Newswise — Not too long ago, a woman who wanted to buy diamond jewelry—or a young man looking for a diamond engagement or wedding ring—had a single option: walk into a jewelry store and browse the wares. Today, of course, customers of diamonds and other jewelry have a much wider set of options. They can still visit a traditional store, of course. But they can also tune into several cable TV channels dedicated partly or exclusively to selling jewelry, or they can visit any of a number of websites and have the precious gems shipped directly to their home.
The choices are increasingly dizzying, but for all this diversity, some types of items are making deep impressions on the public. For example, regular viewers of ShopHQ or Jewelry Television are almost guaranteed to have seen offerings for moissanite, which is being marketed as a luxurious alternative to diamond but at a fraction of the price. The gem’s reputation took a significant jump with the creation of Forever Brilliant®, which is whiter and brighter than conventional Classic Moissanite, providing the ultimate in affordable luxury. With its superior optical and physical properties, Forever Brilliant® is a unique and stunning gem that will be every bit as beautiful, fiery and brilliant generations from now as the day it was purchased.
Being smart with money in these troubled economic times is definitely cool. And for those who care about the environment, it’s good to know that with Charles & Colvard Created Moissanite®, you’ll be making a commitment to the earth with your ethically responsible action.
Moissanite’s rising profile is due in large part to the efforts of Randall McCullough, President & CEO of Charles & Colvard—the exclusive global supplier of moissanite. Among diamond industry veterans, few can boast McCullough’s experience or success. He began his long career with A.A. Friedman Company, a retail jewelry store chain that he helped to grow from 23 stores to more than 120 stores during his tenure. He then took the reins of Silverman’s Factory Jewelers, another retail jewelry chain, before moving on to Samuels Jewelers, Inc. as VP of Merchandising and Marketing in 1997. McCullough then served as President & CEO of Samuels from 1998 to 2009, and was instrumental in revitalizing the brand. When India’s Gitanjali Group acquired Samuels in 2006, Randy became chairman of Gitanjali U.S.A. In late 2009, McCullough arrived at Charles & Colvard.
McCullough’s industry accomplishments don’t stop at the office door. He is a National Jeweler Retailer Hall of Fame inductee, and has served as chairman of the Diamond Council of America, a committee chairman of the Gemological Institute of America and a director of the Jewelers Summit Advisory Council.
As McCullough explains, moissanite is a gemstone that literally had its beginnings in the stars: a meteorite crash-landed in Arizona 50,000 years ago, leaving a handful of crystal fragments in its wake. Because of the scarcity of the original crystals, Charles & Colvard embarked on a research project to replicate the environment to successfully grow moissanite in a high-tech lab in North Carolina. In addition to a wide variety of cuts including round brilliant, marquise, princess, heart-shaped, etc., the company offers a Certificate of Authenticity ensuring that the gemstone is an original of exceptional quality and craftsmanship.
Under McCullough’s direction, Charles & Colvard has made great strides improving not only the quality of its gems, but also its infrastructure, technology and management team, steps that McCullough believes positions the company well for continued growth. The company is working toward the objective of increasing awareness of its luxury jewelry brands, Charles & Colvard Created Moissanite® and Forever Brilliant®, as well as its retail channels, Moissanite.com and Lulu Avenue™. The company’s products are incorporated into fine jewelry sold through domestic and international retailers and other sales channels. Through it all, McCullough is keeping tabs on how these new options are changing the market.
At Charles & Colvard, McCullough and his team are rapidly turning moissanite into an ever-more-popular option for female and male customers alike. In a world marked by increasing options for buying jewelry, moissanite is making its mark. Any woman who has been dreaming of owning exceptional diamond jewelry can now extend her hand and watch her dream come true as a Forever Brilliant® ring is slipped onto her finger. And best of all, it’s not likely even the most professional jeweler will be able to distinguish the difference between Forever Brilliant® and diamond with the naked eye.
RSS