| Signity's
Thermal Colour Fusion Process Infuses Passion in Genuine Topaz |
Signity
is launching a hot new range of genuine topaz in "Passion"
colours to complement the company's trend forecast for 2006. The
colours include some fascinating shades like Paraiba Blue that mimics
the colour of the famous Paraiba tourmaline, Infinity Blue (a slightly
greyish blue), Poppy (bright orange), Pink (which is one of the
most difficult colours to achieve in topaz), Buick (green/ bluish),
and Complexion (light yellow/brownish) are all part of a growing
line of fresh, exciting and happening colours that are all new to
the gemstone Topaz.
Generally,
topaz comes out of the ground in a colourless state and is coloured
different shades of blue mainly by irradiation. Signity's line of
Passion Topaz are coloured through an innovative enhancement process
known as Thermal Colour Fusion process (TGF™), developed by
Signity's parent company Swarovski. Signity is a marketing joint
venture between Swarovski and Golay.
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TGF
is a special chemical heat treatment patented in Austria and has
a patent pending in the United States of America. The process is
stable and permanent and offers many more exciting colour possibilities
for jewellery manufacturers at very affordable prices.
"Special
standard tests have been applied to ensure our products are fulfilling
the requirements critical to manufacturers," says product manager
Hubert Salvenmoser. "Unlike irradiated or electron treated
products, our Passion Topaz have proven to sustain cast-in place
methods
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and
cleaning processes like ultra sonic, magnetic pin, and acid
bath when pre defined parameters are maintained. In addition
to its durability, our treatment contains no radiation, and
is therefore safe and environmentally friendly. Based on these
physical properties, creating jewellery with trendy, innovative
colours will be a simple and attractive task for our customers,"
he concludes. Certainly, Passion Topaz is going to infuse
a lot of emotional expression into jewellery and is worth
looking out for. |
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Shibuki
A Second Aqua Inspired Platinum Necklace Highlights the
Extreme Elegance of the White Metal
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Platinum
Guild International has done it again, commissioned a superlatively
beautiful platinum necklace to follow in the footsteps of last year's
sensation "Aqua". Featuring 158 gms of platinum and 5.52
carats of diamonds, the "Shibuki" (meaning Splash in Japanese)
is the second jewel commissioned by PGI to take its inspiration
from water - the very substance of life.
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Created
by Yuka Kobayashi of the Kuwayama Corporation in Japan, the
delicate strands of platinum rise up to represent water gushing
out of the ocean. The use of diamonds adds to the feel of
fluidity, reflecting in the light to look like brilliant droplets
of water. This truly unique piece has been specially designed
thus to convey platinum's values of purity, rarity and eternity.
James
Courage, CEO of PGI says, " The Platinum Guild International
aims to inspire both consumers and trade and foster creativity
with new, one of a kind, designs. Kuwayama was one of a number
of designers from around the world we approached to
create a new masterpiece that would reinforce the association
between platinum and water and we felt that their response
to the brief was the most creative and the most exciting."
Designer Yuka Kobayashi said, "It is very exciting to
be involved in the platinum Aqua collection. The splashes
shining from the reflected light of the sun were expressed
by setting diamonds amongst the platinum to create a sense
of different textures,"
This one of a kind piece, worth US$100,000 follows on the
heels of last Year's, Aafja necklace created by famed Italian
designer Orlando Orlandini, which has since graced the necks
of A list celebrities and magazine covers across the world.
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A) Shibuki, a
platinum necklace with diamonds is the second in the Aqua
Series. It was designed by Kuwayama Corporation, Japan, for
Platinum Guild International.
B) Platinum ornament with aquamarines and diamonds set in
platinum, on a clip choker covered in blue goat's fur. Designed
by Max Kemper, Detmold, Germany
C) Platinum necklace with bayonet clasp made of platinum and
platinum pendant with aquamarine and Tahitian pearl; platinum
ring with aquamarine and Tahitian pearl. Designed by Kurt
Kubik, Heidelberg, Germany
D) Platinum cufflinks, each with a pink and a blue Ceylon
sapphire cabochon. Design by Spranger, Schwdbisch Gmiind,
Germany |
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A) Platinum cufflinks,
each with a pink and a blue Ceylon sapphire cabochon. Design by
Spranger, Schwdbisch Gmiind, Germany
B) Butterfly-shaped platinum brooches: the larger butterfly is made
of platinum with 22 diamonds and 76 coloured precious stones; the
two smaller butterflies are made of platinum with a mandarin garnet
or an aquamarine. Designed by Georg Spreng, Heubach, Germany
C) Combined platinum brooch and platinum pendant with pink tourmaline
and 42 diamonds; platinum ring with pink tourmaline and 18 diamonds.
