Luxe Jewelry on webblog

The Maryland State Lottery Agency issued the following news release:

For 44-year-old Philip Fortuna of Perry Hall, treating his wife, Kim, well for Valentine’s Day has always been a top priority. After all, he proposed to her 17 years ago on the very same day. But when he purchased a Hershey’s Kisses and Cash scratch-off ticket, he had no idea how elated she would actually be. The lucky couple won one of the ticket’s $10,000 top prizes.

"We won ten dollars off the first batch of Hershey’s Kisses and Cash tickets that we bought and then my tiffany jewellery wife suggested I buy more with the winnings," said Philip. "Good that I listened to her or we wouldn’t be here."

The lucky couple told Lottery officials that they are huge Hershey Chocolate fans. Matter of fact, they said they visit the park very frequently. "Hopefully you guys will see us here again when we win the second-chance trip to Hershey Park," said an excited Kim Fortuna. They lucky winners said they plan to buy new hardwood floors, take a trip, and save some of their prize money for their son’s college fund.

The winning ticket was purchased at 7-11 on Honeygo necklaces Blvd. in Baltimore.For more information about US Fed News contract awards please contact: Sarabjit Jagirdar, US Fed News, Email:- htsyndication@hindustantimes.com.

Carole Everett, 410/230-8800.

For Dean Martin, singing came as naturally as breathing. Effortlessly cool and dynamic in his life and career, Martin’s recordings showcase his trademark style of casual, easy charm. His timeless love songs remain universal favorites and perfect accompaniments to any romantic occasion.

Martin’s velvet voice provided his entry into show business, when he began singing professionally in Ohio’s ballrooms. He built a loyal following and moved on to the supper clubs and cabarets of New York City, before moving to Los Angeles and signing with Capitol Records. Martin’s meteoric rise to fame also made him a big-screen draw and landed him acclaimed film roles alongside legends including John Wayne and Marlon Brando.

Dean Martin is recognized as one of the 20th Century’s greatest entertainers for his decades tiffany jewellery of hit recordings, films, TV shows and stage performances. For more information, visit www.deanmartin.com.

Dean Martin: Essential Love Songs (CD, digital)

1. Just In Time__ 9. Dream A Little Dream Of Me

2. I’ve Grown Accustomed To Her__ 10. That’s Amore

Face__ 11. It Looks Like Love

3. All I Do Is Dream Of You__ 12. My One And Only Love

4. You’re Nobody ‘Til Somebody__ 13. It Won’t Cool Off

Loves You__ 14. Heaven Can Wait

5. Let Me Love You Tonight__ 15. I bracelets Have But One Heart

6. How Sweet It Is__ (O Marenariello)

7. Innamorata (Sweetheart)__ 16. Everybody Loves Somebody

8. Let’s Be Friendly

SOURCE Capitol/EMI

From R. B. Selwyn.

Sir, I note that, on the very day you report that the Swiss authorities are investigating the watchmaking industry for possible price-fixing agreements in their home market (August 25), you also report that the price of gold has reached a near 20-year low.

This prompts me to ask if one of your readers in the Swiss watch industry can provide me tiffany jewellery with an answer to the following riddle.

If Ipurchase a quality Swiss watch in a stainless steel case and bracelet, I might pay, say, £2,000 ($3,200). If I buy the very same movement with an 18ct gold case and bracelet, I can pay as much as £10,000. Yet both watches contain precisely the same movement. Surely the value of the watch rests in the movement and the craftsmanship applied to its manufacture? The case and bracelet require the same number of machining operations whether they be in stainless steel or gold. The difference in value between the stainless steel and gold case/ bracelet in terms of the cost of the metals cannot possibly account for the factor of five in the price differential of the finished product.

Is this not an example of another Swiss watch manufacturers’ price-fixing initiative in all silver rings markets, let alone their domestic domain?

R. B. Selwyn, Kate’s Cottage, High Street, Selborne, Hants GU34 3LG, UK Copyright Financial Times Limited 1999. All Rights Reserved.

