Chris Pine Flashes David Yurman Ironwood at Premiere in Germany

Evidently Mr. Pine is on Team DY; yesterday he donned an 18K gold Ironwood Collection pinky ring at the premiere of Star Trek Into Darkness in Berlin (see left). The piece appears the gold counterpart of the available-online sterling silver Ironwood Oval Ring, which retails for $425. While I've, in the past, never been particularly fond of the Ironwood Collection, I must say I'm beginning to change my position on the line. I think its distinctiveness is growing on me... that, and I value the opinion of blog reader Marmar, who contends the pieces patina nicely. That's important with silver jewelry; a wearer wants it to age well... or at least this wearer wants it to age well.

So there you have it--my take. Now what's yours? Tell me: What are your thoughts on the Ironwood Collection, pinky rings, or--heck, why not?--Chris Pine? Sound off. Post a comment or shoot me an E-mail.

Are you able to spy the DY?

Exclusive: The Hidden Pieces on DavidYurman.com

Are you aware there is product on DavidYurman.com that can only be found by way of strategic search? That's right; there exist what are, essentially, hidden pieces on the site, pieces that fail to show when one performs an inventory browse or shops by category but remain there, present, behind a proverbial curtain all the while. Don't believe me? Dear reader, have not I earned your unblinking trust? But very well, if it is proof you desire, proof you shall have. Feast your eyes on these pulled-from-concealment men's collection beauties:

We'll start with this guy, a showstopper, truly, if ever there were one. The piece goes by the name of Pave Black Diamond Cushion Ring and retails for $5200. It's a dangerous one, I must say. Look but don't touch. You'll indubitably love it too much.

I love Yurman's (discontinued?) men's Petrvs line. I love the scarab motif. I love this ring. It costs $595. It's spectacular. You deserve it. Make it yours. Do it now.

Next we have a Tuxedo Agate Exotic Stone Ring for men. The design is clean and sleek, which allows the stone to carry (or fail to carry, depending on the cut received) the piece. The price? $550. Follow my link more information or to purchase.

I have truly saved the best for last. This (see left) is my favorite of the hidden gems. It's also one of my favorite recent-year DY men's ring designs. The stone? Meteorite. The shape of the face? Hexagonal. I saw this style at the Chicago boutique on Oak St. and fell in love fast and, evidently, hard, as I made the piece mine on impulse. I have never regretted for a moment the purchase. Now follow my link. On the other side awaits this magnificent ring, priced at $695. Don't think. Just buy.

DY Ay!

That's quite the pointy griffin there.

So either this David Yurman design (see left) is beyond abstract (does that look like a griffin to you?) or there is a image-descriptor correspondence issue with this particular product. What? An inventory data input error on DavidYurman.com?! OK, so stranger things have happened, and yet, curiosity has gotten the best of me. I mean, what do you think one receives if he or she were to order this mysterious item number DYS13_N22D3--the item pictured or the one described in words? Perhaps a smelted hybrid of the two? Heh, I kid. I kid. All the same, why don't you, dear reader, order me one of whatever it is, and I'll report back. ;)

UPDATE: DY has since revised the item's designation to read "North Star Cut-out Amulet" so evidently the wait continues for the emergence of the griffin piece. (I was privately hoping it was the image that was wrong and not the descriptor.)

Briefs: New Arrivals, New Catalog, and DY Goes into Mom Mode

What's new and now in the world of Yurman? Much, actually. Here's a rundown of recent developments.

A slew of new product offerings for men are now available at DavidYurman.com, including leather wrap bracelets, a Maritime star amulet, Waves Collection skull pinky rings, and several Swiss Army knives (see below). Check out all the latest additions here.

Second, those on David Yurman's mailing list received late last week a new S/S '13 catalog from the company whose theme is Design Is in the Details. Pieces and quotations from the catalog can be viewed here.

Lastly, let it be known that DY is in full Mother's Day mode (see below) and that the line with which Yurman is leading this April-May is that of the Starburst with pieces ranging from $750 to $24000.

Does anything say love like the glint of a $1600 diamond pendant? ;)

And with that, what do you know? You are officially caught up on your DY news. Now go forth, and be vibrant. 

American Luxury, Chinese Labor: David Yurman and the Made-in-China Controversy

Pictured here is the small tag that is sometimes strung to
David Yurman jewelry (depending on place of purchase).

Buy David Yurman from a stand-alone DY boutique, and receive a gift box, a receipt, a polishing cloth, and, of course, the piece or pieces themselves. Buy David Yurman from an authorized retailer or from DavidYurman.com, and receive the same... and, perhaps, two additional small tags (which boutique salespeople evidently remove). On one are printed item details and a barcode. On the other are three small but, for some, very significant words: made in China.

So what's the deal? Does DY produce all of its collections in China? Does it matter from where the company's designer jewelry comes? Should it matter? I've done some sleuthing, and here are the best answers I could find to some of the most commonly-asked questions regarding DY and those little gray tags (see left).

Does David Yurman produce all of its collections in China?

Personal experience and non-scientific research tell me DY produces approximately two-thirds of its jewelry in China. I've ordered, to date, some eighteen (18) pieces from DavidYurman.com. Twelve (12) of the eighteen, or 66.7%, arrived on my doorstep with made-in-China labels. Facebook user Lynnette Cook Struggles has also had a 2/3 experience, which she recounts in this message posted to David Yurman's Facebook wall on March 30, 2013:

DID love David Yurman, until I ordered two items ($2,000 value), when they arrived, both had 'Made in China' tags attached and the quality was poor - I could go to a reputable store and buy similar pieces in the costume jewelry section' PLUS when I called customer service, the first person was very unprofessional - second was great and informed me that all of the pieces are made in many different countries - Italy, Switzerland, China - she checked 3 items for me and 2/3 were made in China - very, very disappointed....

Does David Yurman have an official statement? 

David Yurman has maintained in the past that its lines are crafted by skilled artisans around in world, including those in the country of China.

Does it matter that pieces from David Yurman collections are made in China?

Perhaps not but, as Paul Midler of The Telegraph asserts, the made-in-China label is "tainted with a huge number of shoddy and dangerous products." When most think made-in-China, they don't think high-end, luxury jewelry. They think toy cars with lead paint. They think contaminated milk. They think dollar-store miscellany that is designed to exist but not necessarily last.

Then, of course, there is the outsourcing-takes-American-jobs complaint, which HuffPost Super User RosieRetro put like this:

I love how some women are determined to spend money on designer shoes and purses with outrageous prices that are being made by cheap Chinese labor. I stopped buying some designer purses like Coach, due to their "Made in China" tags. Coach used to be made in New York until it packed up its manufacturing operations and moved to China, thus resulting in New York losing jobs. Designer goods are not worth the prices unless the product is actually being made by crafters in the designer's country of origin. Stop paying ridiculous [sic] prices for cheap designer assembly-line output.

Finally, should it matter David Yurman produces in China?

This is where I want to hear from you. What's your take on DY's decision to take much production to China? Is this something about which consumers should be concerned? Should it have no bearing on one's perceptions of David Yurman? Sound off, and have your say. Post a comment or write me an E-mail.

Dream in Color: Attend a David Yurman In-Store Shopping Event

David Yurman's latest collection has to be seen to be believed!

