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Platinum jewellery demand to rocket in China
Jan 25th
Demand for platinum jewellery in China will double to record levels this year, according to Johnson Matthey, the precious metals refiner, which released its latest review of the platinum and palladium markets on Tuesday.
Lower platinum prices have reignited buying interest in China’s jewellery sector with net tiffany demand forecast to rise 106 per cent to 1.75m ounces this year as wholesalers restocked and attractive profit margins drew new retailers into the market.
Johnson Matthey said restocking had driven a “dizzying increase” in jewellery production in China as the price differential between gold and platinum had helped platinum jewellery to recapture market share from white gold jewellery.
Record Chinese demand will help global platinum jewellery demand rise almost 80 per cent to 2.45m ounces this year, the first annual increase since 2002.
The strength of China’s platinum jewellery market has acted as a vital counterweight to weakness in the other key sectors for platinum demand in industrial applications such as glass making and the automotive sector.
The slump in car sales before governments in the US and Europe introduced their “cash for clunkers” incentives schemes means gross demand for platinum from the global automotive sector will fall 33 per cent to 2.48m ounces this year to its lowest level since 2000. Platinum is a key ingredient in autocatalysts in the diesel vehicles that dominate car sales in Europe.
Companies that operate fleets of vehicles of vehicles have delayed restocking and this has hurt demand for bracelets from the automotive sector which in Europe is forecast to drop 45.7 per cent to 1.07m ounces this year.
Johnson Matthey said it expected vehicle sales to be higher in 2010 than this year and that autocatalyst demand was returning but cautioned that the impact of the ending of car scrappage schemes was difficult to forecast.
Net global platinum demand was forecast to fall 4.4 per cent to 5.92m ounces this year while worldwide supplies were predicted to rise 1.9 per cent to 6.06m ounces, suggesting a supply surplus of 140,000 ounces in 2009.
Johnson Matthey said it expected platinum prices to trade between a low of $1,280 a troy ounce and a high of $1,550 over the next six months, depending on whether support continued from strength in the gold price, dollar weakness and investor interest.
Holdings in platinum exchange-traded funds currently stand at record levels and Johnson Matthey said it expected investors to buy 355,000 ounces of platinum for ETFs this year.
Overall investment demand was predicted to increase 630,000 ounces helped by Japanese investors buying platinum bars and a rise in North American demand for coins and small bars.
Looking forward, Johnson Matthey said it expected jewellery demand to soften next year as this year’s stockbuilding in China was unlikely to be repeated in 2010.
“Platinum has been successful in capturing market share from white gold, suggesting demand should continue to remain healthy over the coming year, ” said David Jollie, analyst at Johson Matthey.
Although platinum supplies are expected to grow in 2010, helped by production from newer mining operations in South cufflinks and Zimbabwe, Johnson Matthey said the market could move into a modest supply deficit next year as the global economy improved.
Palladium prices should be expected to trade between $290 and $390 a troy ounce over the next six months, helped by continuing investor interest and a recovery in vehicle production.
Net global palladium demand was forecast to fall 3.8 per cent to 6.52m ounces this year while worldwide supplies were predicted to decline 1.8 per cent to 7.18m ounces, suggesting a supply surplus of 140,000 ounces in 2009.
A key uncertainty which bedevils the palladium market is the size of sales from Russia’s state stocks which Johnson Matthey said it expected to remain unchanged at 960,000 ounces this year. Without these Russian sales, the palladium market would be in a supply deficit.
“Investors seem aware of the imbalance between demand and current mine production and are bullish for the palladium price over the longer term” said Mr Jollie.
Holdings in palladium exchange traded funds currently stand at record levels and Johnson Matthey said it expected investors to buy 540,000 ounces of platinum for ETFs this year, a significant rise on the 370,000 ounces purchased in 2008.
Demand for palladium coins and small bars looks set to almost double this year to 95,000 ounces, making a significant contribution to the overall increase in investment demand of 215,000 ounces in 2009.
