy, the Swiss gentleman who is well known for flying solo courtesy of jet engines attached to his body, will make his first public U.S. flights this summer, as sponsor Breitling recently announced.

The 53-year-old Rossy, who worked as a fighter pilot and airline captain before becoming the world renowned Jetman, will soar over the crowds at the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) AirVenture Oshkosh fly-in, which takes place from July 29 to Aug. 4 in Wisconsin, and at the Reno Air Races in Nevada, scheduled for Sept. 11 to 15.

Exact dates of the Jetman’s performances are not yet determined.

Rossy’s secret is a carbon-Kevlar jet wing with four engines that enable him to propel himself through the air at speeds upward of 150 mph, controlled by a throttle in his hand. The Jetman uses his shoulders, body and legs to steer, pitch and descend at will.

 

As always, Live, Life, Lamour,

R.Lamour

 

Tiffany & Co. Exec Steals over $1M in Jewelry

As recently as today, a former executive with Tiffany & Co. was arrested for stealing a number of little blue box bounties from the jeweler’s midtown Manhattan headquarters and resold them for more than $1.3 million over a period of time, federal authorities said Tuesday. Ingrid Lederhaas-Okun was arrested Tuesday at her home in Darien, Connecticut. She was to appear later in the day in federal court in Manhattan to face charges of wire fraud and interstate transportation of stolen property.

As vice president of product development, Lederhaas-Okun had authority to “check out” jewelry from Tiffany at anytime she saw fit in order to provide to potential manufacturers to determine production costs. Authorities allege that after she left Tiffany in February, the company discovered she had checked out 164 items that were never returned.

According to a criminal complaint, the missing jewelry included “numerous diamond bracelets in 18-carat gold; diamond drop and hoop earrings in platinum or 18-carat gold; diamond rings in platinum; rings with precious stones in 18-carat gold; and platinum and diamond pendants.”

When confronted about the missing jewelry, Lederhaas-Okun claims that she had left some of it behind at Tiffany and that some had been lost or damaged, the complaint said. But in reality, an investigation found that Lederhaas-Okun resold the goods to an unidentified international dealer for more than $1.3 million.

Bank records also showed that since January 2011, the dealer wrote 75 checks to her or her husband for amounts of up to $47,400, the complaint said. Investigators also recovered purchase forms signed by Lederhaas-Okun that said the items were her personal property.

Authorities allege Lederhaas-Okun purposely checked out items valued at under $10,000 apiece to avoid detection. The company takes a daily inventory of all checked-out items worth more than $25,000. If convicted, Lederhaas-Okun faces up to 20 years in prison. The name of her attorney wasn’t immediately available.

 

As Always, Live, Life, Lamour,

R.Lamour

 

Heather Moore Revamps Bridal

Very recently, jewelry designer Heather Moore has taken her personalized jewelry to the next level with a bridal line that includes engagement rings and classic or personalized men’s and women’s stamped bands.

These rings are available in 14- and 18-karat yellow, rose and white and green gold, as well as palladium and sterling silver. White, cognac, yellow, black, and pink diamonds would also be incorporated into the designs.

Tentative price points starts at $600 and, depending on the diamond size, can reach upwards of $7,000, with an average price point of $3,000.

“The bridal line was inspired by the fact that over 12 of my employees have gotten married in the last year, and there are about four more down the pipe,” Moore said. “The conversations around the office in the studio are so fun because everyone is talking about weddings, organizing them, creating a new, defined family … all the love that surrounds those comments is so adorable.

The bridal line launched at the Couture show, took place at an exclusive poolside party held at the Wynn Las Vegas, and the designer said that a lot of her current retailers have already agreed to take on the collection.

What has drawn many retailers is the bridal line’s mix of personalized and non-personalized jewelry which creates options that complement each other. Some of the rings are sold as is while others can be customized with two initials or a date. Some pieces have the full option of personalization, where customers can fill in the blanks.

The great feature of theses rings is that you can collect rings over time as your anniversaries come and go. The designer said that  “It’s simple, yet totally unique to the customer. Some of (the pieces) have beautiful phrases that are typical in a wedding and then we can also do people’s wedding vows, which is so sweet.”

 

As always, Live, Life, Lamour,

R.Lamour

Hot Summer Designs

Summer is officially upon us and fortunately for us so are the hottest summer designs. Today’s post is centered around the top 10 emerging designers who will showcase their collections in the New Designer Gallery at the JA New York Summer Show this year, scheduled for this weekend at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The JA show is the first time these designers are participating in a trade show, which marks their official introduction into the industry.

