We’re thrilled to share that NEW season Saphirim Rahav jewellery has started to land on the LBJ website! And to introduce you to the latest collection, we thought we’d try something a little different with our first virtual trunk show. After a few tripod malfunctions (apologies for the shaky hand at points!) and a few cups of tea and problem-solving later, we filmed Annabelle sharing some key pieces from the latest launch.
As we're a small team with lots of stock to process, orders to pick and pack, and customers to support, it's not easy for us to get on the road to see our wonderful retailers as much as we would like. And whilst that will always be part of our service, we thought this new online format would reach more customers, more quickly and ensure everyone gets to see new Saphirim Rahav pieces up close.
This is new for us so we'd really appreciate your feedback to know if it's something you'd like to see more of!
Have a wonderful week,
The LBJ Team
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To celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, we’re spotlighting influential women within the jewellery industry all month long - Discovering how they got to where they are today and the strong female figures that have inspired them along the way. Last week we stayed close to home, chatting with our very own Annabelle Davis, Director of LBJ Jewellery.
This week, we're thrilled to be chatting with the wonderful Roni Keren-Cohen, CEO and one of the talented minds behind the Saphirim Rahav brand. We're lucky enough to enjoy an exclusive relationship with Saphirim, who's jewellery is a firm customer favourite and continues to offer unique and high-quality pieces, year after year.
Saphirim Rahav is Israel's leading sterling silver manufacturer, design and manufacturing to wholesalers, chain retail stores e-comm platform and catalogue companies worldwide.
The Company was established back in 1978 in Kibbutz Revadim in the centre of Israel. Several years ago we moved to our new location in mid-south of Israel supporting a lower socioeconomic area. At Saphirim, we use only the finest elements, textured and brushed to perfection. As we manufacture everything in-house, our hands ensure that products of the highest quality reach our valued customers.
Above all, I really enjoy the creativity of my business; sourcing for new ideas, materials and working on new designs is my passion. On the management side, I’m very proud of running a female led factory which fits with my agenda to support women in a man's world. I found myself facing lots of challenges during the Covid pandemic and running a business during such a chaotic time was hard work, but the support I received from my customers has contributed to the satisfaction my job brings me.
I first started at Saphirim supporting our marketing manager and step by step I climbed the stairs, managing a small team of colleagues, until in 2017 I was offered the opportunity to become CEO by the Saphirim chairman.
Wow, I think it was to share my dream/vision with my colleagues, even though it was really hard for me to do so. In sharing my vision, I was able to hear their thoughts and not let ego run me!
I was lucky to work with the Marketing Manager, Hanna Loubaton who introduced me to the designs and sales world, taking me under her umbrella with her unique way of looking at jewelry and designs. I owe her a lot.
Running two businesses, my family and the factory :)
I always knew that I would work in the world of design. I thought I might be an architect, as when I was a small kid I would draw and sketch houses and I also studied home décor and business. I'm very lucky and thankful that I have been in love with my job for so long.
Since there is huge competition in the designing and manufacturing world , it's better to go slowly when you start and make sure you find your mark, your uniqueness, the thing that makes you special. Whereas when it comes to creativity, the differentiator can simply be your personality. The 2nd piece of advice that I have always followed until this day is to always plan ahead.. always think about what and where you want to be in 2-3 years.
A huge thanks to Roni for chatting with us and sharing such beautiful behind-the scenes pictures. Take a look at the latest Saphirim Rahav pieces here.
Our final interview next week is with designer, Hagit Gorali, who has been passionately designing fine jewellery in Sterling Silver and 14k Gold since 1990.
]]>To celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, we’re spotlighting influential women within the jewellery industry all month long - Discovering how they got to where they are today and the strong female figures that have inspired them along the way. Last week we had the pleasure of speaking with journalist and Editor of The Jeweller Magazine, Belinda Morris.
This week we're staying closer to home and chatting with our very own Annabelle Davis, Director of LBJ Jewellery who now runs the family business.
The last 5 years has been a real journey in terms of my role and responsibilities at my fathers company LBJ. It has been part of my life growing up and I think I always knew somewhere that I wanted to work in the business eventually, it was just about the timing. At the beginning I took a big pay cut from my job In London, moved in with my Papa in Northampton and learnt the ropes from the bottom. Now I oversee all aspects of the business from the accounts, administrative activities, buying, selling on the road, and everything else that comes with running a small business - ‘head of everything’ :P
I love the diversity of the job, but mostly it’s about the people and the product. We are so lucky to work with talented designers and makers all over the world, and also our customers - our ‘raison d’etre’. They are the heart of our business, and many we consider as friends due to the relationships we have formed and the length of time we have worked together.