Palladium’s jewellery market is expected to see demand rise across every region this year with global demand money clips to rise 7.6 per cent to 920,00 ounces this year.
In China, the availability of palladium jewellery varies widely between regions – and even between cities within one province – suggesting that retailers are not universally convinced about the appeal to consumers. China’s palladium jewellery market is expected to see demand rise 4.6 per cent to 680,000 ounces this year.
The fall in demand for palladium from the automotive sector has been much less violent than for platinum. Worldwide gross demand for palladium from automakers is forecast to fall 12.7 per cent to 3.90m ounces this year, the lowest since 2005.
In North America, automotive demand for palladium is predicted to drop 27.5 per cent to 935,00 ounces this year while European automotive demand is forecast to shrink 2 per cent to 985,000 ounces.
European automotive demand for palladium has been boosted by the introduction of the metal into platinum based catalysts. Over half of the catalysts fitted to diesel vehicles now contain palladium, on average 20 per cent, as well as platinum.
Platinum traded at $1,434 a troy ounce on Wednesday, up 55 per cent this year, while palladium was at $365 an ounce, gaining almost 98 per cent in 2009.
Supercuts Knows What You’re Getting for Valentine’s Day
Jan 3rd
Over 2,000 Clients Talk about What They are Getting – and Hoping to Receive
MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 13 /PRNewswire/ — This week, a Supercuts customer survey revealed what men and women are thinking about for Valentine’s Day this Saturday, February 14. Over 2,400 Supercuts clients responded to an online survey and the answers varied from very funny to delightfully heartwarming.
“Supercuts customers are always straightforward with their comments and feelings; and this is tiffany jewelry no exception,” said Todd Scott, Supercuts brand director. “Single or married, this Valentine’s Day is about spending quality time with friends, family and loved ones.”
So — let’s cut to the chase — the Valentine’s Day gifts! What are men getting for their women?
Men have a trio of gifts they are looking at – cards (53%), flowers (51%) and jewelry (15.3%). Yet, 59% of the women are expecting candy! Get going guys!
And interestingly, over 1,000 women took time to write what they wanted for Valentine’s Day. Answers bracelets ranged from diamond engagement rings or time with family and kids, but the most popular was a simple card (60.4%) and dinner out. Respondent #403 gave in and said ‘OK OK, I secretly wouldn’t mind flowers!’ while #1189 is the envy of all women because she ‘received a full-length, red fox fur.’ One popular request (at least from respondents #20, #91, #496, #1206) — a new Wii! And in the ‘It Doesn’t Hurt to Ask’ department, one woman requested a million dollars.
Hundreds shared their plans as well. Many are making a special dinner because, as respondent #55 said, “…just being with my Valentine makes me feel good.” Romance is in the air – one Supercuts client will “treat my wife like the beautiful bride she is.” And then there are those who are not planning to do much more than respondent #712 who will go that extra step and “take a shower.”
Supercuts singles (16.7%) consider friends and family members their Valentine, and they will be out in force this Saturday. Supercuts couples — over 63% of the respondents — are going out for a romantic dinner. And because Supercuts clients are well-groomed, it’s not surprising that 52% are getting a haircut to look good for Valentine’s Day; while 24% of women talked about purchasing new clothes and getting their nails done (15%).
And what gifts do men want? Many didn’t request anything but a card and time with their sweetheart; or as respondent #66 said ‘can’t tell you here….’
So who answered this survey?
– 100% Supercuts customers
– 59.7% of respondents are women, 40.3% are men
– 56.5% are married
– 28.4% are single or never married
– 63.4% are spending Valentine’s Day with their spouse or partner
– 51.2% are spending up to $50 on a gift, while 32.8% expect to cufflinks spend
between $50 and $150 on a gift
– 60% are between 26 and 50 years old; with 25.6% between 18 and 30 years
old
– 20% report a household income between $50,000 and $75,000
– Men are considering three options for Valentine’s Day – cards, 53%;
flowers, 51%; and jewelry 15.3%
– 59% of the women are expecting candy, and 60.4% want a simple
Valentine’s Day card
– 16.7% Supercuts singles consider friends and family members money clips their
Valentine
– 52% of respondents are getting a haircut to look good for
Valentine’s Day
– 24% of women talked about purchasing new clothes and 15% are getting
their nails done.
