Design Art and Photography » 2008 » November http://sirint.com Just another WordPress weblog Sat, 06 Nov 2010 20:43:22 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en PGI expands technical offerings in 2009
Jurgen Maerz, master metallurgist and director of technical education for PGI, is at the bench in a series of online videos.

New York-- In response to increased interest from the industry, the Platinum Guild International (PGI) USA has announced it will expand its technical education courses and resources in 2009, in particular its online instructional videos.

Among the newest of offerings is a new PGI-focused channel on the Bench Television Network. The channel, viewable online at BenchTelevision.com, currently features a series of 11 online technical presentations developed by Jurgen Maerz, master metallurgist and director of technical education for PGI. Several of the videos, which feature Maerz and other master jewelers working with platinum, have also been added to YouTube.

According to PGI, feedback has been strong. Recent statistics show that the online videos or "webisodes" on BenchTelevision.com have been viewed more than 300 times in the past nine months, while the episodes on YouTube, which include "Platinum Fabrication Techniques" and "Fabricating a Three-Stone Platinum Ring," have been watched by more than 570 viewers from around the world.

"We are proud and excited that these videos have been viewed by so many people from around the world," Maerz said in a media release. "Technical support in the jewelry industry is growing in popularity and demand because jewelers are seeing direct results as they learn new and creative ways to grow their business."  

Technical offerings available on PGI's own comprehensive Web site, PlatinumGuild.com, include a question and answer forum hosted by Maerz, a toll- free technical number through which jewelers can speak directly with Maerz, a technical tip card series featuring quick reference tips, technical instruction videos and articles.

For more information on PGI's technical offerings, visit Platinum Guild.com  or call (888) 961-7111.


]]> http://sirint.com/design/pgi-expands-technical-offerings-in-2009.htm Mikimoto crafts prestigious award for Glenn Close

New York--Pearl powerhouse Mikimoto has been tapped to create the The Hollywood Reporter's prestigious Sherry Lansing Leadership Award, which will be presented to Emmy Award-winning actress Glenn Close on Dec. 5.

To craft the award, entitled "The Gateway," Mikimoto engaged designer Adrienne Lee, a California sculptor whose works are found in galleries and private collections throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and South Africa.  The award's brushed natural bronze twin planes both diffuse and reflect light from the luminous 14-millimeter Mikimoto golden South Sea cultured pearl pendant which sways between the angled surfaces.

The alignment of the pendant's drop--both on and off the sculpture's base--is designed to pay homage to the recipient's talent in pushing the boundaries both as a performer and as a humanitarian.  While making the piece linear and architectural, Lee also incorporated familiar symbols which emerge when the piece is viewed from various angles, including the letter "M" for Mikimoto and the number "1" for the pinnacle--Glenn Close. The pendant, valued at $9,900 can be removed from the award and worn, with the integrity of the sculpture itself remaining intact.

The award will be presented at a breakfast that celebrates the 17th "Power 100: Women in Entertainment" issue for The Hollywood Reporter, which like National Jeweler, is published by Nielsen Business Media and is part of The Nielsen Co., a global information and media company.

"Mikimoto's commission of 'The Gateway' was inspired both by Ms. Close's profound strength as an artist and personal style," says Dawn Moore, general manager of Mikimoto Beverly Hills.  "The choice of a golden South Sea pearl and natural warm bronze seemed to reflect her essence perfectly. It was an exciting challenge to design a piece for a woman known for her powerful presence both on and off the screen."

The Mikimoto-designed sculpture for the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award was meant to be as unique as Close herself, said The Hollywood Reporter publisher Eric Mika.

"The Hollywood Reporter is very proud that such fine craftsmanship and concern has gone into creating such recognition," Mika said.  "It is truly reflective of the accomplishments of those we choose to honor at Women in Entertainment."

The sculpture will be presented on Friday, Dec. 5, at the Beverly Hills Hotel.  The Sherry Lansing Leadership Award honors women who have been pioneers in the entertainment industry, with past recipients including Barbara Walters, Meryl Streep and Jodie Foster.
]]> http://sirint.com/design/mikimoto-crafts-prestigious-award-for-glenn-close.htm Kodak challenges Samsung and LG on patents

Kodak is challenging Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics and related companies over alleged patent infringement. Kodak is claiming technologies used in LG and Samsung camera phones are covered by its patents. Documents filed with the International Trade Commission highlight technologies in the Samsung Blackjack II and LG Dare handsets.

Press Release:

Kodak Takes Action Against Samsung and LG For Patent Infringement

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Nov. 17 -- Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE:EK) announced today that it has filed complaints against Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics and other related entities for infringement of Kodak patents.

The Kodak actions specifically allege that Samsung and LG camera phones infringe Kodak digital camera patents. The patents in question cover technology related to image capture, compression and data storage and a method for previewing motion images.

Kodak filed against Samsung and LG in theUnited States District Court for the Western District of New York, as well as in the U.S. International Trade Commission. Kodak’s District Court complaints request compensation for damages resulting from the companies’ infringement, and both the District Court and ITC actions seek injunctions prohibiting Samsung and LG from further importation and sale of products cited in the complaints. Kodak did not disclose the amount of damages it is pursuing.

