Couture Blog

Sharon Stone designs charity collection for Damiani

 

SILVIA DAMIAN, SHARON STONE & JOHN TRAVIS seen here at Donation to Drop in the Bucket and launch of the new Damiani 'Maji' Jewelry Collection designed by Sharon Stone held at The Beverly Wilshire Hotel, Beverly Hills, CA, USA..November 30th, 2010.

 

Hearts On Fire Redefines the Consumer Bridal Experience with iPad Technology

Hearts On Fire, The World’s Most Perfectly Cut Diamond, continues to elevate the brand’s experience at retail by arming their retail partners with iPads to use at point of sale. Utilizing the iPad, Hearts On Fire is digitally extending the retailers’ case for consumers by providing a window into the entire Hearts On Fire diamond and jewelry inventory with the touch of a screen.

 

The Hearts On Fire web application allows the sales professional to work with customers more efficiently, simplifying the search for diamonds, jewelry and complete Diamond Engagement Rings. Retailers will now be able to search Hearts On Fire Diamond Engagement Rings based on their customers’ preference for retail price, center diamond, and mounting design.  Additionally, training for the Brand’s presentation at retail will now incorporate this exciting tool, including the use of iPads at Hearts On Fire University.

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“We had an online tool for our retailers in development, but when the iPad was released in April, we realized it provided the ideal platform for this digital content. Not only will it help showcase the breadth of the Hearts On Fire product line, but it will make the retailer’s presentation and the consumer’s experience the best it can be”, says Ed LaPlante, VP of Information Technology at Hearts On Fire.

 

Hearts On Fire will unveil the iPad tool at the Couture Show in Las Vegas and will begin deploying globally into their retail partners stores by July. 

 

The Couture Jewelers of Fragments Are Ready to Debut New Fabulousness

Trio from Charriol Launch New Fine Jewelry Brand

Charriol veterans Ori and Tal Zemer, whose parents co-founded the Charriol brand 25 years ago, are stepping out to create a brand of their own with Marilyn Harrell, Charriol USA's design director and senior vice president of sales.

Dubbed DeLatori, the brand's focus will be on sterling silver jewelry, with pieces inspired by world travel and studies of the art of ancient lost civilizations.

DeLatori's first collection, "Pompeii," is handcrafted in sterling silver with accents of brushed 18-karat gold and semiprecious gems. The pieces will hit about 20 stores during a soft launch for Spring 2010, followed by a hard launch in early June at the Couture show in Las Vegas, Ori Zemer, co-president of the new company, said.

The motto of the new brand is "Beauty Transcending Time," and the jewelry correspondingly has a vintage artisan appearance that the brand says emulates ancient world civilizations while also fusing elements of 21st century contemporary design.

"The collection is really magnificent and very sophisticated with a unique identity that expresses a woman's individuality," Harrell, De Latori's new design director and senior vice president, said in a media release. "The feel and wearabilty of this new collection is characterized by its bold yet feminine style."

"It has always been our goal and dream to launch our own brand," Ori Zemer said in the media release. "With our parent's knowledge of over 30 years in the industry and their experience in building a brand along with my father's design prowess, we look forward to their advice and guidance throughout this new journey we are embarking on."

Retailers interested in learning more about DeLatori may contact Ori Zemer at (858) 454-0011 or e-mail him at oz@zluxegroup.com.

2009 SAG Awards Red Carpet Jewelry

Jennifer Stone, 15-ear-old star of Disney's The Wizards of Waverly Place proved that it's never too young to start learning about you’re a,b, and c's as in Couture's Erica Courtney.  Jennifer accessorized her deep blue velvet gown with a cocktail ring and earrings from Erica's Tanzanite collection.  Quite a bit of carat for someone who can't even drive!  Jennifer's elders on the runway held their own, even if many were more subtle than they've been in years past.  Two supporting female actor nominees, Amy Adams and Taraju Henson decked themselves in Couture designer H. Stern.  Amy wore diamond studs with her dark-purple Giambattista Valli gown.  Taraji's complemented her Grecian white Herve Leroux dress with gold earrings and jeweled bracelet.  Taraji led the SAG pack with the most nominations, including: Best Ensemble Cast for a Movie Drama and Best Ensemble Cast for a Television Drama. 

   

 

Huge Blue Diamond Sells for Record Price

For all of you bling lovers out there (and I know you're out there), how's this for some super-sized glam?  The Wittelsbach Diamond, a 35.56 carat cushion-shaped gem sold at Christie's for a record $24.3 million.  The piece marks the highest bid ever placed on a gemstone at auction.  The piece, a 35.56 carat cushion-shaped gem, was purchased by Laurence Graff of Graff Diamonds in London. 

The diamond was originally purchased by King Philip IV of Spain in 1664 for his daughter's dowry and passed down through the family.  It acquired the Wittelsbach name when the great grand daughter of King Philip married into Bavarian royalty, including the first king who incorporated the gem into his crown. 

The diamond sold double what it was originally appraised (an encouraging sign about the public's continuing interest in the jewelry industry!).

Couture Coverage on E!

With Hollywood abuzz in anticipation of this weekend's 60th Emmy Awards, the tabloids are hot on the job of tracking celebrity style.  In a recent episode on E! Couture was sited as a one-stop-shopping place for celebrities looking for red-carpet worthy jewelery, with Platinum Guild International's own Michael O'Connor taking the cameras on a tour of the Couture show in Las Vegas, and giving us yet another reason to tune in to the Emmys this Sunday.

Diamonds, Gold, Platinum, Pladium and Seal in the Desert

After putting the finishing touches on the less glamorous side of the business on set-up day, shipping cartons and empty boxes were whisked away, jeans and work shoes were replaced with cocktail attire, and the Couture crowds took to the unusually mild Las Vegas night for the Couture Opening Night Reception.  The undercurrent of excitement was practically audible during the cocktail hour and then, it happened.  The soulful, talented and, it must be said, sexy, Seal took the stage!  In the intimate setting of the pool side stage the audience was close enough to reach up and touch those dancing legs so it was a good thing those beefy security guys were there to remind everyone to keep their hands to themselves.  Even those previously noncommittal were singing a different tune after seeing the star perform and it became apparent to everyone how Seal smite one of the sexiest women on earth.
   
Seal mania continued when the close-enough-to-touch star hit the Mouawad booth to show off his new line of jewelry (oh, yeah, right, this is a jewelry show!), followed by a lunch of about twenty editors who hung on every word out of the star-turned-designer's mouth. 

Later on the evening of the Opening Night Reception, uber-talented Couture designer Katie Brunini hosted a dinner at Wing Lei (one of the best restaurants in the Wynn) to showcase her newest collection , "Spirit Animals."  Both food and jewelry went around the lazy susan and everyone who attended is still raving about it days later.  Other designers, who will remain nameless for fear of jinxing their good fortune, are looking forward to possible television spots on E! Entertainment, when the producers visit Couture to highlight the fact that Couture is THE place for consumers to spot the hottest in fine jewelry and watches.  The always articulate Michael O'Connor from Platinum Guild International will be on hand to lead the film crew to the hottest designers on the floor. 

All in all, it's shaping up to be a spectacular show with more candy (thanks Departures Magazine Candy Classics!), gorgeous jewelry, good friends and cocktails than any girl safely needs, but hey, it's Vegas, we're never gonna survive unless we get a little crazy.