To see more of the Chicago Tribune, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.chicago.tribune.com/

Jun. 3–A federal court has frozen the assets of an Elk Grove Village marketer for allegedly making false and unsubstantiated claims about a metal bracelet that purportedly relieves pain.

The temporary restraining order obtained by the Federal Trade Commission last week also prohibits QT Inc. from making any misleading or deceptive claims about its Q-Ray Bracelet in nationally televised infomercials.

"Essentially they’re off the air," said C. Steven Baker, head of the FTC in the Midwest.

Baker said the company and affiliates Q-Ray Co. and Bio-Metal Inc. have made millions of dollars selling the electronically charged, or "ionized," bracelets at $50 to $250 apiece since at least September 2000.

According to the FTC lawsuit, the most recent infomercial included the claim that the bracelet caused back pain to disappear within seconds in one user’s case.

But a Mayo Clinic study last year concluded QT Inc.’s bracelet had no real beneficial tiffany and co medical effect. In January one victim filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against QT Inc. in Cook County Circuit Court.

The FTC filed its lawsuit under seal in U.S. District Court in Chicago on May 27 and obtained the court order to freeze the assets without notifying lawyers for QT Inc.

"There’s risk the money will be wire-transferred out of the country or disappear" if the defendants were notified in advance, Baker said. "It’s happened to us before."

On Monday, Washington attorney Jeffrey Knowles, who represents QT Inc., said company executives "stand by the value and the integrity of their product."

QT Inc. President Que Te "Andrew" Park disputes the Mayo Clinic findings, Knowles said.

"What the evidence shows is that the bracelet is effective at least for a substantial group of people," Knowles said. "It may not work for everybody."

QT Inc. is in talks with the FTC over what changes it might make to the company’s infomercial and other advertisements, Knowles said.

"If it’s necessary to revise the advertising to continue in business… he will do so," Knowles key rings said of Park, who was sued along with his wife, Jung Joo Park, the corporate secretary. "He has seen the product help many people. He views this as part of his mission in life, to help other people."

Knowles said the FTC overreached by seeking the asset freeze without notifying him, calling it "unfair and unnecessary."

Officials at QT Inc. could not be reached. Knowles said the company was continuing to take orders for the Q-Ray but could not send out bracelets until the restraining order is lifted.

By Matt O’Connor and Michael Higgins

It’s all in the wrist. Actually, this spring, it’s all on the wrist. Skinny bracelets and subtle strands of bling are being replaced chunky looks with boldness and color, often worn in multiples. Last year, everything was thin; now, ‘big’ is everywhere,” said Toni Miller Dunleavy, owner of Etc. Gifts and Accessories in Bexley. Big and brash wrist frosting takes its newest form with Wonder Woman-esque cuffs that direct attention to the forearm with glitz and glam. Most, at 2 to 3 inches wide, are made of gold- or silver-toned metal. Some are inset with semiprecious stones or crafted into lace or floral patterns. The designs range from vintageinspired filigree to ultra-sleek and contemporary offerings.

Other popular choices include wide, flexible “liquid metal” (a la chain mail) and oversize bangles strung with colored beads or seashells — or even bottle caps or typewriter keys.

Bracelets containing exotic elements — such as leather, faux ivory, carved wooden beads tiffany and co and other natural or natural-looking materials — are among the most dominant and easiest to wear with warm-weather fashions, said AnneMarie Blaire, spokeswoman for Jule, an accessories boutique at Polaris Fashion Place.

“It’s very much a ‘world story’ in all accessories,” she said, “with a lot of ethnic influences.”

Wrist adornment offers an inexpensive way to welcome spring: Plastic and wooden varieties are easily found for a few dollars.

Metallic, stone-encrusted styles and intricate designs can be had for $40 or $50.

Fine jewelry-quality pieces, of course, run into the hundreds.

Meanwhile, those slim bangles from years past shouldn’t be tossed: A piling of eight, 10 or more easily makes the wearer a member of the bigger-is-better bracelet brigade.

mhood@dispatch.com