Shouzui Yasui To Receive JNA Lifetime Achievement Award

The 2016 JNA Awards is presenting its most prestigious honor, the Lifetime Achievement Award, to casting solutions specialist Shouzui Yasui, CEO of Tokyo-based Yasui & Co. Yasui. He is being recognized for his dedication and significant contributions to the jewelry and gemstone industry.

The award will be presented to Yasui as part of the JNA Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner scheduled for September 14 at the InterContinental Hong Kong, during the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair.

The JNA Awards is regarded as one of the jewelry and gemstone industry’s most prized honors, recognizing enterprises and individuals that have demonstrated excellence, leadership and innovation, with a special focus on Asia, and whose ideas and actions have made a positive impact on their businesses and communities.

“There are two known ‘blue boxes’ in the jewelry industry. One is represented by a high-end consumer brand that has come to symbolize gifts of special significance. The other represents a jewelry casting company that the trade associates with high-quality and cost-effective manufacturing solutions. The latter is Yasui’s ‘blue box,’ said Letitia Chow, founder of JNA, director of Business Development – Jewellery Group at UBM Asia, and chair of the JNA Awards Judging Panel. “Wherever there is jewelry manufacturing in the world, one can find Yasui’s Vacuum Wax Injector. His contribution is noticed and felt widely throughout the industry.”

Yasui is a name that has long been associated with casting solutions for the jewelry industry. It started developing its Vacuum Wax Injector in 1980, which was marketed globally starting from 1983. In 1991, the company commenced exports of its casting machines. Three years later Yasui launched its electric Rotating Burnout Furnace. In 2002, the casting expert released its Digital Vacuum Wax Injection System. Ten years later Yasui rolled out its third-generation wax machine, ALTIMA.

“Yasui’s casting solutions, starting from the wax injector, were seen as pivotal in the mass production of jewelry, which consequently made jewelry accessible and affordable to many. This spurred on demand, triggering a ripple effect across precious materials suppliers, gemstone and jewelry manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers. These innovations changed the way jewelry was marketed and sold,” said Albert Cheng, a member of the JNA Awards judging panel and an advisor to the World Gold Council.

Shouzui Yasui said he couldn’t have been more surprised and delighted to be the recipient of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

“For 44 years, I have dedicated my life to the development of casting solutions for the jewelry sector. I am thrilled and deeply thankful for this significant recognition. This accolade represents what decades of hard work and determination can accomplish. It is a great honor to be the recipient of JNA’s Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Shouzui Yasui.

The fifth edition of the JNA Awards is led by Chow Tai Fook, Gemfields and Rio Tinto Diamonds as Headline Partners, with Diarough Group, the Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies, Shanghai Diamond Exchange, Guangdong Gems & Jade Exchange, and Guangdong Land Holdings Limited as Honoured Partners. 

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IGI Says New Radio Campaign Targets Millennials, Will They Listen?

Who knew those Krazy Hep Kat Millennials listen to those Boss Jocks on terrestrial radio? 

That’s what the International Gemological Institute is banking on as it has teamed with iHeartMedia radio network to air five radio spots in select markets—“each aimed at enlightening Millennials on the importance of consumer awareness and confidence.” The problem is I doubt that the medium or the message is geared toward this demographic. 

The radio spots will run from September 6 through December 31 during the busy morning and evening drive times with the potential to reach 245 million monthly listeners, IGI said in a statement. 

But do Millennials really listen to terrestrial radio? IGI says yes and it has industry stats to back this. A spokesperson for the organization sent me the following statement. 

“Contrary to what many think, iHeartMedia, radio is still the number 1 listening source/medium for Millennials,” according to the statement. “It reaches 92 percent of this population on a monthly basis and 77 percent of Millennials say they want radio ads to tell them about specific offers. Specifically, iHeartMedia offers a variety of content that attracts 90 percent of Millennials every month. Of note, all of these stats were sourced from third party research companies such as Nielsen, Scarborough, Triton and ComScore/ Arbitron.”

I found some of the Nielsen data and you can view it here. According to Nielsen, Millennials listen to terrestrial radio 11 hours and 26 minutes per day, which may sound impressive at first glance but is actually less than their Generation Xers and Baby Boomer counterparts.

Neilsen’s data also shows that Millennials is the largest segment of radio listeners. However, that is largely because Millennials is the largest demographic group, compared with Generation Xers and Baby Boomers. 

One interesting note is that the “Country format” (country music and its related American-born music) is the most popular among Millennials. Another thing is that it appears that Millennials, like most people, listen to the radio primarily while in their cars. 

