EditorsNov 15, 2024
Why Fine Jewelry Belongs at New York Comic ConSenior Editor Lenore Fedow makes the case for why more jewelers should be appealing to nerds at the annual event.
SourcingJun 01, 2018
Forevermark to Launch E-Commerce in Q4
Consumers will be able to buy pieces from the Tribute and Alchemy collections on Forevermark.com, with the majority of each sale going to a Forevermark-carrying jeweler.
Forevermark U.S. President Charles Stanley speaking at the brand’s annual Las Vegas breakfast, held Thursday at the Four Seasons hotel. The brand unveiled its marketing plan for the remainder of 2018, and De Beers executive Stephen Lussier also addressed the company’s decision to begin selling lab-grown diamonds.
Las Vegas--Omnichannel and female self-purchasers will be the focal points of Forevermark’s marketing strategy this year, the De Beers-owned diamond jewelry brand announced.
Included as part of its omnichannel strategy is the launch of e-commerce capabilities on Forevermark.com in the fourth quarter.
Forevermark U.S. President Charles Stanley said Thursday at the brand’s annual Las Vegas breakfast that consumers will be able to buy pieces from two collections--Tribute and Forevermark Alchemy Collection by Jade Trau--on Forevermark.com. Proceeds from all online sales (minus a service fee) will go to the consumer’s chosen jeweler or, if no jeweler is selected, the nearest retailer who carries Forevermark.
The addition of online sales is one of a number of upgrades the diamond brand is making to its website.
Forevermark also is adding online appointment booking, “Live Chat” functionality and a quiz to help consumers determine which of the archetypes, and thereby diamond shapes, in Jade Trau’s Alchemy collection is the best fit for them. The quiz will be on the Alchemy landing page on Forevermark.com.
Tribute and Alchemy are both collections aimed at women who buy jewelry for themselves, which De Beers sees as a key market moving forward.
“This is a long-term growth opportunity for us,” Stanley said, citing statistics from De Beers’ latest research that show women, both single and married, buying jewelry for themselves accounted for 33 percent of diamond purchases in the U.S. in 2017, up from 27 percent in 2013.
Forevermark will be promoting Tribute through national TV, print, digital displays, social media, paid search and CRM, as well as a national custom digital video and influencer campaign.
Alchemy also will be promoted across the U.S., via digital and social media.
Also at the breakfast, Forevermark played its new 30-second bridal commercial that will be available for jewelers to use with local tags. The emotionally charged spot, which Stanley asked to be shown twice, drew applause from the audience.
Forevermark turns 10 at the end of this year, as the brand launched in China in December 2008 (but did not come to the United States until 2011). It now has 2,250 doors in 26 countries.
The brand’s global CEO and De Beers’ Executive Vice President of Marketing Stephen Lussier opened the breakfast talking about the “bold moves” De Beers has made recently, chief among them the announcement that the diamond company would begin selling fashion jewelry set with lab-grown diamonds.
While De Beers
is set to begin selling its man-made diamond jewelry direct to consumers in September, both the company and Lussier seem intent—at least in communications to the trade—on casting lab-grown diamonds as less than. At times, the longtime diamond mining company seems reticent to even acknowledge the fact that lab-grown diamonds are, in fact, diamonds.
De Beers included in the press release announcing the launch of what it is calling Lightbox Jewelry a quote from brand General Manager Steve Coe that read: “We’ve learned from our research that there is a lot of confusion about lab-grown diamonds, what they are, how they differ from diamonds...” Not “mined” or “natural” diamonds, but just “diamonds.”
At the Forevermark breakfast Thursday, Lussier—who referred to lab-grown diamonds as “man-made crystallized carbon” that has the properties of a diamond—said, “At De Beers, we never had anything against lab-grown stones. We just don’t believe they are a substitute for, or the same as, diamonds.”
They aren’t rare and, unlike diamonds, can be made cheaply, he said.
Lussier added the stones are not for marking emotional moments but for wearing as fun fashion items, with prices that are transparent, linear and related to the cost of manufacturing.
When asked afterward about his remarks, Lussier stressed the fact that natural diamonds are mined from the Earth as the main point of differentiation between the two stones, and reiterated that “being from the Earth is a big thing” when asked to outline other differences between mined and man-made diamonds.
De Beers included in the press release announcing the launch of what it is calling Lightbox Jewelry a quote from brand General Manager Steve Coe that read: “We’ve learned from our research that there is a lot of confusion about lab-grown diamonds, what they are, how they differ from diamonds...” Not “mined” or “natural” diamonds, but just “diamonds.”
At the Forevermark breakfast Thursday, Lussier—who referred to lab-grown diamonds as “man-made crystallized carbon” that has the properties of a diamond—said, “At De Beers, we never had anything against lab-grown stones. We just don’t believe they are a substitute for, or the same as, diamonds.”
They aren’t rare and, unlike diamonds, can be made cheaply, he said.
Lussier added the stones are not for marking emotional moments but for wearing as fun fashion items, with prices that are transparent, linear and related to the cost of manufacturing.
When asked afterward about his remarks, Lussier stressed the fact that natural diamonds are mined from the Earth as the main point of differentiation between the two stones, and reiterated that “being from the Earth is a big thing” when asked to outline other differences between mined and man-made diamonds.
