The National Retail Federation expects retail sales growth to return to pre-pandemic levels as consumers continue to face inflation.
Winners of 2015 Saul Bell Design Awards named
Jewelry-making supply company Rio Grande recognized the winners of its annual design contest last month in Albuquerque, N.M.
Albuquerque, N.M.--Six designers were honored for their works of jewelry and art last month when they placed first in Rio Grande’s annual Saul Bell Design Awards.
The competition “recognizes the power of design to elevate common elements to a higher purpose,” and offers seven categories for work to be submitted: gold/platinum, silver/Argentium silver, metal clay, enamel, hollowware/art objects, alternative metals/materials, and the emerging jewelry artist category, which is open to designers 21 and younger.
All entries were evaluated by a panel of judges.
The winners of this year’s contest are as follows.
Gold/platinum
First place: Kent Raible of Mossyrock, Wash.
Second place: Susan Blennerhassett of Nedlands, Australia
Silver/Argentium silver
First place: Andy Lucas of Klamath Falls, Ore.
Second place: Kate Hubley of Pointe-Claire, Quebec, Canada
Metal clay
First place: Ivy Solomon of Oak Park, Mich.
Second place: Holly Gage of Bowmansville, Penn.
Enamel
First place: Jennifer Park of Budd Lake, N.J.
Second place: Sandra McEwen of Raleigh, N.C.
Hollowware/art objects
First place: Raible
Second place: Genevieve Flynn of Kansas City, Mo.
Alternative metals/materials
First place: Kathleen Nowak Tucci of Atmore, Ala.
Second place: Sandy Mikel of Hawthorne, Fla.
Emerging jewelry artist
First place: Lisa Krulasik of Glendale, N.Y.
Second place: Elly Cernohorsky of Halls Head, Western Australia
Third place: Ella Calas of Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.
The first-, second- and third-place winners all were awarded gift certificates to Rio Grande. A complete listing of the winners and finalists, as well as information on the 2016 competition, can be found on the Saul Bell Award website.
The Latest

The 4-carat, old mine brilliant-cut diamond engagement ring was co-designed by Willis and New York City-based brand Karina Noel.

Rio Tinto unearthed the diamond at its Diavik mine in Canada’s Northwest Territories.

Bench jewelers spend years honing their skills, Jewelers of America’s Certification validates their talents.

The multisensory experience, open April 8-13, will feature the brand’s silver creations among dream-like scenes of natural landscapes.


The virtual event will take place April 7 at 3 p.m.

The pieces in “Animali Tarallo” portray animals from stingrays to elephants through portraits and interpretations of their patterns.

Natural diamonds mean more than lab-grown, but when every cut is ideal, they all look the same. Customers want more—Facets of Fire delivers.

Parent company Saks Global said the iconic location will be open through the holiday season as it decides what to do with the space.

Ronald Winston, son of Harry Winston, donated the diamonds to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.

The independent jeweler first opened its doors in 1888.

The layoffs come amid the TV shopping channel’s efforts to restructure and focus on live shopping through social media.

The roundtable will take place May 17 ahead of the trade show’s welcome dinner.

The “Peanuts x Monica Rich Kosann” collection features the comic strip’s classic vocabulary across 10 bracelet designs.

Three industry experts dive into the complexities of the material often marketed as an “ethical” alternative for metal in jewelry.

Diamonds are not only one of the most prominent gemstones, but the birthstone for those born in April.

The Utah-based company known for making wedding bands has acquired Doubloon Golf.

The longtime luxury executive led one of LVMH’s watch brands, TAG Heuer, for 12 years before taking over Bulgari in 2013.

Authorities said the robbers fled with jewelry and 70 Rolex watches, later taking pictures of themselves posing with big stacks of cash.

Lotus Gemology founder Richard W. Hughes has translated Heinrich Fischer’s 1880 book “Nephrit und Jadeit” from its original German.

The ring's design features contrasting lines influenced by work from architecture-inspired photographer Nikola Olic.

The Conference Board’s index fell as consumers continued to worry about the impact of tariffs, the labor market, and the price of eggs.

However, two medieval jewels surpassed estimates at Noonans Mayfair’s recent jewelry auction in London.

The Oscar-nominated actor debuted in the campaign for the new “Top Time B31” collection, which introduced Breitling’s Caliber B31.

The Congress is scheduled to take place May 19-22 in Brasilia, Brazil.

The family-owned retailer is the new owner of Morrison Smith Jewelers in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The “150 Art Deco” collection features a Miss America timepiece and a pocket watch from the brand’s Archive Series.