About Supercuts
With more than 2,000 locations across North America, Supercuts provides consistent, quality hair-care services and professional products to its customers at convenient times and locations with reasonable prices. The concept appeals to men, women and children. Supercuts offers a broad selection of professional haircare products including Paul Mitchell, American Crew, Nioxin, Tigi, Redken, Biolage and more.
EternityDiamonds.com provides customers up to three replica rings at no cost, and return shipping is prepaid
Dec 8th
As its name implies, EternityDiamonds.com has a staff that understands how important – tiffany jewelry and lasting – a diamond ring is to a couple. With that in mind, EternityDiamonds.com offers its online customers a chance to see what a ring looks like before making a purchase decision.
EternityDiamonds.com’s “Try It Before You Buy It” service is just that: a way for consumers to see – and try on – up to three replica rings with no obligation. For example, a silver and cubic zirconium look-alike would be sent as a replica for a white gold and diamond engagement ring.
“It’s a whole new way to buy products online,” said CEO Eli Rendler. “It’s exciting and hassle-free for the customer. ‘Try It Before You Buy It’ is a courtesy to our customers; we simply ask shoppers to return the samples within seven days in the prepaid envelope provided.”
Rendler said the “Try It Before You Buy It” service is especially helpful for customers who don’t cufflinks live near a jewelry store or who want options beyond what local stores offer: “We’re bringing the store to the customer. It’s truly a virtual store.”
“We’re extremely dedicated to customer service,” Rendler continued. “We want to make sure people are happy.” Toward that end, EternityDiamonds.com is willing to custom design any ring and has a 30-day return policy. The company also will not only match a competitor’s price and refund 100% of the price differential, but will also refund an additional 10 percent.
In addition to exemplary customer service, Rendler said what distinguishes EternityDiamonds.com from its competitors is their new and up-to-date styles. Rendler explained, “Because our company sells to bridal jewelry stores across the country, we know the pulse of the marketplace.”
Other customer-oriented features of EternityDiamonds.com include free FedEx overnight shipping and educational resources providing information on diamond shape, cut, color, clarity and weight. They offer thousands of diamonds to choose from and a ring builder to customize your perfect engagement ring.
In addition to the try-at-home service, for a limited time EternityDiamonds.com is offering a free pearl necklace money clips with your diamond ring purchase. To find out more, visit http://www.eternitydiamonds.com or call 888-348-4245.
About EternityDiamonds.com
As third-generation jewelers, EternityDiamonds.com’s parent company has been in the jewelry business for over 35 years. EternityDiamonds.com manufactures and sells directly to the consumer. Its diamonds are certified by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).
Northside Baptist Christmas pageant tickets available Monday
Nov 30th
Tickets will be available beginning at 8:30 a.m. silver jewellery Monday.
The pageant will run Dec. 7-13 with performances at 6:30 p.m. and 8:15 p.m.
For more information contact Northside Baptist Church at 361-578-1568.
Chur
Northside Baptist Church’s annual Christmas pageant, known for its rings elaborate scenery and live animals, is turning 25.
“Silver Bells” is the theme for this year’s pageant, which tells the story of Jesus and will include modern-day holiday song and dance scenes.
“It’s what Christmas is all about,” said Sylvia Manning, who does publicity for the event. “It’s the birth, death and resurrection of Christ and friendship and fellowship and love.”
Manning said the event is suitable for all ages and anticipates available tickets to bracelets quickly run out. Although the project involves nearly 500 church members and is expensive to produce, tickets are free.
“It’s presented as a Christmas gift to Victoria,” Manning said.
More than 9,000 people attended the pageant last year, and similar crowds are expected for the 11 presentations scheduled for this season.
Tickets will be available beginning at 8:30 a.m. Monday. The pageant will run Dec. 7-13 with performances cufflinks at 6:30 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. For more information contact Northside Baptist Church at 361-578-1568.
