Friday, August 29, 2008

JCK Jewelers Choice Awards






The 2009 JCK Jewelers Choice Awards are fast approaching. September 19 is the submission deadline, and this year the contest features a Palladium Jewelry category. Anyone designing in Palladium who wants exposure at one of the world's foremost trade summits should get involved. Click here to download the PDF entry form.

Platinum, Palladium Rise Alongside Oil Prices






(From Forbes.com via AP)

NEW YORK - Platinum and palladium prices rose on Wednesday as gains in the energy markets lured investors back into commodities. The rise in energy prices occurred as traders placed bets that Hurricane Gustav would disrupt oil production in the Gulf of Mexico. Platinum futures for October delivery rose $19.60 to settle at $1,440.70 an ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Palladium futures for December delivery rose $1.30 to settle at $289.60 an ounce. The dollar's mixed performance against other major currencies provided little direction for the precious metals market. Precious metals are often used as a hedge against a weakening dollar.

Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Palladium on CNBC


The anchorwoman's inability to pronounce "Palladium" aside, Platinum Group Metals received a nod on the national news network. Frank Holmes, CEO of U.S. Global Investors, explains:

Unknown Metals Video on MSN Money
(Windows compatible; MacOSX-Firefox compatible only)

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Treat Yourself Tuesday! What's $1 million Get You? Hint: Not the Car











So TYM! was delayed by one day, sorry about that - it's worth the wait, though. This spectacularly outrageous piece could only come from Italian carmaker Bugatti. It really bends the mind to consider that the Veyron - Bugatti's crowning supercar achievement - rings up at $1.5 million, making it the most expensive CAR in the world. How on earth their Palladium pen can fetch $1 million is anyone's guess. Writing instument ethusiasts, the floor is yours.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Random Monday: Microsoft Palladium?





I'll keep digging around for a Treat Yourself Monday! bauble or bangle, but in the meantime, some interesting news from a branding perspective: Microsoft is trying to gain support for a next-generation security idea codenamed Palladium. As of today they've ceased using the project code name - it's been outed after all - and now simply call it the much less intriguing Next-Generation Secure Computing Base for Windows.

As a matter of branding, Platinum has a long history of being associated with high-end things: record sales, credit cards, etc. Palladium doesn't have this ground-level brand recognition yet, so it's interesting to see the ideas and situations companies consider the word "Palladium" representative of. For Microsoft, apparently, Palladium spells security.

Friday, August 22, 2008

Modern Jeweler: Private Label Metals






New article in Modern Jeweler talking about metals for jewelry under $500. Click to view article.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Treat Yourself Monday! Louis Vuitton










The new Louis Vuitton Damier Graphite manbag (via BagSnob).
Looking for the perfect gift for the man in your life? Look no further than the Damier Graphite from Louis Vuitton-- it's chic yet masculine and boasts a 120 year history in the world of fashion. A decade before the monogram was created, Georges Vuitton patented the checkered patterned design that has launched a thousand imitators but as with all things, there is nothing better than the original. Understated and elegant, the Graphite Damier is finished in smooth black leather and palladium hardware. Available at Louis Vuitton boutiques worldwide this weekend! Louis Vuitton also available online at eLUXURY.com.

Friday, August 15, 2008

New Campaign Pushes Palladium as Right-Now Metal





LINK TO ARTICLE AT NJN.COM
By Catherine Dayrit

Las Vegas - When designers and high-end retailers gathered poolside at the Wynn Las Vegas to hear pop singer Seal croon his famous line, "We're never gonna survive... unless we get a little crazy," the lyrics weren't the only entreaties aimed at the Couture show crowd.

Signs from Palladium Alliance International's (PAI) new branding campaign lined the stairways, surrounded the pool and flashed on a giant outdoor screen, declaring "Palladium is Now," "White, Light, Natural, Now" and "Do You Have the Metal?". It was all part of the first phase of branding for palladium, a precious member of the platinum metals group that, amid higher metals prices, has been embraced by a host of designers.

PAI, which formed just over two years ago to establish palladium as a distinctive metal, hired market research firm McKinsey to do extensive consumer research and chose DJS Advertising of Miami to create and execute the campaign.

"We know what the consumer reaction is going to be with the terms 'white,' 'light,' 'natural' and 'now' - all of that rich information about the DNA of the product," DJS President Deborah Scarpa says of the research. The result has been to-the-point messaging that has been hitting home.

"The retailer and manufacturer response was very tremendous," PAI Chairman John Stark says.

