A select group of jewelry designers will showcase CSARITE® in their designs in a special collection to launch in Tucson in early 2015. This effort will show a range of uses for this rare, natural, color-change gemstone from Turkey.
Designs from American designers Victor Velyan, Jennifer Dawes, and Katie Diamond, along with Canada’s Varouj Tabakian and Turkey’s Pinar Oner, will be shown in The Courtney Collection booth 2206 at GJX. Erica Courtney will show her CSARITE® designs at AGTA GemFair booth 1606.
“CSARITE® can be used by jewelry designers in many ways and in many forms”, states Erica Courtney, President of The Courtney Collection. “We are excited about the designers who are participating in this collection as they will all bring their own style and aesthetic to the jewelry they create, while highlighting this beautiful gemstone.”
CSARITE® is a color-change gemstone found high in the beautiful Anatolia Mountains of Turkey. Unlike other color-change gemstones, CSARITE® has the ability to display different color hues at the same time, which is an extremely rare anomaly in the gem world. Always natural and never enhanced, CSARITE® is ten thousand times rarer than a diamond and sought out by today’s most discriminating buyers. This ethically-mined gem mirrors the splendor of the Turkish countryside exuding shades of greens, peaches, champagnes, and raspberries.
BRIEF DESIGNER BIOGRAPHIES:
ERICA COURTNEY- Erica Courtney has built one of the most successful jewelry brands in the industry. Though jewelry design was not her first career path, it was her true calling. Thirty years ago, Erica was a young single mother without a financial future; now she is a brand that is recognized worldwide. Erica’s success is due to her innovation: her work has evolved from costume jewelry to exquisite gold and gemstone collections. Erica’s powerful voice in the industry, and her unique point of view has ushered in a new era of design. KATIE DIAMOND: Katie Diamond’s Jewelry design aesthetic is globally infused from antique textiles, moorish architecture, ancient egypt and even punk rock. It has landed itself placement in over 100 prestigious locations in the United States and around the world including Barneys, ABC Home, Steven Alan, Calypso St Barth, Yland 23, Carbird, and Sundance Catalog.
VAROUJ TABAKIAN: Victor Tabakian is an internationally renowned and award winning jewelry designer from Toronto, Canada. His collections are created with the finest diamonds and gemstones, set in brilliant 18 karat gold and platinum. Varouj’s passion in creating fine jewelry has always been driven by his philosophy to incorporate timeless design with excellent workmanship and quality materials.
VICTOR VELYAN: For over 20 years, Jewelry designer extraordinaire Victor Velyan has both influenced and inspired those in the jewelry industry. Not only does Velyan’s strong work ethic and creativity leave an impression on everyone he meets, but it’s also creating a whirlwind frenzy around the captivating jewelry in his latest line. Victor’s work boasts careful attention to detail and makes for elegant, timeless pieces with an edgy twist. Victor Velyan’s talent and vision, combined with his well-rounded knowledge of the jewelry industry, have placed him as a true innovator in today’s fashion-inspired jewelry world.
JENNIFER DAWES: Jennifer has been at the forefront of green jewelry design since 2005 when she launched Sustainably Beautiful, her initiative in creating jewelry in a socially and environmentally responsible way. She only uses recycled gold and responsibly mined stones wherever possible in her vibrant work. Her company, Dawes Design, is a “slow business” where everything is made locally and sourced using sustainable businesses that use recycled products. Jennifer and her like-minded crew enjoy a relaxed business environment as they continue to expand along with Jennifer’s new designs.
PINAR ÖNER: Pınar Öner is a designer, researcher and traveler, who dedicates her work to Anatolia’s ancient civilizations. She draws constant inspiration from old texts, folklore, ruins and artifacts, travelling to Anatolian cities to search out unique motifs, stylistic elements and design patterns. Her touch modernizes the collective ancient knowledge of design and aesthetics, earning international acclaim: a Pınar Öner Seljuk Art Collection ring was awarded the second runner-up in the bridal category of the coveted Couture Design Awards 2013.