So why am I not convinced? The stats are pretty vague and radio audience statistics always involve a certain level of voodoo. It’s all about reach, or more specifically potential reach. It doesn’t measure actual listeners or impact. It doesn’t measure whether active listening is involved or if it’s just background. That’s because it's impossible to measure these things. 

There’s another reason I’m not convinced—the ad itself—which you can listen to here, thanks to Gretchen Friedrich, JNN’s social media manager. 

IGI says the spots “emphasize educating consumers on the need for independently authenticated and evaluated diamonds and gemstones, ultimately providing assurance they are truly getting what they are paying for—which is top-of-mind for cost-conscious Millennials. The ads also offer jewelry care tips and information on birthstones.” 

Other than mentioning Millennials in the press release (which I included below) there is nothing in the ad itself that targets this demographic. It’s a mass market ad for a mass market medium. Millennials are not the only cost-conscious consumers. They are not the only demographic that wants assurances “they are truly getting what they are paying for.” 

There’s nothing wrong with mass media advertising but why pretend the ad campaign and the medium target a certain demographic when it’s obvious it doesn’t? 

If IGI wants to target Millennials then IGI should create a targeted ad and marketing campaign. 


IGI press release:

IGI TO AIR NATIONAL CONSUMER RADIO CAMPAIGN

Institute’s Initiative to Target Millennials


NEW YORK – On the heels of its successful consumer cable campaign, the International Gemological Institute (IGI) will air five radio spots in select markets on iHeartMedia – each aimed at enlightening millennials on the importance of consumer awareness and confidence.

The radio spots will run Sept. 6 through Dec. 31 during busy morning and evening drive times. iHeartMedia reaches over 245 million monthly listeners.

The IGI spots emphasize educating consumers on the need for independently authenticated and evaluated diamonds and gemstones, ultimately providing assurance they are truly getting what they are paying for – which is top-of-mind for cost-conscious millennials. The ads also offer jewelry care tips and information on birthstones.

“Our consumer-focused advertising initiatives continue to highlight the importance of confidence and, specifically, that IGI is an authoritative resource when purchasing diamonds and fine jewelry,” said IGI President Jerry Ehrenwald, G.G., A.S.A. “Building that assurance is essential for both consumers and retailers.”


To listen to an IGI spot that will air on iHeartMedia, click this link.

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MJSA BEaJEWELER To Be At Portland Jewelry Symposium

BEaJEWELER, a student outreach initiative by the Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America, is partnering with two Oregon institutions—the Portland Jewelry Academy and the Portland Jewelry Symposium—to offer two days of educational opportunities for those interested in pursuing careers in jewelry making and design.

On Oct. 2, BEaJEWELER will sponsor an open house from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Portland Jewelry Academy, which offers 16-week courses in foundational bench skills. The open house will include Q&A sessions with professional jewelers as well as live demos of jewelry-making techniques, giving prospective students an opportunity to learn first-hand the responsibilities, skill requirements, and professional rewards of a career as a jeweler.

In addition, the Portland Jewelry Symposium—an annual conference that explores new technologies and artistic trends in jewelry making and design—is offering special discounts and scholarships to students who want to attend this year's event. The symposium will kick off on the evening of Oct. 2 with a keynote dinner featuring Bennett Freeman, a former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State who, through his business and governmental leadership roles, has been a leading voice for human rights and responsible investment. He will speak on "Responsible Sourcing: From Conflict and Controversy to Innovation and Cooperation."

The symposium will continue Oct. 3 for a full day of sessions on lean manufacturing, bench techniques and design strategies. Students receive a half-price registration rate ($95 prior to Sept. 9, $105 thereafter) and can also apply for one of two student scholarships, the winners of which will receive free registrations. All student registrants and applicants must be able to submit proof of their current enrollment in a jewelry-related program.

The MJSA BEaJEWELER student outreach initiative works closely with jewelry schools, organizations, and businesses to promote the profession of jewelry making and design. 

To learn more about the BEaJEWELER program, go to MJSA.org or call 1-800-444-MJSA. 

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A Modern Take On Traditional Pearl Jewels

Bijules’ ultra modern approach to designing around white pearls makes cutting edge jewels look delicate and graceful, such as an 18k gold ambidextrous ear cuff with two pearls

Jewelry designers have been producing elegant, modern and even edgy jewels using the abundance and variety of pearls being produced today. The 10 pearls jewels listed in this feature reflect this trend. 

London high jeweler, Fei Liu, created a Tahitian pearl ring with a sprinkling of green garnet. 

Italian jewelry brand, Antonini, took a delicate yet edgy approach with a simple white pearl pendant, encasing the gem in black gold paved with diamonds and attaching it to a rough-textured black gold chain. 