Scarpa says unique visitors to the PAI Web site multiplied from several thousand to 27,000 during and right after the launch.

Scott Kay began spreading the word on palladium three years ago when he led a JCK Show seminar on the topic. The brand's palladium bridal business in particular is doing phenomenally, he says.

"It's not an alternative, it's an opportunity," Kay says. "When you have something that's natural and is viewed as a precious resource, that's a great opportunity. You're really going to see it carve its way into the marketplace and take a large share from gold."

Designer Barry Kronen, new to palladium, has produced two palladium pieces so far and hopes PAI's messaging will resonate with the brand's customers.

"Direct is good, especially when you're working with consumers," Allison Pellegrino, Barry Kronen director of marketing and advertising, says of the campaign. "A lot of the fluff gets lots in translation anyway, so here there's nothing missing."

At about half the cost of gold, price often comes up as a reason a designer is test-driving the metal. But, PAI says, as with other jewelry products, palladium shouldn't be sold on price or compared to other metals.

"That's the point that we're trying to establish," Stark says. "It's not a metal that's in competition with platinum, or with white gold. Its position in the marketplace is as a luxury white metal."

Among its attributes is its purity and naturalness, Scarpa says, along with the fact that it is white and durable, yet lightweight.

"The main thing is that it's new and it's now," she says. "This is the metal for the 21st century."

PAI has already made an extensive foray into jewelry trade shows, and plans are in the works to hold a press conference and a national tour in conjunction with Conde Nast publications this fall to reach more retailers. In late August, PAI is aiming to launch a PAI membership program, allowing retailers exclusive access to marketing materials. Online initiatives will also be key to the campaign.

On the consumer level, ads that tag manufacturers and play up palladium's attributes are scheduled to run in luxury service magazines.

While the word about palladium is currently diffusing through the industry, insiders say the next step lies at the retail level.

"It's not only about advertising, it's education," says Patrick Hoffman, vice president of Ulysse Nardin, which at the moment produces four watch models in palladium. "It is up to us to educate the people in the stores about how to sell palladium."

PAI Awards Top Palladium Seller





Billings, Mont. — Palladium Alliance International (PAI) has awarded Ryan Muckelroy an all-expense-paid trip to Stillwater Mining Co. for selling the most palladium jewelry at retail jeweler Robbins Brothers.

Muckelroy clinched first prize after selling nearly $18,000 of palladium jewelry.

"The executives at Robbins Brothers have been behind palladium for years, since Scott Kay introduced it into our product line," Muckelroy said in a media release. "It's easy to sell in my market. It's beautiful, long-lasting, and it just makes sense to our customers."

In early July, Muckelroy and his wife, Amber, toured Stillwater's East Boulder Mine. Stillwater is a Sierra Club-approved "green" mine and home of the world's highest-grade palladium ore.

"It was an incredible experience...the tour helped me appreciate the work that goes into producing enough metal for one little ring," Muckelroy said. "I've told my whole team about the process, and it really increased their passion for selling palladium."

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Joseph Schubach Jewelers 'Jewelry of Your Dreams' Design Contest

(Via MarketWatch)

Click above to read full article or visit Schubach's website for details




Joseph Schubach Jewelers has kicked off voting for the first ever Custom Jewelry Design Contest, and the winning designer will receive a $2,000 prize toward his or her custom jewelry piece. Votes can be cast on the jeweler's website through August 4th.

"We've demonstrated that custom-made jewelry is easily attainable for most individuals, sometimes costing only a few hundred dollars," Joseph Schubach said. "Using natural diamonds -- or diamond alternatives such as clarity enhanced diamonds,
moissanite or Gemesis created diamonds -- and metals such as platinum and palladium -- we are able to create stunning items at a fraction of the cost of most jewelry design houses."

Philip Stein unveils line of Swiss-made watches

(Via National Jeweler)




Miami—U.S.-based watch brand Philip Stein has created its first-ever line of fine-crafted Swiss-made watches.

Dubbed the "Prestige Collection," the line contains Multiple Frequency Technology, a new technology that the brand says offers wearers benefits such as a better night's sleep, quicker relief from jetlag and workouts, and less stress overall, to name a few.


Since Philip Stein's founding in 2001 by Will Stein, the brand has forged a niche in the area of mind-body wellness through frequency-based technologies in luxury products.

However, the brand says that the Multiple Frequency Technology, combined with the Swiss-made mechanisms in the Prestige Collection, offer up the precision demanded by discriminate watch buyers.

The Prestige Collection is available in stores this month.