More on Sourcing
The Latest
CollectionsNov 15, 2024
Marie Lichtenberg Battles Counterfeits with New ‘Raiz’in Scapular’ DesignsThe latest “Raiz’in” drop showcases a newly designed “Scapular” necklace and donates a portion of the proceeds to Make-A-Wish France.
WatchesNov 15, 2024
Piece of the Week: Citizen’s Commemorative Pocket WatchNo. 1 out of 100, the timepiece was created to mark Citizen’s 100th anniversary and will be auctioned off at Sotheby’s next month.
Brought to you by
Navigating Cybersecurity: Essential Guidance for JewelersFrom protecting customer data to safeguarding inventory records, it's crucial to learn how to tackle cybersecurity challenges.
Recorded WebinarsNov 15, 2024
Watch: 10 Tips to Keep Your Jewelry Store Secure On the latest episode of “My Next Question,” two experts share best practices for store security during the holidays and year-round.
Weekly QuizNov 14, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
AuctionsNov 14, 2024
18th-Century Diamond Necklace Sells for Nearly $5M Sotheby’s sold the necklace, which potentially has ties to Marie-Antoinette, for $4.8 million to a woman bidding via phone.
MajorsNov 14, 2024
Saks Fifth Avenue Cancels Holiday Light DisplayInstead of its usual elaborate display, the store will illuminate its façade and frame the windows to highlight its flagship’s architecture.
Brought to you by
Enhance Your Expertise with IGI’s In-Person Courses in NYCThis fall, sharpen your skills in jewelry grading, quality control and diamond assessment.
WatchesNov 14, 2024
Grand Seiko Partners With Ben Bridge on First Hawaii Store The new Grand Seiko boutique is located in Honolulu’s Waikiki neighborhood.
AuctionsNov 13, 2024
Aga Khan Emerald Sells for $8.8M, Sets RecordThe emerald brooch-turned-pendant returned to auction after 55 years, setting a world record for most expensive emerald sold at auction.
AuctionsNov 13, 2024
‘Exceptional’ Burmese Ruby Ring Tops $5M at Auction Phillips also sold a 1.21-carat fancy red diamond dubbed the “Red Miracle” for more than $1 million at its jewelry auction in Geneva.
MajorsNov 13, 2024
Ariana Grande, Anya Taylor-Joy Star in Holiday Jewelry CampaignsFrom Swarovski to Tiffany & Co., jewelry retailers are enlisting celebrities to highlight their holiday offerings.
MajorsNov 13, 2024
Royal Chain’s New Catalog Is Out NowThe 2024-2025 book introduces hundreds of new designs.
FinancialsNov 12, 2024
Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels Continue to Shine for Richemont Richemont’s jewelry sales ticked up 2 percent in the first half of the year, while watch sales plummeted 17 percent.
GradingNov 12, 2024
GIA’s Next-Day Services Return for the HolidaysOffered by the lab since 2016, the holiday season special is good from now through mid-December.
CollectionsNov 12, 2024
Mikimoto and Chrome Hearts Blend Aesthetics in New CollaborationThe “Mikimoto Chrome Hearts” jewelry brings pearls from Mikimoto together with distinctive motifs from Chrome Hearts.
CollectionsNov 08, 2024
Piece of the Week: Larkspur & Hawk’s ‘Tapestry Lily’ Earrings These earrings use flat-backed white quartz to create a window onto an antique ribbon embroidered with a floral design.
Events & AwardsNov 08, 2024
AGTA Reveals Spectrum, Cutting Edge Award Winners for 2024This year’s AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards included a new category for engagement rings and a new award highlighting female designers.
FinancialsNov 08, 2024
Brilliant Earth’s Q3 Sales Fall 13%Plus, CEO Beth Gerstein shares her insight on the holiday season and the possibility of new tariffs.
TrendsNov 07, 2024
Amanda’s Style File: Golden and Blue November HuesThe month’s birthstones, citrine and blue topaz, reflect the changing colors of the season.
CollectionsNov 07, 2024
Sidney Garber Collaborates With Carey Lowell on Capsule CollectionThe “Carey Lowell x Sidney Garber” collection stems from the friendship between the jewelry designer and ceramicist.
MajorsNov 07, 2024
Ritani Debuts ‘No-Fuss’ Holiday TV CampaignThe two ads highlight diamond engagement rings and diamond studs with a straightforward approach.
Policies & IssuesNov 07, 2024
Diamonds Do Good To Distribute $250K+ In Grants Next YearIn 2025, the nonprofit plans to continue its support of longstanding partners while also allocating some funds to a new initiative.
AuctionsNov 06, 2024
Two Rolexes With Ties to Titanic Head to AuctionThe Rolex watches are from the collection of “Titanic” co-producer Alfred “Al” Giddings and will go up for sale at Sotheby’s next month.
FinancialsNov 06, 2024
Pandora Posts Double-Digit Revenue Growth in Q3The Danish jewelry company plans to open up to 150 concept stores this fiscal year.
GradingNov 06, 2024
GIA to Close Lab in Ramat Gan, IsraelThe location will close by the end of the year due to it being financially unsustainable, GIA said.
MajorsNov 06, 2024
David Yurman’s Holiday Campaign Celebrates ‘Moments of Joy’The new campaign stars Sterling K. Brown, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Winnie Harlow, Kyle Kuzma, Arizona Muse, and Iris Law.