Margery Hirschey earrings feature freshwater pearl drops that hang below simple emeralds all set in 22k yellow gold. 

The Great Pearl ring by Alex Soldier is centered with a Tahitian pearl set in encrusted platinum and further enhanced with diamonds and aquamarines. 

A bejeweled gecko clutches a simple white pearl by Zorab Creation. The gecko is made of 18k rose gold set with pink sapphire rose quartz white calcedhony and white diamond.

A string of pastel colored pearls by Etienne Perret.

An elegant bracelet by Yoko London in Tahitian Pearl is complemented with rose gold and diamonds.

Earrings by Tara Pearls use a graceful gold curve balanced by a pearl in the centre. The design presents a different look when turned to its side. It is a simple, classic look with a modern twist.

Italian jewelry brand Qayten, which specializes in Akoya pearls, added Tahitian varieties to its contemporary design jewels. The “Tahiti Bliss” necklace uses white gold and diamonds to accentuate the dark shades of the Tahitian pearls. 

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Bennett Freeman To Discuss Responsible Sourcing At Portland Jewelry Symposium

Bennett Freeman

One of the nation’s prominent experts on Responsible Sourcing, Bennett Freeman, will be the keynote speaker at the Portland Jewelry Symposium.

The Symposium will be held October 2 – 3, at the Sentinel Hotel in Portland, Ore. The event provides education and networking opportunities specifically designed to address the needs of manufacturing retailers and custom designers.

“We are excited to be exploring the topic of Responsible Sourcing this year in addition to our full program” said Teresa Frye, founder of the Symposium. “Increasing interest from the consumers on the origins of precious metals and stones is something that the industry will strongly benefit from learning more about.” 

Freeman has extensive experience in the field, having worked at the intersection of multinational companies, responsible investors, NGOs, governments and international institutions to promote corporate responsibility, sustainability and human rights around the world. “We are very fortunate to have the chance to hear first-hand of his global experiences on the subject,” Frye said.

Rounding out the Responsible Sourcing program will be talks by Toby Pomeroy, designer and one of the industry’s true pioneers in fairmined gold, and Stewart Grice, VP of Mill Products at Hoover & Strong, who will be sharing his recent experiences with fair mining gold practices in Peru.

The keynote compliments the Symposium’s customary topics of Technology, Design, Business, and Bench. 

Other presentations include Andrea Hill of the Hill Management Group on Lean Manufacturing Principles, James Binnion of James Binnion Metal Arts on Successful Casting of 3D Printed Acrylics, Lake Giles of Thinkspace on SEO and Maximizing Web Presence, Chris Ploof of Chris Ploof Designs on Techniques for Creating Mokume Gane, and Teresa Frye of TechForm will present on critical bench aspects of Precious Metals Metallurgy. 

In addition to the talks, Phil Scott of Rio Grande will be hosting bench demonstrations with a focus on Innovations in Finishing. Jim Tuttle of Greenlake Jewelry, Travis Issacson of Lashbrook, and Jennifer Dawes of Dawes Designs will speak on the panel Strategies for Selling Custom Jewelry moderated by Gillian Frances of TechForm.

Sponsors for the event include TechForm, MJSA, Rio Grande, Santa Fe Symposium, Stuller, Gemological Institute of America, Platinum Guild International, Johnson Matthey, Solidscape, Instore Magazine, Metalsmith Magazine, Hoover & Strong, The Richline Group, Otto Frei, Jewelers of America, A3DM, United Precious Metals, Red Sky Plating, Superfit. Lashbrook, and Laminated Metals Technology. 

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Can MTV Encourage Teens To Buy Adult Jewels?

Rihanna wore a Hearts on Fire diamond necklace and Lydia Courteille ruby rings while performing on stage at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards 

MTV, the cable network that was an extraordinary success in the 1980s popularizing music videos, is now just one more channel on a cable box with a segmented audience. It rarely even plays music anymore, opting for a diet of reality and scripted TV for its teenage demographic.

MTV’s last bastion of broad popularity is its annual Video Music Awards. Its most recent edition was held Sunday at Madison Square Garden. The awards themselves don’t garner much attention. It serves more as a platform for great performances and fashion, and as a forum for outrageous public displays or battles among the entertainers. 

As far as the jewels on view—whether it’s by paying performers to wear their pieces or through agencies who work with performers and their staffs—many of the pieces worn on the red carpet and during performances is similar to what one would see at the Oscars and other more establishment events. In other words far too expensive and too “adult” to be worn by those attending high school. 

It seems to me that promoting high jewelry to teenagers is an extremely difficult pitch. It would be better if fashion-oriented brands would present jewels that young women can afford to wear. 

