Benjamin Comar; Chanel Fine Jewellery

Chanel Fine Jewellery was launched in 1993, the first major fashion brand in modern times to move into fine jewellery. In a fascinating interview with Benjamin Comar, the International Director of Fine Jewellery, explains why gold is a key feature for Chanel.
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The best independent gold jewellery style guide on the internet!
We bring you unique stunning jewellery from the top international designers and emerging stars; combining trends, cultures and a everlasting desire to look and feel just beautiful! link

Pakistani Jewelry

Pakistanfahion.net jewelry page is for all jewelry lover men and women.Pakistani jewellery is famous for its wide range of styles designs and delicatehand work. Jewelery is a very special item among Pakistani women on any occasion or celebration. It has a great role in bridal getup. Jewelry is not only wore by Pakistani women on functions but almost all women wearjewellery depending on nature of their work and life-style. So Pakistan fashion.net jewelry page brings to you all vriety of Pakistani jewelry worn in Pakistan. These include gold, silver, bronze, stones and alsofake jewelry items. The styles displayed in our jewelry portfolio arefor both casual wear and formal wear. Some of these styles are blendedwith western styles to produce elegant combination of gold and stones for bridal jewelry and also for casual wear. Stones and gems of various colors are embedded in yellow gold or white gold to produce jewellery to match clothes of different colors. Some of these stones are garnets, topaz, blue sapphire. This has given wide choice to brides for selecting color of their bridal dress and and giving rise to new trends. Write to Pakistani jewelry page about your needs and we will help you making best selections out of your range.

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Pakistan Traditional Jewelry

The Jewelry tradition of Pakistan is a combination of tradition and modern designs and techniques. In Pakistan, jewelry is worn by all women, sometimes even men, irrespective of their social status. It communicates a message of love, hate, power, hierarchy and marriage. Gems and semi-precious stones are worn not only for the fashion purpose but, they are also worn under the prescription of astrologers and spiritual leaders. These gems and stones are believed to affect ones future and destiny and believed to have strong influence on the live of a person. These people wear particular stone or Gem, especially prescribed to them to protect them from evil.

Women of Pakistan are great admirers of jewelry because jewelry is taken as a status of a person in the society and is counted as the wealth of women. The upper rich class wears gold jewelry with diamonds, rubies, emeralds and pearls. Less wealthy wear gold with less precious stones, whereas poor class wear jewelry made of silver and base metal. Since jewelry shows the status and wealth of women, hence gold has an esteemed place as an investment.

Therefore in Pakistan you will find even an impoverished individual wearing at least ear studs that are or look like gold. Expensive jewels are not ceremonial symbols in Pakistan, even though they are used in abundance in big ceremonies such as weddings when bride is loaded with heavy jewelry, but women and some men too, wear it simply to show their wealth, and to impress their friends. Women wear jewelry with pride and look after them so that it can be handed down generation in the family. In this tradition, jewelry is usually worn by married women whereas widow hardly displays any form of jewelry.

History of Pakistan shows that sub-continent of which Pakistan was a part, was referred as the Golden Bird, because it was the largest importer of Gold in the world. Sub-continent was the principle production center for beads by 3000 B.C. sub-continent was the superior trade route because it was rich in mines and had large quantities of diamonds, rubies, pearls

Pakistan has come under variety of religious, social and political influences. And Pakistan jewelry is the true mirror of its past, reflecting the social and historical change. The present Pakistan jewelry is the combination of the jewelry of the villages which is reminiscent of the ornaments of Moenjodaro and Harrapa-a sophisticated urban civilization which flourished between the years 3000 and 1800 B.C., and is one of the most highly developed civilization of the ancient world, and of the Muslim designs introduced in the 16th century by the Mughal Emperors.

The traditional jewelry of Pakistan is timeless and hand-made. They seem fresh and distinguished to people today in industrial societies. Traditional ethnic jewelry is made to withstand daily usage and therefore it is fabricated from heavier metals.

