LAS VEGAS , JUNE 1, 2007— Signity, Swarovski’s world-leading brand for precision-cut genuine and created gemstones launches Gem Visions 2008, the latest in-depth trends book for the fine jewelry market, at the JCK International Jewelry Show at the Sands Convention Center June 1-5, 2007, Booth # 23091. Daily seminars for jewelers will be held at the booth, with a press conference for the media scheduled for June 2 at 4:30 p.m.

For 2008, Gem Visions celebrates the essence of jewelry, reaching back to the very origins of jewels as wondrous miracles of nature and magical objects, revitalizing the classics and reveling in connoisseurship and superb craftsmanship.

“The key word being “essential”, Gem Visions 2008 tracks two distinct directions—a new streamlined severity, i.e. a Shaker-style Puritanism, which is strengthening the current return to classics; and the continually evolving “romantic” trend is now moving towards the richness of history and heritage, magic and mystery,” explains Dr. Birgit Rieder, GemVisions project director, and marketing services manager genuine and created stones for D. Swarovski & Co. “The all-embracing organic mega trend, our preoccupation with the planet, will continue to be strong throughout 2008, while romance takes a new turn by teaming up with a playful, high-tech bent.”

The four design directions identified by Gem Visions research for 2008 are Origems, Bluematrix, Mysticglam and iRomance, with each theme divided into three key looks:

ORIGEMS: Essential Luxury - My Organic Gem Developing the trend for sensual minimalism first identified in Gem Visions 2005, Origems introduces a sense of the primeval in timelessly simple and organic shapes and forms. Its key looks are Random Beauty, influenced by the chaos and arbitrary irregularities in nature; Fossilized Treasures, richly encrusted and embellished; and Sensual Curves, distilling organic motifs and ideas to their purest, linear essence. The color palette is earthy, finely tuned with the iridescent whites of sand and pearl.

BLUEMATRIX: Architectural Stones - My Urban Gem

Influenced by sharp, contemporary architecture, particularly the skyscraper, Bluematrix renews the classics and expresses a strong industrial spirit. Key looks are Ultra-stretched jewelry, building jewels like miniature towers or totems; Gem Grids, linear and geometric, unbalanced by intriguing irregularities; and Heavy Metal, energetic clusters of geometric forms. A casual, cool palette revolves around a range of blues shading to grays.

MYSTICGLAM: Severe Opulence - My Mystic Gem Mystical motifs emerge from the past to inspire heavily decorated, opulent, and exquisitely crafted masterpieces with a strong Gothic flavor and a touch of medieval-magic. The three key looks are Dark Beauty, theatrical, oversized jewels of princely magnificence; Masterpieces, grand, confident, Renaissance flavored statement jewels with a rich heritage; and Secret Signs, that diverts the spirituality of charms and amulets towards the dark arts of the occult. Color schemes are dark and intense, the colors of velvet and brocade.

iROMANCE: Digital Touch - My Fusion Gem

Modern romanticism, a key theme throughout the four new directions for 2008, becomes graphic, influenced by computer technology with youthful, fast-moving vitality. Key looks are Blossom Dreams, beautiful fresh floral mixes, stylized, figurative and abstract; Boudoir Pearls, a contemporary take on old-fashioned romance and hyper-femininity, inspired by lace and lingerie; and Playful Luxury, fun, figurative, and energetic, where high-tech playfulness meets luxury, drawing inspiration from surrealistic images. The color palette, alive with extreme hues, introduces a new, unexpected mix of tender and bitter.

During the past five years, since Signity first created its unique trends-forecasting service with its accompanying trend-led gem products, Gem Visions has grown to be a widely-acclaimed and highly valued design and marketing tool. Not only does Signity provide innovative market research to stimulate creativity in design, but the company also uses its expertise and understanding of evolving trends to develop the latest in genuine and created stone gemstones as fashion-forward elements in trend setting jewelry.

New this year from Signity, to complement 2008 forecasted trends, is warm, golden Honey Passion Topaz; the intriguing, organic Spiral Cut in White Topaz; and the luxuriously glinting, metallic Marcasite Jewelmesh, Signity’s spectacularly fluid gem-fabric. New in Signity’s extensive line-up of created stones is the vibrant Mint Green Cubic Zirconia; and new cuts including the asymmetric Bizarre Square, and the soft, floral Petal Cut.

All Gem Visions 2008 trends are beautifully illustrated not only with riveting source reference material, but also renderings and photographs of jewels specially commissioned by Signity from designers around the world.

Signity, world’s leading manufacturer of precision cut genuine and created gemstones, is a subsidiary of D. Swarovski & Co., based in Wattens, Austria. For more information about Gem Visions 2008 and Signity’s latest products contact Gerhard Mittermayr in Signity’s Communications Department - Tel: +43 5224 5003790; Fax: +43 5224 53544; email: gerhard.mittermayr@swarovski.com or visit www.signity.com. Visit Signity’s Booth #23091 for press kit, or attend press conference June 2 at 4:30 p.m.

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article: Signity GemVisions