The Big Bold Bling of Jacob & Co.

Jacob & Co. Ladybug Cocktail Ring

BASEL, Switzerland – It took an hour for my eyes to adjust to normal light after visiting the Jacob & Co. showroom at Baselworld. The multi-carat, multi-colored diamond and gemstone jewelry was a blinding spectacle of glitter and sparkle. The following is a short and modest list of jewelry selected from the high-bling bauble parade I witnessed.

The Novelty Safari Collection
Multicolored sapphires, black Tahitian pearls, a colorful collection of South Seas pearls are among the highlights of this collection of animal-inspired gold jewelry. The colorful ladybug rings (pictured above), the rose gold snake earrings (left) and the rose gold frog cocktail ring all have these multiple flourishes and run from $11,400 to $32,250.

The Diamond Lace Collection
The Lace Pattern Full-Finger Ring with double spring shank is made with 18k rose gold melded into an intricate lace pattern paved with 4.24 carats of round-cut diamonds. Match that with a rose gold lace chandelier earrings formed into multiple round lace patterns and again topped with tiny round diamonds totaling 6.5 carats. The ring retails for $19,000 and the earrings for $21,400. 

The Leaf Collection
Black rhodium plated gold and diamond pave pendant and chandelier earrings set in a leaf-shape. The pendant comes with a two-row diamond bail and a five-strand 18-inch chain. The pendant retails for $12,900 and the earrings for $21,450.



 

The Titanium Collection
The lightness of the metal and delicacy of the design and unusual color are among the attributes that these earrings have. The purple titanium diamond-pave double circle pendant earrings with 12.45 carats of diamonds retail for $32,000. If you prefer earrings with length there are the blue titanium chandelier earrings with hanging diamond strands. More than 650 briolette white diamond pave adorn the hanging earrings totaling nearly 14 cts., yet it weighs only 6.45 grams ($34,000).

Jacob & Co. Tourbillon and 5 Timezones Watches

BASEL, Switzerland – U.S.-based Jewelry and timepiece company, Jacob & Co., presented several watches that challenged conventional watchmaking methods in terms of design and technical advancements. Three of the watches that represent a sampling of what was shown to me at the Baselworld trade fair follow.

Cyclone Tourbillon

This unusual watch (pictured above) is receiving a great deal of play in the international press for its transparent appearance and technical qualities. The company says it is the first tourbillon in which the tourbillon system and the automatic winding system are completely visible and integrated with each other. The tourbillon carriage is mounted on the oscillating mass of the automatic winding system, moved from its normal position on the back of the watch to the dial side of the movement, offering a full view of its motion. The entire arrangement is contained in a calbre LFT 108 movement, 11.91mm in height, with a diameter of 34.60mm. The automatic winding system is bidirectional, with a power reserve of 45 hours. There is no dial in the conventional sense. Instead, the hour and minute display, small seconds display, and power reserve are incorporated directly into the upper plate of the movement, allowing free movement, as well as an unobstructed view.

Ghost 5 Collection

Part of its new G5 series of the company’s well-known Five Timezones watches, the timepieces show the day and date in five different time zones “on demand.” With the press of a button, the digital displays are illuminated. The pentagonal shape of the case is in the style of the company’s. Five Timezones watch. The watch provides a variety of choices. For example, pressing each of the crowns individually illuminates a single time display, while a longer press of the crown located at the upper right corner of the pentagon will illuminate all displays, which are able to display 32 colors including. The date alone can be displayed for each timezone and the Jacob & Co. logo in the center of the watch glows whenever the time display is activated. Each Ghost timepiece features an interchangeable bezel, available in black PVD, carbon fiber, stainless steel, or 18k rose gold, with white or black diamond set bezels also available.

Grand 5 Collection

This watch collection is similar to Jacob & Co.’s original Five Timezones watch in displaying the local time, as well as the time in four referenced world class cities around the globe. However, the pentagon-shaped watch shows the local time on a dial of the same dimensions as the other timezones. Its central focus is a “turbine” accent that anchors the design and is reminiscent of the air intake of the jet engines. The company says it evokes the adventurous spirit of the 1960s when air travel when the term “jet setter” was coined. Aerodynamically styled bezel elements further accentuate that link. Finishes include 18k rose gold, stainless steel, and stainless steel finished in black PVD (one model receives the full black PVD treatment.) All Grand timepieces are powered by Swiss precision quartz movements, and come with black rubber straps with folding clasps.

Tomorrow, Jacob & Co.'s new jewelry collections from Baselworld.

Angelina Jolie, Robert Procop Unveil Jewelry Collection for Charity

As reported in December, Angelina Jolie and Robert Procop were teaming up to create a jewelry line with statement gemstones. For the Golden Globes in January Jolie wore a pair of emerald earrings from the collection (pictured), which set off a wave of emeralds and other green gemstones worn by the stars and celebrities on the Oscars red carpet.

Now the duo recently unveiled the collection, “Style of Jolie,” during an invitation only museum quality exhibition at Julien's Auctions in Beverly Hills. All proceeds from the sale of the line will go toward Jolie’s foundation, “Education Partnership for Children of Conflict.”

“What we're showing here is a collection that Angelina and I have been working on for the last nine months or so, building not only a part of her style but real artistic forms using gemstones as a centerpiece,” Procop, the former CEO of Asprey, said in the video below. “But our main mission is helping children in crisis be educating children around the world.”