Silver jewelry is fashionable now in cities as well. Every gold design is also copied in silver by the city shops.

The craft of making jewelry is done by a specific groups and casts of people called "sonars". These sonars inherit the skill and methods by direct descent. The tradition which survived through centuries. The skill is handed down from father to son, and son is taught this skill at a very young age, and by the time he is grown up he becomes an expert in this skill. The Pakistani jewelers produce a perfectly balanced piece. These sonars can accommodate two diamonds or stones of different shapes with such dexterity that

The jewelers use different techniques. These designs and modes of techniques vary from region to region and the material used. The most popular technique is "Kundan", which was introduced by Mughals in 16th century. The Kundan technique is used for forming very delicate stuff. First, a basic form of jewelry is created with hollow spaces where stones are inserted. Then it is filled with Lac (Resinous substance). Lines are engraved to hold different colors. First the colors, which require high temperature are filled and heated with fire. The other colors are applied which require less temperature, and fired until both sides are enameled properly. Then the stones are placed in their respective areas. The formed piece is then polished with a leather cloth. The jewelry produced by this technique is famous for its grace and beauty. These sonars have their own shops or stalls in the main market.

Pakistan is full of Gold and Silver jewelers. Now due to the increasing demand of Pakistan traditional jewelry, this industry is now a full-fledged large scale organized industry. And women are so fond of wearing jewelry that a simple gold or silver ring or stud for ear or nose is a normal merchandise. link

GOLD JEWELRY

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Buying GOLD JEWELRY can also be a wise investment in order to store value. As to buying Gold Jewelry via internet, the same advises apply as to where to buy Gold Bullion online: Take a close look at the shop you intend to buy at.

Look for GOLD JEWELRY dealers, who ...
... operate a professionally looking site
... show full contact details
... have a history as gold seller
... offer a variety of payment methods and secure processing
... provide full information about delivery
... show internet adresses in your browser you are expecting to see

... also operate outlet stores

For More Information

If you have a problem with the gold jewelry you purchased, first try to resolve it with the jeweler in Pakistan. If you are dissatisfied with the response, contact the local consumer protection agency in Pakistan. You also may contact the Jewelers Trade Association in Pakistan. link

A Jewelry Shopper’s Checklist to Pakistan

When you're in the market for a piece of jewelry for yourself or someone you love, shop around. Compare quality, price, and service. If you're not familiar with any jewelers in Pakistan, you should ask the jewelry shop in Pakistan for the following:

• Ask for the store's refund and return policy before you buy.
• Check for the appropriate markings on all Gold and Platinum jewelry.
• Ask if the pearls are natural, cultured, or imitation.
• Ask if a gemstone is natural, laboratory-created, or imitation.
• Ask whether the gemstone has been treated and if the change is permanent?
• Make sure the jeweler in Pakistan writes on the sales receipt any information you relied on during the purchase of the jewelry, such as the gem's weight or size. Some jewelers in Pakistan also may supply a grading report from a gemological laboratory. link
  

Buying Pearls in Pakistan

Natural or real pearls are made mostly by oysters and mollusks. Cultured pearls sold in Pakistan also are grown by mollusks, but with human intervention; that is, an irritant introduced into the shells causes a pearl to grow. Imitation pearls are man-made with glass, plastic, or organic materials and have not much values.

Because natural pearls are very rare, most pearls used in jewelry are either cultured or imitation pearls. Cultured pearls, because they are made by oysters or mollusks, usually are more expensive than imitation pearls. A cultured pearl's value is largely based on its size, usually stated in millimeters, and the quality of its nacre coating, which gives it luster. Jewelers in Pakistan should tell you if the pearls are cultured or imitation.

Some black, bronze, gold, purple, blue and orange pearls, whether natural or cultured, occur that way in nature; some, however, are dyed through various processes. Jewelers in Pakistan should tell you whether the colored pearls are naturally colored, dyed or irradiated. link

Purchase diamonds in Pakistan

If you consider purchasing a diamond ring in Pakistan, the real value of the diamond is based on four C's: the Color, the Cut, the Clarity, and the size in Carat. The clarity and color of a diamond's in Pakistan are usually graded. However, scales are not uniform: a clarity grade of "slightly included" may represent a different grade on one grading system versus another, depending on the terms used in the scale. Make sure you know how a particular scale and grade represent the color or clarity of the diamond you're considering to buy in Pakistan. A diamond can be described as "flawless" only if it has no visible surface or internal imperfections when viewed under 10-power magnification by a skilled diamond grader.

As with other gems, diamond weight usually is stated in carats. Diamond weight may be described in decimal or fractional parts of a carat. If the weight is given in decimal parts of a carat, the figure should be accurate to the last decimal place. For example, ".30 carat" could represent a diamond that weighs between .295 - .304 carat.

Some diamond retailers in Pakistan describe diamond weight in fractions and use the fraction to represent a range of weights. For example, a diamond described as 1/2 carat could weigh between .47 - .54 carat. If diamond weight is stated as fractional parts of a carat, the retailer in Pakistan should disclose two things: that the weight is not exact, and the reasonable range of weight for each fraction or the weight tolerance being used.

Some diamonds may be treated to improve their appearance in similar ways as other gemstones. Since these treatments improve the clarity of the diamond, some jewelers in Pakistan refer to them as clarity enhancement. One type of treatment - fracture filling - conceals cracks in diamonds by filling them with a foreign substance. This filling may not be permanent and jewelers in Pakistan should tell you if the diamond you're considering has been fracture-filled.

Another treatment - lasering - involves the use of a laser beam to improve the appearance of diamonds that have black inclusions or spots. A laser beam is aimed at the inclusion. Acid is then forced through a tiny tunnel made by the laser beam to remove the inclusion. Lasering is permanent and a laser-drilled stone does not require special care.

While a laser-drilled diamond may appear as beautiful as a comparable untreated stone, it may not be as valuable. That's because an untreated stone of the same quality is rarer and therefore more valuable. Jewelers in Pakistan should tell you whether the diamond you're considering has been laser-drilled.

Imitation diamonds, such as cubic zirconia, resemble diamonds in appearance but are much less costly. Certain laboratory-created gemstones, such as lab-created moissanite, also resemble diamonds and may not be adequately detected by the instruments originally used to identify cubic zirconia. Ask your jeweler in Pakistan if he has the current testing equipment to distinguish between diamonds and other lab-created stones. link

Purchase gemstones in Pakistan

Natural gemstones are found in nature and if you look for gem stones in Pakistan, make sure and ask the jewelry shop in Pakistan that all gemstones have not been created and produced in a laboratory. These stones, which also are referred to as laboratory-grown, or synthetic, have essentially the same chemical, physical and visual properties as natural gemstones. Laboratory- created stones, sold in Pakistan do not have the rarity of naturally colored stones and they are less expensive than naturally mined stones.

By contrast, imitation stones look like natural stones in appearance only, and may be glass, plastic, or less costly stones. Laboratory-created and imitation stones should be clearly identified as such. If you bought labratory-created stones in Pakistan but the jewelry shop in Pakistan has not informed you that they sold you synthetic gemstones, you should file as soon as possible a complain with the Tourism Authority in Pakistan and as well with the Consumer Protection agency in Pakistan.

Jewelers in Pakistan should tell you whether the gemstone you're considering has been treated, when the treatment is not permanent; the treated gemstone requires special care; or the treatment significantly affects the value of the gemstone as heating can lighten, darken or change the color of some gems, or improve a gemstone's clarity. link

Platinum Jewelries in Pakistan

Platinum is a precious metal that costs more than gold. It usually is mixed with other similar metals, known as the platinum group metals: iridium, palladium, ruthenium, rhodium and osmium.

If you shop for highly priced platinum jewelries in Pakistan, please make sure that the platinum jewelry you wish to purchase from a jewelry shop in Pakistan contain at least 950 parts per thousand pure platinum and are marked 950. link

Gold Jewelries

Because 24K gold is soft, it's usually mixed with other metals to increase its hardness and durability. If a piece of jewelry in Pakistan is not 24 karat gold, the karat quality should accompany any claim that the item is gold.

The karat quality marking tells you what proportion of gold is mixed with the other metals. Eightteen karat (18K) jewelry contains 18 parts of gold, mixed in throughout with six parts of base metal. The higher the karat rating, the higher the proportion of gold in the piece of jewelry.

Most jewelry in Pakistan is marked with its karat quality, although marking is not always required by law in Pakistan.

Solid gold refers to an item made of any karat gold, if the inside of the item is not hollow. The proportion of gold in the piece of jewelry still is determined by the karat mark. link

Guess Where You Can Buy Diamonds & Jewelry? You Won't Believe It!

Idex Research today reports that Specialty jewelers who lament that they are losing sales to discounters, department stores, and many other retail categories are correct. Just-released information from the U.S. Department of Commerce reveals that for every specialty jeweler in the U.S., there are three other merchants – whose primary business is not jewelry – who are also selling diamonds, precious metals, and other goods that have traditionally been the There are just over 128,000 retailers in the U.S. who sell jewelry in their stores, according to the latest Business Census data from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Roughly 28,000 of those stores, or about 22 percent of all jewelry retail outlets, are specialty jewelers; the others represent a wide variety of retail categories including department stores, general merchandise stores, warehouse clubs, apparel retailers, non-store retailers, and a number of other specialty retailers. The graph below illustrates the mix of specialty jewelers to total retailers of jewelry in the U.S.domain of specialty jewelers. Stores Selling Jewelry by CategoryPercent of Total of 128,000 Stores
Source: Dept. of Commerce
Because jewelry is such an attractive industry – gross margins are healthy and the long term characteristics of demand are positive – there are many merchants who are trying to sell jewelry. U.S. Specialty Jewelers’ Market Share
Source: Dept. of Commerce
Who Is Taking Jewelry Market Share?Sales Growth over Past Ten Years by Retail Category
In addition to the list of logical purveyors of jewelry, there are a number of surprises on this list of jewelry outlets. For example, the Commerce Department’s Business Census, lists 117 stores which primarily sell beer and wine that also sell jewelry. You can gas up your car at 178 gasoline stations that also sell jewelry. In addition, there are about 385 convenience stores (such as 7-Eleven) which sell jewelry; 1,210 book stores sell jewelry; and, 37 pet stores also sell jewelry. In the prior Business Census (1997) about 85 automobile dealers also sold jewelry; by 2002, however, those car dealers apparently had stopped selling gemstones and watches.
Here’s an exhaustive list of all merchants who sell jewelry, but whose primary product line is not jewelry.
* Furniture & furnishings stores* Consumer electronics stores* Appliance stores* Home centers, including building materials, lawn & garden supplies, nurseries, farm supply and hardware stores* Grocery stores, supermarkets, convenience stores* Fruit, vegetable, confectionery, and nut stores* Beer, wine, and liquor stores* Cosmetics, beauty supplies, and perfume stores* Optical goods stores* Gasoline stations* Clothing stores, including men’s wear, women’s wear, children and family clothing, shoe stores, and infants’ stores* Luggage and leather goods stores* Sporting goods, hobby, and musical instrument stores* Sewing, needlework, and piece goods shops* Book stores, news dealers, college book shops* Music stores* Department stores* Warehouse clubs* Variety stores* Florists* Office supply, stationery, and gift shops* Used merchandise stores (pawn shops are included in this category)* Pet stores, art dealers, tobacco stores* Electronic shopping and mail-order retailers* Vending machine operators and direct selling, including in-home sales
Posted by Barry Gutwein on March 23, 2006 12:54 PM in E-Commerce. Comments (1)
Further, as a result of few barriers to entry, retailing attracts a large number of merchants who will try to sell anything to make a profit.
The bad news for specialty jewelers is that they are losing market share to those merchants whose business is not primarily selling jewelry. Over the past decade, specialty jewelers’ market share in the U.S. has dropped from about 50 percent to just over 47 percent, as the graph below illustrates. There may be some surprises among the list of retailers who are gaining – and those who are losing – market share in the jewelry category. As expected, non-store retailers have among the strongest growth of any retail category. Stores that retail sporting goods, hobby supplies, books, and music (a single category, according to the Department of Commerce) have also posted strong jewelry sales gain, though this category generated an aggregate of just over $100 million in sales. That was just enough to be included on the Idex list, which analyzes only retail categories with $100 million or more in annual jewelry sales.
A graph of those retail categories that are gaining market share and those which are losing market share is shown below. These are all of the retail categories which report that they have $100 million or more of jewelry sales annually.

Buying Loose Diamonds, Engagement Rings, Wedding Bands, & Wedding Rings: Trust and Verify.

Marshall Loeb of Market Watch quotes our friend and colleague, Jay Mednikow with advice to consumers on how to safely shop for loose diamonds, engagement rings, wedding rings and bands, both in jewlery stores and through internet websites. It is advice we agree with 100% and worth following.
Few purchases are more mystifying for first-time buyers than fine jewelry. There's more information out there than ever - from jewelers' Web sites and online forums to nearly ubiquitous grading reports from independent labs. But buying expensive gems and precious metals is still largely a matter of trust between you and the jeweler.
First, educate yourself on the basics. For diamonds, that means the four Cs: cut, color, clarity and carat weight. For gold, platinum and silver, it means purity.
You can find helpful information on these fundamentals from the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC) and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The Gemological Institute of America, the most prominent diamond grading agency, provides tutorials on buying diamonds and colored gems at (GIA Education).
"It's less of a blind purchase than it used to be," says Jay Mednikow, president of 115-year-old Mednikow Jewelers in Memphis and Atlanta. "But a jeweler who knows what he's doing can take advantage of you if he wants to."
Thus, there is still no substitute for a reliable dealer with an established reputation. Many jewelers are GIA-certified gemologists and display their credentials prominently.
For diamonds, Mednikow recommends buying only those with grading certificates from GIA, the American Gem Society or another independent laboratory. If a jeweler says he can offer you an uncertified diamond at a discount, tell him you'll pay to have it analyzed since the cost should be only $50 to $300 depending on the size of the stone. Read warranty and return policies carefully and make sure all guarantees are written on your sales receipt - it's your legal contract.
You may have a hard time distinguishing between slight variations in color and clarity, but still trust your own eyes.
Mednikow recommends holding diamonds with a pair of tweezers over your finger or against a white background and under lights of different types and varying brightness. With shapes other than round-cut, which has standard specifications, and with colored gems, you will have to rely much more on the jeweler's expertise.
If you are buying a colored stone such as a ruby, sapphire or diamond, ask if it has been "treated" to enhance the color. Some processes are routine, like heating for sapphires and rubies and oiling for emeralds, but others are temporary or undesirable.
Up to half the gold jewelry sold in the U.S. bears a false karat rating, says Mednikow. Choosing a reliable merchant is your only insurance, although national retailers like Zales and Sears are diligent about the purity of their gold.
Posted by Barry Gutwein on March 23, 2006 12:27 PM in Jewelry Stores Comments (1)