Designed by Siegfried Becker, Pforzheim, Germany
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However Shibuki is not the only exciting thing happening in the
world of platinum jewellery. The Heinrich & Denzel manufactory
created "Circolom" is certainly eye catching to say the
least. A long, lavish platinum necklace with 245 diamonds, it guarantees
to draw attention to the wearer's decollete. Its volume reduced
platinum rings are arranged side by side in surprising proportions
to create an impressive choreography.
Then there is another
attention grabbing jewel that has been designed by the Max Kemper
manufactory. An elegant blue goatskin necklace set with platinum
ornaments together with aquamarines and diamonds in platinum settings.
It gives the word magnificent a new dimension altogether.
For those who are
less ostentatious in their taste foi jewellery, Atelier Kubic has
created a platinum necklac ring on which a Tahitian pe and an aquamarine
join or another in a stylish symbiosi Elements borrowed frc nature
form the main desigt focus of rings, pendants arn brooches. Designer
Georg Spreng's platinum butterfly brooch with 22 diamonds c coloured
stones and a sma platinum butterfly with an aquamarine or mandarin
g almost match nature's origi creations for delicacy and beauty
and show that platii can go beyond diamonds make an excellent match
for coloured stones as well.
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A)
Combination platinum and yellow gold ring with a navette-cut tanzanite;
platinum ring with a baguette-cut aquamarine. Designed by U.E. Ebert,
Schwdbisch Gmiind, Germany
B) Platinum brooch with diamonds, Art Deco, around
1925. Design by Boucheron, Paris, through Ernst Farber, Munich,
Germany
C) "Circolom" platinum necklace with 245 diamonds. Designed
by Henrich & Denzel, Radolfzelt, Germany
D) "Backdrops" platinum jewellery for tl Commmendation
in the 2005 Platinm Design Competition of Platinum Guih International
Germany. Designed by i Armitter, Bielefeld, Germany
E) Platinum earrings with diamonds. Di by Niessing, Vreden, Gernany
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| Bangkok
Gems & Jewelry Manufacturers Fair Has Big Plans for second Edition
in June 2006 |
The success of the inaugural
edition of the Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Manufacturers Fair this
June has evoked a lot of interest among exhibitors and the gemstone
booths in particular have been selling like hot cakes and are almost
completely sold out. The Plenary Hall, which houses the large gold
and silver jewellery booths is also almost sold out.
Following the wonderful
response that the inaugural edition got, the organisers have decided
to add a special SME (Small and Medium Enterprise) Section as one
of their missions when launching this event was to promote this
sector of the Thai industry. Talks have been going on with the Ministry
of Industry for ways to give the SME's more international exposure
via the Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Manufacturers Fair.
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The organisers meanwhile are leaving no stone unturned to ensure
that the Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Manufacturers Fair is being
promoted at all the international industry events by exhibiting
there and thus creating greater awareness of the event among the
international buyers. Some of the fairs where the Bangkok Gems &
Jewelry Manufacturers Fair will have its booth include the Bangkok
Gems & Jewelry Fair, the Hong Kong Fair, VicenzaOro, BaselWorld,
JA New York, the GLDA and JCK Las Vegas Shows, World Jewellery Dubai,
International Jewellery Tokyo, and many more.
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Apart from exhibiting at the international trade events, the Bangkok
Gems & Jewelry Manufacturers Fair will also be iieavily promoted
through the offices of the Thai Trade Centers aid The Office of
Commercial Affairs in all the key international Markets thanks to
the co-operation of the Ministry of Commerce in promoting the fair.
Also, the fair's Official Carrier, Thai Airways International will
promote the show tough its overseas offices as well.