I studied Chinese and Management at the University of Leeds, I have always loved languages and this combination - although hard, was highly considered. We spent 3 years in Leeds with our second year in Shanghai - one of the best years of my life. After that I worked for multinational retailers Uniqlo and Ted Baker on the shop floor and in head office. My last job was working within the e-commerce team at Ted Baker and that definitely gave me a strong foundation for understanding the importance and know-how to put together the LBJ wholesale website (with the help from Lion Sorbet).
I am not sure - my career has definitely not been easy - I have had many ups and downs. I think take as many opportunities that come your way as you don’t know where they might lead.
I think my biggest female role models have definitely been by mother, sister, and all of my girlfriends who have been part of my life. I always looked up to y sister as she is 9 years older than me and everything she did I admired and wanted to be like her. My Maman is an incredibly strong, loving and an astute business woman in her own right. I strongly believe that all of the women in my life have made me the woman I am today.
I’m not sure it phased me at the time, but moving to China when I was 19, when I look back to it, it was quite a big deal. Also climbing Kilimanjaro and being on QVC in China and Paris - mini career highlight.
I actually wanted to be an aromatherapist… random but I loved massaging feet! Retail is definitely in my blood and that has been evident with all the jobs I have had since I was 16.
We work with some brilliant designers and makers, so it’s only right that I mention them. We have worked with Hagit for over 30 years and following our recent trip to Israel we will be bringing out some new collections with her this year. She is an incredibly talented designer, the way she sculpts silver is an art form.
We also work with Saphirim Rahav, a manufacturer in Israel and their team of designers are bringing out some very exciting and beautiful jewellery this year.
Believe in yourself - even if it is hard. I still need to listen to this advice all the time, but following your gut instinct is really important. Don’t be afraid to take risks and try, it will work out in the end. It’s very rare to find the one perfect job, it doesn’t exist for many people but there are good elements to all businesses and roles that will spark your creativity, that you will enjoy and those are the things to cling on to.
]]>To celebrate International Women’s Day on 8th March and Women’s History Month, we’re spotlighting influential women within the jewellery industry all month long - Discovering how they got to where they are today and the strong female figures that have inspired them along the way.
To kick the series off, we had the pleasure of speaking with journalist and Editor of The Jeweller magazine, Belinda Morris, who spends her days keeping us up to date with all the latest industry news and sharing beautiful must-have jewellery - what a job!
Thanks for chatting with us Belinda, first off could you tell us a little bit about your current role?
I am the editor of The Jeweller, a quarterly magazine published by the National Association of Jewellers, read by all the different sectors across the jewellery trade.
What do you love most about your job?
I love that my job combines my long-time loves of jewellery, writing and magazines. And I get to work with and meet so many great, interesting and lovely people. I also love the opportunity to learn so much about the trade.
How did you get to where you are today as the editor of The Jeweller?
When I left school at 18 I studied Fashion Journalism at the London College of Fashion. My first ‘proper job’ came two years later; I was fashion editor of the trade magazine Men’s Wear and that led, eight years later, to joining the men’s consumer title FHM as fashion and grooming editor.
Following that, I freelanced for various magazines and newspapers and co-founded and ran a third-party publishing business. Twenty-one years ago I was asked to write news stories for The Jeweller, which led to writing features and, 14 years ago, to being made editor.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given in your career so far?
I’ve wracked my brain on this one, but can’t think of career advice I’ve been given that has been relevant and stayed with me. When I was about 23 a fashion journalist, aghast at what he considered to be my inappropriate attire at some industry get-together in Germany, said I should always travel with a full-length black velvet skirt. Hmmm, I still don’t own such a thing!
I have created my own advice though – based on experience – and occasionally passed it on when pressed for advice: never be afraid to admit that you don’t understand something, especially if you’re interviewing someone. There’s nothing worse than re-reading your notes later and realising that you’re totally in the dark over some detail, description, technical term… whatever. I’ve learned that people are usually very happy to explain and don’t see it as a failing on your part.
What female role models have you had in your life and why?
I can’t honestly say that I have any role models. Of course, there have been quite a few fashion editors and stylists whose work I admired and there was one who I desperately wanted to look like! She (unknowingly) is responsible for my love of ethnic textiles and layers of OTT jewellery. It was a look that I tried, not quite as successfully, to pull off. I was young; it was the ‘80s – don’t judge me!