Diamond Identification Method for Consumers: Bring Napkins

The Financial Times of London reports on a novel way to identify Diamonds from fakes:
It is said that Alexander the Great found a valley full of both diamonds and poisonous snakes. No one could work out how to retrieve the jewels until Alexander had the idea of throwing down raw meat, to which the diamonds attached. When eagles flew down for the meat, Alexander's men just had to follow them to their nests.
It sounds like fantasy but diamonds are attracted to fat, and the story reminded people how to tell real diamonds from fakes. De Beers still practise Alexander's trick in their South Africa mines today: They use "grease tables" and only the valuable stones stick.
Today, most engagement rings are diamond but after the war, people wanted holidays, cars or colorful gems to celebrate a future marriage.
In 1947 a New York copywriter, given the task of finding a slogan for her client's product, stayed late in the office. "I put my head down and said: 'Please God, send me a line.'" Then she scribbled: "A Diamond is Forever" and the rest is History.
Posted by Barry Gutwein on March 21, 2006 8:52 AM in Tidbits Comments (5)

Tiffany To Open Two New Diamond & Jewelry Stores In China.

Luxury retailer Tiffany & Co., plans to open two new stores in China during 2006. One store will open at Beijing's Oriental Plaza, and a second store at Shanghai's Plaza 66. Beijing is scheduled to open in May, and Shanghai could open towards the end of the year, the company reports.
"The Oriental Plaza in Beijing and Plaza 66 in Shanghai are ideal environments for a Tiffany store," said Darren Chen, group vice president at Tiffany & Co. "These convenient locations expand our presence both in Beijing and Shanghai, cities of growing importance as global business centers and as destinations for both domestic and overseas tourists."
Once the new stores open, Tiffany will have a total of two stores in each of those prominent cities. Tiffany currently has a boutique in Beijing's Peninsula Palace Hotel, which opened in 2001, and a boutique in the City Plaza shopping complex in Shanghai, which opened in 2004.
How do say "Bling-Bling" in Chinese?
"Bring-Bring"!
Posted by Barry Gutwein on March 21, 2006 8:48 AM in Jewelry Stores Comments (0)

Zales To Get New CEO.

Mary L. Forte has resigned as president and chief executive officer of Zale Corp., effective immediately.
The company has appointed board member Betsy Burton as interim chief executive officer, pending the selection of a new chief executive officer. Burton has served on the Zale board since 2003.
Burton, 54, has held the position of chief executive officer of various companies, including Supercuts, Inc., PIP Printing and the Cosmetic Center. She has also provided interim management and consulting services in the retail industry. Burton also holds posts on several other public company boards including Staples, Aeropostale and Rent-A-Center.
Zale Corp. is North America's largest specialty jeweler with about 2,400 locations throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico as well as online. The company's brands include Zales Jewelers, Zales Outlet, Gordon's Jewelers, Bailey Banks & Biddle Fine Jewelers, Peoples Jewellers, Mappins Jewellers and Piercing Pagoda. The company also operates direct sales through www.zales.com and www.baileybanksandbiddle.com
In the all important 4th Quarter sales rose only by 0.9% despite re-doing it's product mix and going more upscale.Pressure from Internet Diamond & Jewelry websites also cut into Zale sales.
Posted by Barry Gutwein on February 1, 2006 6:38 AM in Jewelry Stores Comments (0)

