ON THE COVER
Carrera y Carrera Shangai Necklace Yellow Gold & White, Brilliants, Yellow Gold Chain.

The approach of a new year signals more than just a change of calendars — it’s when we take stock of where we’ve been, consider where we’re headed, and predict which of the trends we’ve encountered along the way will continue with us, bubbling like champagne from one year to the next. Regarding the first point, how’s this for an inventory of places we’ve been since last January? Macau, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Iceland, Tucson, Vicenza, Milan, Israel, Basel, Las Vegas, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangkok, London, and, of course, New York (our editorial home base).

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What that eclectic list is meant to demonstrate is that COUTURE International Jeweler has a uniquely global perspective on the shifting currents of the jewelry business. Our mission is to be a resource for people seeking cutting-edge design and trend information from all four corners of the earth. This not only distinguishes us from other trade journals but sets us apart in the wider world of magazines, too.

Every quarter, we mail 10,000 copies of the latest issue to the finest jewelry retail and distribution operations located in more than 100 countries on six of the seven continents (if Antarctica had a couture jewelry outpost, we’d get there, too). We consider CIJ an important bridge between buyers and sellers at the upper echelons of this far-flung, fragmented trade. All this is by way of addressing our second point, the one that clarifies where we’re headed. While 2009 may indeed be a difficult year for the luxury business, we’re committed to delivering well-edited, on-the-ground information to our readers, and, hopefully, serving as a critical factor in their ongoing success. We’re convinced that the global business opportunities outlined on our pages will play a key role in those efforts. Speaking of timely information, that brings us to the final point of our year-end inventory, in which we scrutinize the trends that have emerged over the past year and forecast which ones will demand your attention in the months ahead. More than an exercise in fashionable frivolity, our annual Designing the Trends issue is a snapshot of the collective mood of couture jewelers worldwide. What looks will be front and center in the new year? Where are the best sourcing opportunities? What issues and ideas are shaping the business and how do they correspond to the wider world?

A magazine that answers these questions and more will be an indispensable tool in the greater campaign to help your businesses thrive, even, or perhaps especially, in a challenging environment.

We believe COUTURE International Jeweler fits the bill, and we sincerely hope you agree. Happy new year — and best wishes for a successful season. We look forward to serving you during what is sure to be a remarkable year.

By Victoria Gomelsky