http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/ International collections, style trends, unique designs, fashion and lifestyle news. Exclusive jeweller interviews en info@gold.org Copyright 2008 http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/13/story/9304/hip_hop_royalty_splash_out_on_white_gold_champagne http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/13/story/9304/hip_hop_royalty_splash_out_on_white_gold_champagne
ITN.co.uk reports that the vintage champagne, which comes in a bottle sleeved in the precious metal, contributed to an "eye-watering" bar bill of £110,000 after the artists held court for their friends at "plush Kensington nightclub Amika".

Each bottle of the special edition white gold Dom Perignon costs £16,000, the site adds.

According to sybarites.org, a jeroboam takes its name from a biblical king and each bottle holds the same amount of champagne as four regular 75 centilitre bottles.

The news provider adds the party, which lasted until 4am, was thrown by singer and actress Rowland to unwind after a weekend of house-hunting in the capital's fashionable borough of Chelsea.

She is best known as a member, along with Beyonce Knowles and Michelle Williams, of all-conquering pop and soul girl group Destiny's Child, who according to the World Music Awards are the best-selling all-female group of all time.
]]> Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/13/story/9305/gold_jewellery_factory_planned_for_south_africa http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/13/story/9305/gold_jewellery_factory_planned_for_south_africa
State news service BuaNews stated that around 100 million South African rand (£6.74 million) will be invested in developing the site by the country's Industrial Development Corporation.

Partners involved in the scheme include the Northern Cape provincial government, black economic empowerment firm Solandra and Italian company Q-Quality, which will help with training, skills and access to markets.

Around 300 people will be employed at the manufacturing plant by 2012, the service said, with around three tonnes of gold scheduled to be processed there once it reaches full capacity.

In a statement to the news agency, the Northern Cape premier's office said production would focus on chain jewellery for the export market, "specifically the United States".

Abel Malinga of IDC's mining strategic business unit commented: "This is a key opportunity for facilitating empowerment in the jewellery manufacturing sector, while continuing regional development among the poorest communities in this country."

According to figures from GFMS, South Africa is now the world's second-largest gold producer behind China.
]]> Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/12/story/9288/indian_exporter_opens_first_jewellery_and_coins_store http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/12/story/9288/indian_exporter_opens_first_jewellery_and_coins_store
Diamonds.net states that the store, which is located at the Atria mall in Mumbai on India's west coast, will also sell gold coins and other items from the country's state-owned trading house Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation (MMTC).

In a statement to the site, Star Brillian director Mehul Shah said the showroom will be the flagship outlet of its new Sakshi brand.

He added that the company intends to open more Sakshi stores elsewhere in India in the future.

Star Brillian was founded in 1940 to specialise in rough and smooth diamonds, as well as bespoke jewellery. It currently employs around 2,000 people.

MMTC meanwhile is India's government-backed trading firm. It manufacturers a range of gold products including commemorative medallions and also organises the Festival of Gold event, which showcases India's jewellery industry.
]]> Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/12/story/9289/gold_plays_important_role_in_nepalese_culture http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/12/story/9289/gold_plays_important_role_in_nepalese_culture
News website the Rising Nepal states that a variety of styles of gold jewellery are worn by the mountainous country's various ethnic groups, which each have their own origins and cultural significance.

Most of the gold used in Nepalese designs is 22ct or 24ct, which is chosen for its "brilliant yellow colour". According to traditions that are still observed, the site adds, only people of a certain "caste" or hereditary social class are allowed to work with gold.

The country's capital, Kathmandu, is the centre for jewellery making, with many "exquisite designs" produced there for traditional uses such as weddings.

At a Nepalese wedding, the news site says, the bride is expected to arrive bedecked in gold necklaces, bangles and earrings as a way of signifying her arrival in society.

Gold is also important as a way of identifying with a particular cultural or ethnic group, or as a way of displaying one's wealth, it adds.

