Valentine’s Day: 20 Jewelry Gifts That Say I Love You

Rubelite cushion ring by Fusaro Jewelry

I am aware that Valentine’s Day is celebrated in many countries around the world and I’m just as aware that readers of this blog are also from all over the world. 

With this in mind, I selected jewelry that is available in the US, in other countries and online. Some of the pieces are extremely rare and others are more easily available. For example, one yellow gold ring in the group can only be purchased at the jeweler’s store on the famed Parisian shopping street, rue de la Paix. Two other pieces are available in very limited numbers at a handful of company boutiques. Most of the items are available at retailers throughout the US. One fancy colored diamond company is almost a pure-play e-commerce firm. So no matter where you live you can order from them.

As of this writing Valentine's Day is only 10 days away. So no matter where you live, there's little time left to buy that thoughtful, unique jewelry gift for Valentine's Day.

Rubelite cushion ring by Fusaro Jewelry (top photo) flanked by marquised diamonds set In platinum ring. www.fusarojewelry.com

18K rose gold ring by Mary Esses features her signature fabric texture in an interlaced band design adorned with 0.35cts of white diamonds. www.maryesses.com

Amour collection by Leibish Fancy Diamonds with pavé-set heart-shaped diamond jewelry, each designed with fancy intense yellow or fancy pink diamonds. www.leibish.com

London blue Topaz ring by Lisa Nik with diamonds and secured with prongs in the shape of little hearts. www.lisanik.com

Flora Centrix diamond necklace by McTeigue & McClelland hand-made in 18k yellow gold and platinum featuring 19 old European-cut diamonds. mc2jewels.com

Paraiba ring by Oscar Heyman featuring platinum and 18k yellow gold centered with a 7-carat oval Paraiba tourmaline surrounded by 6 oval diamonds and 6 round fancy yellow diamonds. www.oscarheyman.com

Diamond, sapphire and tsavorite ring by Lydia Courteille in 18k gold that covers the finger. www.lydiacourteille.com

Bella Ring by Robert Procop, ruby and pink sapphires are the main gems in this 18k yellow ring embellished with diamonds. www.robertprocop.com

Maxi Earrings by Carrera y Carrera feature flowers in hand-made 18k gold with diamonds from the Seda Imperial collection. www.carreraycarrera.com

Verdura 75th Anniversary Limited Edition 'Theodora' Cuff made of sapphire, emerald, and amethyst in high relief, surrounded by rubies, diamonds, aquamarines, garnets, citrines and peridot, set in 18k gold, on a hinged cuff of black enamel over gold. www.verdura.com 

Heart earrings by Piaget in white gold paved with brilliant diamonds to accentuate the playful shape of the heart. www.piaget.com  

Bizzotto Firmamento Bracelet in 18k rose gold chains embellished with 1.53 cts. of diamonds. www.bizzottogioielli.com

Evanescente Ring by Mellerio dits Meller Médicis, a gold openwork motif in the shape of lily petals embellished with diamonds is used for this ring. Part of the Médicis collection designed by French jewelry designer, Edéenne, it celebrates the 400th year anniversary of the Parisian jewelry store. www.mellerio.fr/en

Teddy Bear Pendant by Shawish in 18k white gold with pink sapphires, black diamonds, brown diamonds and white diamonds. This is perhaps the most popular jewel I've ever written about. www.shawish.ch

Diamond Heart Pendant by Lagos in sterling silver beading frames a heart of pave diamonds finished on a 16- or 18-inch ball chain. www.lagos.com

Amorfus Earrings by Vianna, 18k white gold, set with blue topaz and diamonds from the Brazilian jewelry design firm. www.viannabrasil.com

Australian South Seas Pearl Earrings by Yoko in 18k white gold, 3.10 carats of G-VS diamonds and 26.74 carats of sapphires with the 10-11mm pearls. www.yokolondon.com

Cento Flowers necklace, earrings and ring by Roberto Coin in white gold with Cento diamonds, known for its 100-facets. us.robertocoin.com

A cabochon ruby and diamond bracelet by Suzanne Belperron available at Fred Leighton New York, with more than 50 carats of rubies and over 2 carats of baguette diamonds. www.fredleighton.com

Starfish by Gismondi in 18K rose gold with pink sapphires and natural white diamonds from the Italian jewelry company. www.gismondijewellery1754.com

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Valentine’s Day: 10 Lovely Ladies’ Watches with Muscle

The Margot by Christophe Claret

Women deserve timepieces that are not only beautiful and stylish but also have the power and complexity of men’s watches. In other words they should have watches with robust movements and advanced complications. 

