Jewel & Jewel

Prices for rough diamonds obtained from the Diamond Trading Co. (DTC) have gone up a cumulative average of 16 percent over the course of 2008, the DTC announced.

The DTC announced its average cumulative increase for the 2008 sights at the request of sightholders. This figure includes all increases since January 2008 and includes any increase implemented at the August sight scheduled to take place this week.

DTC spokesperson Lynette Gould said specific price increases for August were “nothing of any note,” and that the 16 percent cumulative increase is mainly a reflection of the price hikes implemented at the July sight.

Prices there went up an average of 5 percent across the board, and as much as 15 percent for larger goods.

In the release issued , the DTC states that, not surprisingly, the goods more strongly affected by the increases over the course of this year have been larger, higher-quality goods; boxes of rough that will yield the “highly sought after” polished stones of above SI clarity and over 1-carat in size.

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In a difficult retail environment, four jewelry retailers placed among the fastest growing retail outlets in the United States during 2007. This industry however was largely inconspicuous on the list, which was published by the National Retail Federation (NRF.)

“Though the retail environment began to cool last year with the slowest industry growth since 2002, a number of retail companies experienced scorching sales,” NRF explained in a precursor to its annual Hot 100 Retailer ranking survey to be published in the August issue of the NRF’s Stores Magazine.

The survey listed retailers by highest revenue growth rates, and the companies had to have had revenues of more than $100 million. No jewelry companies made the top 10, but Blue Nile’s growth placed the online diamond retailer at No.13. 

Blue Nile’s revenue grew 26.9 percent to $319.26 million for the year, although its net earnings fell slightly during the period.

Tiffany came in at No.42 with revenue growth of 14.8 percent to $2.94 billion, while Finlay ranked at No.50 with revenues up 13.1 percent to $835.89 million. Birks & Mayors, at No.93, saw revenue growth of 7 percent to $314.75 million.

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Who says diamonds are a girl’s best friend? Crystals, stones and other materials are just as nice. See for yourself and take advantage of the selection of fashion jewelry marked down by 40% at Nordstrom. Good deals include the Dioscuri Thin Curved Bangle, originally $68 and now $39.90, the Alexis Bittar ‘70S’ Small Pendant Necklace (pictured- keyword search Alexis Bittar Pendant), marked down from $150 to $89.90 and the Nordstrom Crystal Collection Tivoli Bangle, reduced from $188 to $109.90. Shipping is $8 or free for orders over $200. Sales tax is charged in states with Nordstrom retail locations.

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In an ad that ran in the Washington Post, Tiffany and Co. gave the U.S. Congress kudos for passing legislation that would ban the importation of all gemstones from Myanmar (formerly Burma) into the United States, including those that were processed in a third-party country.

Federal lawmakers had already passed legislation in 2003 that embargoed gemstones from Myanmar as a response to human rights violations by the government’s ruling military junta, which profits from state-run gem auctions. But the new legislation closes a U.S. Customs loophole that allowed the Burmese stones into this country if they were processed somewhere other than Myanmar, such as Thailand, which is known for cutting gemstones and using them to manufacture jewelry.

An estimated 90 percent of the world’s rubies originate in Myanmar and are known in the trade as “blood rubies.”

Tiffany and Co., in accordance with its corporate standards and practices, stopped the purchase of all rubies mined in Myanmar in 2003, and has continued its moratorium on Burmese rubies since then, despite the loophole.

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Fashion jewelry online retailer Eternal Sparkles does not give anyone a reason to look unglamorous under the hot, blazing summer sun. All fashion jewelry items, especially the most sought after fashion rings, CZ jewelry and sterling silver jewelry are up for a 20% discount. Any woman will continue to sparkle in high fashion during the summer heat!

City of Industry, CA (EternalSparkles.com)- Fashion jewelry is the perfect accessory for any summer outfit. Feel fabulous all season long with online fashion jewelry retailer Eternal Sparkles’ wide collection of fashion rings, CZ jewelry, and sterling silver jewelry. Constantly updating its fashion jewelry pieces to suit the current trend of the season, Eternal Sparkles guarantees that one will find the right fashion jewelry for whatever season and reason.

This summer’s hottest trends in fashion jewelry call for big, bold, and beautiful. The chunkier and more noticeable the fashion jewelry is, the better. However, not all chunky fashion jewelry is considered hot this season. If the color is not right, that fashion jewelry piece may be the culprit in ruining the entire outfit.

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Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced that it is introducing a new jewelry line that allows customers to trace the origins of the materials through a Web site that links to mines and manufacturers.

The world’s largest retailer says its Love, Earth jewelry will be sold in a collaboration with the group Conservation International, based in Arlington, Va. Wal-Mart says companies producing the conservation-themed jewelry already show social and environmental leadership.

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By the end of this year, Mark Yelton hopes to move the jewelry business started 20 years ago by his father to a new location.

But it won’t change the length of his commute.

Yelton’s Fine Jewelry, 6066 West Chester Road, is building a new, 7,000-square-foot store at 9263 Schultze Drive, less than a mile south of its present location.

“We’ve been looking to relocate for a while,” said Mark Yelton. “We’ve really just outgrown this space … It was one of those things where it was just time to move.”

Store founder Roy Yelton said the new location, located where the Roadhouse Grill restaurant once stood, will provide excellent visibility.

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Dellanos is one of the most recognizable faces on Spanish-language television. An Emmy Award-winning journalist, she was co-host for 13 years of the popular television news program “Primer Impacto” on Univision.

“People en Espanol” named Dellanos its first “Estrella del Ano” (star of the year) in 2004. And this year, she and her daughter grace the pages of the magazine’s “Los 50 mas bello” (most beautiful people) issue.

Dellanos’ private life also has grabbed headlines - most notably her engagement to Mexican singing superstar Luis Miguel in 2004. (The engagement was later called off).

Now, it’s her creative side that’s making news. Dellanos is launching a jewelry line that bears her name.

The line was a chance for Dellanos to combine her business savvy with her love for jewelry design.

“Ever since I was in high school, I loved to design,” said Dellanos from her home in Miami. When she was on “Primer Impacto,” “I often drew jewelry pieces, and the women seemed to like them. I never thought it would be a business for me.”

Dellanos, 42, says jewelry, like a woman, should be multifaceted.

“We have different feelings every day,” she says. “Who wants to be sexy every day? You want to look professional for work. You want something that translates to evening when you’re out with your husband to a show or dinner.” You want pieces that are different and can work with your different moods and looks.”

The Myrka Dellanos jewelry collection includes necklaces, earrings, bracelets, watches and rings crafted in gold and silver tones decorated with bold colorful stones, beads and Swarovski crystals. The collection ranges in price from $39 to $119.

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