Eco-Friendly Jewelry? Why, Of Course

If you’re a champion of green causes, it’s possible that you make nearly every purchasing decision with an understanding of how the product was made and where it came from. This extends to food, of course, clothing and housewares. But what about jewelry? Yes, now you can find eco-friendly rings and bracelets.

Dawes Design, run by metalsmith Jennifer Dawes in Northern California, is offering a series of unique pieces made from stones that are mined responsibly and recycled gold. In fact, Dawes will take your old ring and fashion a new one out of it. Green Daily has put together a cool slideshow of the pieces.

According to their official site, Dawes Design is a “slow business” using locally produced products and working with sustainable businesses that use recycled products.

Ms. Dawes says, “I want to add something to this world, not take it away. Becoming a mother has been the most profoundly meaningful and spiritual experience I have ever come to know. It has changed the way I perceive our future and how important it is to the commitment to a socially and environmentally responsible lifestyle.”

 

Join the JC Club Today!

If you’re already in the market for custom jewelry, like monogram rings, pendants or bracelets, why not save $25 instantly?

John Christian Jewelers is offering a $25 Gift Card when you join the John Christian Club. No purchase is necessary, if you just want to join the club and hold on to the Gift Card for later, and your information will not be shared with anyone.

Click here, join today and start shopping!

 

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]

 

Whoa-Bama! Prez-Elect to Buy $30K Ring?

This just in:

President-elect Barack Obama wants to show his thanks to his wife Michelle for her months of support on the campaign trail. And it’s going to cost him $30,000.

According to UK’s Daily Telegraph, Obama will purchase a five-figure Harmony ring made of rhodium – the world’s most expensive metal –and encrusted with diamonds. Italian designer Giovanni Bosco is rushing to complete the ring in time for January’s inauguration.

According to the article, “Only about 25 tons of rhodium are mined each year, mostly in South Africa, and as a result its price is typically around £5,000 an ounce.”

But hold on just a cotton pickin’ minute. Political Machine is reporting that the story is not true.

 

Avoid the Lines, Shop Online

The news is in:

Even though prognosticators are calling for a slow shopping season, people are heading out early to find deals in malls and shopping centers.

But, as if you didn’t already know, you can find all those deals without leaving your chair. If you’re looking for unique, high-quality, handcrafted gifts–whether they be rings, bracelets, charm bracelets or personalized engraved crystal–you can always find what you’re looking for at John Christian.

Happy Holidays from all of us!

 

Apartment Therapy: Creative Jewelry Displays

For combined helpfulness and coolness, it’s hard to beat Apartment Therapy. They have such a great eye for decor and style, and they’re always cognizant of price. It was a real thrill, then, to see their posting on jewelry display.

Here’s one of the examples, from a “cool and kitschy” apartment in Austin:

And here’s one that uses ice trays!

See? You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to have a nice (and convenient) place to store your rings, pendants, cuff links and bracelets.

 

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.

 

How to Clean Silver Jewelry

Casual in its timeless simplicity or dressed up with more ornate designs, Sterling silver is a versatile metal. It can also tarnish when used or worn frequently. It’s quite easy to clean silver, but here are a few important tips to keep in mind when polishing silver jewelry (especially when set with pearls).

1. Clean Them Frequently: If you wear silver jewelry every day, consider washing it with a mild detergent every evening. This will reduce tarnish buildup and the need for professional silver polish.

2. Use Proper Polish: When your silver rings or pendants develop dark tarnish stains, buy a small jar of silver polish and dampen the enclosed sponge. After dabbing the sponge in the polish, clean your silver in up-and-down strokes (not circular). Rinse under the tap and allow to dry.

3. Toothbrush Cleanse: For jewelry with deep crevices (like John Christian’s monogram rings or posey rings) use a toothbrush to reach the tough places.

In addition, here are some helpful silver tips:

• Avoid wearing silver jewelry in swimming pools, as the chlorine can be damaging.
• Avoid standard detergents and cleaners. Some people use baking soda or toothpaste to clean silver, but it is not recommended.
• Silver polish contains chemicals. Be careful when using around children.