If you've been following this blog, you know already that David Yurman has officially launched its S/S '13 collection, which is titled Dreaming in Color. (If this is your first visit to the site, welcome and, hey, now you know.) To celebrate, Yurman boutiques and authorized retailers are hosting Dreaming in Color in-store shopping events at which guests feast their eyes on DY's latest tantalizing creations while treating (at select venues) their tastebuds to cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Although some events in this Dreaming in Color series have already come and gone (I know; I should have alerted you to their happening), several more are just around the corner. Here's the unofficial lineup:

Friday, April 12, 2013
David Yurman Trunk Show | RSVP
Neiman Marcus, 737 North Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL

Saturday, April 13, 2013
David Yurman Special Presentation
Neiman Marcus, 6 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, IL

David Yurman Trunk Show
Alson Jewelers, 28149 Chagrin Blvd, Cleveland, OH

David Yurman Trunk Show
Neiman Marcus, 2223 N. Westshore Blvd, Tampa, FL

David Yurman Trunk Show
Neiman Marcus, 2600 Post Oak Blvd, Houston, TX

Tuesday, April 16, 2013
David Yurman Dreaming in Color Event | FOR INVITE
David Yurman, 40 E Oak St, Chicago, IL

Thursday, April 18, 2013
David Yurman Dreaming in Color Event | RSVP
David Yurman, Lenox Square Mall, Atlanta, GA

David Yurman Event (4-7 PM)
Bloomingdales, Sherman Oaks Fashion Square, Sherman Oaks, CA

Thursday, April 25, 2013
David Yurman Trunk Show
Lee Michaels Jewelry, 6605 Youree Dr, Shreveport, LA

Did I miss an event or any specifics? Shoot me an E-mail or tweet me (@DavidYurmania), and I'll make haste to get the show listed. This page will be updated as correspondences come in and time elapses.

Did you attend a David Yurman Dreaming in Color event? E-mail me with your impressions or photos, and I'll post your contributions to the blog for all the world and the greater DY community to see. Happy spring to all! Now go get seduced by vibrance. ;)

Trouble for Yurman? John Hardy's S/S '13 Collection Astonishes

On the heels of the release of David Yurman's Spring/Summer '13 campaign comes that of John Hardy, a designer jewelry company headquartered in Hong Kong. Founded in 1975 in Bali, Indonesia, Hardy strives to be, according to its vision statement, "the recognized leader in luxury handmade designer jewelry." And that strife is not in vain or for naught. Hardy has established a global market presence, boasting boutiques or distributors in over thirty countries (compared to Yurman's twenty). Still, Hardy tends not to be my preferred designer. (Obviously. I author a David Yurman blog.) The company's creations tend to be too bold, too brash and brazen for my taste. Note how I say "tend to."

Hardy's new arrivals, only a couple of which I showcase here, seem to signal a change in style and approach to design for JH. Gone is the tackiness, the gaudiness I've come to expect from many of the company's collections (especially those that comprise the men's line). Instead, present is a sense of refinement, of cleanliness. The designs remain intricate--a hallmark of JH--but somehow seem more neat and tidy, as if the company is, in a way, going back to basics. And that's no critique.

What I love about Hardy's new collection and catalog 
1. The Dot and Bedeg new arrivals for women (see above, below)

The pieces in both Dot and Bedeg boast
extraordinary exoticism and mystique.

2. The campaign's focus on the jewelry itself
There is no face of John Hardy's Spring/Summer '13 Collection. There is no model featured in the campaign's 38-page catalog. The star of the collection is, well, the collection.

3. The inclusion of men's pieces in the catalog
Although John Hardy's male customer base is evidently much smaller than its female, it was still given due consideration when the company designed its S/S '13 catalog. Four glossy card-stock pages are dedicated to men's jewelry. Compare that to the zero pages containing product for men in Yurman's booklet.

So does this mean I've gone rogue on Yurman? No, it doesn't. At the end of the day DY will always get my patronage. It just so happens that right now JH has my eye... and maybe yours too? What are your thoughts on John Hardy's S/S '13 Collection? Does it hold a proverbial candle to David Yurman's? Sound off; post a comment or send me an E-mail.

Country Stars Don David Yurman: Get The Looks

Held last night at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas and broadcast live on CBS were the 48th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. Didn't you love that guy's--you know his name--performance? Oh, and didn't that one songstress look ravishing? You know the one. That... lady.