As for jewelry, the two stars of the evening should come as no surprise: Beyoncé and Rihanna. 

Getty Images

Beyoncé and her daughter Blue Ivy reportedly wore $13 million worth of Lorraine Schwartz jewels. The Los Angeles jewelry designer is extremely popular among music industry royalty. 

Rihanna in Harry Kotlar diamond earrings and a Lydia Courteille tsavorite and green tourmaline ring and a 36mm Chopard timepiece featuring 21.09-carats of diamonds set in 18k white gold from the “L’Heure Du Diamant” collection

Meanwhile, Rihanna again served as a canvas for a variety of jewelry firms. Her four performances with four completely different looks were embellished with Harry Kotlar diamond earrings, a Lydia Courteille tsavorite and green tourmaline ring, a Hearts on Fire diamond necklace, Lydia Courteille ruby rings and a 36mm Chopard timepiece featuring 21.09-carats of diamonds set in 18k white gold from the “L’Heure Du Diamant” collection.

Taking into account what I was saying earlier about jewels and youth, there will always be exceptions and Beyoncé and Rihanna are the exceptions. Their star power, fashion presence, incredible talent and universal appeal put them in a class all their own, deserving of wearing the highest of high jewels. 

The other notable jewels on parade at the VMAs include:

Nicki Minaj in Harry Kotlar diamond cluster earrings and a Le Vian diamond ring.

Amber Rose in a Borgioni rose gold diamond ring along with Le Vian rings and white gold/diamond bracelet. 

Ariana Grande in Harry Kotlar diamond earrings.

JinJoo Lee of DNCE in Pasquale Bruni black diamond and diamond ring, Bavna black diamond earrings and rings and Le Vian white gold and black diamond rings. As an added bonus, Cole Whittle of DNCE in Pluma Italia chains.

Actress and model Shelley Hennig in Le Vian diamond earrings.

Halsey in a Noudar diamond hand chain and Harry Kotlar diamond rings.

Canadian fashion model, spokesperson and activist, Winnie Harlow in Le Vian diamond rings.

Bebe Rexha in Le Vian diamond earrings and Borgioni diamond rings.

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September Hong Kong Jewelry Fair Set for September 13 - 19

Jewelry demand in China is expected to pick up in September ahead of the week-long national holiday in October, according to the GFMS Gold Survey 2016: Q2 Update & Outlook. This is potentially good news for the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair, which will be held September 13-17 at AsiaWorld-Expo and September 15-19 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Recent data from the Chinese government also showed an improvement in the Chinese market: China’s gold imports from Hong Kong reached RMB45.8 billion (around $687 million) in the first six months of 2016, up 550 percent from the same period in 2015. The September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair positions participants to tap into opportunities in China as well as in the rest of the Asia Pacific. 

The September Fair, now in its 34th edition, continues to enjoy support from key industry players around the world, according to UBM Asia, which owns and operates the fair. 

This year’s September Fair will host more than 3,550 exhibitors from 54 countries and regions in more than 135,000 square meters of exhibition space. AWE will display jewelry raw materials from over 1,600 local and overseas exhibitors, while HKCEC will showcase fine finished jewelry from around 2,000 international fine jewelry exhibitors.

New exhibitors from Nigeria, Portugal, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Slovak Republic (Slovakia), Tahiti and Vanuatu will be mixing with the veteran vendors. In addition, there will be new group pavilions from Myanmar and Portugal, bringing the number of pavilions to 25. 

“We are excited to unveil numerous new events, launch value-added show features and introduce new exhibitors at this edition as part of our initiative to continually enhance buyers’ experiences,” said Celine Lau, director of Jewellery Fairs, UBM Asia. 

About 58,000 local and overseas visitors are expected to attend during its seven-day run, said Sunny Chan, deputy fair manager, Jewellery Fairs, UBM Asia. This will be a slight increase over the 2015 edition of the fair.

The Fair Mobile App is now available for download at http://www.jewellerynetasia.com/. Through the app, users can receive show alerts and updates, browse the list of exhibitors, and create a personal daily planner.

The Alrosa Group, Russia’s leading diamond company and the world’s biggest diamond miner by volume, will again host its diamond auction at the September Fair at AWE. Meanwhile, the 59th Paspaley Pearl Auction and the 68th Robert Wan Tahiti Perles Auction will be held at HKCEC. 

Also returning are the world’s largest diamond pavilion, Asia’s biggest gemstone marketplace, and the Hong Kong Pavilion and the Hong Kong Premier Pavilion, which house the biggest display of Hong Kong jewelry in the world. 

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