"Few Nepalese women will be seen without some form of adornment," it states.

Nepal is a landlocked nation bordering Tibet and India. Its territory includes the Himalaya mountain range, which contains eight of the world's ten tallest mountains including Mount Everest.
]]> Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/12/story/9291/gold_watch_fetches_millions_at_auction http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/12/story/9291/gold_watch_fetches_millions_at_auction
News service Reuters said the price paid for the Patek Philippe chronograph watch is a record high for the auction house that handled the sale, Sotheby's.

A spokesman for the firm told the site that the timepiece was "almost certainly unique" and it had been the star lot in the sale of approximately 200 watches.

Prior to the auction, Sotheby's head of watches in Geneva Geoffroy Ader said: "It is a watch of great symbolic and historic importance as it came out in 1932, a turning point which also saw car racing and the emergence of airplanes."

Other items in the sale included a gold Rolex watch known as the Oyster Daytona Paul Newman after a Florida motor race and the Hollywood actor who popularised its style sold for 157,000 Swiss francs - outdoing its pre-sale estimate of 50,000 to 80,000 Swiss francs.

Count Carlo Felice Trossi drove for two racing teams, Mercedes-Benz and Italy's Alfa Romeo, winning the 1947 Italian Grand Prix and the 1948 Swiss Grand Prix. He was also honorary president of Scuderia Ferrari automobiles.
]]> Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/09/story/9279/record_attendance_for_italian_gold_show http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/09/story/9279/record_attendance_for_italian_gold_show
Jckindia.com states that overall, visitor numbers were 12 per cent higher compared to last year's event.

It adds that officials believe the increase is down to a 38 per cent rise in exhibitors from 2007, with 2,800 companies from 71 countries taking part in this year's event.

Foreign visitors accounted for the bulk of attendees, with Spain, Greece, the United States, France, Germany, Russia and the United Arab Emirates best represented.

OroArezzo is a showcase for upcoming trends in the jewellery market, with red and yellow gold set to many of this season's collections.

Commenting on the figures, Mauro Patrussi, president of the event's organiser, Centro Promozioni e Servizi, said: "This confirms that OroArezzo is increasingly well-regarded around the world and that the Centro Promozioni e Servizi is recognised as an important body in promoting Italian jewellery."

The show is held in Arezzo, central Italy, a centre for the production of jewellery that employs around 10,000 people in the industry.
]]> Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/09/story/9280/fine_jeweller_launches_gold_pendants_collection http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/09/story/9280/fine_jeweller_launches_gold_pendants_collection
According to easier.com, SHO founder and designer Sarah Ho said the V-Seals collection is the first gem-set collection she has produced.

Influenced by "refined" Victorian fashions, the white and yellow gold pendants incorporate a number of different gemstone combinations, such as pink sapphires and rutilated quartz; black sapphires and lemon quartz; tsavorites and smoky quartz; and white sapphires and rose quartz.

Hong Kong-born Ms Ho said she decided to create the range of pendants to "explore softer, more feminine forms and introduce explosive colours".

She added that pendants are "set to be a huge trend" this season, making the V-Seals a "must have" accessory.

The collection will be officially launched at the Coutts London Jewellery Week event in June and will be available to buy from September.
]]> Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/08/story/9265/edible_gold_features_in_new_collection_of_premium_chocolates http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/08/story/9265/edible_gold_features_in_new_collection_of_premium_chocolates
Time Out New York says "sugary mastermind" Ellen Mirsky of the city's Public restaurant also blends balsamic vinegar and basil into her creations - ingredients normally associated with summer salads.

However, in the hands of Ms Mirsky they form part of the "carefully calibrated" flavours of the Em Chocolatier collection, which mix "salty and sweet, creamy and crunchy".

A tray of 12 gold-covered vinegar and basil truffles cost $27 (£13.81), the site says.

Other items in her "inventive collection" include chocolate bark at $24 a pound. This blends pistachio nuts, sea salt and wafer shards for a "savoury edge and satisfying crackle".

