Favorite jewels from the Grammy’s last night. Olivia Munn wearing great earrings from Carla Amorim. Looks great!
Charming Bumble Bee
It might have taken a long time to create, but I think the end product makes it worth while. This bumble bee pin was commissioned by a client. Her request was to make a nice “fat” bumble bee. Here it is created using 18k gold, inlayed citrene and onyx body, plique a jour enameled wings with a fine row of beadset diamonds. I am particularly proud of the segment legs. A one of a kind from Lee Krombholz and Just Like You Designs!
Antwerp diamond heist
Great video from Wired magazine about the 100 million euro diamond heist in Antwerp.
Bulgari to Cut Jobs & Close Stores as Profits Plummet by Jared Paul Stern
Famed Italian jeweler and luxury goods firm Bulgari plans to cut jobs, close stores and pare down its collections in the wake of a disastrous 45% drop in profits. The company, which was founded in 1884, has seen its watch business suffer badly in the economic downturn, with sales plunging 10.6%, Vogue UK reports. Accessories dropped 1.5% and jewelery, the company’s core business, dropped 2.5%. On the plus side, perfume sales have increased by 12%, perhaps an indication that consumers see fragrance as a relatively affordable luxury. Sales in America and Europe were particularly poor, though the Middle East was up by 9%.
The company, a red carpet favorite of stars like Halle Berry, Keira Knightley and Kate Hudson, describes its jewelry as “pure luxury obtained by means of daring combinations, precious materials, purity of design and meticulous attention to detail.” “[This year] will be a very difficult year,” states Bulgari CEO Francesco Trapani, adding that future earnings are impossible to predict. “We don’t feel able to give a number of any meaning because the situation is so very complicated.” He is no doubt feeling somewhat overextended on the retail side with over 230 locations worldwide.
‘The Bachelor’ chooses Neil Lane
Marquise ring by Neil Lane
New York–The Bachelor’s Jason Mesnick has just one rose left and two potential wives to choose between, yet while one major decision remains to be made, another has already been set in stone.
On the season finale of the ABC reality show, taking place on Monday, March 2, Mesnick will propose with a hand-crafted Neil Lane marquise-cut diamond and platinum ring encrusted with 170 smaller diamonds. The diamonds add up to a total carat weight of 3.18, with the D-color, VS1-clarity center stone weighing in at 1.94 carats.
Mesnick chose the ring from three Neil Lane designs, each featuring a unique cut of diamonds, including oval and pear shapes.
As is the show’s tradition, Mesnick began courting 25 women on the season premiere episode, back in January. He has since narrowed the field down to two ladies: Molly, a 24-year-old department store buyer from Grand Rapids, Mich., and Melissa, a 25-year-old sales representative from Dallas.
One of the lucky ladies will join the long list of brides who have worn Neil Lane engagement rings, including celebrities such as Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Hudson, Kate Hudson, Brooke Shields and Reese Witherspoon.
Reprinted from National Jeweler Feb. 27 2009
Barbie celebrates 50
The 50th anniversary of Barbie is commemorated with a lineup of dolls, starting with the first Barbie in original black and white swim suit, in a display by Mattel at the Javits Center in New York where Toy Fair 2009 is set to take place, Friday, Feb. 13, 2009. Toy Fair 2009 runs from Feb. 15 through to Feb. 18.