What are you most proud of doing?
Tsk – another tough question – it’s not something that I ever think about. But I guess that I should be proud that I followed my ambition to work as a journalist and I’m still doing it today, at the age of 64. And I’m proud of the magazine that I help to create now.
What did you dream of doing when you were little?
If you don’t count a fervent desire to be an air hostess, plus an ambition to read stories on TV’s Jackanory (when I was 6), my first dream job (aged 11), was to be a pavement artist, doing portraits of tourists in Venice. “Good idea” said my dad “but probably not much money in it.” The idea of a fashion journalist was put in my head when I was 12 and I became focussed on nothing else but that. I was very singled-minded. It never occurred to me that it wouldn’t happen – there was no Plan B.
Thank you so much sparing your time to chat with us Belinda - no judgement on the OTT jewellery, we've all fallen victim to a fashion crime. Next week we have our very own Annabelle Davis, who will be sharing how she came to run the family business as well as the female designers to watch right now.
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One of the best things about visiting trade shows and visiting our suppliers is that we learn so much about what the current jewellery trends are and what retailers are finding their customers are loving most. All this knowledge means we're best placed to offer you the most up to date advice when it comes to curating your own jewellery collections. Here's our round up of the exciting new jewellery trends for 2023... enjoy!
Pearl jewellery has been super popular in the last few years and its set to be bigger and bolder than ever this year with maximal pearls gracing many a catwalk. They were a talking point at the Spring Fair, especially these statement pieces, which are coming to the website soon!
Big chunky rings are having a moment this year and the more the merrier! As jewellery trends go, this is one we're very excited about as we have some truly unique pieces with Hagit's designs. With mix and matching metals and stones, they make show-stopping pieces.
Sensing a theme? Turns out we're going bold in 2023, with more statement pieces! Cuffs and bangles that do all the talking are a big trend for the year and we have a few different styles to tickle your fancy.
Our beaded pieces were a hit at Top Drawer 2023 and it's no surprise as it's also a trend set to get bigger this year. Deep coloured beads in particular are having a moment as well as layered mix and match gemstones.
Move over gold, silver is back in the limelight and in a big way! Of course, it's one of our favourites of all the trending jewellery, with most of our pieces being sterling silver 925. You'll see silver everything this year so it's a good time to stock up on your silver jewellery.
We hope this has helped you uncover what jewellery is trending now! Should you need any help curating your own collections, get in touch at info@lbjjewellery.com and we'll be happy to help.
To register for a trade account and get access to the pricing and info of over 5,000 pieces click here.
]]>5-8 February 2023
NEC Birmingham, B40 1NT, UK
Sunday, 5 February | 9:00 - 18:00
Monday, 6 February | 9:00 - 18:00
Tuesday, 7 February | 9:00 - 18:00
Wednesday, 8 February | 9:00 - 16:00
Christmas is just around the corner and so we're in the giving mood!
This December we'd like to treat you to a selection of offers to thank you for being so wonderful this year.
Simply pick your offer, add your chosen products to the basket and we'll automatically include your free gift(s) in your order. No code necessary, we will manually take your discount off on the invoice.
Enjoy!
LBJ Jewellery began life in the mid 1980’s as a partnership between myself and my former employers – Bill and Lilia – the Directors of Thai Design. We set up to distribute in the UK for an Israeli manufacturer of mainly gold earrings. After a couple of years, I took over the rest of the business and set off to an exhibition in Jerusalem. There I met Hagit Gorali who was quite new to the market and I became her first export customer. Several other small designer and Kibbutz producers were added to my pool of suppliers, hence my enduring connection with Israel. I was known as the only gentile importing into the UK, Israeli Jewellery!
There followed a gradual progression into silver jewellery from other leading countries, and a continual expansion of the range. We have always stuck to the principles of offering well designed, competitively priced silver jewellery to the independent retailer, delivered from stock.
In the early days I used to carry the stock in plastic containers to customers and became known as ‘Tupperware man’.
We have progressed marginally to a system of stock trays but essentially are still offering stock on the spot. Recently the expansion of the range to around 1500 styles has made this more difficult, such that we may revert to the more conventional sample ranges. The days of being a “bag man” may soon be over.
Alongside our aim to personally visit all our customers we participate in the main trade shows of our industry – the Birmingham Springfair and London IJL. Click here for details of our next Springfair event.
Two years ago, my daughter Annabelle joined the business, her career had seen her managing fashion retail shops such as Uniqlo and Ted Baker, following a degree in Mandarin. It’s always a source of great pride to me that she can converse with our Chinese suppliers – and a great surprise to them!