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A well orchestrated media Campaign utilising coverage in the
international press via paid Jadvertisements and editorial
coverage as well as coverage in the local media using advertisements
newspapers, radio programmes, television channels and mega
killboards at strategic commercial junctions in the city will
advertise fair to large segments of the domestic urban population
as well among other measures taken to ensure that the fledgling
event gets adequate publicity amongst its target audience. |
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Positioned as the major
summer sourcing event, the second edition of the Bangkok Gems &
Jewelry Manufacturers Fair will be held from June 14-18, 2006 at
the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. Visitors to the inaugural
event of the fair especially appreciated these two aspects of the
event: the timing and the location. Most buyers were very pleased
to be able to place their Christmas orders early on in the buying
season and the fair, with its concentration mainly on manufacturers
of all sizes provided them with an excellent opportunity to do so.
Also the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center with its downtown
location right in the heart of the city centre makes it easily accessible
by a wide variety of transport choices and for visitors to the fair,
that is a very big plus point. The Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Manufacturers
Fair features gold and silver jewellery, diamonds, pearls, precious
and semi precious stones, accessories, raw materials, machinery,
equipments, supplies and tools and all sorts of industry related
products and services at very competitive prices making it one sourcing
event no serious buyer can afford to miss.
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To Book Exhibition
Space contact :
Bangkok Gems & Jewellery Magazine at Booth No.
LB41-42 in the Lobby at the Bangkok Gems & Jewelry
Fair from September 14-19, and Yoo Lim Silver Co., Ltd. at Booth No. 3C38, 3C40, 3C42 at the Hong Kong Jewellery
& Watch Fair from September 21-25 |
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Timeless
Jewellery
Antwerp Diamond Museum Hosts Special Exhibition of Watches
with Diamonds |
The Antwerp Diamond Museum
will be hosting a very special exhibition of Timeless Jewellery
- Watches with Diamonds, from September 23 - December 4, 2005. The
focus of the exhibition is but naturally on the art of watchmaking
with a special emphasis on the use of diamonds in different ways
in adorning timepieces and making them more ornamental than merely
functional and thus elevating them to the level of fine jewellery.
Time and the measurement
of the passage of time, whether it is the hours that slowly tick
by or the one thousandth of a second that decides the difference
between who came first and who didn't in the highly competitive
world of sports, has fascinated human beings since the beginning
of recorded history.
Initially created as an amusement for the rich and powerful, watches
have evolved from the showy pocket pieces to the elegant bands that
are worn on almost every wrist today available and affordable to
almost all segments of the urban populace. However, what hasn't
changed is that watches still remain objects of desire and are still
symbols of wealth, especially when the big brand names are involved
and even more so if they are encrusted with diamonds.
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A) TISSOT "Fleur",
1960, white gold, mother-of-pearl, containing 58 diamonds. copyright:
Diamantmuseum/Swatch Group Belgium N.V.
B) Watch with insect motif (scarab), 1880-1900, Switzerland, gold,
enamel, diamonds, emeralds, steel and rubies. Copyright: Diamantmuseum/Munson
Williams-Proctor Arts Institute.
C) Fair-Case watch and chatelaine, 1725-1750, fold, old mine diamonds,
silver, rubies, agate md enamel. Copyright: Diamantmuseum Munson-Williams-Proctor
Arts Institute
D) Breguet, "Small" medallion 'horloge a tact' (Bre'guet
n" 1009-745), 1801, gold, enamel, diamonds. Copyright: Diamantmuseum/
Swatch Group Belgium N.V.
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Even the humble
Swatch elevates itself to a jewellery item with the addition of
diamonds to the watch face. The Swatch Lustrous. Bliss, SFZ 106,
made in 1990. Made I of leather, plastic and diamonds, this masterpiece
is the only Swatch Skin in existence to be studded will diamonds
in a flashy reflection of the legendary Hollywood Drearo, making
it an ultimate collector's item.
The highlight of
the show though, is a watch with an in motif (scarab) made with
gold enamel, diamonds, emeralds, rubies and steel, circa 1800-1900
Switzerland. It is an amusing to operate. When the lever at fit
back of the insect is pressed, the scarab's wings, each set with
eight diamonds, fly open to reveal a watch dial set into its body.
Jewellery with insect
motifs have been popular throughout history and the first known
use of such ornaments was during the Egyptian Middle Kingdom (2000-1785
BC), when scarab amulets were worn for protection.
