The SWAIA Live Auction Gala, August 21 at the La Fonda Hotel in Santa Fe, is one of the most sought-after tickets of Indian Market weekend. This year, the auction will conclude with an opportunity to purchase a sensational necklace created by renowned Native American designers Roderick Tenorio, Veronica Benally, Fritz Casuse, and Cody Sanderson.

Valued at $39,000, the necklace is being donated for the benefit auction through the generosity of the four artists. The inspiration for the finely crafted necklace comes from nature and features butterflies created by each designer mixed among flowers and Native American symbols. Created from finely wrought sterling silver, gold and precious and natural gemstones, the necklace is a unique piece of handcrafted art. It is expected to generate significant interest by collectors.

The collaboration by the four designers was first suggested by Dr. Bruce Bernstein, executive director of SWAIA, and supported by Bill and Carolyn Pollack of Carolyn Pollack Jewelry. The butterfly necklace is the latest example of a recent tradition to bring a group of artists together to work on a collaborative piece of art for the annual Auction Gala. In prior years, teams of Native American artists have customized a motorcycle, a decorative box and a concha belt with their designs.

"We provided the environment where the collaboration could blossom," Carolyn Pollack said. "As longstanding supporters of SWAIA and the Presenting Sponsors of the gala auction, we wanted to offer an outstanding piece of art for the auction. This year’s collaboration was a true group effort with the four Native Designers brainstorming together and bouncing ideas off each other. I believe the depth of collaboration resulted in a truly unique,tiffany earrings for sale, outstanding piece. There certainly is not another one like it."

Carolyn Pollack Jewelry is the presenting sponsor of this year’s gala and the award sponsor for Best in Classification for Jewelry, the top jewelry award given at Indian Market. Carolyn Pollack Jewelry’s sponsorship of the auction gala and jewelry award is part of the company’s mission to promote innovation in Native American jewelry design and to introduce a new generation of collectors to contemporary Native American artists.

"Although a collaboration, the necklace has a unique contribution from each of the designers," Carolyn Pollack said. "Each of the four artists designed one of the butterflies and they each have their own style, and yet they all came together in this piece. Fans of each designer will recognize instantly the butterfly that designer created, and yet everyone’s work is integrated into the whole. It was truly a creative collaboration, and I think the end result is a stunning work of wearable art."

Through a partnership that stretches back as far as 10 years, Carolyn Pollack Jewelry licenses and manufactures designs from all four Native American designers–Tenorio, Benally,rings, Casuse and Sanderson–and introduces their designs to millions of viewers nationwide by featuring their work on QVC(R), QVC.com,tiffany earrings clearance, in their own retail stores, and online at www.CarolynPollack.com.

"We’re excited to see iconic American Indian jewelry of New Mexico evolve in an exciting direction and become an international sensation on television," said Dr. Bruce Bernstein, SWAIA executive director. "The collaborative piece brings attention to the four Native American designers whose success stories include the way they’ve launched successful businesses and partnered with Carolyn Pollack Jewelry to license their designs."

All four artists will have booths at Indian Market where they will have one-of-a-kind handcrafted pieces inspired by the necklace available for collectors to purchase. A limited quantity of reproductions of these jewelry pieces manufactured in the company’s Albuquerque,tiffany cuff Links for sale, New Mexico production facility are also scheduled to be available for purchase through QVC during a broadcast in August for customers who can’t make it to Santa Fe for Indian Market.

"We are honored to have the opportunity to interpret the artistic elements of the auction piece in manufactured reproductions available on QVC and in our retail stores," Carolyn Pollack said. "It brings the collaboration to a new level."

"Over the years we’ve developed relationships with some of the award-winning artists of Indian Market as part of our mission to evolve Native American arts, which you can see in the range of the designers we work with, from Roderick Tenorio’s more traditional styles to the contemporary works of Fritz Casuse and everything in between," said Bill Pollack. "We want to broaden the concept of what Indian jewelry is. This is not your grandmother’s squash blossom necklace but exciting new designs from acclaimed native artists."

About Carolyn Pollack Jewelry

Carolyn Pollack Jewelry features expressive silhouettes and distinctive gemstone color combinations that embody designer Carolyn Pollack’s own lifestyle and fashion sense. This is a fresh, eclectic collection of statement pieces celebrating the natural beauty and spirit of the American woman.

Carolyn Pollack Jewelry is proudly crafted in Albuquerque, NM from recycled silver and gemstones from around the world and is featured on QVC, at the Carolyn Pollack boutique in the ABQ Uptown mall in Albuquerque and at the Southwest Spirit Gallery at the Texan resort in Grapevine, TX as well as online at www.CarolynPollack.com.

About SWAIA

SWAIA’s mission is to be an advocate for Native Americans arts and cultures, particularly in the Southwest, and to create economic and cultural opportunities for Native American artists by producing the Santa Fe Indian Market; cultivating excellence and innovation across art forms; and developing programs and events that support, promote and honor Native artists.

The 7-year-old Rushville, Mo., girl collected more than $600 for the Rushville Lions Club.

