RAPAPORT... The ultra-cool days of artist Andy Warhol’s Factory and jewelry designer Robert Lee Morris’Artwear Gallery are being reincarnated. The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts has selected Robert Lee Morris as its U.S. licensee for jewelry and accessories. Morris was a friend of Warhol’s during the Factory days. The two artists shared a mutual admiration of each other’s work as they exchanged ideas and pieces of artwork. Morris says that this new project is “about bringing a new kind of life to his [Warhol’s] iconic images and merging them into my signature graphic language.” Watchmaker Zenith has launched
Starissime, a new collection of haute-couture watches aimed to go straight to a woman’s heart. Embellished with diamonds, these timepieces combine the intricate techniques of haute horlogerie with the creativity of jewelry.
Martin Flyer’s new Eternity Collection showcases emerald, radiant, princess or Asscher cut diamonds in handcrafted platinum or 18-karat gold. Each diamond is carefully matched to create a seamless look to the band. To support this new collection, Martin Flyer provides retailers with an advertising kit on CD-ROM and ad slicks for print and artwork to create brochures, postcards and billboards.
Prince Michael of Greece has penned Jewels of the Tsars. The coffee-table book, published by Vendome Press, is an historical chronicle of the Romanovs and Imperial Russia told in part through jewelry. Prince Michael is a relative of the last Russian Tsar, Nicholas II, and had access to the Romanov family diaries, archives and photo albums while writing this 192-page book filled with 175 full-color illustrations. Vendome Press has also published Made for Maharajas: A Design Diary of Princely India, which describes objects — including jewelry — made in Europe for the Indian maharajahs.
The book is authored by Amin Jaffer, PhD., curator of Asian art at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Udi Behr celebrates a “Time for Peace” with his new watch collection. Best known for his “Love and Pride” jewelry that caters to the gay and lesbian market, Behr created the chronograph watches with a peace sign on the face to remind all who see it that it is time for peace.
The American Jewelry Design Council is now accepting applications for its annual New Talent contest. Those applying must be a designer/owner of a jewelry manufacturing business, produce in the U.S. and must never have exhibited at a JA Show. The winner is selected based on originality, craftsmanship, innovation, marketability and cohesiveness of the collection. A booth in the New Designer Gallery at the JA New York summer show is awarded to the winner. Deadline for entries is January 15, 2007. For information and applications, visit ajdc.org.
Gopal Roy is the first-place winner of the Gemological Institute of America’s (GIA) George A. Schuetz Design Competition that focuses on designs for men. Roy took the honor for his rendering of a man’s ring comprised of two white gold shanks joined with yellow gold bars topped with bezel-set diamonds showcasing an Asscher-cut ruby accented with diamond baguettes.
Minjung Oh placed second for a ring and pendant set of 18-karat white gold, onyx, diamonds and black rubber. Third-place honors went to Young-Im Jeon for a white and yellow gold ring with lapis, onyx and diamonds.
Article from the Rapaport Magazine - December 2006. To subscribe click here.