Alma Randolph Christmas concert set for Sunday
Nov 17th
The Alma Randolph Charitable Foundation’s annual fundraising concert is buy tiffany returning to its roots.
After taking on a patriotic theme for last year’s concert, the foundation is hosting the “Alma and Friends … For the Children Christmas Concert” on Sunday at the RiverPark Center. This is the 16th year the foundation has hosted a concert, which raises money for its annual back-to-school shopping trip.
“We agreed that it would be good to bring the Christmas bangles show” back, said Alma Randolph Patton, who created the foundation in 1993. “It looks like from how ticket sales are going (that) we made the right decision.”
This year’s performers are Deer Park and Meadowland Collaborative Choir, Foust Singers, Musick Studios, Sutton Elementary Chorus, Turning Point Mime Ministry, U.N.I.T.Y Gospel Group and Whitesville AM/ PM Preschool Choir.
Bill and Jo Barron will also be telling the Christmas rings story about the birth of Jesus.
“I just personally felt that was very important, as we kick off the holiday season, to have an opportunity to remind children and adults the real reason for the season,” Patton said.
Patton will be hosting Sunday’s concert, but she will be unable to sing due to health reasons. This is the first year she’s been unable to perform at the concert.
“I am very thankful we’re going to still be able to host the event,” she said. “It’s vitally bracelets important for us to do so in order to reach our goal for next year’s shopping event.”
Last July, 1,000 children received vouchers for $85 to spend on clothing at Walmart and Kohl’s. Many of the concert participants attend area schools. Youth performers have also been an important part of the foundation’s annual concert.
“We started out in 1993 with a great deal of youth involvement,” Patton said. “We’ve only strayed from that maybe a couple of times, last year being one. It’s really an awesome opportunity for us to give children that are more fortunate an opportunity to do something to help cufflinks others.”
Beth Wilberding, 691-7307, bwilberding@messenger-inquirer.com
A Ubiquitous Ring for Small Businesses
Nov 16th
With a memorable domain and corporate name that is destined to match its growing services, silver jewelry Livingston-based Phone.com is delivering ubiquitous Voice over IP (VoIP) communications to small businesses. The three-year-old company is using technology that enables entrepreneurs to use a single business phone number that allows incoming calls to ring simultaneously or in successive order on all existing phone lines (home, office or cell).
An existing phone number can be used as the main business number or an 800 or vanity number can be created. All of this is programmed and managed by visiting the Phone.com website. According to Ari Rabban, Phone.com CEO, no software or hardware needs to be installed in order to be up and running with the company’s flagship product, Virtual Office.
Offered in a variety of four plans ranging from Virtual Office 300 (300 minutes) at $14.88 rings per month (not including state and federal taxes and fees) to Virtual Office 2500 for $74.88, features in the monthly packages include: one or many “never full” voicemail boxes; unlimited extensions; the selection of phone extensions and set call forwarding to any phone number; fax-in and fax-out services; e-mail and sms/mobile alerts for incoming fax and voicemails; low international phone rates (free to certain European countries); up to 500 participant conference calling with optional moderator; international local numbers around the globe; and flexible phone tree, auto attendant. A customer support center provides around-the-clock assistance to users.
“I did not invent something that did not already exist,” Rabban says of the technologies and services that go into Virtual Office. “However, we improved upon our combination of solutions and married them with a great name and a concept focused on the small business market.”
The company was founded two years ago by Rabban and Chairman Mike Mann. They bracelets were approached by a domain investor consortium, which acquired the Phone.com name for seven figures. The consortium wanted Rabban to develop a communications company and use the Phone.com name in exchange for equity in the business.
Another partner in the firm is Alon Cohen, executive vice president and chief technology officer. A resident of Tenafly, Cohen was the co-founder of VocalTec Communications, the first company to provide Internet voice technology worldwide.