Changing Landscape in Retail Jewelry

Investment fund Newcastle Partners LP has filed a lawsuit against Whitehall Jewellers Inc., claiming the jewelry chain is trying to stymie Newcastle's takeover efforts.
In a lawsuit filed January 4, in the Southern District of New York, the Newcastle said Whitehall's directors and Prentice Capital Management LP have conspired to rig a proxy fight over a proposed change in the company's charter that would allow the board to issue more shares and transfer control of the company to Prentice.
In October, Whitehall announced it had reached an agreement with Prentice to restructure its debt and improve its financial condition. Under the agreement, it would receive a $30 million bridge loan and issue $50 million in secured convertible notes in exchange for giving Prentice control of 87 percent of its common stock.
Shareholders are set to vote on the changes in Whitehall's corporate charter on Jan. 19.
Newcastle, which said it's the second largest independent shareholder of Whitehall, has made several tender offers for the company since the financing package was announced. Its latest offer was $1.50 a share.
A Whitehall spokesman wasn't immediately available to comment late Thursday. Whitehall shares rose 1 cent, at $1.24 in morning trading Friday on the OTC Bulletin Board.
In its complaint, Newcastle alleges that Whitehall's directors would remain in place under Prentice's proposal and that they have implemented a variety of measures intended to stack the deck in favor of Prentice, including waiving "poison pill" protections for Prentice, but not Newcastle.
The lawsuit also claims that Prentice has contacted selected shareholders who own significant blocks of the company's stock and offered to purchase their shares at a substantial premium to the market price on the condition they cast their proxy vote in favor of Whitehall's management.
Earlier Thursday, Whitehall asked its shareholders to take no action on the Newcastle proposal. The company said the board would disclose its position on the revised offer at a later time after reviewing the offer's terms.
The company said that its board has previously determined that it cannot consider any proposal without a firm commitment for refinancing the company's outstanding debt and meeting its future financial needs. Newcastle has failed to demonstrate its ability to do so, the company said.
Posted by Barry Gutwein on January 8, 2006 9:47 AM in Jewelry Stores Comments (0)

What Will Happen To Zales?

The Dallas Morning News reports that Zales, the largest United States jewelry chain's stock price has fallen more than 12 percent since Thanksgiving, as Wall Street expresses concerns about the Irving, TX-based company's shrinking market share.
The company has lowered sales and profit expectations in recent months and has admitted that it has lost market share to Kay Jewelers.
Since reaching its split-adjusted high of $34.50 in July, Zale stock has fallen more than 25 percent, closing December 27 at $25.28, down 47-cents.
After disappointing results for Christmas 2004, the company shuffled management at Zales Jewelers, which makes up 45 percent of Zale Corp.'s sales. But a year later, the chain is still stumbling.
In a shift in direction, Zales is getting away from its "price-driven strategy" and emphasizing "a more style and quality image," said David Sternblitz, Zale vice president and treasurer.
The chain is buying basic jewelry directly from overseas sources, bypassing traditional wholesalers in the United States. And it has hedged against rising gold prices in recent months, he said December 23.
Zales is advertising for the first time in The New York Times Sunday magazine and has ditched its longtime television commercials for image ads. It's also using more direct mail and fewer newspaper inserts, Mr. Sternbiltz said.
The many moving parts have put Wall Street on guard. In November, J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs downgraded the stock.
Analysts say major competitor Kay Jewelers and department stores such as J.C. Penney Co., and Federated Department Stores Inc., which operates Macy's and Bloomingdale's, are luring away Zales' traditional customers.
In a note issued last week, Goldman downgraded Zale stock because of "extensive internal merchandising and marketing repositionings during the critical holiday season, which accounts for 100 percent of earnings."
Penney's jewelry offerings were "more contemporary and fashion-forward," the report said. "Zales continues to bleed market share to Kay, as demonstrated by the annual same-store sales trends since 2003."
Kay Jewelers and off-mall chain Jared are both owned by London-based Signet Group and operated by its subsidiary, Sterling Jewelers Inc., based in Akron, Ohio.
"We've experienced an erosion in market share to our next largest competitor over the past three years, and that's why we're repositioning Zales," Sternblitz said.
"We have been visiting Zales stores across malls over the past few weeks in search of positive evidence that management has been executing its brand repositioning efforts well. We have come up empty," wrote Goldman Sachs analyst Adrianne Shapira.
The week before Christmas, Zales stores put up "Lowest Prices of the Season" banners in an attempt to meet sales targets.
Sternblitz said that the company estimates comparable store sales to increase 2 percent to 3 percent. It plans to announce combined November-December results on January 5, when chain stores are scheduled to report December sales.
In addition to its flagship Zales Jewelers division, Zale owns Gordon's Jewelers, Bailey Banks & Biddle Fine Jewelers and other chains.
Zale expects to report fiscal second-quarter earnings of $2.05 to $2.08 a share, excluding a one-time gain.
Posted by Barry Gutwein on January 4, 2006 9:31 PM in Jewelry Stores Comments (2)

No Kidding? What A Revelation!

