Jewelry Biz - It Takes A Thief...Or Two

Amazing is correct.
In the news
Ring worth nearly $700,000 taken by savvy thieves

Two well-dressed men walk away with Cartier store's most expensive one

ROME — Police are trying to track down two men who stole a Cartier store's most expensive ring, but one thing is clear: the bilingual, elegantly attired thieves were savvy. 

Without pulling a weapon, the two men walked off with a 500,000 euro ($693,000) diamond-encrusted ring Tuesday evening from Cartier's store on Via Condotti, a toney shopping street near Rome's Spanish Steps, police said.

Talk about messing up the 'Know Your Client' rule!

But I truly do feel sorry for the poor saleswoman who got totally bamboozled by these elegantly attired gentlemen I mean cheeky thieves, speaking Arabic and French.  

She probably thought that they were Saudi royals and that she was on to making the big sale of her year.

Cartier at 100 - Feel The Love!

Looking for a little Cartier Love of your own?

Beladora Cartier Love Ring in 18K $995

h/t Gem Gossip

Savvy Shopping - Flight To Quality

Nordstrom Gunmetal Gray Teri Jon Iridescent Dress

Cartier Tahitian Pearl Jewelry from Beladora.com

From Jeanine Poggi's article in Forbes.com on Why Auctions Thrive in a Bad Economy

While the stock markets were tanking Wednesday, the opposite was happening at Christie's New York auction house. There, a jewelry auction was taking place, and from the bidding and final take, one would never know the economy is struggling.

"In a volatile market when the Dow lost 700 points in a day, nearly $30 million of jewelry and precious stones changed hands at Christie's in less than five hours, thus demonstrating the relative stability of the jewelry market and the long dependability of gems as a store of portable value," Rahul Kadakia, Christie's head of jewelry, said in a statement.

My take on this a little different. I think that across the board there is a flight to quality for consumers and a desire for buying classic pieces rather than trendy nonsense that will be out of style in a month, but....consumers want to purchase at reasonable prices, and that's where estate jewelry comes in.

Take this set of Cartier Tahitian Pearl jewelry from Beladora.com for example. The earrings and pearl strand together had an cost of over $80,000 at Cartier in Paris. Now, they are available for about 50% of the original price, and they come with the Cartier certificates and boxes.

The finest quality, a reasonable price, and always in style....savvy shopping indeed.

Cartier - It's All About The Love

If you're looking for a little love from Cartier, here are earrings and a matching ring from the Diamond Heart Collection by Cartier at Beladora.com. And, if you are feeling particularly altruistic stop into your local Cartier store to see the new jewelry in their Love Collection. With 10% of sales going to global charities, you can shop for Cartier Love jewelry without guilt.

A little about LOVECHARITY: Since the Cartier LOVE bracelet was introduced more than 30 years ago, it has become one of the most coveted jewelry designs in the world and the ultimate symbol of love. Over the past two years, Cartier donated more than $2.24 million to sixteen global charities from the sales of its LOVECHARITY bracelet.

Cartier's Bel Air Road Show

Courting the Superwealthy at Cartier Atelier
Eager to Keep Its Luster, The Jeweler to Maharajahs Takes Its Cases on the Road

Christina Binkley in yesterday's Wall Street Journal reported on Cartier's new strategy to reach high end clients.

Anxious about losing its luster, however, Cartier is aggressively stalking the superwealthy in their own natural habitat. Cartier's U.S. chief executive, Frédéric de Narp, last year recruited art adviser Carl Adams from Christie's auction house, where Mr. Adams had assembled an enviable Rolodex. As Cartier's vice president of business development, Mr. Adams organizes 18th-century-style salons that give Cartier access to the nation's leading socialites in their own homes. "We want these influential women to understand the heritage of the brand," Mr. de Narp says.

The luxury house doesn't sell anything at the events. Rather, it aims to build relationships with future customers so that when someone wants to buy a $150,000 bracelet, she thinks of Cartier first.
"I'm trying to build an awareness that Cartier -- at a certain level -- still exists," Mr. Adams says.
Last Thursday afternoon, 44 bejeweled women gathered at the Bel Air home of Carla Sands, wife of real-estate mogul Fred Sands. The guest list was chosen jointly by Cartier and Mrs. Sands. "I've known the hostess for years, and I knew the caliber of the people she would invite," Mr. Adams said. He'd already held "Cartier ateliers" in Costa Mesa, Calif., and Palm Beach, Florida.

Now just in case you weren't on the guest list for Cartier's Bel Air Road Show...and you aren't in the market (just yet) for that 51 carat yellow diamond ring....Beladora.com has some great vintage Cartier baubles like this sleek Ellipse ring.

Vintage Value Venture - Amethyst for Spring

Since the color of the season seems to be purple...I've got some new Vintage Value Ventures for you. From the incredible Vintage Skins website I'm so loving this J. Renee snakeskin bag at $225 with some incredible amethyst jewelry from Beladora2.com the value priced vintage jewelry website and this Prada shoe from Bluefly.com. (Please note that while I adore the shoes at $448.00, the Amethyst earrings at $535 will outlast the shoes.)

I just want to say something more here about value, which I'm all about. Look at what a mediocre handbag costs at Saks, Neimans or wherever. Now compare that to a lizard skin bag from Vintage skins which would be hundreds of dollars less, and will last forever.

This is also why I only invest in fine jewelry (at discount prices of course) because it doesn't degrade and it will last long enough for you to leave to your grand daughter. Costume or as they call it now "fashion" jewelry falls apart and then what do you have...nothing. A gold ring can be sized smaller or larger.

A beautiful brooch can be made into a pendant, to suit your taste and current fashion...and then it can be converted back into a brooch. I love Georgian and Victorian jewelry, and classic signed pieces by Webb, Van Cleef and Cartier and the other great jewelers. It stands the test of time and justifies your investment in terms of a cost per wear value.

This is what this blog is all about. I'm not pro consumption for the sake of consumption. I am pro Value in terms of how you spend your hard earned money.