The bark also comes in white chocolate with dried figs and fennel seeds.

Before designing her collection of exclusive chocolates, Ellen Mirsky spent over ten years at Public, which has won a number of accolades including awards from the James Beard Foundation and Time Out New York's Critic's Pick.
]]> Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/08/story/9268/gold_jewellery_to_feature_in_pakistan_exhibition http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/08/story/9268/gold_jewellery_to_feature_in_pakistan_exhibition
Thenews.com states that there will be 30 stalls in all at the event, which is organised by the All Pakistan Commercial Exporters Association (APCEA) and the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP).

TDAP director general Waheed Raza Bhatti said arrangements were already being made for the event, with doors set to open on August 28th.

He added that a delegation of Pakistani exporters would visit Germany in the near future to invite international investors to the expo.

Those expected to attend include buyers from the United States, Thailand, many of the Gulf states and Europe, the site added.

According to the APCEA, the gems used in Pakistan's studded gold jewellery are mainly mined from three mountain ranges in the north of the country - the Hindukush, the Karakurum and the Himalayas.
]]> Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/08/story/9269/motorola_launches_limited_edition_gold_headsets http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/08/story/9269/motorola_launches_limited_edition_gold_headsets
Website Emirates Business 24/7 states that the headsets were created in partnership with luxury mobile phone designer Alexander Amosu, who was recently included in the Daily Telegraph's Top 100 Technology and Telecoms business people in Britain.

The custom-made headsets - named the Diamond Motopure H12 - come in white or yellow gold and can incorporate over 180 white, pink or black diamonds.

They also include the latest Bluetooth technology and Motorola's CrystalTalk application, which cuts down background noise making conversations clearer.

Furthermore, Diamond Motorpure H12s are compatible with phones from all major manufacturers, including Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Blackberry.

Motorola's Charlie Henderson told the site: "The headset, designed to look good and extremely comfortable to wear, is small and stylish and has fantastic performance."

The Diamond Motorpure H12 is available to order through Amosu Luxury's website. Prices start at 29,000 United Arab Emirate dirham - equal to around £4,000.
]]> Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/07/story/9258/asian_star_launches_gold_jewellery_store http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/07/story/9258/asian_star_launches_gold_jewellery_store
The store, Shagun Jewels, carries a range of over 2,500 gold and diamond pieces for women priced between 10,000 rupees (£123) and 500,000 rupees.

To mark the opening of the store, as well as the religious festival of Akshay Tritiya, the company held a six-day Jewellery Festival with special offers on selected designs including both traditional and contemporary styles.

Following the launch of the Hyderabad store, Asian Star said it plans to open further stores in other cities throughout India.

Vipul Shah, the company's chief executive and managing director, said: "We are pleased to announce the opening of our first outlet in Hyderabad and are confident that our designs will touch a chord amongst discerning buyers.

"This outlet marks our foray into retailing of innovative, high-quality jewellery to customers across India."
]]> Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/07/story/9261/india_gold_sales_could_rise_40percent http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/07/story/9261/india_gold_sales_could_rise_40percent
Newspaper the Economic Times says many Indian jewellers are expecting a "whopping" increase on last year's gold sales for the Hindu festival, which totalled approximately 780 tonnes.

The majority of gold sales are expected to be concentrated in the south of the country, the publication adds, although one-quarter of all purchases are set to take place in the northern regions.

According to the newspaper, industry experts believe the rise in sales throughout India is down to the growing popularity of the Akshaya Tritiya festival, as well as higher average disposable incomes.

New collections from jewellery houses such as Tanishq, Alukkas and Malabar Gold are also thought to be attracting customers.

Tanishq's vice-president of marketing V Govindraj said: "Sales on the festive day alone are likely to contribute five per cent to our annual sales."

He added that many people buy gold on the day for weddings, while others take the traditional view that buying gold on Akshaya Tritiya will bring lasting prosperity.

