Thank You, From John Christian

To past, present and future customers of John Christian and Carved Creations: Thank you very much for your business this season. There are plenty of jewelers out there to choose from, and we truly appreciate that you considered us. Please let us know if you have any concerns about the delivery or quality of the products you ordered.

We hope the season brings plenty of joy, happiness and thankfulness, and that you continue to turn to John Christian again when the need arises for unique, personalized jewelry and special gifts.

 

What Is My Ring Size?

When you consider the availability of rings online, especially customized rings, it’s no wonder people are skipping the jewelry stores for the huge selection on the Internet marketpace. But, how do you know what your ring size is? Or, what if you want a ring for your pinky, and you have no idea what your pinky size is?

Carved Creations offers a free online ring sizer. Just download the PDF and you’re all set!

 

John Christian Company Featured in FORTUNE

A full-page feature about jeweler John Christian can be found in this month’s FORTUNE Small Business! The story, which details the company’s decision to launch a less expensive product line (via Carved Creations), can be previewed below: [Click on the image to enlarge]

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

The families of John Christian and Carved Creations wish you a safe and festive holiday season.

 

Jewelry Consultant Praises Platanium

Jan Brassem–founder of Eclipse Global Consulting LLC, a firm that assists jewelry retailers’ expansion into foreign markets–wrote a nice article on Platanium®, the metal allow developed by and available exclusively from John Christian and Carved Creations.

Mr. Brassem praises the innovative allow, claiming that it “could, to some degree, take the place of foreign gold and/or silver.” He also praises the initiative: “I hope other firms take a chance and launch innovative jewelry products too.”

For the full article from 10X, click here.

For a list of John Christian’s Platanium® products, click here.

 

Why Wealthy Shoppers Will Always Love Bargains

Ouch. Yesterday, the Associated Press ran a story that was not a surprise to those of us in the jewelry business: Sales are down, and the holiday season is not looking so shiny.

According to the article, demand for rings, pendants and bracelets has declined due to high food and energy costs. Also interesting is the fact that everyone is cutting back, even wealthy customers, which is creating real chaos in the economy.

Standard & Poor’s Marie Driscoll said, “People that shop luxury, who demand a certain brand, they just don’t trade down… They simply do without until they feel comfortable to purchase again. Women who wear Prada and Chanel shoes — I don’t see them trading down to Cole Haan, even though it’s a great brand.”

I disagree. In my experience, big-ticket purchasers always always love a little bargain. Take your typical David Yurman customer. Is she going to wear that $1,350 Garnet & Ruby Square Ring to the grocery store? Probably not. But I guarantee that if she walks into a store and finds some $20 knockoffs, she’ll buy 10 in every color and wear them all the time.

Which brings me to Carved Creations. Simple, elegant, stylish, these are the kinds of rings that really make a statement without being too loud or blaring or garish. Each of Carved Creation’s Roman Numeral rings, Mother’s Rings, bold pendants and the rest deliver personalized jewelry at its finest–but at about a third of the cost.

Time will tell just how far jewlery sales will drop. The shopping period that kicks off after Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and then we’ll see where the chips fall.

 

The Roman Numeral Ring

Carved Creations has a lot of interesting personalized products, but the Roman numeral rings–also called the LifeDates™ Collection–is especially unique.

Whatever your special date, whether wedding anniversary, birthday, or births of children, can be set in Sterling Silver, 14K Yellow or White Gold, or Platanium® with Roman numerals. Cut deeply into the outside of the ring, these numerals have a striking, immortal look. It’s one of those pieces of jewelry people will notice and comment on.

It will also force you to learn Roman numerals!

 

Modern, gutsy pendants debut

If you’re used to the kind of pendant that stays tucked away or buttoned up, these may strike you as a little brazen. In fact, I thought the same thing at first. They’re round, carved with large letters and dangle from a thick rope. Then, it hit me: They are totally hot.

Taking a timeless approach–another word could be prehistoric (in a good way)–the new Bold Pendants from Carved Creations look earthy and almost runic. Yet, they’re made of Sterling Silver, 14K Yellow or White Gold, or Platanium™–Carved Creation’s unique alloy that has a platinum look with a titanium durability.

Plus, they are completely customizable. On your own personalized pendant you can feature a special date in Roman Numerals, your childrens’ names, a spouse or partner’s name, or your unique, carved design embossed.

The coolest thing about them? These pendants look like you never want to take them off. (Think of those ceramic hoops surfers wear all year-round). And they dangle perfectly with crucifix pendants or a lockets. Another great detail is that they are not too masculine or too feminine, making them an ideal anniversary gift, wedding party favor or graduation gift for anyone.

Check them out here.

 

A small company strikes a new kind of gold

From WalletPop’s Brandon Barker:

Every business owner — not to mention every stock broker — knows about diversification. It’s the best way to weather the whims of a fickle economy. But in the middle of this economic downturn, how does a luxury-oriented business diversify? Facing high gas prices, steep food prices and the continuing aftershocks of the mortgage crisis, jewelry might be the last purchase on anyone’s mind.

Last week the Wall Street Journal (subscription required) brought some attention to John Christian, a small custom-jewelry company in Austin, Texas. Originally geared toward big-ticket rings, pendants and charms priced at $599 and above, the company found that skyrocketing gold prices were putting them in a sticky spot. “People are still going to get married and love their kids and celebrate special times in their lives,” said Wes Weaver, John Christian’s CEO. “But the jewelry’s going to have to change.”

The solution? A portmanteau: Platanium® – a unique, stainless-steel alloy that combines the luster of platinum and the strength of titanium. The company’s executives, including John Waugh — a 50-year jewelry veteran who used to run class-ring titan ArtCarved — and his son Turner Waugh considered the downside of such a move. John Christian had spent years developing its high-end brand, and providing a cheaper line might confuse current customers and tarnish the company’s image. But, at a certain point, it wasn’t a matter of choice. “I was fighting to survive,” Mr. Weaver told the Wall Street Journal.

Weaver and Waugh decided to “isolate and protect” their higher-end products while marketing the cheaper jewelry on a separate platform. It started a new brand called Carved Creations, selling Platanium® and sterling silver products for less that $200. Some customers were wary of Platanium®, but according to Weaver, once “you explain what it is they pick it every time.”

Today, almost half of the company’s orders come from the less expensive line.

The following an example of platanium, the 8.5 MM LifeSpirit Channel ring: