| PGI
FORECASTS PLATINUM TRENDS FOR GERMANY IN 2006 |
The
Platinum Guild International (PGI) deserves a lot of credit for
raising the profile of platinum jewellery in recent years and taking
it beyond the tea and crumpets circle and making it relevant to
the "with it" crowd who lives in the present and redefines
luxury in modern materials. To that extent we can readily acknowledge
the PGI's role in redefining the image of platinum from past elegance
to cutting edge glamour.
PGI's regular forecasts of platinum trends
in various markets have a lot to do with its successful marketing
of the metal and now, it predicts what will sway the designers'
pens in Germany this year. To start with, the guild is very optimistic
about the German economy and has reflected that the government as
well as various industrial and trade organizations have predicted
stronger economic growth in 2006 than in recent years. This is naturally
good news for the jewellery industry as a significant part of the
extra disposable income is sure to come its way and post Inhorgenta
Europe 2006, many leading platinum manufacturers have confirmed
this trend according to a PGI release.
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1. Platinum cooktail ring with pink touemaline and brillant-cut diamonds,
Max Kemper, Detmold Germany.
2. Platinum necklace with brilliant-cut diamonds, Pt 950, with three
oinktourmalines and one green tourmaline, each set in platinum and
studded with brilliant-cut diamonds, Max Kemper, Detmond, Germany.
3. .Platinum bracelet, with 24 naturally coloured brilliant-cut diamonds;
platinum ring with a naturally coloured brilliant-cut diamond, set
in red goldb with 107 brilliant-cut diamonds, Krieger Fine Jewellery,
Idar-Oberstein, Germany.
4. Platinum bracelet, with 24 naturally coloured brilliant-cut diamonds,
Krieger Fine Jewellery, Idar-Oberstein, Germany.
5. "P 51" platinum ring, with a green tourmaline cabochon
and brilliant-cut diamonds, Jochen Pohl, Idar-Oberstein, Germany.
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The
guild accordingly gives its forecasts for platinum trends in Germany.
The leading style mantra is glamour, glamour and some more glamour.
Long, luxurious necklaces with decorative pendants will be in vogue
and the more opulent they are, the better. Voluminous rings or several
rings that combine into one, either with or without a gemstone will
also be an importanttheme. Chandelier earrings with coloured gemstones
or diamonds will continue to entrance the consumer.
The alternative to over the top glamour
are purist or minimalistic styles that derive their formal idiom
from a reduction to the very bare essentials of form and content.
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6. Platinum ring, with an aquamarine,
Meister, Radolfzell (Germany) and Wollerau (Switzerland)
7. Platinum necklace, with brilliant-cut diamonds, 98 cm long, Helene
M.Apitzsch, Heimstetten near Munich, Germany
8. Platinum "Cliff Ring", and 29 brilliant-cut diamonds,
9 mm wide, Schmuckwerk, Ratingen, Germany
9. "Rassel" ("Rattle") platinum chocker, with
33 pearls, Schmuckwerk, Ratingen, Germany
10. Platinum necklace, with platinum bayonet clasps and an aquamarine
or a beryl, Marcel Roelofs, Erkrath, Germany
11. "Platin-Farbreigen" ("Platinum Colourful Round
Dance") necklace with eight coloured gemstones: aquamarine, morganite,
smok quartz, amethyst, rock crystal and three citrines, Georg Spreng,
Heubach, Germany |
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Then there
is the continuing love affair with colour that the jewellery buying
consumer is unwilling to relinquish. Lavish coloured stones that
express an effervescent joie de vivre persist in entrancing buyers
and this year's palette features warm tones with an emphasis on
gems like citrine, tourmalines, rock crystal and rose crystal, and
of course the abundance of purple on the catwalks of the haute couture
and pret a porter collections at the world's major fashion capitals
ensure that amethyst in all its various shades will be a most popular
gem combination with platinum this year.
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12. From "excession
the special platinum collection": Platinum necklace, with a
heart made of platinum and brilliant-cut diamonds; platinum jewellery
for the ears, with brilliant-cut diamonds, matte and shiny matte
finish, Abel & Zimmermann, Pforzheim, Germany.
13. Platinum balls, with black and white brilliant-cut diamonds
on a flexible plexas made of kangaroo leather, wearable as one or
more strands, Schwab, Winterbach, Germany
14 . Platinum Ring, with 53 brilliant-cut diamonds, a pink sapphire,
and a Tahitian cultured pearl, Sturany SchmuckDesign, Piding Germany
15 . "Orbit" multi-strand platinum necklace with platinum
clasp and reversibly wearable rotating gold disk, a south Seas pearl
and brilliant-cut diamonds, Jorg Heinz, Pforzheim, Germany
16 . Platinum soccer ball keychain with black brilliant-cut diamonds
and with the number "06" in white brilliant-cut diamonds,,
Helene M. Apitzsch, Heimstetten near Munich, Germany |
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The
Germans are renowned football fanatics and the fact that the World
Championship is to be played this year will definitely have a serious
impact on platinum jewellery design and items such as diamond studded
keychains with a platinum soccer ball, cufflinks in the shape of
a stud from a soccer shoe, and noble platinum rings with the colours
of the German flag are bound to show up in the stores in the pre
and post football seasons.
The one enduring category in which platinum
can never go out of fashion is bridal jewellery. As long as weddings
are "virginial white", platinum solitaire engagement rings
and bridal bands will always be an evergreen fashion statement.
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17. Platinum
cufflinks, with three sapphire cabochons in yellow, blue and red,
plus an emerald cabochons, Schwabisch Gmund, Germany
18. "Wedding Medal" platinum brooch, with pink quadratic
sapphire for "her" or "him", in allusion to
the Victorian nuptial fashion, Johann Kaiser, Hainburg, Germany
19. "Morgentau" (Morning Dew") platinum necklace,
15 strands, with aquamarine ball in a platinum plexas with 15 brilliant-cut
diamonds, Atelier Kubik, Heidelberg, Germany. |
| ALL
THAT GLITTERS ... |
Roberto Cavalli
The past
few years were an age of excess. Big was beautiful and bling was
in. Hip hop influences dictated fashion to a greater extent than
we might care to admit and while the trend doesn't seem to be in
danger of stopping soon, there are subtle deflections from the styles
that ruled the runways and therefore made their presence felt in
jewellery design as well.
The most distinctive feature of this year's
jewellery fashion is the return of sophistication and the toning
down of all the excess of the hip hop style mantra. In short, there
seems to be a return to some semblance of taste this year.
The two hottest colours this year are white
and gold. White basically ruled the ramps and yellow gold has made
a triumphant return to jewellery in a big way. All of a sudden yellow
gold is everywhere. Bangles, bracelets, cuffs, necklaces, earrings,
oversized rings, brooches, you name it and if it's gold, then its
yellow. The colour has spilled over into couture as well and mostjaccessories
like bags, shoes, belts, hair ornaments and what have you are all
awash in golden hues. Bronze and silver are but a poor second this
year.
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The
high prices that gold has enjoyed on bullion exchanges have signalled
its importance as a hedge against bad times and given that these
days no news is good news, this kind of a security cushion is just
what will appeal to most people, especially women in Asian cultures
who look on jewellery as an investment.
Ostentation may be out, but the glamour of glitter
is still very much in and jewellery still remains super sized, especially
rings but here too, the forces of fashion continue to dictate. White,
black and patent leather are the major trends on the runways this
spring and are complemented by a wide palette of neutrals as well
as vibrant but closer to nature colours. In short, neon is out and
natural is in. In terms of gemstones,the biggest winners of course
are diamonds and sapphires. Diamonds for their eternal, pure, and
white imagery, while sapphires in all their rainbow glory are the
best precious choice for colour.
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| A. Dior Joaillerie B.
John Hardy C. de Grisogono D. S & I Creations E. Carrera
y Carrera |
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In semi
precious, the choices are of course endiess but one thing is for
certain. Colour jewellery is here to stay and while shades may go
up and down in popularity, monochrome is no longer a fashion essential.
The new look for long, beaded necklaces with tassels and the layered
look offer endless possibilities for both opaque and transparent
stones.
Floral designs are in and all shades of pink and
purple will rule the roost this year, along with sunny yellows,
mango shades, browns, earth tones and fruity hues like raspberry,
blue-greens and marine blues and also dreamy lapis will be big this
year. Oranges will tend to be more reddish than copperish. Jewellery
designers are tending to become more adventurous and are actually
treating colour as an accessory rather than a medium. They are playing
with the use of colour, shade and hue to create a palette of contrasts
and highlight colour as an essential focus of the piece rather than
the background. |
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| F. Garavelli G.
Brumani H. Forum Romano I. Chantecler J. Escada |
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Another
marked trend to be seen in jewellery this year is that metal has
also come into its own, not just as a medium to hold the stones
in place but as an integral part of the design. Gold especially
is the star of many jewellery pieces and it was very evident in
this year's Gold Expressions' collection that gold jewellery has
very much come into its own and is a fashionable choice rather than
just an investment
buy. The metal is spun into strands, woven, folded, teased and coloured
to create an ornamentation dimension that goes beyond traditional
expectation.
That in a nutshell, captures the whole attitude
to jewellery design this year. It's not wildly in your face over
the edge design that will push the envelope but it is new, fresh,
and explores a few unexpected dimensions, revisits a few well loved
fads and recreates the mundanely
omnipresent into a delightful twist. Fashion this year, jewellery
and accessories are all about striking an amazing balance between
sophistication, youth, modernity, a natural freshness, Victorian
elegance, and crisp nautical looks. This year, it is not about looking
rich; it's about seeming in control and appearing divine. |
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| K. H. Stern
L.Tamara Comoli M. SeiderGang N.
Dior Joaillerie O. Maria Mor |
WORLD SILVER JEWELRY
EXPO DISTINCTIVE FEATURE OF SECOND EDITION OF BANGKOK JUNE FAIR
Gemstone Pavilion Expanded to Accommodate Overflow Of Exhibitors |
Following
the success of the inaugural edition of the Bangkok Gems & Jewelry
Manufacturers Fair, or the Bangkok June Fair as it is more popularly
known, gemstone exhibitors quickly filled up all the available space
in the gems pavilion while the demand for more space refused to
abate.
Therefore the organizers of the Bangkok
June Fair have been compelled to expand the size of the gemstone
pavilion at the second edition of the show, which will be held from
June 14-18, at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in the
heart of Bangkok.
Thailand has long been considered the ultimate
gemstone centre with every kind of coloured stone available here
in many innovative cuts and in huge quantities and the world has
acknowledged the kingdom as a one stop shop for all kinds of gems
from mines all over the world
. Naturally, the number
of visitors who attended the inaugural edition of the Bangkok June
Fair to stock up their inventories in the latest colours, cuts and
shapes and the amount of business done has encouraged past as well
as new exhibitors to rush to book space. |
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The
star attraction of the Bangkok June Fair though, is slated to be
the World Silver Jewelry Expo that will be hosted in a fair within
a fair format thus attracting more buyers for this sector.
The main highlight of
the World Silver Jewelry Expo will be the World Silver Jewelry Collection,
which will showcase the finest pieces of the top silver jewellery
manufacturers from all over the world, especially from the main
producing nations like Thailand, India, China, Indonesia, Turkey
and Italy. International exhibitors from the above named five foreign
nations will also receive special packages for the fair.
Other distinctive features of the World
Silver Jewelry Expo will be a special Cash & Carry Pavilion
that will offer buyers the convenience of on the spot shopping to
restock their inventories without the bother of waiting for manufacturing
lead times.
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Based
on the performance of its previous edition and the marketing savvy
of the organizers, the Thai government agencies have begun to take
a keen interest in promoting the fair even though it is a private
sector event. The Department of Export Promotion has committed to
provide assistance in promoting the show and will include it in
its fair calendar on its A website as well. Other relevant I government
departments and ministries have also pitched in with concrete offers
of assistance in promoting the fair among the local and international
visitors and buyers.
International media and trade publications
will also be there in full force to cover the event, which poses
a counterbalance to the June Hong Kong show giving buyers to the
region more choice at better price points in time for their Fall/
Winter and Christmas orders.
Recognising the significance of the Bangkok June Fair to the industry,
gem laboratories of the calibre of GIA, AIGS and the GIT will all
be exhibiting as will other idustry related goods and services.
A good selection of local and iternational pearl exhibitors will
e an added highlight.
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For more information
contact:
Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Manufacturers Fair Co., Ltd.
Jewelry Trade Center Building, 7th Floor,17F.,
19/221 Silom Road, Bangkok 10500, Thailand.
Tel: ++(662) 630 1761-4
Fax: ++(662) 630 1760
E-mail: bkkgems@jewelmfg.com Website: www.jewelmfg.com
or B.C. & J. Co., Ltd. Bangkok Gems & Jewellery Tower,
Suite 69, 27nd Fl., 322 rawong Road, Bangkok 10500, Thailand
TeI: ++(66-2) 238-3838/39
Fax: ++(66-2) 237-5185
E-mail: bkkgems@samart.co.th Website: www.gemgateway.com |
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