“Kodak has a long history of innovation and we have invested many millions of dollars developing our digital camera technology,” said Laura G. Quatela, Chief Intellectual Property Officer, and Vice President, Eastman Kodak Company.

“We’ve held discussions with both companies in an attempt to resolve this issue and have not been able to reach a satisfactory agreement. Consequently, we must take this legal action in order to ensure that we protect the interests of our shareholders and existing licensees of Kodak digital camera patents.”

Kodak has licensed its imaging patents to several leading technology companies including: MEI/Panasonic, Motorola, Nokia, Olympus, Sanyo, Sharp, Sony, Sony Ericsson and others.




Source: www.dpreview.com]]> http://sirint.com/design/kodak-challenges-samsung-and-lg-on-patents.htm Latest Christie’s auction sells 50 percent by lot

Geneva--A day after the three top diamond lots failed to sell at Sotheby's auction in Geneva, a Christie's auction in the same city sold only 50 percent by lot.

"Jewels: The Geneva Sale," held on Thursday in the Swiss city, totaled $22.5 million, with the level of prices falling 20 percent-30 percent below what was realized last spring, according to a release from Christie's.

Despite difficult economic times, the top lot sold, a 42.28-carat Kashmir sapphire that went for $3.49 million or $82,500 per carat, setting a new world record price for a sapphire sold at auction.

Other lots sold included a Van Cleef and Arpels ring featuring a 22.9-carat rectangular-cut, D-color, potentially internally flawless diamond, purchased by a private European buyer for $2.04 million, and a 63.22-carat rectangular-cut fancy intense yellow diamond ring, which fetched $1.3 million.

Eric Valdieu, senior vice president of Christie's Switzerland, acknowledged that it is a difficult market, but also noted the record sale price for the sapphire and overall strong bidding.

"Even though the level of prices is 20 to 30 percent below what it was in the spring, there was healthy bidding in the room, resulting in a sale that totaled $22.5 million," he said. "Good prices were paid for natural pearls and vintage jewelry by an international audience with a strong contingent of Indian, Russian, Middle Eastern and continental European buyers."

Among the top 10 lots was a Bulgari natural-pearl and diamond necklace, which was snapped up by the Indian trade for $522,500.

]]> http://sirint.com/design/latest-christie-s-auction-sells-50-percent-by-lot.htm Panasonic LUMIX DMC-G1 price info Panasonic LUMIX G1 price info : Panasonic announced pricing for the world’s first Micro Four Thirds System camera, the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-G1 - available in mid-November for a suggested retail price of $799.95, which includes the Panasonic LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm / F3.5-5.6 ASPH/MEGA O.I.S. kit lens. Also available in November, the Panasonic LUMIX G VARIO 45-200mm / F4.0-5.6/MEGA O.I.S. telephoto Micro Four Thirds lens has a suggested retail price in the United States of $349.95. The Panasonic LUMIX G1 digital camera, available in black, blue and red models, is the first interchangeable lens camera to offer consumers a choice of colors.
Panasonic Contrast Auto Focus system
The Panasonic LUMIX G1 introduces a new Contrast AF (Auto Focus) system that is accurate and fast. Additionally, the Panasonic G1 features Panasonic’s Intelligent Auto mode found across the Panasonic LUMIX line of digital cameras, which includes AF Tracking, Intelligent Exposure, MEGA O.I.S., Intelligent ISO, Intelligent Scene Selector, and Face Detection. Weighing about half as much as a standard digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera (1.28 lbs), the Panasonic LUMIX G1 camera is loaded with features that both entry-level and more experienced DSLR users will appreciate.


Panasonic LUMIX DMC-G1
“The Panasonic LUMIX G1 provides the power of a DSLR with many of the easy-to-use features from our point-and-shoot digital cameras,” said David Briganti, National Marketing Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “With the Panasonic LUMIX G1, we’re able to provide manual controls and professional-quality images, while also making the camera much more compact and with intuitive features easy for those new to DSLRs to learn and use.”


Panasonic LUMIX G1 Live View Finder
The Panasonic G1’s electronic Live View Finder, with a high-resolution 1,440,000-dot equivalent, allows the user to shoot the exact image seen, while also displaying information about the camera’s settings. The Panasonic DMC-G1 camera also features a free angle 3.0-inch LCD, enabling the user to see the adjustments as they are being made, a valuable learning tool for users new to manual controls, as the effects can be confirmed visually before snapping the shot.


Panasonic Micro Four Thirds System cameras
Panasonic will expand its Micro Four Thirds System cameras and lenses in 2009, including a new model that builds on the LUMIX G1’s portability and style, while incorporating High Definition video capabilities. More details to be released in 2009.

Source: www.letsgodigital.org]]> http://sirint.com/design/panasonic-lumix-dmc-g1-price-info.htm Ponahalo Diamonds sell for $6.3 million
Amer Radwan of Radwan Diamond and Jewelry Trading in Dubai paid $6.3 million for the 70.87-carat and 102.11-carat Pohahalo diamonds at a Christie's auction on Oct. 15.

New York--The Ponahalo Diamonds, the two stones cut from a 316.15-carat piece of rough mined in South Africa, sold for more than $6 million at a Christie's auction held on Oct. 15 in New York City.

The buyer, Amer Radwan of Radwan Diamond and Jewelry Trading in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, paid $4.11 million for the 102.11-carat Ponahalo diamond, while the smaller stone, weighing in at 70.87 carats, sold for $2.15 million.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Ponahalo Diamonds, which were cut by the Steinmetz Diamond Group, will go to the Diamond Empowerment Fund (DEF), the non-profit organization co-founded by music mogul Russell Simmons that uses diamond profits to educate and empower Africans.

"I'm extremely pleased at the way this initiative for educating and empowering Africans through the sale of diamonds is taking off," Simmons said in a media release. "We are thankful to Steinmetz for choosing the Diamond Empowerment Fund and, through the DEF, the students at the Maharishi Institute for this great gift."

The Ponahalo diamonds are the world's largest Forevermark stones. Forevermark is the diamond brand recently launched by De Beers.

The stones were the highlight of Christie's "Jewels: The New York Sale" and "Superb 20th Century Jewels from an American Collection" sales, held on Wednesday in New York City.

The sales totaled $29.4 million.

Other notable gems sold include a rectangular-cut 7.02-carat fancy-intense blue diamond for $3.61 million and a pear-shaped 5.6-carat fancy-intense purplish-pink diamond ring, which Alisa Moussaieff purchased for $2.71 million.

As Christie's winds down from the sale of the Ponahalo Diamonds, Sotheby's is preparing for its "Magnificent Jewels" sale, scheduled for Nov. 19 at the Beau-Rivage Hotel in Geneva.

Included in the sale will be the famous Lesotho I diamond, an emerald-cut 71.73-carat diamond cut from the 601-carat piece of rough mined in the 1960s in the African kingdom of Lesotho.

This is the first time the stone--which was cut by famed jewelry house Harry Winston--has been offered at auction since the present owner purchased it from Harry Winston himself.
]]> http://sirint.com/design/ponahalo-diamonds-sell-for-6-3-million.htm Just posted! Pentax 50mm F1.4 lens review

Our new lens review featuring the Pentax smc P-FA 50mm 1:1.4. This is the latest in our on-going series scrutinising the optical credentials of the camera manufacturers' various "fast fifties", and looks at a lens which has been around since the days of 35mm film. Designed as a fast 'standard' prime, it's now being pressed into service as a short portrait telephoto on the APS-C sensor. So how well has it adapted to this new role?




Source: www.dpreview.com]]> http://sirint.com/design/just-posted-pentax-50mm-f1-4-lens-review.htm Imagination
Portrait- Taiwan. Taken by J.C Wang


]]> http://sirint.com/design/imagination.htm A-list to design gold pendants for charity
New York—The World Gold Council (WGC) is asking A-list celebrities to design a gold jewelry item that will be auctioned off to charity.

The initiative, titled "Leaves of Change," will culminate at a May 2009 gala event in Los Angeles featuring both a live and online auction.

Participating celebrities are being asked to design a gold pendant necklace incorporating a leaf motif. The WGC will find a suitable gold jewelry designer to make the pendant necklace, and the designer will actually create three versions: one to be gifted to the celebrity, one to be auctioned off and another that will travel on a tour to various cities in the top 10 jewelry markets. The impetus of the latter is to further raise awareness for multiple charities, as proceeds from the designs will benefit either the celebrity's favorite charity or Jewelers for Children.

"Bringing together highly talented celebrities with renowned jewelry designers will create exciting and innovative gold designs," WGC U.S. Managing Director John Calnon said in a media release. "The simultaneous benefit to multiple charities, especially in such difficult economic times, makes for a meaningful and lasting impact."

The first confirmed celebrity participant is Debra Messing, executive producer and star of The Starter Wife. Messing will collaborate with jewelry designer Robert Lee Morris, and their pendant will benefit Messing's preferred charity, Youth AIDS.

All celebrity leaf designs will eventually be accessible to the public on the site, LeavesOfChange.org.
]]> http://sirint.com/design/a-list-to-design-gold-pendants-for-charity.htm FireWire 800 Added to Western Digital My Passport Studio Drive Western Digital’s My Passport Studio portable drives now offer FireWire800 in addition to FireWire400 and USB 2.0 interfaces. Although the drives are formatted for the Mac, and can be hooked up via FireWire800 to the new Apple MacBook Pro, they can be reformatted for PC’s. The drives are compatible with Apple Time Machine and will be featured in Apple stores during the upcoming holiday season.

 

My Passport Studio portable hard drives weigh less than 7 ounces, are powered by FireWire or USB ports, and feature an illuminated capacity gauge that indicates remaining hard drive space.

 

Available in capacities up to 500GB, the My Passport Studio drive has an MSRP of $249.99 for the 500GB model; $229.99 for the 400GB version; $199.99 for a 320GB drive and can be purchased direct from www.shopwd.com

 


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