Akshaya Tritiya is celebrated on May 7th and May 8th in countries including India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, South Africa and Singapore.
]]> Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/06/story/9243/gold_designs_head_up_jewellery_collection http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/06/story/9243/gold_designs_head_up_jewellery_collection
According to jewellery-weblog.com, the collection features pieces in 14ct rose gold and yellow gold that draw their inspiration from the designer's "dynamic and fashion forward" friends.

The designs, which include pendants, a Fleur-de-lis necklace and a personalised charm necklace, are intended to be mixed and matched with different styles, colours, tectures and trends, the site says.

It adds that fans of Ms Chicco's designs already include actresses Demi Moore, Uma Thurman, Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz. Singer Sheryl Crow is also one of the designers celebrity customers.

Ms Chicco was raised in Pennsylvania and studied metalsmithing at Skidmore College in New York. She is now based in Los Angeles and her designs are available in around 80 stores across the United States.
]]> Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/06/story/9244/jewellery_introduces_gold_coins_for_hindu_festival http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/06/story/9244/jewellery_introduces_gold_coins_for_hindu_festival
Newindpress.com says the 22ct and 24ct coins will be available to buy on the day of Akshaya Trithiya itself, which is celebrated on May 7th and May 8th in various countries, including India and Sri Lanka.

The festival is traditionally considered a good time to make long-term investments or start new ventures.

Bhima Jewellery's chairman B Govindan said the company had introduced Akshaya Trithiya to the region where it was founded, Kerala.

He added that in addition to the range of gold coins on offer, the jewellery house is also introducing a specially-designed "Akshaya collection" that includes a mixture of traditional, antique, lightweight and contemporary gold jewellery.

The 45-acre Madurai Meenakshi Amman in Madurai features 12 towers and measures 254 metres by 237 metres. Its inner sanctum is thought to be around 3,500 years old.
]]> Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/06/story/9245/history_buff_discovers_medieval_gold_ring http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/06/story/9245/history_buff_discovers_medieval_gold_ring
The Coventry Telegraph states that amateur treasure hunter Wayne Burton made his discovery while prospecting for buried artefacts in Leicestershire.

The gold ring is believed to be English, although it is inscribed with the French phrase mon cuer avez - which means have my heart - the newspaper says.

It adds that the piece has been declared Treasure Trove belonging to the Crown.

Mr Burton told the publication: "The British Museum experts are now valuing the ring, and it seems likely a museum in Leicester will want to buy it to put on show."

If the purchase goes ahead, Mr Burton added that he expects to receive around £900 for the ring, which he will split with the owner of the land where he found it.

However, he told the newspaper: "Nobody really does metal detecting for the money. For me the real thrill is putting your hand on history."

Most metal detectors can only pick up metals buried around a foot below the ground, although a single prospector once used one to unearth a 156-ounce gold nugget in the Southern California desert.
]]> Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/06/story/9246/akshaya_tritiya_sparks_gold_spree http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/06/story/9246/akshaya_tritiya_sparks_gold_spree
According to commodityonline.com, jewellery stores in countries that celebrate the festival are "decked up" with gold ahead of the celebration, which is traditionally seen as a good time to buy the precious metal.

India - the world's biggest consumer of gold - normally sees the highest jewellery sales during this period, the site adds.

This year appears to be no exception, with John Kurian, a manager with the retail chain Joyalukkas Jewellery reporting "brisk sales" ahead of the festival itself, which is celebrated on May 7th and May 8th.

Such is the significance of the Akshaya Tritiya period for jewellery houses that many run special promotions such as giving away free gold coins with purchases over a certain amount co capitalise on the market.

