January 2019 Southern Jewelry News 1 Southern Jewelry News Vol 32 No. 1 “A Newspaper Dedicated to the Southern Jewelry Industry” January 2019 Spectrum of Light Something for everyone John Ford’s exquisite black Lightning Ridge opals What’s new at the Atlanta By Mia Katrin
“I love opals! Especially the Jewelry Show king of all opals, Lightning Ridge (ATLANTA) - With the ad- of today’s customers. “Mile- black opal. It flashes a full spec- dition of several new and innova- stones present the opportunity to trum of color, a painter’s palette tive features - in addition to the expose retailers to a wider audi- of blues, greens, reds and yel- return of industry favorites - the ence, resulting in increased traffic lows, embedded in a rich dark 2019 Spring Atlanta Jewelry being driven to retail stores. This matrix.” Show (AJS) “promises to be an increased pool of potential cus- John Ford’s passion for opals unmatched trade show experi- tomers can dramatically improve has catapulted him from whole- ence,” says Executive Director sales and profitability,” Brown sale opal dealer - he regularly vis- Libby Brown. said. its and sources the gems from the New for 2019: AJS e-Tail Back by popular demand: mines in Lightning Ridge, Aus- Pavilion and AJS Occasions Pa- GIA will offer the prestigious tralia - to award-winning design- vilion. The team at AJS is excited Diamond Grading Lab Session er, capturing a remarkable eight to announce the addition of two prior to the start of the show, Spectrum Awards since 2014, all brand new feature areas. Accord- which will take place Febru- featuring Lightning Ridge opals. ing to Brown: “As the buying hab- ary 26 - March 2, 2019, at the “Opals talk to me. When I see the Cobb Galleria Centre. Bringing gem, I see the inspiration for the together hands-on training, in- design.” John Ford in a Lightning Ridge opal mine. dividual coaching and multime- John recently shared with dia presentations, the successful me his passion for this fascinat- tion occurred and the unique ka- al - long lasting, passed on for fu- its of today’s consumers evolve, completion of this lab session ing gem. “Lightning Ridge opals leidoscope of color of Lightning ture generations to treasure.” independent retailers are adapting can be credited towards the GIA are unique, formed under an an- Ridge was born. Once people ex- A fifth generation Galvesto- e-commerce strategies to enhance Graduate Gemologist and Gradu- cient sea bed. Over eons water perience the black Lighting Ridge nian, John attended Texas A & M - not replace - their sales oppor- ate Diamonds diplomas. Regis- filtered down carrying elements opal, they’re captivated. Lighting University studying maritime law, tunities and grow their business. tration and non-refundable pre- into voids in clay where opaliza- Ridge opal jewelry is generation- Please see Ford page 20 The AJS e-Tail Pavilion will pro- payment is required. The price vide products and services to edu- is $2512 (payable by check), or cate retailers on the importance of $2562 (payable by credit card). Retailer Roundtable integrating e-commerce into their Contact Judy Lince at jlince@ Q: What will you do to make your store better in 2019? existing business model.” atlantajewelryshow.com for in- The AJS Occasions Pavilion formation. “For the last couple of years my father and I have been will include luxury products and Return of the innovative recording educational videos. What started as an exercise to giftware lines that complement CAD/CAM Challenge: Custom educate existing and potential customers has turned out to be traditional jewelry store invento- designs are hotter than ever in to- an amazing marketing and promotional tool for us. We’re go- ry, aligning to the modern needs Please see AJS page 30 ing to continue with these videos because we’re getting a lot of store visits and sales from them. Uploaded to our website, Facebook account and YouTube channel, the number of calls, store visits and sales resulting from our educational videos has been so good we’ve gone away from traditional media options to reach our audiences. The videos range in subject matter from gemological basics to custom jewelry design work essen- tials to more trending topics including lab-grown diamonds. The videos not only give people confidence in our areas of ex- pertise, it also promotes our store’s transparency. On the topic of lab-grown diamonds we’re point-blank honest about the value proposition with lab-grown diamonds. The knowledge and transparency people see in our videos has been a huge win for us, so we’ll continue producing them in 2019.”
