Every year when I go to the jewelry trade show in Las Vegas I'm overwhelmed by the amount of jewelry there is for sale.
The Antique and Estate Jewelry show has everything from vintage parures and tiaras to the latest signed jewelry from Buccellati to Verdura. The Couture and Italian shows have the latest in high end jewelry designs. Then there's JCK and Watches and Gemstones...you can't possibly see it all in a week.
With so much inventory already available for sale I tend to be surprised when some celebrity launches a new jewelry line.
Today, design maven Jill at Stella's Roar posted about the launch of a new jewelry line by model, celebrity chef and reality show host of Top Chef, Padma Lakshmi.
Well Padma is beautiful and brilliant and certainly knows how to capitalize on her celebrity. Like Cindy Crawford or Elle McPhearson, she is now her own brand.
I like the exotic boho Southeast Asian vibe of Padma's designs. And...while most Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern jewelry is 18K or higher karat, by manufacturing in low karat 10K and 14K she has kept the cost down...and that is important with gold hovering around $900.
Ivanka Trump Jewelry
Heidi Klum JewelryOn one hand there is something that bothers me about all the professionally trained jewelry designers, who truly understand gemology and how to actually create pieces as bench jewelers, but who never get the financial backing, publicity and retail opportunities as celebrity designers.
How many GIA trained designers who are not celebrities could launch a line and get picked up by Bergdorf Goodman?
What do you think about this?
Would you be more likely to purchase jewelry, clothing or accessories because they were "designed" by a celebrity?
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5 comments:
The only thing I've ever purchased based on a celebrity endorsement is the skin care line I use...and that embarrasses(sp?) me for some reason. I like Padma's line because I've always been drawn to Eastern jewelry (Asian, Indian, Arab). Didn't Klum get in trouble for a copyright infringement on her "designs"? I always have doubts that these celebrities have much input in the actual design of whatever it is that they're hawking.
Jill,
Klum did get into trouble when she helped herself to the open clover design made famous by Van Cleef.
I like Padma's pieces too because my inner hippy chick sometimes needs the boho look. But there so much of this type of jewelry around and her jewlery is not in anyway original.
For the most part I think that the celebrity input is negligaible at best...the use of the name and image.
BTW, I kind of like the Ivanka Trump jewelry...but only at wholesale!
It's easy getting spoiled with wholesale isn't it?!
I would prefer something fabulous without the added cachet of celebrity branding.
I'm so over anything that has a celebrity attached to it whether it the latest new restaurant, politician or fashion line.
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