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Lifestyles
Gems and Jewels
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Todd Schusterman and Jason Sherman want to change the way you shop for diamonds. About four years ago, they opened the Diamond District in Bonita Springs, attempting to marry the relationship-based family jeweler concept with the pricing advantages of e-retail jewelers.
The name plays off of New York City's diamond district, says Schusterman. "You go to the diamond district in New York, and you're going to see many stones in your size and price range. Go to a retail store, and they may have only a couple of diamonds in stock." Schusterman and Sherman's Diamond District boasts one of the largest inventories of loose certified diamonds in southwest Florida.
The store sells only diamonds and diamond jewelry. Prices are 30% to 40% below retail. Sherman travels the world to visit diamond dealers, but both like to work directly with customers.
"We believe people should have a jeweler," says Schusterman. "It's not just about the price; it's about the experience."
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Crystal Petti
Corporate marketing manager
Jewelers Market, Aventura
? Less Isn't More: "This season it's either lots of layers of jewelry or big statement pieces, especially anything stackable in gold: Stackable rings, layers and layers of bangle bracelets and interlocked gold chain necklaces."
? Cocktails, Anyone? The cocktail ring returns, and it's big, bold and statement-making. "Peridot is the stone this spring."
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? A Piece with Purpose: Customers are buying jewelry that represents something about themselves, a milestone, like the diamond circle of life or journey pendants, a special charm, their initials to wear around their neck. "Women aren't waiting anymore for someone to buy them jewelry. I think that's why we're seeing such amazing styles and colors."
? Studs: The diamond kind. "Diamond stud earrings will never go out of style. They're always the perfect fit."
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Tracey Dikes
Owner, president
Weston Jewelers, Weston
? Supersizing: "Everything has become big -- big gemstones, big pendants, big dangly 'featherduster' earrings. Super-chunky works well with the latest retro and preppy fashions."
? Gemstones: "Colored stones are still very hot -- your opals, your tiger's eye."
Making a Comeback: Yellow gold. "Last year it peeked its head back into the designer world; this year, it's a staple again."
? Hot Designers: Marco Bicego. "Across the country that line is just blowing out of stores;" Bvlgari and Chopard -- "renowned longtimers, strong lines that are doing very, very well;" Roberto Coin -- "Women of all different tastes can find something."
? Not In: Anything dainty.
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In The News
? Gems and jewelry spanning 5,000 years, from the early Egyptian, Greek and Roman empires to the more contemporary masterpieces of famed jewelers Lalique, Faberge and Tiffany are on display at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota. The exhibition, called "Bedazzled," is on loan from the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore. Ringling curator Stephen Borys says the exhibit teaches as much about cultures as jewelry. The exhibit runs through May.
? Diamonds in the rough go on sale this season at Hamilton Jewelers on Worth Avenue in Palm Beach. The pieces by the New York-based company feature completely natural, uncut and unpolished diamonds surrounded by micro pavé diamonds set in platinum and 18k yellow, white and rose gold. The line has been carried by Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus, but not in Florida. Hamilton will be the company's sole retailer in Florida, for now.
? Finlay Enterprises purchased Sanibel-based Congress Jewelers last December. Finlay, a jewelry retailer and one of the largest operators of licensed fine jewelry departments in department stores headquartered in New York, operates in 800 locations nationwide. Finlay paid $6 million and assumed about $10 million of Congress' debt. Congress, a family-owned business since 1983, says it will still operate its five stores in southwest Florida under the Congress name. It is the exclusive retailer of renowned Bez Ambar jewelry and its own sea life line ["Seaworthy," August 2006, FloridaTrend.com].