Colton Bartel, jewelry designer Susann’s Custom Jewelers Photo courtesy of Samantha Lunstedt at Emery Corpus Christi, TX Photography Please see Roundtable page 18
Industry Events...... 2 On the Move...... 8
A look into the future of retail...... 14 Bellmawr, NJ Bellmawr, S J N Chuck’s not buying it...... 17
Trade Show
Permit No. 1239 No. Permit Furry Friends on the Job...... 31 US Postage Paid Postage US Guide
What’s New...... 32 PRST STD PRST Page 22
IN SIDE Classifieds...... 37 20 Southern Jewelry News January 2019
Ford reignited my passion for black wide. Because of our source con- no minimum purchase require- piece to the store for the client…a Continued from page 1 opal.” In 2009 another friend of nections we make the impossible ments for shows. We provide staff ready-made sale!” John’s, diamantaire Ami Koret, possible. If a client wants a large training and respect and seek lo- “It’s a family business.” international trade and finance. pointed out the obvious to him and 10 carat red opal, we can source cal exclusivity arrangements. We John’s son Christopher has an Soon after graduating in 1983 encouraged him to focus on opals. it. It may take a year but we can don’t compete with you by sell- “eye for opals.” He works with he started importing and selling He founded the Lightning Ridge make it happen.” ing directly from our website. If his father and is taking on more of Italian gold chain. Encouraged Collection, establishing his niche. by diamantaires, he quickly ex- (lightningridgecollection.com) panded to selling loose diamonds “We’re the only U. S. major and designing jewelry. An older Lightning Ridge opal manufactur- oil exploration and gem trader er who goes to Australia and buys friend introduced him to Light- directly from the mines, ensur- ning Ridge opals. “No one knows ing transparency in the ethically about Lightning Ridge opals un- sourced supply chain, an impor- less someone tells you and opens tant consumer consideration, es- this door.” pecially for Millennials. We have They soon formed a short- close friendships with the Aus- term partnership buying rough tralian local mining families. We from Australia and distributing both wholesale loose gems and in the US. John continued work- manufacture for high end jewelry ing with Lightning Ridge opal stores. We’re the largest manu- but concentrated mainly on dia- facturer of Lightning Ridge opal monds. “I became close friends in the U.S. in terms of carats set with an Aussie opal exporter who and probably in the top ten world- Ford’s Spectrum Awards Buyer’s Choice, Platinum Spectrum Award, Platinum Classical winner Honors winning Lightning Ridge black opal and black opal and diamond ring. diamond necklace.
What can John’s Lightning Ridge opals offer the retailer? His striking award-winning de- signs are ‘classic with a modern Inspired by historic wrought iron gates twist,’ ranging from traditional throughout the South oval shapes to more organic free forms, an important emerg- ing trend, often accented with diamonds in platinum or 18 karat gold. Prices range from MSRP $750-$200,000, with many pieces in the under $5,000 range. “We can offer you something your competitors don’t have,” John shares. “We want to increase awareness of this incredible gem John Ford with his son Christopher at AGS Conclave. nationally. We offer strong part- nerships with retailers. Because a customer contacts us where we the buying. And for fun? “I have we source our gems directly there don’t have an established retail a place in the hill country nearby. are no middlemen. Our prices partner, we refer them to a local I’m a typical Texan. I like to fish are reasonable, our product ex- area AGS or AGTA member re- and hunt and appreciate a good ceptional. We offer trunk shows tailer, often contacting the store steak and nice bourbon.” to qualified retailers and have directly and offering to send the John takes a generational perspective. “An opal’s like a person. Treat it well and it lasts. If one’s in the family, everyone wants it. It’s a multi-generational gem - from a multi-generational family. Our family’s the 5th - and Filigree paw for you and your with my son, the 6th - generation best friend!* on this island of Galveston.” From *Proceeds to bene t local animal societies this seemingly isolated vantage point, the Lighting Ridge collec- See our new Spring Collection at these trade shows! tion has emerged as a burgeon- ing worldwide business, sourcing AmericasMart / Atlanta PGA Show / Orlando Australian opals and promoting January 9-13 January 23-25 this remarkable gem nationally Booth #2702 (Bldg. 3, Fl. 4) Booth #3315 TUCSON LOOSE OPAL SALE AGTA BOOTH 427 through award-winning design. Mia Katrin is an award-win- We travel to the Outback to buy opals ning jewelry designer featured from the source in Lightning Ridge, in over 100 top stores nation- Australia. Each opal is personally ally. She is available for lectures selected and is 100% natural and and seminars. To add her Col- ethically mined. Memorandum to 800.845.6964 / [email protected] established rms and exclusive trunk lections or book a lecture: www. www.cargoholdinc.com shows. jeweljewel.com, 877-539-3569, facebook.com/MiaKatrinforJEW- Christopher J. Ford John W. Ford ELCOUTURELLC, subscribe to her YouTube channel www. © 2019 All rights reserved. e Southern Gates® Collection is a registered trademark of e Cargo Hold, Inc. [email protected] youtube.com/channel/UC2B- Designed and distributed in Charleston, SC. (409) 771-7750 53XBuB_HD5-bofc5jAA SJN