During the past few years watch companies have been listening to women who want their watches to be more than just pretty face. 

Keeping this in mind I curated 10 watches in which the majority combine beauty with muscle.

The Margot watch from independent watchmaker Christophe Claret  (top picture) creatively answers the timeless French question, “He loves me... he loves me not.” The center of the dial has a daisy. At each press of a pusher at 2 o’clock one or two petals of the flower disappear. At the same time a “sentiment” is displayed on the dial at 5 o’clock, along with a chime: un peu (a little), beaucoup (a lot), passionnément (passionately), à la folie (madly) and pas du tout (not at all). Both the petals and expressions are presented randomly. Pressing the reset pusher at 4 o’clock makes all petals reappear around the pistil. The blue mother-of-pearl outer dial has pear-shaped diamonds at 3 o’clock, 6 o’clock and 9 o’clock. The display back reveals the EMT17 automatic rotor, a carved, flower-shaped carrousel of colors, with a central cabochon concealing the rotor’s ball bearings.

The Breguet Reine de Naples is a highly complicated watch in a bejeweled oval-shaped case. The 18k white gold bezel and case are set with 131 baguette diamonds. The flange is set with 73 brilliant-cut diamonds and the crown is set with a briolette diamond. Dial in 18k gold enhanced with 147 brilliant-cut diamonds. Complication showing the day and night in the upper half, with the sun represented by the Breguet balance-wheel and a hand-engraved titanium moon, together rotating in 24 hours. The watch is powered by Breguet automatic movement.

The Chopard Happy Sport Tourbillon Joaillerie houses a Chopard L.U.C 02.16-L tourbillon movement. Available in 18k white or rose gold, the diamonds represent snow that entirely carpets the dial. The tourbillon bridge is gem-set and the bezel is embellished with 36 trapeze-cut diamonds. The crown features baguette-cut diamonds and a briolette-cut diamond. Seven diamonds on the tourbillon spin between two sapphire crystals. 

Bulgari Lucea Black is housed in an 18k pink gold case and crown and cabochon-cut pink stone set with a diamond. Powered by the caliber B77 automatic movement with the date window at 3 o’clock. Black dial with sunburst guilloché motif, pink gold-plated hands, hour-markers and Roman numerals.

Baume & Mercier Promesse is a watch practically created for Valentine's Day. Polished and satin-finished steel, this 34 mm watch is powered by a Swiss-made automatic caliber. The silver-colored “drapé guilloché” dial is accented by gilt Roman numerals and diamond-set indexes.

The sale of the Frédérique Constant Ladies Automatic World Heart Federation supports the World Heart Federation’s “Hearts of Children” campaign. The 34mm bi-color stainless steel and plated rose gold case has a bezel set with 48 diamonds. The dial has the WHF logo in the center. It is powered by the FC-303 caliber, automatic movement decorated with the WHF logo and “Hearts of Children” on engraved sunray bridges.

As the name suggests, Girard-Perregaux Cat's Eye Anniversary, celebrates the collection’s 10-year anniversary with a dial blanketed in metallic rays. The dial features a gray-tinted white mother-of-pearl backdrop with 73 sapphires at tips of the rays ranging from bright to pastel pink. The bezel of the iconic oblong case is adorned with 62 brilliant-cut diamonds. It is powered by the GP03300 automatic movement.

Harry Winston Avenue Classic Diamond Drops is set with 29 brilliant-cut diamonds. The white gold case of this watch serves as a frame to showcase the composition of the dial, like a window gazing out towards the sky. The textured base of the dial is shown in shades of grays, creating a contrast to the sparkle of the diamonds. A snow-setting featuring 190 brilliant-cut gems cascades down the dial, providing movement and emotion.

Carl F. Bucherer Pathos Diva stainless steel and 18k rose gold watch is powered by the caliber CFB 1963 automatic movement.

Tissot T-LADY T072 features a rose-gold, PVD case, brown MOP dial surrounded by mother-of-pearl and a two-tone bracelet. It is powered by the Powermatic 80 automatic movement. 

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Valentine's Day: 10 Watches for the Man in Your Life

Graham Chronofighter Oversize Superlight Carbon. The 47 mm superlight black carbon nanotube composite case results in a watch that weighs less than 100 grams. TheG1747 automatic chronograph caliber has the date at 8 o’clock; with an Incabloc shock absorber; 48 hours power reserve; black carbon fiber trigger, dial and bezel; and smoked sapphire crystal case back.

Love is love and men deserve tokens of appreciation as much as women. Well … maybe not as much but close. 

For Valentine's Day I selected 10 watches, most of them for those with an active lifestyle but a few that can be worn at more formal occasions, that would make any man (watch geek or not) happy. The remaining nine are below:

MB&F Legacy Machine 1 Platinum. The three-dimensional manual winding movement was developed for MB&F by Chronode and created by Jean-François Mojon and Kari Voutilainen. The bespoke 14mm balance wheel has four traditional regulating screws floating above the movement and dials. Two dials display the hours and minutes in two time zones. The platinum timepiece is available in a limited edition of 33 pieces.

Girard-Perregaux Neo-Tourbillon with Three Bridges is powered by the GP09400 caliber with the tourbillon case at 6 o'clock position and a micro-rotor mounted under the barrel at the 12 o'clock. The titanium tourbillon completes a full rotation in one minute.

Alpina Alpiner 4 Chronograph combines the 4 essential features for a sports watch to be called a sports watch: 1) antimagnetic, 2) antishock, 3) water-resistant and 4) stainless steel. 

Breitling Chronomat 41 Airborne Sierra Silver Dial. This 30th anniversary edition of Breitling's best selling pilot watch is distinguished by its satin-brushed rotating bezel equipped with four raised rider tabs serving to count off flight times, while facilitating rotation even with gloved hands. It is powered by the Breitling Caliber 01 automatic movement.

Carl F. Bucherer Patravi ScubaTec diver's watch is powered by Automatic, calibre CFB 1950.1. The bezel of the watch can only be rotated counterclockwise to avoid accidental manipulations. A luminous coating glows light blue so the dial can be easily seen underwater. 

Fred Leigton Converted Pocket Watches, a collection of antique pocket watches converted to wrist watches.

Montblanc Meisterstück Heritage Automatic Date is classic timepiece that displays the date at 3 o'clock. It is powered by the MB M13.21 caliber.

Arnold & Son Royal TEC1 combines a tourbillon, a column wheel chronograph and an automatic winding system. It contains the Arnold & Son mechanical movement A&S8305, tourbillon chronograph, self-winding, anthracite dial inside a 45mm 18k red gold case.

Zenith El Primero Lightweight, this carbon watch with a striking 10th of a second function is powered by the El Primo 400B titanium automatic movement. The date window at 6 o'clock features a red dot with a small seconds window at 9 o'clock.

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Tradeshow Networking

Baselworld 2014 Photo credit: Courtesy of Baselworld

By Lisa Nikfarjam of Lisa Nik, Inc.

Every year it can seem like we are going around in a circle from one event to the next, one store to the next, and one tradeshow to the next. I've heard many retailers and manufacturers ask, “Are we doing too many tradeshows?” and “Maybe we should sit this one out?”

Having established a company during the past five years, I realize that every time I attend a tradeshow or visit a store, or made the effort to attend an event, something significant happens. Companies that have existed much longer may forget this and newer companies may feel hesitant or not even know about the networking opportunities at trade shows. 

We exhibit at the Centurion Jewelry show in Phoenix and at The Couture Show annually. In addition, I attend Baselworld. Walking around this fair, I am always surprised to experience the things that can happen while standing in line for cappuccino, waiting for someone at a hotel lobby and even on the airplane or train from Zurich. There is a special energy in Basel, maybe because the town is laid out in a way that makes things more intimate, making it much easier to bump into fellow jewelers. Since most people are not shy about eavesdropping, you can literally be having a conversation on the tram on the way to the fair and end up with three new friends and business contacts by the time you get there.

I would compare networking in Basel to the feeling that you may have had when doing an abroad program in college. I find that generally, the North Americans congregate together and are pretty easy to find. After walking the colored stone sections in Basel each day, hunting for new materials and colored gemstones, the end of day routine usually leads me to the Plaza, Ramada, or Three Kings lobby to meet up with friends and colleagues. With certainty I know that in these three places, I will find a familiar crowd of editors, retailers, tradeshow executives to share my findings with. 

There are also significant networking opportunities surrounding the JA New York shows, JCK Events, In Store, and the AGTA GemFair Tucson. This year, during the Tucson show, JCK is partnering with the American Gem Society Young Titleholders and Gen Next Jewelers to host a networking mixer on February 3 at the JW Marriott Hotel. For more information on how to attend this event, join GNJ on Facebook.

The Women's Jewelry Association, American Gem Society and GNJ associations make it easy to attend exciting awards ceremonies, mixers, and cocktail receptions. One of the most important galas you can attend in the industry is the WJA Awards for Excellence held during the summer. Whether you are a designer, editor, retailer, manufacturer or industry service provider, there is something special that can happen to you by attending this gala.      

To make the most of it, you have to treat all of these events as an extension of the tradeshows and be prepared to fearlessly talk to new people that you may have never met before. Following up with new friends and acquaintances is always easy when you have had fun mingling while at work.