For 32 years, the organization has had a tradition of raising money with an annual bike ride. And for at least one local family, that tradition means winning.

Like Autumn, her cousin Robert Wheeler has won the fundraiser; he did it seven times. And his older brother, George, won it twice.

While the five-mile ride on May 1 was a major feat, Autumn has had an even more difficult journey. The first-grader was born with aortic valve stenosis, which occurs when the aortic valve doesn’t form properly.

“It’s awesome to me,” said Wanda McCaulley, Autumn’s Elsa Peretti Teardrop bracelet, “because this child has already had problems. I’m so proud of her.”

Since she was born, Autumn has had four surgeries, and an open-heart procedure when she was 5.

Her mother, Mary Crane, and grandmother said it took Autumn about three hours to ride her bike in the fundraiser.

“She would stop, take a break, and then start going again,” Ms. McCaulley said.

In recent months, Ms. Crane said Autumn has been seeing her heart doctor more frequently. Chest pains and shortness of breath can signal alerts to the family of a child with heart problems. Ms. Crane said a September appointment will determine if Autumn will undergo another procedure.

“It’s hard because I’m an EMT,” said Ms. Crane. “It’s a helpless Elsa Peretti Teardrop necklace. There’s nothing you can do.”

But health problems don’t deter Autumn. Winning the bike, grabbing a sack lunch and visiting with friends as summer break starts was all in a day’s work for her.

As for the Lions Club, secretary Gary Black said the organization uses the nearly $1,500 it makes every year for supplies for the schools, eyeglasses and exams for those who are in need, and a scholarship for the DeKalb High School.

“It’s the main fundraiser for the club,” he said. “It’s supplies Elsa Peretti Teardrop pendant service for the community.”

Jennifer Hall can be reached at jennhall@npgco.com.

These days, happy couples are opting for a diamond between 3/4-karat and 1 karat — half the size of the average ring during boom times.

“I’m probably selling a similar amount, but they’re lower-priced,” Strauss said.

His business was down low double-digit percentages during the holiday season, normally one of the valentines gifts popular times for engagements. But Strauss actually is in a better position than many in the jewelry industry. Couples still get married in recessions, and most guys wouldn’t think of skipping the engagement ring if they want a happy marriage.

Skipping the gold bracelet or pair of diamond earrings is a different story. As job losses and the stock market crash take their toll on consumer confidence, jewelry has become a luxury many people can’t afford. Even those who can are scaling back.

And while Valentine’s Day is a popular time for jewelry purchases, most retailers aren’t expecting a boom in business this week.

“The environment isn’t encouraging for people to go out and spend flamboyantly on a $10,000 necklace,” said Pam Danziger, president of Unity Marketing, a firm that specializes in luxury consumer behavior.

Local retailers are finding ways to cope. Some are bringing in new, lower-priced merchandise, while others are marketing heavily to the ultra-wealthy.

Nationally, the picture is not pretty. Holiday jewelry sales during November and December were down 31 percent at Mayors stores, the bulk of which are located in South Florida. Tiffany was down 35 percent, Zale 19.6 percent. Sterling Jewelers, which owns Jared the Galleria of Jewelry and Kay Jewelers, was down 16.4 percent.

“This year’s holiday season has proven to be extremely difficult,” said a statement from Thomas A. tiffany accessories, president and chief executive of Birks & Mayors, which has co-headquarters in Tamarac. “The losses suffered by investors in the equity markets, historically low consumer confidence and lack of visibility in the economic outlook resulted in a significant reduction in consumer spending.”

Between 1,500 and 2,000 jewelry store locations closed in 2008, including the bankruptcies of major mall-based chains Whitehall and Friedman’s jewelers. And the industry is bracing for another difficult year in 2009.

“It’s survival mode,” said Rob Bates, senior editor of Jewelers Circular Keystone, a leading trade publication. “Companies are just trying to get through this and hope to make it out the other side. In this environment, being big isn’t necessarily an asset. A lot of the independents are doing much better by comparison.”

Being smaller has proven to be an advantage for many of South Florida’s independent jewelers, particularly those who have been in the market for decades and built relationships with their customers. They’re holding on, refocusing their merchandise and in some cases even seeing increases in business.

Jeff Malvin, president of Beverly’s Jewelers, saw the economy slowdown coming last spring and started adjusting the merchandise at his three Broward County stores so he was ready.

By the time the fourth quarter arrived, Malvin had brought in new showcases of lower-priced silver tiffany keys and other alternative metals in fashion-oriented styles. For Valentine’s Day, he’s promoting these products with ads, “Look like a million for under $100.”

“You’ve got to pull your head out of the sand and adapt to what’s happening,” said Malvin, whose sales were flat for 2008, but down for the holidays. “You have to have your finger on the pulse of your local neighborhood. We adjust to the customer’s needs. Women still want jewelry, but at a price point they can afford.”

H. Bredemeier, owner of H&H Jewels in Coconut Grove, has been able to spur business by helping clients remodel old jewelry or trade it in for credit on a new purchase.

