Haute Jewelry On Display at About J Jewelry Show

Unique Cobra necklace by Roberto Coin made of white gold with colorless and black diamonds, blue sapphires and rubies.

It was hard to tell that the About J jewelry show was an exclusive event. Buyers were constantly filling the booths of the 34 selected brands, making it a little difficult for me to spend time with exhibitors.

Nodo cuff by Vendorafa in 18k hammered gold with diamond accents. Photo credit: Anthony DeMarco

Most vendors reported good sales and at least strong interest for their products. Buyers will often use this show for intimate conversations with vendors before placing their orders at VicenzaOro Fall, which immediately followed About J.
 

The Couture Paradis earrings from SHO are made of platinum and 18k rose gold with brilliant cut diamonds and conch pearls. Founded by Macau native and London resident, Sarah Ho, she produces jewelry that reflects her life and experiences.

This international haute couture jewelry show combines luxury and fashion with art and design. It is likely the most exclusive jewelry tradeshow in the world. A total of 197 invited buyers from 39 countries attended this year’s event, held September 4 – 7, in Venice, Italy, a jewel of a city.
 

The Plié collection by Luca Carati allows the same jewel to be worn in three distinct ways as the three pictures demonstrate. This piece is shown first as a flower made of black rhodium gold and sapphires. It is then turned over to the opposite where the same flower shape is now made of yellow gold with white and yellow diamonds. Finally, the shape of the piece changes completely using all of the materials, brown gold, yellow gold, diamonds and sapphires. Photo credit: Anthony DeMarco

Photo credit: Anthony DeMarco

Photo credit: Anthony DeMarco

I did manage to see most of the exhibitors and despite being so few there was a great deal of variety in artistic and finely crafted items on display. They included hand-made gold pieces from Vendorafa, the colorful creations of Casato Roma, the distinct and versatile pieces of Luca Carati, the personal objects of Sarah Oh, and the colorful and whimsy animal shapes of Roberto Coin.

Delicate 18k rose gold bracelet by Casato Roma with champagne and white diamonds.

A few of the brands focused on high-end pearl pieces and there was even jewelry for men. There’s a lot of optimism this year in the jewelry industry and the vendors at this show were certainly eager to put their highly creative pieces out in front.

Pair of diamond earrings by Sutra Jewels in rose cut blue sapphires and faceted rose cut diamonds.

This story contains photos of just some of the product highlights, where just about every brand featured the best of their best.

Unique bracelet by Utopia made of 18k white gold Gold with diamonds, moonstones, multicolor Tahitian pearls.

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18k white gold ring paved with white diamonds with enamel details inside the band Marco Valente Design.

Titanium men's rings with gold and diamond accents by Zancan.

About J Jewelry Show to Begin in the City of ‘Water and Light’

Photo credit: Anthony DeMarco

Venice is a city of water and light. When the sky is clear and the sun is high the water that defines this city sparkles. The sun casts shadows on the ancient buildings throughout the day. At night the city twinkles with the glow of artificial light.

Buildings thousands of years old are set delicately on the water’s edge. A grand mosaic unified by centuries of unbounded creativity. The water is not only the lifeblood of this great Italian city but it is also it’s cruel enemy, through its constant, persistent and endless beating on the city’s grand buildings and small houses, adding to its overall character.

To put it briefly Venice is a jewel and I can’t think of a more appropriate place to hold a luxury jewelry show. The About J show will open this evening, an invitation-only event where 34 luxury jewelry designers from different parts of the world will present their works to a small, select group of buyers.

I will be supplying reports as often as possible while enjoying this unique place.

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How Many Facets are there on the ‘World’s Smallest Diamond?’

Photo credit: Anthony DeMarco

When it comes to diamonds bigger is almost universally accepted as better. However, luxury watch brand, Jaeger-LeCoultre, turned the tables a bit introducing what it claims to be the world’s smallest diamond. Perhaps the worlds smallest manufactured diamond or the world’s smallest faceted diamond may be a better claim.