She has done the hard yards of knocking on doors and now has her own group of loyal customers too.
Annabelle has also been busy behind the scenes taking LBJ into the modern world with digital accounting and this new website. I am very lucky to have such a valuable and determined partner and a chance for the business to flourish well after my retirement.
Take a look at what we have on offer and if our collections are of interest please register for an account with us for full details of our ranges and pricing. We look forward to meeting you virtually or in person very soon.
Jon & Annabelle
]]>Bat Ami’s innovative jewellery line celebrates style, design and exquisite craftsmanship. Their three generations of family designers employ methods that range from the traditional to the most contemporary. Bat Ami designs use cutting edge technologies as well as innovative design methods to create jewellery, which in addition to being decorative and flattering, can best be described as “wearable art.”
In a world where “hand-made” may be irrelevant, they are proud to maintain a family tradition of quality craftsmanship at their own factory in Tel Aviv, where they incorporate sophisticated 3D technologies to fashion an affordable, original and comfortable collection of pure silver Electroformed jewellery, catering to all tastes and ages.
Electroforming lends itself to the creation of strikingly original pure silver designs, so lightweight that size becomes irrelevant and textures are unlimited. The silver, organically shaped forms are enhanced with the additions of pearls and many include natural touches of leather.
Bat Ami started in the 1960’s, when Bat Ami, an artist and independent family woman, turned an artistic passion into a flourishing business. Her debut collection was a personal interpretation of the traditional ‘filigree’ that she learnt from an old Yemenite jeweller. Her unique style and flair soon won international acclaim as part of the evolving fusion of traditional and contemporary in the Israeli fashion scene.
In the 1970’s Bat Ami went on to pioneer the Electroforming technique, previously only of academic interest and designed freeform lightweight pure silver jewellery with complex unique shapes, turning this previously science-only application into a renowned sophisticated contemporary art form known worldwide as “Israeli Silver”.
The ethos of the Bat Ami label, under the management of Bat Ami’s daughters, Einat Kartin and Lilach Pery is one of imagination, inspiration and social responsibility.
Over the past twenty years, both creative designers continue to expand the Bat Ami brand further by developing new electroforming techniques. Their distinctive designs and modern sensibility of fashion along with uncompromising production standards, have turned the Bat Ami brand into the stable establishment it is today.
To assure quality and cost, the Bat-Ami line is all hand-crafted in Israel at the company’s own factory which is a reflection of the diversity of Israeli society. We are a mostly female business that is proud to support the empowerment of women and promote coexistence between all parts of Israeli and Palestinian society.
Bat Ami’s production values assure quality, durability as well as individuality in every piece. Our designs are constantly evolving and innovating to complement the changing trends and our continuing success is a testament to the combination of the artistic talented inspiration of each of our designer’s own unique style.
Today the Bat Ami collection is available in over 22 countries worldwide and is regularly featured at the top international jewellery shows and in fashion magazines.
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Hagit Gorali has been passionately designing fine jewellery in Sterling Silver and 14k Gold Since 1990.
At the studio, based in the luscious countryside of Israel, Hagit and her team of experts hold a perfect platform to constantly create and develop contemporary, artistic designs for today’s modern lifestyle.
]]>Hagit Gorali has been passionately designing fine jewellery in Sterling Silver and 14k Gold Since 1990.
At the studio, based in the luscious countryside of Israel, Hagit and her team of experts hold a perfect platform to constantly create and develop contemporary, artistic designs for today’s modern lifestyle.
These collections are appreciated for their originality, as well as for the highest quality of gemstones, pearls, and exquisite silver finish.
Hagit’s innovative collections are available worldwide, from the High streets of London to Fifth Avenue in New York. Her unmistakable signature style has put her at the forefront of jewellery designers for many years.
Hagit Gorali is passionate about creating and making, so every first model from her many collections is first created by hand. She does this at her Israeli, countryside-based studio. Hagit’s distinct style is highly sought after, and many have collected and enjoyed her pieces for the last thirty years. Inspired by her love for nature and music, Hagit Silver designs are flowing in harmony with every curve. Natural pearls and beautiful gemstones set in organic Sterling Silver designs have become her signature.
]]>'Jewellery & Watch is a dedicated jewellery trade show, offering you the opportunity to discover stunning new collections and retail inspiration for your shop. Taking place at the heart of the UK jewellery industry at the most important buying point of the year, the show is well-timed and conveniently located for jewellery retailers and suppliers in the UK and internationally'.
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