February 17, 2015

Nationwide’s apprentice support reaches $50,000

The Nationwide Jewellers group has contributed over $50,000 to apprenticeship support since 2009.

Nationwide director Barry Jackson, Cameron’s Fine Jewellers’ Judy Cameron, Nationwide Apprentice of the Year 2014 Jyothi Forman (Georgie’s Fine Jewellery) and Nationwide md Colin Pocklington. The Nationwide Jewellers group has contributed over $50,000 in apprenticeship support since 2009.

Under the Nationwide Jewellers Apprenticeship Support scheme which is now in its seventh year of operation, the buying group’s members can nominate their jewellery or watchmaker apprentices to receive a $500 tools voucher for redemption at Australian Jewellers Supplies or $400 in cash towards fees and expenses.

Nationwide Jewellers director Barry Jackson said enrolment applications for the 2015 scheme were sent to all Nationwide members in Australia and New Zealand last month.

“As a significant organisation in the jewellery industry, we consider it important to support young people who are starting out in their jewellery careers,” he said.

The apprentice support scheme was launched in response to the buying group’s concerns about the low number of young apprentices employed in the jewellery industry.

“We may well be heading towards a significant shortage of qualified jewellers in the years ahead,” said Jackson at the time.

Endless Jewelry moves into Oz market

Danish bracelet and charm jewellery brand, Endless Jewelry, is poised to enter the Australian market this year.

Posted in Local News, News Endless Jewelry Jesper Nielsen Local News

Danish bracelet and charm jewellery brand, Endless Jewelry, is poised to enter the Australian market this year. The company’s CEO, Jesper Nielsen, was in Australia last week meeting “close to 300 potential customers” including Leading Edge buying group members for the brand, which designs and manufactures colourful leather bracelets and gold and sterling silver charms.

Endless Jewellery was established in 2013 by Nielsen, who with his family obtained the rights to sell Pandora in western Europe in 2003.
In 2010, two years after 60 percent of Pandora was sold to a private equity fund, Nielsen and his family established Pandora subsidiary, Pandora Central Western Europe, but he left the company in 2011 as its strategy “did not really suit my personality”.

Today Endless Jewelry has been established in 18 countries and boasts 3000 stores in Europe alone. Nielsen said that he was working with “two very experienced guys who have been a part of the very successful start-up of Endless Jewelry in UK” to establish the brand in Australia.
He said the company had decided to launch in Australia due to “popular demand”.

“We have opened 18 countries in 18 months, and have created a lot of hype around the brand all around the world – especially from Australia where we have received a lot of interest from both customers and retailers. When investigating and analysing the market, I must say that I agree with the people who have been telling me the Endless concept would work great here.”

“We’re a colourful, playful yet classy and elegant brand with affordable products of high quality. The combination of the classic collectible jewellery and the colourful bracelets is catching on worldwide, and to me there’s no doubt this will be one of the next jewellery trends in Australia.”

Nielsen said his initial goal for the brand, which recently signed Jennifer Lopez as its ambassador, is to “open 300 doors in 24 months” but could not confirm the target until after he had completed his visit to Australia.

“I like to get a personal feel for the market, talk to the retailers, understand their needs and work with our partners to obtain our common goals. I don’t think we will reduce the target, though. That has never happened before.”

Sotheby’s unveils 100 carat perfection

The 100.20 carat D colour, internally flawless, Type IIa stone will highlight Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels auction in New York on April 21 when it is…

Posted in News, World News De Beers Diamonds Magnificent Jewels Auction News Sotheby's

The 100.20 carat D colour, internally flawless, Type IIa stone will highlight Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels auction in New York on April 21 when it is expected to sell for US$19-25 million.

Describing the diamond as “the definition of perfection”, Gary Schuler, head of Sotheby’s Jewelry Department in New York said the diamond is “unlike any offered before.”

“The colour is whiter than white, it is free of any internal imperfections, and so transparent that I can only compare it to a pool of icy water,” he said.
“At this impressive scale, diamonds of this exceptional quality – D colour and Internally Flawless clarity – are incredibly rare, and are considered ‘perfect’,” he said

“The diamond joins an elite group of just five comparable-quality diamonds over 100 carats that have ever been sold at auction worldwide –‘The Mouawad Splendour’ (101.84cts) which sold for US$12.7 million in 1990; ‘The Star of Happiness’ (100.3cts) which sold for US$11.9 million in 1993; ‘The Star of the Season’ (100.10cts) which sold for US$16.5 million in 1995; ‘The Winston Legacy’ (101.73 carats) which sold for US$26.7 million in 2013 and the Spectacular Oval Diamond (118.28cts) which sold for US$30.6 million in 2013.

“What distinguishes the present example within this rarefied league is its beautiful shape: it is the largest perfect diamond with a classic emerald-cut ever to be offered at auction.”

“This modern shape gives the stone an unforgettable presence, whether it is worn as a jewel or admired on its own.”

The diamond, which was cut and polished from a rough weighing over 200 carats mined by De Beers in southern Africa, will be exhibited in Dubai, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, London and Doha, before returning to New York for exhibition prior to the auction.

Since 1990, when Sotheby’s sold the first 100-carat perfect diamond at auction, until the most recent example in 2013, the price per carat for the stones has increased from US $125,000 to US$260,000.

The current stone’s estimate of US$19 million represents a valuation of US$190,000 per carat.