Lisa Nikfarjam is founder of the jewelry design firm, Lisa Nik, a company that combines colored gemstones, diamonds, and artful elements to create fashionable jewelry that women around the world can enjoy on any occasion.

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Red Carpet Jewelry at SAG Awards

Jennifer Aniston in an Amrit yellow gold jewelry chain

The Screen Actors Guild Awards Sunday presented a second opportunity for jewelry to shine on the red carpet. Although many of the outfits worn were bright and colorful, the jewelry that was was largely based on white metals and diamonds. 

There was a little bit more color present than during the Golden Globe Awards red carpet a few weeks earlier. But still white and conservative were the key themes again when it comes to jewelry. 

Below are some of the top looks of the evening:

Jennifer Aniston (top photo) was practically shimmering in yellow (her dress and even her skin). She wore a long gold Amrit jewelry chain accompanied by Fred Leighton yellow gold bracelets and earrings. It was one of the boldest statements on the SAG red carpet.

Maggie Gyllenhaal also delved into the yellow gold trend wearing Fred Leighton Victorian Gold pendant earrings and 1940s gold, peridot and diamond ring. 

However, the red carpet was most characterized by Reese Witherspoon displaying an elegant ensemble of more than $3.5 million worth of Harry Winston diamonds that included emerald-cut diamond drop earrings set in platinum, a 24-carat princess-cut diamond line bracelet set in platinum, and a cushion-cut pink sapphire & diamond cluster ring.

The Forevermark brand is dependent on white diamonds with white metals. Kaley Cuoco Sweeting was elegantly layered in a variety of pieces including Forevermark by Leo Schachter Flower Stud Earrings with Round Brilliant Forevermark Diamonds set in 18k white gold; two diamond and platinum Forevermark bracelets, and Forevermark diamond cuff set in 18k white gold.

Alysia Reiner was equally elegant wearing a full suite of diamond jewelry by Simon G. Jewelry in 18k white gold.

Patricia Arquette in Fred Leighton 19th Century gold pendant earrings.

Uzo Aduba in Forevermark by Rahaminov Diamonds, including Flower Cluster stud earrings; The Center of My Universe diamond ring; and diamond line bracelets, all in 18k white gold.

Laverne Cox in Forevermark Diamonds, including Forevermark by Natalie K The Center of My Universe bracelets; Forevermark pave oval ring; and Forevermark circle earrings, all set in 18k white gold.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus added a touch of color in Fred Leighton cushion cut diamond drop earrings with an amethyst and rose-cut diamond scalloped cluster ring.

A newcomer to the red carpet, Kimiko Glenn kept to the understated theme by with a contemporary look by wearing Dionea Orcini ear climbers. In white of course. 

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Jewellery & Gem Fair - Europe To Divide Products Into Three Sections

UBM Asia will implement what it calls a product “sectorisation” concept for the tradeshow Jewellery & Gem Fair-Europe. Under the concept, the fair will be divided into three sections—loose materials, fine jewelry and packaging, tools & equipment—with of the goal of making it easier for buyers to locate exhibitors and products. It's the same concept it uses for its other trade fairs.

The second annual JGF Europe will be held March 22 – 25 at Messe Freiburg, Germany. 

“The product sectorisation concept received a warm welcome from exhibitors and visitors at the world’s number one fine jewelry event—the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair. We are bringing this idea to JGF Europe,” said Celine Lau, director of Jewellery Fairs, UBM Asia. 

JGF Europe is positioned as a B2B mid-end jewelry sourcing platform for continental Europe. This year’s fair will expand from three halls to four halls and will include the central foyer. The exhibition area totals 25,000sqm, 47 percent larger than the first edition.

Most exhibitors expanded their booths, according to Lau. At the fine jewelry section, there will also be a wider range of products and product categories with associations and group pavilions from India, Italy, Germany, Hong Kong, Mauritius, Thailand, Turkey and the United States.

Fine jewelry companies that have confirmed their participation include Friedrich Binder GmbH & Co KG, DiamondGroup GmbH, Euro Gems Srl, Herbert Giloy & Soehne GmbH & Co KG – bellaluce, HN Jewelry Group, Lenti Srl, Lorenzo Jewelry Limited, Rio Pearl, Pranda Group, Su-Raj Inter Gold Pvt Ltd and Thien Po Ltd.

As of now, more than 60 percent of exhibitors are from Europe. The remaining suppliers are from around the world with the larger contingents from Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.

Visitor pre-registration for the fair is now open online. More than 1,200 buyers pre-registered, UBM Asia said.

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