Open Article - INSTOREMAG.COM
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Open Article - INSTOREMAG.COM
S H O P ‘ T I L YA It might just be the most fun you have this year — the world’s best jewelry designers are coming to Vegas and it’s YOU they want to meet. To make sure you’re up to speed on what’s hot and what’s oh-so 2005, we’ve picked the brains of some of the industry’s top pundits, sourced images of what will be on show and polled your peers to find out what’s happening in markets across North America. In terms of overall trends, the circle revolution looks set to continue, with designers seeking to excite overly familiar customers with new circle types, as well as brandnew geometric shapes. (Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the square!) Pastel gemstone colors are out — back are traditional colors like red, blue and purple. In earrings, there’s great news for stretched-out earlobes — heavy, flashy earrings are out, and small is in. As for specific product categories, consider traveling alongside the Diamond Promotion Service as they promote Journey diamond jewelry this fall. Also, try buying jewelry with uncut gems — yes, give those gem-cutters a break and just set some rough in a stone. Also, that flower and animal jewelry you love to hate? It’s ba-aack. And, gold prices be darned, manufacturers are trying to replace those stacks of bangles with statement-making cuffs in a variety of materials. Finally, if you’re ready to gamble in Vegas (or wherever you buy this summer), we’ve got some potential expansion categories: cool non-jewelry products, a brand-new metal to watch and even pet jewelry ... woof, woof! 74 JUNE 2006 WWW.INSTOREMAG.COM INSTORE JUNE 2006 75 3 OVERALL TRENDS STYLE COUNSEL OUTSIDE THE “ Shapes that are hot are circles, ovals, ovoids and variations on these as well as squares and rectangles. Designers are even using geometric links of different materials to set off the design.” CIRCLE Cindy Edelstein JEWELER’S RESOURCE BUREAU; PELHAM, NY “ The geometric look continues in the gold category with more than just circles — new shapes such as squares, triangles and discs are expanding the trend.” Summary: Circles getting a new spin, plus designers expand to other geometric shapes Duvall O’Steen WORLD GOLD COUNCIL; NEW YORK, NY “ Different size and shape links look best, especially gold, rose-gold and white-gold combinations.” 4 Shaye Strager 5 STUDIO PR; NEW YORK , NY RETAILER FEEDBACK *Jewelry designer STAR PICK 73 % N O Y E S Is this a product category you’d consider adding for the 2006 holiday season? 27 FERN FREEMAN strikes the 18K and 22K yellow gold when it’s hot to create this hammered, rectangle link necklace. % RETAILER RESPONSES: 252 Studio œ Great success with MYSTERE collection by HEARTS ON FIRE. Not everyone wants the same plain Jane circle — jazz it up! —Tom Ozment Jr; Fincher & Ozment Jewelers œ Simply put, it’s the hottest item to come down the line in a while. We sold out twice this past Christmas and also did very well at Valentine’s Day. It will continue on! — Bill Warren; The Gold Mine œ The circles were such a hit at Christmas that we do intend to keep them in stock, but will watch them carefully. Once a strong trend like this catches on, the fakes come out in force and will usually kill sales for the “real thing”. —Vicki Cunningham; Cunningham Fine Jewelry œ Although it’s getting a bit tired, it is lightweight, diamond-driven and popular — but I’d definitely go for new shapes! — Eve J. Alfille; Eve J. Alfille Gallery and 76 JUNE 2006 œ All the circles bought for Christmas came back and were exchanged for better basics. — Shawn Cormier; Cormier Jewelers DESCRIPTIONS 1 SANGINI fits a round diamond in a square pendant with this classy 18K yellow and white-gold design. œ We’ve done well with circles and think other geometric shapes will do well. People like to be different — the circles sales will dwindle. — Terry and Sandy Smith; GoldSmith Jewelers œ I don’t like the look. It reminds me of the old virginity jewelry. — Pam and Russ Shoemaker; Stories in Stones œ I have found circles to be a dead end. A customer comes in with a $299 price point in mind and a nicer circle pendant is $600-$700. It’s hard to pull them over on the quality difference. This is the only item I’ve experienced this with recently. Since I won’t carry junk I’m going to avoid them. — Mark Snyder; Snyder Jewelers WWW.INSTOREMAG.COM 2 CHAD ALLISON scores extra points for combining the equally trendy nature and shape themes. Round brilliant diamonds are set throughout, even on the bale. 3 1 2 JODI RAE DESIGNS creates a concentric look with her BARB 2 COLLECTION’S sterling-silver pendant and 18K yellow-gold pendant and earrings set with diamonds. 6 4 THE STUCKEY CO.’S new bridal pendant takes the geometric trend in a symbolic direction with interlocking yellow-gold circles set with diamonds. 5 DALUMI GROUP joins the ranks of designers moving toward ovals, with these diamond-set whitegold earrings. 6 Now part of the concentric crowd is LATA K but the company uses contrasting squares in diamond-set 18K white-gold and agate. DESIGNS, INSTORE JUNE 2006 77 OVERALL TRENDS 3 STYLE COUNSEL “ Buttons, studs, and all sweet shapes close to the ear are coming back in vogue. Whether the style is feminine or whimsical, make sure it complements your face shape! Contrast is best, especially for round and oval faces.” Shaye Strager STUDIO PR, NEW YORK, NY “ Designers have cleaned up their act and so are women. It’s less gobs and gobs of jewelry and more basics like button earrings and studs — studs are the hot item as women return to basics.” 4 NO FEARS FOR EARS Summary: Last year’s earlobe-stretching styles are history. This year, it’s small and tasteful. Michelle Orman & Jessica Milstein LÜP; NEW YORK, NY “ Asscher-cut studs are getting hotter as women turn a classic into something more modern.” DESCRIPTIONS Judd Rottenberg 1 Simply beautiful are these 18K white gold earrings from JANE TAYLOR . Squarecut amethysts secured with enlarged prongs are surrounded by round brilliant diamonds. LONG’S JEWELERS; BURLINGTON, MA RETAILER FEEDBACK 85% 15% RETAILER RESPONSES: 245 œ Any trend in earring sales œ This has always been should be followed closely. This is the easiest category to get women to shop for themselves. No woman can have too many earrings. — Timothy Flowers; Charles Koll Jewelers bread-and-butter in our area. Now we can increase and reach both our “regulars” and the “trend setters”. — Leann Stokes; Stokes Jewelry Services œ With the price of gold œ Our small town is always œ We always seemed to do better with ear-hugging earrings anyway. A few select customers have liked the dangle but most have stuck to the more traditional ... especially in the higher pricepoint earrings. — Sarah Hurwitz; Colonial Jewelers œ We still have buttons, small drops and studs left over from the last time they were “in”! — Craig Husar; Lyle Husar Designs JUNE 2006 œ Small earrings are a must for the working woman. — Terry Parresol; Parresol Jewelers being sky-high, we’d love smaller, more affordable options. — Brian Holman; Holman Jewelers 78 2 For a classic look, try these 18K white-gold studs from RAND. Pavé-set backings add to the high-fashion style. N O Y E S Is this a product category you’d consider adding for the 2006 holiday season? so far behind the trends that we’ll be able to buy threaders as close-outs! — Carla Ann Hillies; Diamond Works œ Small earrings, big earrings, as long as they buy them! I hope that the return of the 4.00 TWC diamond stud is “in” this season, too! — Sarah Priest; Forever Jewelers œ They are more timeless and classic. I hated the chandeliers! — Ila Manners; Goldiggers Jewelers WWW.INSTOREMAG.COM *Designer 5 STAR PICK SLANE & SLANE puts a bug on your ear, instead of inside it, with these gold earrings set with diamonds and aquamarines that feature a bee as a central design element. 6 1 2 3 JAMIE WOLF is looking over her four-leaf clover as part of her recent natureinspired series. These 18K yellow-gold earrings feature bezel-set diamonds. 4 These 20K gold earrings from COOMI are set with rosecut diamonds. This old cut for diamonds is making new friends as today’s women go for antique-looking jewelry. 5 Designer JESSICA FIELDS capitalizes on the circle trend and the nature trend with LEAF LOOP — these 18K yellow-gold and ruby earrings. 6 The most precious of gemstones and metals come together in these platinum stud-earrings set with round brilliant diamonds created by MAEVE GILLIES. INSTORE JUNE 2006 79 OVERALL TRENDS STYLE COUNSEL “ Pastel colors may fall from favor with ‘deep jewel hues’ taking their place, namely (ruby) red, (sapphire) blue and (emerald) green.” Shaye Strager STUDIO PR; NEW YORK, NY “ Popular color combinations include orange and blue, purple and green, and a variety of luminescent hues.” Deborah Yonick “THE JEWELRY LADY”; GLEN ROCK, PA “ Pastels tend to go when the weather gets colder. Purple and green are hot colors for spring and summer 2006. Purple will still be an important color in fall 2006 fashions, but not as important as it is now.” 3 IN LIVING COLORS 4 Summary: Drop those ice-cream flavor colors, this year’s hottest hues are classically rich. Helena Krodel 5 JEWELRY INFORMATION CENTER; NEW YORK, NY DESCRIPTIONS RETAILER FEEDBACK 1 75 N O Y E S Is this a product category you’d consider adding for the 2006 holiday season? % 25 % 2 From LORINCZI JEWELRY comes BRANCH RING, made from sterling silver with 23K gold vermeil set with garnets. 6 RETAILER RESPONSES: 252 œ I’m sick of pale stones! — Gary L. Hill, Leo Hamel & Co. Fine Jewelry œ Women like color, and traditional colors are safer for women self-purchasers. — Dorothy Vodicka, The Gem Collection œ “We have heard big color is what’s selling so we have chosen larger looks and basic colors.” — Tina Snelling, Pugh’s Diamond Jewelers œ No doubt about it — color sells if you have the right pieces so we have expanded our circle pendant into colored-stone circle pendants. They are also hot as we sell them for anniversaries and birthdays. — Lisa Corbin, Tompkins Jewellers Ltd œ These colors sell themselves; pastel didn’t go well for us. — Faye Berman, Robert Jewelers œ Purple seems to be getting a lot of attention (it’s the new pink)...and it doesn’t hurt that it’s my favorite color. — David Lindsay, Purdy’s 3 Jewelry designers like lapis lazuli for its rich, deep blue color. KAREN ASTRACHAN DESIGNS uses plenty of it in this necklace that also features 14K gold accents. Jewellery & Gems œ Clear white stones are bo-r-i-n-g. The fashionjewelry market is dominated by the female self-purchaser. Our ladies want to step out of tradition, if only temporarily, and to express their fun and fashionable side. Show them colorful pieces that are current — but that still stand out in terms of color. Colors that are selling well for us besides clear colorless stones are: blue sapphire, light and dark pink sapphire, Swiss blue topaz, yellow canary, champagne, and citrine. — Au-Co Mai, Emitations.com MAHLIA COLLECTION created ABINAYA , gold domeshaped earrings with delicate scroll detailing, plus detachable emerald and diamond drops. * 4 Tanzanite is best suited for brooches, like this design from ERIC COHEN . Done in high karatage yellow gold, the trillion-cut tanzanite, along with diamonds and pearls, is set in white gold. STAR PICK LAURA GIBSON loves color and it shows with this 22K yellow gold necklace and matching earrings set with amethyst, prehnite, peridot, tanzanite, purple rhodolite, chrysoberyl and chrome diopside. 2 œ Back to basics seems to resonate with my customer base. — Lawrence Allphin, Allphin Jewelers 7 5 MARIA T embraces the purple trend with 18K yellow gold castle-top earrings set with amethyst and diamonds. 6 MARILYN F. COOPERMAN uses emerald in her SHADOW RIBBON made from textured, high-karatage gold. œ Our color business has improved dramatically over the last year by featuring these very colors. We have done best with jewelry from BELLARRI and LIVINGSTONE. — Vicki Cunningham, Cunningham Fine Jewelry 7 It might take forever to tire of COOMI’S ETERNITY ring. Made in 22K yellow gold, the ring features assorted fancy colored sapphires and rubies. 1 80 JUNE 2006 WWW.INSTOREMAG.COM INSTORE JUNE 2006 81