“The last six months I’ve done more trades then I’ve done in the last two years,” Bredemeier said. His sales for 2008 were down 30 percent, but that follows a 23.5 percent jump in 2007.

“We’re still doing numbers like 2005,” he said. “We were making a living in 2005. You just have to readjust.”

For Ed Dikes, owner of Weston Jewelers, the adjustment has meant shifting his business in a different direction — toward the ultra-luxury consumer. He’s added more high-priced watches and diamond jewelry at prices of $25,000 and higher. Dikes has found that most of his customer demand is concentrated in that area, as well as some demand for items between $500 and $1,500.

What’s disappeared for Dykes and others is the aspirational client, who a couple years ago was trading up and living off a big bonus.

“The high net worth client seems to always have the money; they haven’t been hit as much,” said Dikes, whose strategy helped his business finish 2008 with a sales increase. “The person who was the $10,000 buyer can’t afford to make purchases anymore because they’re worried about making ends meat.”

The economy didn’t seem to be putting a damper on the spirits of the luxury consumers who came to celebrate Levinson Jewelers’ grand opening last week on Las Olas Boulevard. They sipped champagne and checked out items like a 37-karat emerald cut diamond ring for $6 million.

Karon and Lew Cohen were thrilled the Levinsons had found them the 16-karat, three-stone diamond ring they had been searching for.

“Whatever is not here, they can find it for you,” said Karon Cohen, a Miami Beach resident who was proudly displaying her new purchase. “They sell you jewelry that suits your personality, not based on just making a sale.”

Levinson customer Robert Weinstein is actually buying more jewelry these days for his fiancee, Karina Modrin.

“It’s a good investment,” said Weinstein, a Boca Raton resident who recently purchased a diamond necklace, earrings and engagement ring. “It’s like buying fine art. These are all solid commodities. Diamonds are only going to go up. It’s better than putting your money in the stock market.”

Weinstein isn’t the only one. Jewelers in South Florida who cater to the ultra-wealthy say they’ve seen an increase in customers looking to buy collectable watches, diamonds and gold as investments.

But those customers are being very picky about what they buy, said Sandy Hequin, owner of Morays valentines day jewelry in downtown Miami.

“Bling is out,” Hequin said. “Nobody wants to be flashy and call attention to themselves and make others feel bad. They want to be conservative. Classic, investment quality is what people want.”

The good news for South Florida’s jewelers is that even though buying habits are changing, many consumers are at least still spending.

“Miami has always been very different than any other market,” Hequin said. “We always have someone with money to spend.”

A shining powder-blue temple of taste stood out like an elegant beacon among the serious, sober Swiss stand as people queued to view the debut collection of the new Tiffany Watch Company.

This is a partnership formed in 2008 between Tiffany & Co New York and the Swatch Group, combining the refinement of the New York brand with the distribution prowess of the world’s largest manufacturer.

The traditionally successful aspects of Tiffany watches, such as the Atlas and Tesoro collections, have had a most delicate design makeover, giving them a sleeker, modern look.

When searching for a safe pair of hands to tweak Tiffany watches into contemporary pieces that would appeal to markets around the world, Nicolas Hayek co-founder and chairman of the Swatch Group, decided to keep it in the family.

Who would understand the feminine brand of Tiffany and effect the necessary subtle changes better than Nayla, his only daughter, who has sat on the board of directors of the Swatch Group since 1995?

“I always tried not to enter the watch world,” admits Ms Hayek, a successful international Arabian horse breeder and judge. “But I have had strong views about our watch brands so my father said ‘if you’re always critical, then do something about it’.”

It must be difficult to avoid becoming immersed in watches when your family owns the world’s largest watch company. “As a family we look at watches all the time and talk about them,” she says. Even at Christmas lunch? “Yes, even then.”

At the fair, she is confident that accepting the challenge to become CEO of Tiffany Watch Co has been the right decision. “We’ve had tentative orders from the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Russia, China and Taiwan,” she says.

“I want to keep Tiffany as a feminine watch brand,” she says.”I wasn’t thinking about jewellery watches though because too many brands are doing that. The most important thing is to have a broad selection of designs.”

In Ms Hayek’s view, too many women’s watches are either jewelled pieces or smaller versions of a man’s watch. “This is the type of watch I search for as a woman,” she explains pulling out one of the newly-launched Atlas Lady pieces.

Ms Hayek owns about 30 watches including pieces by Rado, a couple of Longines including a diamond set L’Elegance evening watch, the Reine de Naples by Breguet and many by Blancpain. “It’s my favourite brand,” she says. “I love the understatement of Blancpain and the pure design. I will wear Tiffany but I’ve told them that I will still wear my Blancpain watches,” she laughs. “Well, I’ve got two arms.”

Fortunately for a brand famed for its high jewellery aesthetics, Ms Hayek loves diamonds so the 150-year heritage of classic diamond set vintage style evening watches a la Audrey Hepburn will flourish. “I like big stones and blue colours like aquamarines, topaz and turquoise.”

This explains the Tiffany piece de resistance at Baselworld, which is a full pave set cuff watch set with baguette diamonds with 5 Av set in the centre in scintillating blue diamonds.