Asked why he chose this particular service with the focus on small firms, Rabban explains, “Small cufflinks businesses were underserved by VoIP providers,” he says. “There are millions of small businesses whose buying habits are similar to–but whose needs go beyond–individual consumers. Many of them use a home phone and/or cell phone, but they need something better in order to be more efficient, and appear more professional.”
Phone.com offers Virtual Office for free on a one-month trial basis.
Federal agents bust “staggering” drug ring
Nov 15th
Federal agents said today they have cracked a 10-year, $33 million cocaine distribution buy tiffany centered around several Virginia Beach nightclubs, including Club Mystique and the defunct Ba Da Bing.
The Drug Enforcement Administration today arrested four suspects, charging two with leading the drug conspiracy and two others with laundering proceeds from the sales of crack and cocaine.
The amount of cocaine and crack involved was “staggering,” federal agents said. More than 1 1/2 tons of the drug were distributed throughout the region by the ringleaders and their subordinates, they said.
David E. Bragg Jr. and Jovan D. Hassell are accused of distributing more than 1,500 bracelets kilograms of crack and cocaine, or 3,300 pounds, worth an estimated $33 million wholesale.
Two others named in a criminal complaint, Percy J. Tucker and Robert G. McFadden, were charged with laundering the drug proceeds through various business, including the nightclubs and a trucking company.
The suspects made their initial appearances this afternoon in U.S. District Court. cufflinks U.S. Magistrate Judge F. Bradford Stillman ordered the four suspects jailed pending bond hearings Friday afternoon.
The prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherrie Capotosto, declined comment after the proceeding.
Metz Mecablitz 15 MS-1 Digital Wireless Macro Ring Flash
Nov 12th
Cut the cords with this wireless ring flash with directional control.
There are some things in photography I hope will never go out of style. Tiffany and co Ring flash is one of them. Along with being an ideal light source when capturing close-ups of flowers, fauna, bugs, and other tiny critters, ring flash has found a huge following among fashion photographers for some of the same rea- sons it appeals to Macro shooters – -no shadows. (Ring flash was actually invented for dental photography proving that root canals and saliva bibs aren’t the only things you need to associate with your local dentist’s office.)
Whether you’re shooting a close-up of an arachnid or Heidi Klum – sorry, bad juxtaposition there -having even illumination can make the difference between getting your photo in National Geo or Vogue, or the local Pennysaver newspaper.
Metz, one of my favorite third-party flash makers, has just come out with an excellent new “wireless” ring flash that can sync to any of the major on-camera flash TTL systems out there, whether it’s Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, etc. Called the Mecablitz 15 MS-1 Digital, the ring flash’s nearuniversal TTL compatibility means you can use it either as a remote flash for those difficult to position shots; or as a slave, using your camera’s popup flash or an add-on flash, to trigger it. (The ring flash can also be used manually via a sync cable.)
Metz may not be the flashiest company out there – sorry, that pun really wasn’t intentional -but they do add subtle touches to their products that increase their usability. In the case of Mecablitz 15 MS-I, there are two plastic tabs on either side of the flash that let you manually adjust internal reflectors to up to 20 rings degrees to precisely direct the light. This control, coupled with the ability to adjust the light output left-to-right via the flash’s menu from 1:1 (even) to an 8:1 ratio, means the illumination goes exactly where you want it on your subject. You can also adjust the actual output of the flash from full all the way down to 1/64th power. Perfect for control freaks like me.
The design of the Mecablitz 15 MS-i is fairly user friendly. I paired it with a Tamron AF6omm f/2.0 1:1 Macro lens (reviewed online at PDNGearGuide.com) and the supplied 55mm filter ring clipped easily into the ring flash for a comfortable fit. Three “dropin” rings of up to 62mm are included with the flash
Since I was automatically syncing it to the pop-up flash on my Canon 50D, there was no need for a dangling and distracting sync cord, which was a plus. Metz includes an infrared clamp with the Mecablitz 15 MS-i which goes overyour pop-upflash to prevent stray illumination from creating unwanted shadows, while still letting the control impulses to go through. While the flash seems well built, it’s not heavy, so once it was on the front of the 50D, I almost forgot I was using a ring flash at all.
