KGee Jewelry

Cheaper Imported Jewelry Challenges Native American Artists and Tourist Community

In the Southwest region of the United States, a virtual flood of cheaply made imported imitation jewelry is dousing the market and wreaking havoc on local communities that rely on such craftsmen to keep their economies afloat. These cheaper pieces, cleverly designed to look exactly like the real, and consequently more expensive, thing are confusing tourists on the lookout for bargains and infuriating Native American artists who have practiced the jewelry making craft for countless centuries. Local authorities have gotten involved in US states such as New Mexico in order to try and stem the flow of illicit jewelry that is being sold in certain areas by unscrupulous merchants.

 While imitation jewelry designed to mimic Native American crafts or jewelry from other indigenous cultures across the globe is nothing new, the trade group known as The Indian Arts and Crafts Association has released figures that show nearly 75 percent of the $1 billion in annual income from these goods is being replaced by those selling inauthentic goods that devastate the native artists who create these products. According to the attorney general of New Mexico, as much as 90 percent of the jewelry claimed to be of Native American craftsman ship is currently mislabeled and is, in fact, not authentic. This means that consumers are over paying because they do not realize the worth of the objects that they are purchasing. These false jewelry pieces often look incredibly similar to the real thing, but are actually mass produced in countries far from the lands that they are claimed to be made in.

 Some of the faux jewelry manufacturers even go so far as to duplicate the signatures of certain famous Native American craftsman in order to command a higher price. The imitation silver and turquoise pieces, adored around the world by collectors, are especially vulnerable to this form of imitation because they traditionally sell well to tourists who want a genuine piece of the Southwest desert region that ties back into the native peoples that have dwelt here for so long. The strong resemblance of the imitation goods to those pieces such as bracelets or fetish items that sell for hundreds and thousands of dollars means that everyone involved is getting a bad shake. While the duplication of designs is certainly not illegal, selling such designs in a deceptively advertised way certainly is.

Rising Gold Prices Mean Fine Jewelry is an Excellent Bargain Right Now

With the sharp decline in the dollar’s value over the past year, investors are finding that in comparison with gold’s rising prices, gold wins out as a superior investment. While this investment news might not typically be of interest to fans of fine jewelry, it is being noted by many analysts that fine jewelry which incorporates gold is actually proving itself to be a very smart investment this year. Due to a lowering in the production levels of gold mining around the world and the rising scarcity of this precious metals, the central banks of most major countries have begun buying up tons of gold as a means of shoring up the value of their currency. This has driven the price of gold higher than ever, making it an exceptionally pricey purchase for those investing with dollars, but still expensive for those buying with other, stronger currencies around the globe.

With more than 22,000 jewelry companies competing for consumer dollars in the US economy alone, prices for the 2009 holiday season are bound to be highly attractive, making fine jewelry a potentially excellent investment over the long haul. With such a vicious economy now ruling the roost, there are expected to be far fewer people willing to pay much beyond the absolute bare minimum for jewelry, even as gifts. This means retailers are expected to offer massive discounts in an effort to encourage consumers to spend on jewelry. Those who take advantage of this situation should find that like the post holiday season in 2008, excellent deals are not only plentiful, but smart investing decisions for those who collect jewelry, or want to get started doing so, are much easier to make.

By investing in well priced pieces of gold jewelry now, consumers can expect that the value of gold will continue to rise and thus the value of their individual pieces will rise, as well. Since retailers as a whole are deemed over the sensible level of inventory as whole by most analysts, consumers can expect to reap big rewards from strategically purchased jewelry pieces if they apply common sense and an eye towards the future.

Tags: gold pricing, selling gold jewelry

Questions Surround Potential Lindsay Lohan Jewelry Collection

Gossip is swirling around American movie starlet and controversial pop sensation Lindsay Lohan after reports surfaced that she is working alongside major jewelers to unveil a new collection in the coming months. According to Lohan herself, she has been in talks with fine jewelry designer Pascal Mouawad and maker Bebe about a partnership to create a collection of exquisite pieces that bear the star’s name. According to Mouawad, such discussions about the launch of a new jewelry line did take place with Lohan, but the negotiations fell through early in the talks and Mouawad has stated via an email to a popular women’s fashion magazine that the partnership is absolutely not happening. This has led to speculation that the pop star may be seeking out other designers with whom to forge a lasting relationship that will result in a signature line of jewelry which bears her increasingly marketable name.

Over the course of the last few years, Lohan has been embroiled in various controversies that have lit up Hollywood tabloids, but in this these modern times such negative press can often be a boon to a budding star or those who seek to re-enter the limelight. However, Lohan already serves as an artistic advisor for a French fashion designer named Emanuel Ungaro, a big name in women’s fashions. Her entrepreneurial activities thus far in her career have consisted of her own line of leggings called 6126 and the Sevin Nyne self tanning brand which she was co-creator of. This has led experts to speculate that Lohan’s next logical step would indeed be a line of fine jewelry similar to those lines created by other stars at similar levels of fame, but it remains unclear as to whether she will accomplish this any time in the near future.

Lohan’s first fashion show in Paris met with strong vocal disapproval from critics and it remains unlikely that she will continue on towards a career in fashion, even as a sideline. Sources now suggest that Lohan may be able to make inroads into the jewelry industry if she can find a willing partner known for solid designs to assist her in conveying her own personal sense of style that so many women around the world have already embraced.

Tags: lindsay lohan jewelry, lindsay lohan jewelry collection

New Jersey Jewelry Store to Give Away Free Jewelry

In celebration of its 30th year in business, a jewelry store in the United States town of Wyckoff, New Jersey is giving away free bags of jewelry that they want those who find them to keep. The shop, Devon Fine Jewelry, is run by owner Nancy Schuring, a former school teacher turned jeweler who came up with the idea as a way to give back to the local community while celebrating her 30th year at the reins of the retail jewelry store.

Local residents were shocked, yet delighted, by this display of generosity from Devon Fine Jewelry and many have been reported as being thrilled to take part in the hunt for the white bags that will be randomly placed around the town for anyone who to find. Whoever finds the bags is entitled to keeping the jewelry inside and Schuring says that the total of the gift bags comes to over $25,000 all together. Finders keepers is the motto of the day and Schuring hopes that this gesture will engender more goodwill for her shop which has thrived in this town for the past three decades. According to reports, Schuring is extremely excited to be holding the event and pleased that she is in a financial position to hold such a giveaway.

The bags of jewelry have been planned in coordination with the local police force of Wyckoff so that the officers are aware of the event and can respond appropriately if needed. The bags will be placed in places of high visibility around local restaurants, shops and other public places such as Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Mahwah, Ramsey, Walkwick, Ridgewood, Oakland, Midland Park and Allendale which are all towns outside of the Wyckoff city limits.

While the jewelry within the bags is designed for women, this is expected to be an equally excellent surprise for men who can use the jewelry for gifts to give a woman they are fond of. Each bag will contain a note that reads:

“This is yours to keep. We’d just like you to contact us and let us know you found it.”

Response is expected to be great to this innovative publicity garnering event.

Tags: free jewelry at new jersey store, wyckoff jewelry store