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A) Pair-case
watch with "repousse" on the outer case, Watch 1702; outer
case ca. 1730 gold, enamel. Copyright: Diamantmuseum/ Munson-Williams-Proctor
Arts Institute
B) OMEGA, Automatic, "Mille et Une Nuits" Joaillerie Homme
(nr. 3308), 1978, gold, diamonds. Copyright: Diamantmuseum/ Swatch
Group Belgium N.V.
C) OMEGA, Joiallerie Dame Omega a Secret (nr.3719) - is missing
for the moment 1959, gold, silver, rubies, brilliant-cut diamonds.
Copyright: Diamantmuseum/Swatch Group Belgium N.V. (American Production,
Creation by Norman morris, General Agent Omega N.Y., USA)
D) Peter Quijo, Qui Moments Pave White and Pave
Degrade, 2005, diamonds. Copyright: Diamantmuseum/Peter Quijo |
This practice carried on into the 18th century when a romantic interest
in naturalism made insects particularly desirable as design inspiration.
However, unlike the Egyptians, instead of using real (dried) scarab
beetles, imitations of the insects were made in gold, silver or
horn and were further ornamented with gemstones and the art of enamelling.
This high art timepiece belongs to the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts
Institute's Collection. Also from the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts
Institute's Collection is a Pair-case watch and chatelaine in gold,
old mine diamonds, silver, rubies, agate and enamel, circa 1725-1750.
The chatelaine, a precursor of the modern handbag is a waist hung
article, and is a form that is said to have existed since the Bronze
Age.
Consisting of a
waist plaque with a tongue shaped hook that loops over a belt or
waistband, a chatelaine was the logical accoutrement from which
to suspend a variety of useful articles, and both its utilitarian
and decorative features made it an essential fashion accessory.
Until 1828, chatelaines were known as equipages, the French word
for equipment or gear. Today, all forms of these articles are called
chatelaines whether they were made before or after this date.
Women began to wear
watches at the waist, looped over the belt by a chain in the 17th
century and chatelaines became the most important daytime jewellery
during the rococo era (18th century). By then, watches suspended
from chatelaines tended to be enclosed with a second, outer case
in order to protect the movement from dust.
Pair-case watches
were often made of silver and gold was generally reserved for fine
watches made by renowned watchmakers like Jacques Debaufre (who
was active between 1712-1750). Thomas Proctor purchased this watch
and chatelaine just after the year 1900 from Tiffany & Co.,
which at that time retailed antique jewellery. The watch and chatelaine
come with its fitted box still bearing the Tiffany imprint.
Then there is a
pair-case watch in gold and enamel with repousse work on the outer
case. The watch itself dates back to 1702, while the outer case
was made much later around 1730. Repousse work first emerged as
a decorative treatment on watchcases, primarily English ones, in
the first decade of the 18th century. It quickly eclipsed engraving
as the most popular form of ornamentation for watches.
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Repousse is a technique that entails the hammering of a thin, pliable
sheet of gold or silver against a base of pitch to produce figures
in relief either above or below the original surface. The technique
became so popular that by the middle of the 18th century repousse
came to dominate British watch design. On pair-cases, repousse work
was generally confined to the outer case. This particular specimen
on display at the Antwerp Diamond Museum has an outer case that
is repousse chased with a pastoral scene of a woman playing a lute.
A very unusual watch
displayed at the exhibition is Breguet's "Small" medallion
horloge a tact in gold, enamel and diamonds, dating back to 1801.
The "Tact" watch was one of the many innovations of A.L.
Breguet, who is often considered the father of the watchmaking art.
The Tact watch allows you to read the time by the senses (tactile)
making it very practical for telling time in the dad before LED.
Another reason foi calling it Tact is that you can tell thi time
discreetly, without having t( look at the watch. The Tact was commercialised
in 1799 and ha always been richly decorated will enamel, gold and
diamonds. "Small" medallion horloge a was sold to the
Ambassador ofj Naples in 1802.
The inclusion of
the Ratli VI Ok is due to its functional use of high tech diamonds
to make most durable watch on the face of the earth. The use of
high tecli ceramics and nanocrystal diamond germs of this very contemporarj
space age watch rounds off exhibition very nicely will representations
of diamonds in watches from the very earliest times to the present
day.
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