The collection (individual pieces can be viewed on the Robert Procop Exceptional Jewels website) includes a five-row quartz tablet bracelet, pear-shaped citrine and cushion-cut necklace, and green beryl tablet earrings.

The collection is still available for private viewing at Julien's. Appointments can be made by contacting creativestudio@robertprocop.com.

Paris Hilton Sued for Allegedly Keeping Stolen Damiani Jewelry

A 2008 photo of Paris Hilton between Giorgio and Silvia Damiani while wearing the Italian brand's diamond jewelry.

I almost get the feeling that Paris Hilton is jealous over the all the attention being given to Lindsay Lohan, who is being accused of stealing jewelry from a Venice, Calif., store.

According to published reports, the celebrity socialite is being sued by German insurer, Allianz SE, for not returning $60,000 worth of Damiani jewelry. It was among a reported $2.7 million worth of jewelry stolen from her Los Angeles house on December 19, 2008. Hilton borrowed the jewelry from the Italian brand’s Manhattan store in 2007. (Reports indicate that it came from “Manhattan Jeweler Damiani,” which makes it appear that it was borrowed from a local jewelry store in Manhattan that happened to be named Damiani.)

Allianz is reportedly claiming that the Los Angeles police found and returned the jewelry to Hilton after it had already paid Damiani’s claim under an insurance policy.

The company reportedly said that Hilton has not responded to repeated attempts to contact her by email and phone to return the jewelry.

A Hilton spokeswoman reportedly said that the only jewelry that was returned was costume jewelry.

Damiani refused to comment.

Report: Tiffany Goes After More Counterfeiters

In its ongoing assault against online counterfeiters, Tiffany & Co. is suing several China companies for selling copied versions of its jeweler and misrepresenting its brand, according to a report in the U.K.-based trade publication, Professional Jeweller.

The luxury retail jeweler has filed a lawsuit against Alice Don, Alice Huang, Fiona Jones, and four other China-based defendants, all of whom Tiffany claims are behind sites retailing counterfeit Tiffany-branded jewelry. They include domain names Tiffanyinthebox.com, tiffany4girls.com and pandoraoutlets.com., according to the report.

The suit filed by Tiffany in New York is claiming trademark infringement, trademark counterfeiting, false designation of origin, trademark dilution, and unfair competition, according to the report.

The New York-based company, in its complaint, reportedly says the websites sell counterfeit versions of its merchandise, which “not only copy the designs, patterns, and color schemes associated with Tiffany products, but also expressly identify the counterfeit products as ‘Tiffany’ and make unauthorized use of the trademark Tiffany name.”

According to the report, the defendants admit that the counterfeit products they offer for sale are not authentic, but are instead marketed as replica and less expensive versions of Tiffany jewelry.

Tiffany is asking the US court to ban the sites from selling counterfeit items while transferring their ownership to Tiffany, according to the report. The company is also asking for monetary damages.

In December 2010, Tiffany filed suit against three Chinese nationals and other unnamed defendants for operating 44 websites that offer counterfeit Tiffany products.

Luxury Brands Report Strong Sales in March

Luxury retail sales continue to be the bright spot in an otherwise fragile U.S. retail sector that is balancing on a number of internal and external factors.

In March, luxury department stores reported sales increases for stores open more than a year. Among them are Saks Fifth Avenue (up 11.1 percent) Neiman Marcus (up 8.8 percent) and Nordstrom (up 5.1 percent). Victoria’s Secret, the high-end lingerie store owned by Limited Brands reported a 19 percent increase in same store sales.

Meanwhile, Limited-owned GAP, a mid-market brand, reported a same store sales drop of 9 percent. Other mid-market and low-end stores were disappointing, as well, including Target (down 5.5 percent), Dilliards (down 1 percent) and Kohl’s (down 6.5 percent).

The International Council of Shopping Centers said comparable sales at chain stores increased 2 percent in March, year-over-year. The retail organization said a late Easter impacted year-over-year sales data.

“Sales for the month of March were on the high side of our expectations despite the negative impact of the Easter-date shift and less than favorable weather conditions in parts of the country,” said Michael P. Niemira, chief economist and director of research for ICSC. “This gain, in the face of somewhat adverse factors, was encouraging and reflected a solid underlying trend in consumer demand.”

Tissot’s Interactive Window Display at Harrods

Those of you who read this website regularly know that Swiss watchmaker Tissot has been using augmented reality displays to market its products at department stores and online. This time, the famous Harrods department store in London gets the interactive treatment.

The company is showcasing its Ladies and T-Touch collection in one of Harrods window displays on Brompton Road as part of the store’s new promotion celebrating all things Swiss. The window display allow consumers to virtually “try on” watches by placing a paper band around their wrist and showing it to the interactive display screen on the window. The fully interactive touch screen allows these potential customers to engage with a wider range of Tissot watches than in the past.

The augmented reality display, which began April 1, is live and fully interactive on weekends between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. The display will be in place till April 24.

As part of the promotion, customers have the opportunity to win a Tissot Jungfraubahn watch and a holiday to Jungfraujoch to witness the mountain panorama in Switzerland.

The display is provided by London-based Holition, which specializes in 3D and augmented reality applications online, in-stores and at live events for luxury retailers and brands.