Twin sisters Kimberly and Lucy launched Dao Fournier designed the two beauties above. The sisters have a passion for rare gemstones and grew up in the jewelry industry. The two stand by the motto that their designs are art meant to be worn by women everywhere.

Holly Dyment is a Canadian fine jewelry designer with a background as a window display artist and graphic designer. She has a “more-is-more” approach to her jewelry, offering one-of-a-kind pieces with a bold use of color.

 

David Alverado of Irthly Jewelled Adornments is the son of a master jeweler who puts his education in Chinese and European philosophy into his work, resulting in jewelry representative of his world view. Alverado’s view on sustainability becoming a global value and interdependence becoming a global creed also influence his pieces.

Kendra Lawrence works primarily in sterling silver with freshwater pearls and, occasionally, gold vermeil. She strives for a minimalist aesthetic, and each piece is crafted in San Francisco using traditional fabrication and metalsmithing techniques.

 

Maressa Tosto Merwarth was the winner of the American Jewelry Design Council’s 2013 New Talent Contest. Her jewelry is not about what she makes, but more the materials, processes and interaction between the artist and the wearer.

Ana Marie Radosta studied industrial design in Philadelphia, where she learned jewelry making, moving on to Pasadena, Calif. where she discovered metalsmithing. Her jewelry has been sold through museums, galleries and jewelry stores.

 

Rebekah Schwartz launched her brand in June 2012, and creates her pieces by hand, specializing in precious metals paired with precious and semi-precious stones. The collections reflect each environment Schwartz has lived in, from New York to Santa Fe, N.M. and Nantucket.

 

Robin Koffler began her career as a graphic designer and illustrator, and now creates jewelry inspired by art, nature and contemporary design. Her one-of-a-kind, 18-karat gold pieces feature hand-picked gemstones.

 

Orit Harel has a background in interior design and art, and now creates wearable art through jewelry. She aims to make a big, dramatic statement with her pieces, creating flamboyant one-of-a-kind pieces with gold and gemstones.

 

 

As alwaays, Live, Life, Lamour,

R.Lamour

Say Yes! A love story

After sharing her wonderful love story, a south Florida woman became the proud owner of an $11,000 pair of Erica Courtney earrings. In the story of the ups and downs of her relationship–including her fiancé’s unique proposal–for Jewelers Mutual’s “Everlasting Love” contest winnings went to her.

To enter this unique contest, contestants were asked to share what everlasting love meant to them on the contest’s website between April 30 and May 21. Americans voted on the entries and narrowed the field to just five finalists. Jewelers Mutual and Courtney herself then chose the winner based on creativity, originality, and representation of everlasting love.

Ariela Yasova shared the story of her and her fiancé Matthew’s relationship in a story titled, “For Better or Worse, We’re Always Together.”

The couple’s courtship began as a long-distance relationship, which then followed with a medical crisis–two members of Matthew’s family were diagnosed with cancer–that led them to the realization of just how strong their relationship was.

A short time later, Matthew took his girlfriend on her fist Ferris wheel ride and when the car got “stuck” at the top, Matthew pulled out his cell phone loaded with music which reminded him of his girlfriend Yasova and then proposed. She said yes.

The couple’s story received over 1,700 views on the contest website and 379 votes, enough to make them a top five finalist and eventually be chosen as the contest winner.

The pair said one of the first things they will do with their new earrings is get them insured.

As always, Live, Life, Lamour,

R.Lamour

 

 

Asia’s New taste

In a recent Hong Kong jewelry auction, there has been a noticeable shift in the tastes of jewelry collectors. Although there were a variety of pieces offered ranging from celebrity inspired pieces to actual jewelry worn in actual films,  the star power had almost no effect on the price of these sometimes interesting collectables.

At the top lot of the auction was a wonderful pair of jadeite bangles, which sold for $6.9 million to an Asian private buyer. Overall, when the dust cleared, the auction totaled $36.9 million and 79 percent was sold by value.

This ruby and diamond necklace (above) sold for $3.2 million, while a jadeite and diamond suite, consisting of a necklace, earrings and a ring (below), realized $2.4 million.

All top 10 lots of the auction, which were largely jadeite and diamond pieces, were sold to Asian private buyers.

“Nowadays, jewelry collectors have much wider interests,” said Ellen Sin, director of Tiancheng’s jewelry department. “Besides the conventional top jadeites and diamonds, colored gemstones like natural rubies and emeralds have been sought after and drawn increasing attention … We will continue our perseverance in bringing more unique jewelry in line with market tastes from all over the world to collectors.”

 

As always, Live, Life, Lamour,

R.Lamour