Besides India, Akshaya Tritiya is also celebrated in countries such as Nepal, Sri Lanka, Fiji, South Africa and Singapore.
]]> Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/06/story/9249/italian_jeweller_launches_one_off_white_gold_collections http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/06/story/9249/italian_jeweller_launches_one_off_white_gold_collections
Arabianbusiness.com says the collections - entitled Gallerie and Notturno - are part of the range launched at the 2008 Baswelworld watch and jewellery show by Middle East retailer Damas.

The Gallerie collection features bracelets and drop-earrings made from white gold incorporating pearls, diamonds and "rare blue, gold and white berylls", the site adds.

Notturno, meanwhile, includes slim white gold chains with more diamonds and pearls inspired, according to Damas, by a "romantic night of dreams".

Both collections will be available at Damas' Les Exclusive Boutiques in the United Arab Emirates, the site notes.

The company's managing director, Tawhid Abdullah, said: "Utopia is a jewellery brand that has established itself as a brand of extraordinary merit with collections that are extremely original and beautiful.

"Both its Gallerie and Notturno collections are splendid examples of this brand."

The Baselworld jewellery show features over 2,000 exhibitors and attracts over 100,000 retailers and wholesalers. It is held in Basel, Switzerland.
]]> Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/02/story/9237/ancient_gold_gets_first_class_return_to_iraq http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/02/story/9237/ancient_gold_gets_first_class_return_to_iraq
News service Azzaman said 700 treasures, some of which date back approximately 5,000 years to the pre-Sumerian Early Dynastic period, were flown back from the Syria's Damascus in an airliner's specially-reserved first class cabin.

They had all been stolen from the National Museum in Baghdad following the collapse of Saddam Hussein's regime.

Bracelets, coins, statues and various pieces of jewellery were included in the collection, Abedzahra al-Talaqani, an official at Iraq's ministry of tourism and antiquities told the site.

He added that the "highly significant and priceless" artefacts were "symbols and landmarks of Iraq as a state and history".

In the past six months, Talaqani said, more than 3,400 stolen or looted antiquities have been returned to Iraq.

According to news service Agence France-Presse, around 32,000 antiquities were looted from Iraq in 2003, including 15,000 artefacts from the National Museum.
]]> Fri, 02 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/02/story/9242/jewellers_plan_special_offers_for_festival http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/02/story/9242/jewellers_plan_special_offers_for_festival
The Gulf Times states that the festival, which is celebrated on May 7th or 8th in different countries, often sees a rise in gold demand because of its connections with being an auspicious time to make a new start or investment.

AV Joju, a senior executive at Joyalukkas Jewellery, told the site that a number of companies are planning "special promotions" to capitalise on this busy period.

Last year, Mr Joju added, "Incentives such as gold coins and pendants only fuelled demand" for the precious metal.

According to the news source, one jewellery firm based in Doha, Qatar, is already taking orders for Akshaya Tritiya - and it is offering free gold coins to customers to make a purchase above a specified amount.

In Hindu belief, Akshaya Tritiya is the day when the age known as the Treata Yuga began and the Ganges River, considered India's most holy river, descended from the heavens.

The festival is celebrated in many countries, including India, Nepal, Fiji, Sri Lanka, South Africa and Singapore.
]]> Fri, 02 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/01/story/9229/indian_jewellery_maker_lands_major_export_deal http://www.jewellery.gold.org/news/2008/05/01/story/9229/indian_jewellery_maker_lands_major_export_deal
News service Reuters states that Rajesh confirmed to the stock market that the order will be completed by June 30th 2008.

Rajesh Exports is the world's largest manufacturer of gold jewellery and the biggest exporter of it in India.

It manufactures its pieces at a facility in Bangalore, southern India and also has a deal with a gold mining and refining firm owned by the Australian government, which the company claims is the only mine-to-customer operation in existence.

The company is currently expanding its network of stores in India. It has recently opened 30 new outlets in the Laabh network and launched the Shubh Muthoot Gold venture, which specialises in selling gold coins.

It also has plans to open 100 new stores under the Shubh Jewellers retail brand across southern India.
]]> Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100