SEVAN BICAKCI: "Lord of the Rings"

The Couture Design Awards, the signature event of the Couture Show, exists to recognize the world’s most visionary designers, uncover new and emerging talent, and promote the appreciation of jewelry and timepiece design worldwide.

The Couture Design Awards Ceremony took place at Wynn’s most distinguished hotel, Encore, in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 30, 2009 in front of an audience of more than 450 members of the Jewelry community including retailers, exhibiting designers, and press. 

Surprise guest and celebrity stylist, Rachel Zoe of "The Rachel Zoe Project" on Bravo TV, opened the evening’s festivities.

The evening ceremony for Couture Design Awards 2009 brought nearly three weeks of competition to a close. 

More than 10,000 votes were cast online during the first round of voting from May 13 to May 22. 

The online voting process narrowed the field of nominees to three in each of the 13 categories for a total of 39 finalists, who were unveiled on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at the Couture 2009 Welcome Reception hosted by Jill Zarin from The Real Housewives of New York City. 

More than 4,000 votes were cast on site at Couture 2009 during the final round of voting.

Couture Design Awards 2009 Winners

   Sevan Biçakci took Best of Men’s Jewelry for a pair of cufflinks in rose and yellow gold and sterling silver, set with black diamonds and featuring two paintings by Hasan Kale portraying Istanbul’s Bosphorus and the Marmara Sea with a galleon and one of the Prince Islands. 

Exotic spice bazaars, majestic mosques, fairy tale like minarets and imposing Sultans. Istanbul, the only city in the world which has reigned as capital of three different empires, is without a doubt the greatest muse for the man known in the fine jewelry industry as “Lord of the Rings.”

Born and raised in Turkey, one of a kind jewelry designer Sevan has been a bench jeweler for the last twenty years—and at the age of 36, Sevan’s creations are profound and unique. 

Each one is handcrafted from 24K, 18K yellow and rose gold, sterling silver with uniquely cut gemstones and antique cut diamonds that are inspired by the Blue Mosque from 17th century, the 6th century Hagia Sophia Church, the Topkapi Palace from 15th century and many childhood memories.

Sevan Bicakci is the recipient of a string of prestigious awards, including the Tanzanite Foundation Award for Best Independent Designer of 2007. Sevan has also won the  Town & Country Couture Awards over the last three years including the 2008 Town & Country Couture Gemstone Award.

info: www.osterjewelers.com

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Jess & James jewelry. Jess James Idol Jewellery Collection is Launched Online

A little history

In 1988 two young guys had a vision of a jewellers that would strip away the smoke and mirrors of the jewellery trade, a shop that promoted great jewellery designers in an environment that was broad minded, honest and creative, where clients could be involved in the process of creating gorgeous jewellery.

20 years ago Jess & James both aged 23 opened the doors of their Soho store to cries of derision from the jewellery trade. Where was the carpet? Where were the counters? And why was there a whopping big fish tank? Luckily the fashion press were kinder to us and we soon got a reputation amongst the creative

 community of Soho for having wonderfully innovative stock and offering expert and honest information on commissioned jewellery.

James has since moved on and the store has expanded but the original objective is still in place. To create and promote great jewellery in a welcoming and honest environment.

Thorn Jewellery Launch an exciting new collection of mens designer jewellery called Idol by Jess Canty. Jess is the driving force behind london's premiere Jewellery Shop Jess James. The range features bold and unique mens silver rings and mens pendants the collection using coloured diamonds as the gem of choice. Starting from £220 the collection offers something for everyman.

Jess Canty describes the ethos behind his collection: "I had plenty of rings to choose from when I went out, but I wanted to be sure I was wearing The Ring in the room. It had to be unique, bold, studded with diamonds, a real statement piece. So I designed the Idol Collection." - Jess Canty, Jess James, London, 2008.

This rings true when you hear that Thorn offer free postage within the UK andnext day guaranteed delivery, plus they post internationaly free of charge using an international signed for service.

"Thorn Jewellery's claim to be the world’s best online retailer of mens designer jewellery gains certain credibility this month as they become approved stockists of Jess Canty with exclusivity in the online retail space for his acclaimed Idol Collection."

"Sitting comfortably alongside their existing ranges by Stephen Webster, Shaun Leane and Vivienne Westwood, some of the finest mens jewellery makers in the UK today, the Idol collection will add strength by offering bold and unique pieces to Thorn's online proposition."

info: hotfrog.co.uk

Rings with a secret...

A poison ring or pillbox ring is a type of ring with a container under the bezel or inside the bezel itself that could be used to hold poison or another substance. They became popular in Europe during the sixteenth century.  The poison ring was used either to slip poison into an enemy's food or drink, or to facilitate the suicide of the wearer in order to escape capture or torture.

Rings like this have been used throughout history to carry perfume, locks of hair, devotional relics, messages and other keepsakes, so they have also been known by other names. Artists would paint tiny portraits of loved ones, to be carried in what was called a “locket ring,” which was popular during the Renaissance. By the 17th century, jewelers were creating locket rings in the shape of caskets which served as mementos for mourners. These were called “funeral rings.” Rings with compartments are also called “box” rings or “socket” rings.

The Origin of Poison Rings According to Marcy Waldie, who wrote about poison rings in the October 2001 article “A Ring to Die For: Poison Rings Hold Centuries of Secrets,” from Antiques & Collecting Magazine, this type of jewelry originated in ancient days of the Far East and India. It replaced the practice of wearing keepsakes and other items in pouches around the neck. 

The wearing of vessel rings was so practical that it spread to other parts of Asia, the Middle East and the Mediterranean before reaching Western Europe in the Middle Ages. By then the rings were part of the “holy relic trade.”

wikipedia.org