Jewelry PR Division

September 19, 2006, New York, NY – Today Angara announced the launch of its online jewelry retail site Angara.com, boasting a wealth of fine jewelry, diamonds and accessories ranging from simple to opulent and all reasonably priced. With the philosophy and mission of affordable luxury, Angara provides customers with an easy and convenient shopping experience for superior quality jewelry at sensible prices.

“We are very particular in the pieces we choose to sell on the site,” says Chief Executive Officer, Ankur Daga, “Whether the items are bridal, engagement or in our exclusive Strong Box Collection, each piece is selected with the utmost care.”

A favorite line of accessories editors the world around is "and then take one piece" off referring to the rule of removing one piece of jewelry after you are fully dressed and prepared for the day.

Of course another editor tip through the ages has been stretching a wardrobe of basics through clever jewelry usage. But if you are instructed to constantly downsize your accessorising options for day is it possible that you need a wardrobe of jewelry basics too?

Given the classic popularity of a string of pearls, diamond stud earrings, and the tennis bracelet it seems that jewelry lovers the world over agree. This makes discovering the right pieces of jewelry for your even more critical. Even the classics make different statements. Pearls make any outfit more conservative whereas a diamond stud is a classic touch that ups the elegance factor on any outfit. The same principles of choosing basics in clothing applies to jewelry.

But remember even when the editors appear to know better than we mere mortals do it can be good to break the law sometimes and throw it all on. You can always take a few pieces off at the end of the night. That is still technically following the laws of accessorising right?

STORM Watches is a proud sponsor of this year's EMA's, MTV's European Music Awards has especially commissioned 4 Unique Limited Edition watches that will be your access all areas pass to the legendary MTV Europe Music Awards 2006, being held in the Scandinavian party town of Copenhagen on November 2nd.

You will get the full VIP treatment at the pre-party and then get to see the main event itself, where some of the biggest names in music are performing. Finish the night off in style dancing until the early hours at the VIP after show party.

To enter the competition you must be 18 or over. Competition closing date 14th October 2006.

Please read The Terms & Conditions and enter to win!

Dawn Yanek, editor-at-large, Life & Style magazine visited The CBS Early Show on December 31 to chat with anchor Tracy Smith about her favorite picks for dressing like a star to ring in the New Year. Both Smith and Yanek selected jewelry from Endless Diamonds� to wear on-air as the must-have holiday splurge. Smith and Yanek shared ideas for shining accessories to wear to holiday soirees, and the Endless Diamonds pieces were the favorites to ensure plenty of Hollywood glitz and glam.

“Endless Diamonds allows every woman to feel like a star,” said Louis Price, president, Endless Diamonds by Fantasy Diamond Corporation. “The collection’s patented setting technique features multiple diamonds in an invisible setting process, thereby producing more sparkle than a solitaire stone of comparable weight. The overall effect is absolutely breathtaking.”

All Endless Diamonds designs feature carefully selected diamonds of matched quality, and utilize its exclusive, patented Touch Setting� technique. This technique features diamonds “embracing” other diamonds which produces an endless, uninterrupted flow between stones to create a seamless appearance. The Touch Setting gives an appearance that is three to five times larger than a single stone at a comparable weight.

The Endless Diamonds collection includes an extensive selection of pendants, earrings, and rings, as well as bridal designs. Styles range from classic looks to inventive, fashion forward designs. Almost every design is available in white, yellow, or two-toned gold.

Nothing says "Be Mine" like Tiffany's dazzling diamond designs. Shop for Valentines day jewelry gifts at Tiffanys&Co.

De Beers is one of, it not the biggest diamond jewelry brand out there. They dominate the diamond industry and own most of the diamond mines. However, for being one of the biggest jewelry names, they have been a little behind in the times with their information only website. This summer that will all change.

The National Jeweler Network published an exclusive report confirming that De Beers will begin to offer their jewelry for sale on the website by this summer. The amount of jewelry will be limited however, and visitors will continue to be encouraged, as they are now, to make an appointment with a Senior Collection Advisor.

While I think that many loyal De Beers customers may love the convenience of shopping online, out of habit they may still bypass the website and head directly to the store. The online store looks to be a way to capture the many jewelry consumers that wish to eliminate the need to go to the store and have the convenience of shopping from home or want to avoid the experience of potentially being haggled by a salesperson. Either way, the new direction for De Beers website looks to be a potentially profitable one.

What do you think?