Each diamond is 0.5mm in size and in an orange tray they are barely visible. However, under a microscope I can clearly see two faceted round diamonds. In fact, what I find more remarkable is that each diamond has 57 facets. No. I didn’t count the facets.

Photo credit: Anthony DeMarco

Carlos Carvalheiro, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s master gem setter (pictured above), is the one who made the claim. He was demonstrating the miniature diamonds to guests attending the luxury watch brand’s 180th anniversary celebration, held at the Teatro La Fenice, the famed opera house in the city of Venice.

Carvalheiro’s claim peaked my interest. I have a lot of questions but the event was an inappropriate time for my queries. I will follow up.

My questions include whether these diamonds will appear on a watch? And whether the technique used to create them will be used for their gem-set timepieces or even used for their movements. Maybe the technique has already been applied to some of newer timepieces, such as the La Montre Extraordinaire La Rose (pictured above), which I wrote about just before leaving for Venice. I also would like to know if this is done in house.

For an industry that prides itself on innovations on a micro-level for watch movements, creating miniature gems for the exterior of watches this, in my humble opinion, is a new breakthrough in the use of micro-technology for watchmakers.

But first this claim needs to be clarified and verified.

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Julianne Moore’s Bulgari Ad Too Hot for Venice

A billboard advertisement for luxury Italian jeweler Bulgari featuring actress Julianne Moore has been banned in Venice for being a bit too risqué, according to media reports.

The billboard, which was to be displayed on Doge's Palace overlooking St. Mark's Square, features the actress lying naked, covered by a handbag and two lion cubs. Recently elected Mayor Giorgio Orsoni blocked the use of the billboard on the city's landmark, reportedly saying it isn’t appropriate for the famed square.

A different image, showing Moore fully clothed and wearing Bulgari jewelry, will be displayed instead, according to media reports.

Jaeger-LeCoultre at the 2013 Venice Film Festival

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso engraved 70 Mostra

Today I will be leaving for Venice to cover the About J luxury jewelry show, perhaps the most exclusive jewelry show in the world. About 30 luxury jewelry brands will be exhibiting. Then I will be covering VicenzaOro Fall, the most prestigious collection of jewelry tradeshows for Italian jewelry industry.

Actress Sarah Gadon wearing Jaeger-LeCoultre La Montre Extraordinaire La Rose  while attending the Emergency charity VFF 2013. Photo credit: Getty images

However, I am arriving a few days early and as luck would have it, it happens to be during the 70th Venice International Film Festival (August 28 – September 7. Luxury watch brand Jaeger-LeCoultre, which is celebrating its 180th anniversary, is a sponsoring partner of the festival and has been hosting events and creating products for the event.

British actress, Sophie Kennedy Clark was on the red carpet with Laurent Vinay debuting the Reverso Cordonnet Duetto watch made its debut on the Red Carpet as B Sophie Kennedy Clark. The actress stars in the film, Philomena, which will premiere during the Festival.

The Swiss luxury watch brand has created a personalized Reverso watch to the winners of the Best Film (Leone d’Oro, Golden Lion Award) as well as the Best Actress and Best Actor of the year (Coppa Volpi Awards). The watches will feature a lacquered engraving depicting a lion, the symbol of Venice, handcrafted in accordance with the finest traditions, and bear the inscription “70. Mostra” (top photo).

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso engraved 70 Mostra Eemergency

For the third consecutive year Jaeger-LeCoultre will use its products and brand to support the Emergency, a non-governmental organization that helps civilian victims of wars and poverty. This includes the creation of a personalized Reverso watch with the same engravings and symbol as the official Venice Film Festival watch, with the addition of “Emergency” as part of the inscription (pictured above).

La Montre Extraordinaire La Rose

Jaeger-LeCoultre will also release a new collection called Jubliee. From the opening day to closing of the festival the company is hosting events throughout Venice. I will be attending two events during my short time at the festival going attending the jewelry shows I came to see.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Cordonnet Duetto

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