Thomas Sabo sparkles in French kitchen

Rachel Finch at the Thomas Sabo SS2015 launch Duraflex Group Australia has launched Thomas Sabo's latest jewellery and watch collections at Claire’s Kitchen at Le…

Posted in Local News, News Claire's Kitchen Duraflex Group Australia Rachel Finch Thomas Sabo

Rachel Finch at the Thomas Sabo SS2015 launch

Duraflex Group Australia has launched Thomas Sabo‘s latest jewellery and watch collections at Claire’s Kitchen at Le Salon in Sydney.
Thomas Sabo international representative Hanny Freund flew to Sydney to launch the SS2015 collections and present the new campaign featuring brand ambassador Georgia May Jagger to around 80 local fashion media and celebrities including Rachael Finch, Kyly Clarke, Kate Peck, Luke Jacobz, Tim Robards, Casey Burgess and Maddy King.

Duraflex Group Australia director Phil Edwards said the brand’s new collections feature “minimalistic shapes and structures, ultra-feminine statement pieces and the gentle look of pastel gemstones with each range characterised by a highly-individual style”.“The unveiling of the new Thomas Sabo timepieces (which combine royal blue and rose gold with sparkling accents) caused particular excitement,” he said.

Duraflex followed the media launch at Claire’s with numerous SS2015 Collection Days for retail partners across Australia and New Zealand.
Edwards said that celebrations for the brand will begin later this year “as 2016 is set to mark ten years since the launch of the Thomas Sabo Charm Club collection”.

Hublot raises Bar with new campaign

Israeli model Bar Refaeli is the latest celebrity to become a brand ambassador for Hublot.

Posted in News, World News Bar Refaeli Hublot News Ricardo Guadalupe Watches

Ricardo Guadalupe , Dwayne Wade, Bar Refaeli and Jean-Claude Biver

Israeli model Bar Refaeli is the latest celebrity to become a brand ambassador for Hublot. Refaeli, who has already featured in advertising campaigns for international brands such as Garnie, Piaget SA, Chanel, Gap, Samsung, Moet and Marco Bicego, will join Hublot’s other celebrity ambassadors including Kobe Bryant, Shawn ‘Jay Z’ Carter, Dwyane Wade, Pelé and Usain Bolt.

Announcing the partnership on the first day of New York Fashion Week, LVMH Watch Division president and Hublot chairman Jean-Claude Biver said Refaeli is the new face of Hublot’s ladies’ campaign which showcases the brand’s ‘Art of Fusion’.

“It is through this partnership that Hublot will take our ladies’ 2015 campaign to the next level,” he said.

Hublot CEO Ricardo Guadalupe added that in the year ahead the Swiss watchmaker will dedicate itself to its ladies’ collection.“Our female customers will see a series of new timepieces that will embody the notion of the Art of Fusion, where innovation meets luxury and fashion.

“Bar is the perfect partner with whom we can convey this message on an international level.”

At the launch event, Refaeli walked the catwalk in a couture gown made from fabric by Hublot partner Bischoff, a leading Swiss lace house, in a nod to the launch of Hublot’s latest women’s timepiece collection – the Big Bang Broderie – done in collaboration with the company.

According to Guadalupe, Hublot and Bischoff have come together to develop an exclusive lace pattern that creates a fusion with the Big Bang’s iconic design.

The finished timepiece features a skull lace pattern studded with diamonds on its dial and soft arabesques on the bezel and strap.

“Through this partnership, Hublot connects the past with the future, combining Swiss tradition with 21st-century creativity and technology,” he said.

Loree Rodkin arrives at Fairfax

Sydneys Fairfax and Roberts has become the exclusive stockist of Loree Rodkin jewellery in Australia.

Posted in Local News, News Fairfax & Roberts Fine Jewellery Heidi Klum Loree Rodkin News

Heidi Klum wearing Loree Rodkin jewellery

Sydney’s Fairfax & Roberts has become the exclusive stockist of Loree Rodkin jewellery in Australia. Although not particularly well known in Australia yet, Loree Rodkin jewellery has adorned numerous US celebrities including Madonna, Heidi Klum, Cher, Elizabeth Taylor as well as US First Lady Michelle Obama who wore the brand at President Obama’s inauguration ceremony.

The Los Angeles-based jewellery designer said the inauguration jewellery – a 10 carat diamond signet ring and diamond encrusted bangles and earrings which are now held in the permanent collection at the Smithsonian Museum – was every different to her usual “very edgy style”.

Rodkin entered the world of fine jewellery design after careers in luxury home design and A-list celebrity management and is now best known for statement pieces. Combining black rhodium-plated white gold with abundant diamonds, Rodkin creates “intricately crafted statement pieces that combine the modern with the medieval”.

Fairfax & Roberts CEO Georgina Brujic said the company is thrilled to be exclusively offering its customers the Loree Rodkin range.
“Her work is brilliantly conceptualised and executed and we love how it combines artisan engraving, ornate decoration and impeccable embellishment in pieces that are beautifully eye-catching,” she said.

“In addition to being a favourite of stars of music and screen, Rodkin designed the jewellery worn by First Lady Michelle Obama at President Obama’s inauguration ceremony.

Day: February 17, 2015

Nationwide’s apprentice support reaches $50,000

Further reading:

Endless Jewelry moves into Oz market

Further reading:

Sotheby’s unveils 100 carat perfection

Further reading:

Thomas Sabo sparkles in French kitchen

Further reading:

Hublot raises Bar with new campaign

Further reading:

Loree Rodkin arrives at Fairfax

Further reading: