Couture Blog

24K Club of Southern California to Honor Erica Courtney & Lula Halfacre

 

The 24k Club of Southern California, a preiminent trade organization, has chosen two fantastic ladies this year to receive their Excellence in Service award.

Both entrepreneurs are members of our Couture Community and both bring exceptional presence, grace and excitment to our show.

Designer Erica Courtney of Beverly Hills, CA and Lula Halfacre of Traditional Jewelers in Newport Beach, CA will be celebrated on Saturday, October 22nd for their "exceptional leadership and contributions to the fine jewelry industry," says Steve Weiss, 24 Karat President. “Erica and Lula have the qualities of being exceptional leaders. Having worked with them on the 24 Karat Board, they are also extraordinary people.”

It's great to see these ladies be acknowledged for their industry contributions -- we tip our hats to you, too!

 

 

Erica Courtney

Since 1984, Erica Courtney has been building one of the most recognized and successful fine jewelry brands in the industry. Inspired by the history and glamour of Hollywood, Erica designs from her heart and strives to “create jewelry that is treasured and remembered.” 

Based in Los Angeles, Erica Courtney is always a favorite on the red carpet and in media. Her covetable designs have been worn by Madonna, Julia Roberts, and Johnny Depp – just to name a few. Her jewelry has also has also graced the pages of Vogue, InStyle, People and The New York Times.

Erica’s intense love affair with master craftsmanship is embodied in each and every exquisite piece in her award-winning collection.  Not only has she received accolades from celebrities and press, Erica has also gained notoriety from her peers, winning numerous awards from Women’s Jewelry Association, AGTA Spectrum, United Brand and Town & Country.

Erica Courtney jewelry can make anyone feel like royalty, and undeniably DROP DEAD GORGEOUS®.

 

 

 

 

Lula Halfacre

Lula Halfacre is the CEO/CFO of Traditional Jewelers located in Fashion Island in Newport Beach and Cross Creek Road in Malibu, California.  Lula and her late husband, Marion Halfacre, opened their first store in 1975 in Mississippi and moved to Newport Beach four years later.  This move allowed Traditional Jewelers to grow into one of the top independent fine jewelers of the Unites States – and in 1991, they relocated to prestigious Fashion Island, where their store remains today.

When founder Marion Halfacre sadly passed away in 2007, Lula appointed five family members to continue the expansion of the company. Since that time, the family has successfully maintained the traditions, service, quality and integrity that have become synonymous with Traditional Jewelers.

In 2008, Traditional Jewelers opened a second location in Malibu’s premier retail center, Country Mart Plaza.  The same year, Lula Halfacre was named “Citizen of the Year for Newport Beach”.  Today, Traditional Jewelers continues to give back to the community with donations to over 100 charities per year and continues its involvement with the Newport Beach and Orange County communities.

 

NEW for 2011: Couture Mobile Directory!

We are pleased to present our first Couture Mobile Directory!

You will notice each exhibitor in the Couture Directory & their Salon has a QR barcode, which provides attendees with exhibitor information when they scan it with a free reader downloaded to their Smartphone. It’s fast and easy to use on any Smartphone!
 
For a free QR code reader, choose one:
 
Option1:
Text TAPPINN to 43588
 
Option 2:
Go to www.coutureshowQR.com on your mobile phone
 
Now you have access to our Couture exhibitors and staff, all on your mobile device!

Marina B is Latest to Join the Ranks of Exhibitors at Couture 2011

COUTURE ADDS ANOTHER ICONIC NAME TO DESIGNER ROSTER

Couture recently announced the addition of Marina B, the iconic brand created by Marina Bulgari, to its impressive roster of exhibitors for Couture 2011. The brand was recently acquired by Windsor Jewels, Inc. who will re-launch the collection in early 2011, with its U.S. launch taking place exclusively at Couture Las Vegas in June. Created in 1978 in Geneva’s Place du Molard by Marina Bulgari, the daughter of the renowned jeweler Constantine Bulgari, the Marina B collection flourished during the ‘80‘s and ‘90‘s when it became synonymous with Europe’s original jet set crowd. The brand continues to be prized by collectors and connoisseurs across the globe. 

Under the direction of Windsor Jewelers’ CEO Paul Lubetsky, Marina B is on track to once again become a fine jewelry brand appealing to the crème de la crème of high society. “Couture is unique among trade shows in the jewelry industry,” said Lubestky regarding his decision to hold the U.S. launch of this important brand at Couture.

“Couture alone can provide us with a setting that is consistent with the Marina B image and brand: upscale retailers and the high-end partners that are the vital elements to the success of the re-launch.” 

“Marina B’s impressive history and continued commitment to superior design make this a perfect partnership for Couture,” said Lee Arevian, Couture’s Director of Business Development, “We are proud to deliver the best-of-the-best in design to our retailers, and our comprehensive roster of exhibitors ensures that we cover the spectrum of today’s jewelry marketplace.” 

Smart Luxury

Today's WWD reported the launch of the new, Hermes designed Smart Car.  These pint sized cars which, since their January 2008 release in the states, have become increasingly visible on the impossible-to-find-parking streets of Manhattan, boast an attractive  33 city/41 highway mpg.  The Hermes' version comes in a range of colors, with Hermes leather on the steering wheel and gear shift, and has a price tag starting at $48,564.  While hardly a bargain, considering the non-Hermes version starts around $12,000, just think of the savings at the gas pump!  And imagine the internal nods of approval you'd get if you minimized your carbon footprint by driving this rather than a gas guzzling Range Rover or Rolls Royce, not to mention the bragging rights of perpetually finding a parking spot "right out front!"  No word yet on when they'll be available state-side, but I'll be on the lookout for the smart person who opts for this new take on luxury. 

Couture Jewelers Keep it Sculptural

People are scaling down on luxury--there is no doubt about it. In these uncertain economic times, the luxury markets are taking a big hit. Marketing jewelry as art is a different and promising area for profitability.

Sculptural pieces of fine jewelry can have very long, if not multiple, lives. Often thought to be 'of the moment,' highly designed and sculptural pieces of jewelry will always be in fashion, if the quality and design are right.

Take for example, Sevan's jewel-laden, decked out, sculptural rings. These pieces don't go for understated or subdued. In fact, they are bursting with details, such as crest and micro tiling. The shapes are inspired by architecture and history in Istanbul, and express a freedom of thought design.

Underneath this trend in sculptural jewelry is a thirst for individuality, a desire for uniqueness that will shine through the bleakest of time, and Couture jewelers have this in spades!