Yeah, OK, so I'll admit it: I'm not the biggest country music fan, and by that I mean I'm not a fan at all. Still, when I hear that persons of note were seen working David Yurman, I make it my business to--if nothing else--contrive interest. So, with that, here's a rundown of wearers and pieces worn last night at the ACM honors.

Pictured here (to the left) is Ms. Carrie Underwood (Hey! There's a name I actually know!), looking sumptuous in a floral-print dress. Last night she sported not only a Signature Black Diamond Pinky Ring, which retails for $6800, but also a pair of chandelier earrings, which, sadly, are not available online due to their being part of the company's High Jewelry Collection (its one-of-a-kind pieces are available only in certain boutiques or by special order).

Next up is Jason Aldean, who took home the prize for male vocalist of the year. He rocked a Pave Chevron Double-Sided Cross necklace ($8420), a Black Diamond Lion Claw Amulet pendant ($1795), and a Chevron Pave Diamond Ring ($1650).

Third (and finally) we have Keifer Thompson of Thompson Square, the twosome that won Best Vocal Duo of the Year. Keifer arrived on the scene Sunday wearing a Pave Black Diamond Armory Necklace (price tag: $1250).

Which look do you love? Who wore DY best? Sound off; post a comment or send me an E-mail. (Just don't make me listen to the pictured individuals' music. Hehe.)

New Additions to Yurman's Armory and Waves Collections for Men

Just Arrived
This Armory collection band ring (see right), whose official name is--get ready for this--"Armory Band Ring," is now available for purchase on DavidYurman.com. The piece, which is presently available only in a size 10, boasts intriguing weave designs, not to mention a black-diamond carat weight of 2.77. While the product image shown here suffices, I'm sure it very much pales in comparison to the actual ring itself (the retail price of which is $3200). Yurman's pave-set black diamonds sparkle brilliantly, whereas the stones here appear dull and unpolished. Rest assured the piece would be degrees more stunning on your hand. (You have my word on that.)

On Their Way?

I'm still waiting for the newest two rings from the men's Waves collection to make their digital debut, one of which is pictured here (see, again, right). Cut layered agate comprises the surface detailing on the piece. Its brother, of which I don't have an image, boasts the same exact design, only its surface is host not to agate but polished black onyx. Both are presently available in DY boutiques and come in at price points not exceeding $1000. Just for reference, the number at which the David Yurman Townhouse on Madison Avenue can be reached is 212.752.4255.  ;) And on that note, I'm out. Have, for me, a question or a comment? Sound off by posting your remark (or query) or by shooting me an E-mail.

Briefs: A New Yurmanagram and Cable for Kids

I'll begin this posting by sharing with you a most-beautiful Instagram uploaded to the web by @davidyurman this midday. Pictured are designer sketches of what has become the company's 14x7mm Amethyst Waverly Bracelet, which retails for $2950. If you compare these mockups to the actual product, you'll notice the artisans at David Yurman have done a masterful job rendering the two-dimensional sketches into three-dimensional sculpted silver. Really, the only difference between the illustrations and the final design is that the band of pave diamonds has been narrowed a bit in the final-form piece. Whether this was done for aesthetic, structural, or cost reasons remains unknown.

Now, then, let us proceed onward to update number two. Today's E-mail blast from DavidYurman.com (see right) contains a promotional message related to the brand's line of designer jewelry for children. No, you read that right. High-end designer jewelry for children. I know; I don't wholly get it either, but hey, there must be a market for fine children's jewelry or goodness knows the line wouldn't have proliferated as it has. (At the time of writing, some twenty-nine pieces for children are available for purchase on DavidYurman.com). While company advertising copy maintains the gifting of sized-down DY is a beautiful way to "commemorate an important milestone" in a youngster's life, I have to say I remain skeptical. Then again, I'm not a parent, and so maybe I'm not in a position to comment. I will say this, though: what I see in this Cable Kids collection is a little girls' line. Excuse me, but where are the pieces for the little boys, the hip-high DYguys of this world? Oh wait. I'm supposed to be against this whole adorning-kids-in-DY thing. Disregard, please.