When you can’t get to the beach, bring the beach to you. Beach glass jewelry has become increasingly popular in recent years. Pieces of beach glass jewelry used to fetch for about $10, but can now be found online and in many boutiques from $30 to $100 and sometimes more, depending on the piece.

There’s something calming yet intriguing about jewelry made from glass that was shaped by the waves of our oceans and lakes. Each piece of glass has a history and an origin according to beach glass company, Relish Inc. of Erie Pennsylvania. Relish Inc. handcrafts their 14k gold and sterling silver jewelry from beach glass found on the shore of Lake Erie.

“Vick’s Vapor Rub, Philip’s Milk of Magnesia, canning jars, Blue Coral car wax, and Noxema are responsible for various shades of blue. Depression glass is responsible for the beautiful pastel colors that we find, old Clorox bottles, apothecary bottles and beer bottles give us the brown glass. Clear glass may come from bottles containing anything from milk to shampoo. Rare colors include red, (a coveted find from old boat lights) yellow, orange, purple and teal.”

There’s nothing more spectacular than the beauty of glass that Mother Nature has manipulated herself. While the jewelry design may be the same, the uniqueness of shape and size of each piece of glass means there are no two pieces alike. I don’t know about you, but I like to wear things that are unique and stand out among all of the sameness of jewelry trends.

*Photo credit: Relish Inc.

Jules Smith Designs is a jewelry company based in the US Virgin Islands. They have recently launched their first collection inspired by the vivid colors and lush landscaping of St. Thomas. A long way from urban civilization, their collection tells the story of fashion-forward souls dying to bridge the gap between metropolitan trendiness and the laid-back, organic vibe of the Caribbean. They flaunt their accessories and believe in everlasting style.

Jules Smith Designs uses all precious metals and semi-precious gemstones. All designs are handmade in the USA and made to order. InStyle's June issue hit the stands featuring Ursula's Garden while for the August issue features their Carwash earrings. The Star Struck necklace landed in June/July issue Jane magazine. Also in July, Modern Jeweler featured the Lifesaver stackable rings.

Read my interview with the jewelry designer behind the luxe resort jewelry of Jules Smith Designs, Gina Nigrelli, and also make sure to check out their blog on their MySpace page.

CIRCA, an international buying house that provides a liquid market to the public for previously owned jewelry is opening an office in San Francisco and in the DC metro area. CIRCA has been seducing the world’s finest antique, estate jewelry and diamond sellers since 2001. It is only fitting that the company expands into the bay area and the nation’s capital where a taste for fine gems and jewelry prevail.

CIRCA’s unique service has proven a successful entrée: an expert buying staff, the crème de la crème of customer-service and pricing that is unprecedented. CEO Chris Del Gatto credits CIRCA client’s intense loyalty to the company’s policy of being consumer advocates first. ‘By being honest and transparent throughout the entire process (A process which is daunted with misnomers!), this openness and honesty prevails in each transaction with CIRCA.

Del Gatto’s tenacity has carried the jewelry industry a leap forward. He notes, ‘Through professionalism, honesty, expertise and a tremendous depth of knowledge – CIRCA has set the new standard for caring consumerism. We see an incredible amount of jewelry and our depth of knowledge is truly valuable.’ Because of CIRCA, fine jewelry is now more liquid than anything in a family’s portfolio. Significant items often historically have remained frozen in the vault as ‘non-performing assets.’ At CIRCA once a client accepts an offer, they are immediately presented with a check. No commission charges or fees are deducted. It is a quick, efficient and press-free alternative to the gossipy and expensive atmosphere of the auction house.

As a senior executive that has run the jewelry department of an international auction house and having been in the jewelry business for over 18 years, I've seen that there is nothing else like CIRCA available for consumers,” states Peter Shemonsky Directof CIRCA's San Francisco office and frequent appraiser on The Antiques Roadshow. "The bay area is full of entrepreneurs, actors and socialites, which is the exact demographic that CIRCA would appeal to.”

CIRCA’s access to collections is in steady and solid growth. With offices in New York, Palm Beach, San Francisco, Chicago, Washington D.C., Las Vegas and Hong Kong; CIRCA has plans for cosmopolitan expansion to Los Angeles, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas and Boston; and internationally to London, Paris, Brazil and beyond. CIRCA works with clients from around the world and is not exclusive to the regional office areas. You can learn more about CIRCA at www.circajewels.com.

Tension Jewelry is an art form like no other. A stone seems to float effortlessly as its brilliance catches the refractions of light throughout, all the while it is the jewelry designers craft and skill that knows the perfect amount of tension to create between the metal bands holding the stone to create this illusion.