The only stumble I had was getting the flash to “learn” to sync to the Canon’s E-TLL system. It took a bracelets couple of tries but once the Mecablitz recognizes it, the setting is saved so you don’t have to do it again. As a side note, I’ve always had a problem with the poor translations of Metz’ instruction manuals. In this case, the confusing manual even accidentally slipped in the German word to press (dr cken) by mistake. A simple “how-to” set-up guide or a nice online video tutorial would have been helpful.
Once I was rolling, however, there was no stopping me. The Mecablitz 15 MS-i was the perfect compliment to the Tamron Macro lens, allowing me to get virtually shadowless close-ups of flowers and insect life, along with even illumination for product photography. The next time Heidi Klum drops by, I’ll try it on her too.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Tired of shadows in your macro and fashion shots but don’t want to put a heavy-duty ring flash rig on the front of your camera cufflinks? The light-as-feather, wireless Mecablitz 15 MS-1 will help you cut the cords while giving you even and precise illumination for close-up photography.
Judith Ripka’s spring ’09 jewelry
Oct 29th
For her ninth consecutive season, Judith Ripka was proud to return to Bryant Park as an official sponsor of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week’s spring ’09 previews. She introduced her 18K Couture collection.
Transcending time and the trends, her new collection was dynamic and unique. She continues to create her signature 18K matte gold that’s combined with a fresh new color palette of bold gemstones. From the runway to the red carpets, her jewelry is classically formed with a modern twist. Judith’s tiffany jewelry is a must-have this season. Her designs strike the right balance between uptown elegance and downtown chic.
Born and raised in New York, her earliest memories are of playing in her mother’s cufflinks jewelry box and acces- sorizing her clothing. Her mother taught her to see the beauty in the little things around her. She recalls tying a heart charm to her belt, hanging a pin off a chain that draped around her neck or transforming a necklace into a belt and wearing it through the belt loops of her jeans. “Some of my friends played with dolls, others played sports. I accessorized. It was natural to me,” Judith explained.
Today, Judith Ripka approaches jewelry design like many fashion designers approach clothing designs. It is about building a collection and understanding that fashion is about style and creating a total look includ- ing accessories. Jewelry in each of Judith’s collections is designed to complement each other, to present an entire wardrobe based upon constant design elements. Pieces that were designed 20 years ago can remain rel- evant; they can be worn with today’s designs.
“When a woman is wearing my money clips jewelry, I want her to feel as if she is wrapped in one of life’s luxuries,” stated Judith.
Jewelry Historian ‘Dr. Joe’ Dies
Oct 28th
Dr. Joseph Sataloff, a world-renowned expert on antique and estate tiffany jewelry, especially art nouveau jewelry, died Sept. 26. He was 89.
His Art Nouveau Jewelry: A Practical Guide to Its History and Beauty is still considered the definitive reference standard for antique and estate jewelers.
“He literally and figuratively wrote the book on art nouveau,” says Diana Singer, D&E Singer, antique, period, and estate jewelry expert in New York. “He had a deep and profound respect for it, long before it became the collectable fashion.”
Sataloff started the Maine Conference on Antique and Period bracelets Jewelry and Gemstones-now known as Jewelry Camp-in 1979. “He wanted to educate people,” says jewelry historian Joyce Jonas, who bought Jewelry Camp from Sataloff in 1992. “He relished every minute of life and had a true passion for people and jewelry. He’d personally greet everyone by name, making them feel special. He was a wonderful man. Even when he was giving you advice, he was doing so as a friend.”
Sataloff received his bachelor’s degree in 1940 from the University of Pennsylvania and earned a medical degree from Hahnemann University Hospital in 1943.
Sataloff, an otolaryngologist, made historic contributions to hearing conservation, including as scientific advisor to then-President Nixon in cufflinks developing hearing protection standards for the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
Sataloff is survived by his wife, Ruth; a daughter, Jody; a son, Robert; and five grandchildren.