According to a survey conducted by Harris Interactive and sponsored by Kronos Inc. consumers are more likely to make purchases and inclined to buy more merchandise per transaction when retailers provide attentive, knowledgeable service.
Savvy retailers who focus on providing higher levels of customer service are able to influence shoppers to increasing their holiday spending, Recognizing that their workforce is critical to sales,leading retailers are utilizing their workforce as a strategic asset to satisfy customers and boost sales this holiday season.
The survey found that 85 percent of respondents were “somewhat to very likely” to purchase additional products if they interacted with a competent sales associate while shopping.
The survey also found that potential buyers will return merchandise to the shelf if they were unable to find the assistance they need, effectively reversing their decision to buy. An overwhelming 82 percent of consumers will wait on line no longer than15 minutes.
Additionally, 45 percent of those polled said that they shop for themselves during the holiday season, giving retailers another incentive to ensure that they are catering to the service needs of their customers.
"Because this survey gives retailers a glimpse into the consumer psyche during the holiday shopping season, they can work to ensure they are focused on the factors that most contribute to increased spending and customer loyalty," Stuart Itkin, vice president of marketing at Kronos, said in a company press release.
Stuart, you're a frickin genius. All that money spent on the MBA degree. Common sense costs a lot less.
+
Posted by Barry Gutwein on December 23, 2005 9:01 AM in Jewelry Stores Comments (0)

Jewelry Stores ArchivesWhitehall Reports Loss.

Sales at Whitehall Jewellers slid 7 percent to $58.9 million during the company's third quarter of fiscal year 2005. Whitehall's net loss grew from $8.3 million to $43 million for the quarter, which ended October 31, 2005.
Year-to-date Whitehall sales fell 5 percent from 2004 to $198.3 million. Net losses grew by nearly a multiple of five to $71.9 million.
On December 7, 2005, Whitehall received more than $2 million from the exercise of warrants resulting in the issuance of 2,792,462 Whitehall common shares to the Prentice and Holtzman investors.
Whitehall expects to close 77 stores before February 2006, which will liquidate approximately $44 million in inventory.
Posted by Barry Gutwein on December 10, 2005 8:12 PM in Jewelry Stores Comments (1)

Pakistan Has Diamonds: You Kidding Me?

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said today that his government would work towards establishing the nation as an internationally competitive, world-class hub for diamond and gemstone cutting and polishing, and for jewelry manufacturing. Pakistan borders India's northwest.
The minister is working on a development strategy for the country's jewelry sector and concluded that Pakistan holds great potential due to the availabilty of natural resources and skilled craftsmen. Pakistan is rich with a variety of gemstones and deposits have been largely untapped by explorers.
The country established the Pakistan Gems and Jewelery Development Centre after a two-year working group delegation studied best practices used in other major trading centers. The group's project leader, Ambarine Bukharey, and a delegation visited the United States in 2005 in time for the JCK Las Vegas Show and to meet with New York industry leaders in July that year. The development center's main focus for now is to increase gemstone and jewelry exports.
Some of the issues Pakistan's Ministry of Industries and Production would work out in coming months include conducting market and industry surveys in order develop a Pakistan brand and roadmap for international recognition. The ministry will also be conducting geological surveys on gemstone deposits to identify potential mining locations.
At present, Pakistan exports about $25 million of gemstones and jewelry, but the government targets growth to $500 million in exports by year 2010.
The government plans to establish gemstone testing and certification centers in the cities of Gilgit, Quetta, Peshawar and Karachi.
Posted by Barry Gutwein on October 19, 2006 7:27 AM in Diamond News Comments (0)
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