No one does it better than GelinAbaci. Modern jewelry design meets flawless style, GelinAbaci's Tension Collection boasts perfection in design with the appearance of fluidity of the stones. With only a handful of jewelry companies selling tension jewelry, GelinAbaci is only 1 of two companies found right here in the US; all of their jewelry is designed and crafted within the US as well.

Tension jewelry vs. prong jewelry is always a hot debate, and while the concept of tension jewelry is not new, it appears to be increasing in popularity. Have you owned tension jewelry? Do you feel its benefits outshine traditional jewelry settings?

This past weekend while traveling by plane, I was stopped dead in my tracks while walking through the airport concourse and coming upon an Erwin Pearl jewelry store. The gorgeous sparkle and radiant color of Erwin Pearl’s Rainbow Collection shown brightly through the glass windows beckoning to me.

This colorful collection of cut and pave cubic zirconia in sterling silver is beautiful and eye catching. Peridot, Pink, White and Canary colored CZ’s have an exquisite clarity that creates such a brilliance that any piece worn from this collection is sure to draw attention.

Erwin Pearl jewelry is known for their fashion forward style and creativity. It’s difficult not to want to take out your credit card and purchase several things from their website, such as the Molten Gold earrings and the Turquoise and Freshwater Pearl Multistrand Necklace—so proceed with caution (or at least knowing that you are likely to purchase at least one piece of jewelry)!

* Photo Credit: erwinpearl.com

Ethnic Rocks is an online jewelry boutique that features some of the best designers in their niche. You can find the ethnic designs of Amrita Singh, Allison Daniel Designs and Dagmar by Pavan Anand, among a few others in this eclectic mix of semiprecious gemstones geared towards ethnicity and era.

Each jewelry designer found on Ethnic Rocks brings something unique to the boutique. From the Tibetan Craftman's Buddist-inspired pendants to the European-inspired jewels from Satellite Paris (the Mindanao Ring is gorgeous!), you aren't likely to find another boutique with such a variety of culture, style and nature intermixing.

To learn more about this one of a kind collaboration, visit: www.ethnicrocks.com 

*Photo Credit: Ethnic Rocks
Rhonda Kelly Abalone & Smoky Quartz Kimono Set

Stainless Steel gets the Golden Treatment
When I think of stainless steel, skyscrapers come to mind—not luxury jewelry.  The German originated jewelry company TeNo is hoping to change that notion with its luxury semi-precious line that uses the industrious metal as its main ingredient.

I literally stumbled across TeNo's boutique on a recent stroll through SoHo.  The logo on the sign conjured up a flashback to a Vogue ad I’d seen in the 798-page September issue.  Walking in, I was welcomed by friendly staff and a line of semi-precious jewlery that had a natural yet luxurious vibe.

Stainless Steel gets the Golden Treatment
When I think of stainless steel, skyscrapers come to mind—not luxury jewelry.  The German originated jewelry company TeNo is hoping to change that notion with its luxury semi-precious line that uses the industrious metal as its main ingredient.

I literally stumbled across TeNo's boutique on a recent stroll through SoHo.  The logo on the sign conjured up a flashback to a Vogue ad I’d seen in the 798-page September issue.  Walking in, I was welcomed by friendly staff and a line of semi-precious jewlery that had a natural yet luxurious vibe.

The Emmys Celebrate their Diamond Anniversary 

In accoradance with wedding anniversary tradition, the Emmys would be having their “diamond year” with their 60th awards cermony this Sunday, September 21.  Of course the Emmys' red carpet is full of diamond drenched celebs every year, but an extra special piece, the "Platinum Clutch,” will be showcased at the annual Platinum Guild International USA (PGI-USA) Emmy Awards Jewely Preview starting tomorrow, the 18th, running through Saturday, the 20th.

History Repeats itself with Archival Inspired Fine Jewelry Lines

Designers in general often look to their predecessors’ work for inspiration.  This is clearly evident in a number of fine jewelry lines popping up around the world lately.

One example of this window to the past is Van Cleef and Arpels nod to a past collaboration with George Balanchine. Ballet master Balachine’s mystification by the Fifth Avenue Van Cleef and Arpels window display of rubies, diamonds and emerald was the jumping off point for collaboration between dance and precious stones in the 1960s. 

New York City Ballet dancer Suzanne Farrell models Van Cleef - Arpels jewelry with Claude Arpels and George Balanchine in 1976