(PRESS RELEASE) NEW YORK – Silver jewelry had its own spotlight at the COUTURE Show in Las Vegas this year as the 2018 COUTURE Design Awards honored designer Heather B. Moore with the “Best in Silver” award. The Cleveland-based jewelry designer, known for personalized and custom pieces, received the award for her silver cuff featuring a herd of elephants with gold tusks inspired by her travels to Africa and contact with the endangered elephant population. The silver category received a number of exceptional submissions from standout designers, including runners up Nancy Newberg and Konstantino.
“I travel with my kids around the world. I’m on a quest to make sure they see everything they can. When we were in Africa, we were touched by the animals we needed to protect,” explained Moore upon acceptance of her award. “The inside of this bracelet is high-polished so you can see your reflection, and it says ‘The Tipping Point.’ We are all leaders in our communities, and our actions are very important and we all need to give back!”
The Silver Promotion Service (SPS) Director Michael Barlerin, who presented the award to Moore, commented, “The Silver Promotion Service is extremely pleased with silver’s overall presence at the COUTURE show and proud to be a Sponsor. The craftsmanship of the pieces submitted to this year’s Design Awards truly demonstrate the versatility of silver and the role that silver continues to have amongst jewelry designers. We congratulate Heather B. Moore for her award and the creation of a silver item that is expertly crafted, stylish and tells an emotive personal story.” Earlier in the day, Couture attendees were given the opportunity to “Savor Silver” with edible silver treats that were passed out to enthusiastic recipients.
The 2018 COUTURE Design Awards followed the recent release of the World Silver Survey, a comprehensive review of silver demand globally for 2017 across all categories. As it pertains tojewelry, the survey found that overall demand for silver jewelry moved 2 percent higher in 2017, picking up strongly in North America, with the United States posting a 12 percent rise to an all-time high. An additional survey of Silver Jewelry Sales in the U.S., conducted by InStore earlier in the year, further supports the positive state of silver jewelry sales. 59% of the U.S. retailers reported increased silver jewelry sales, with an average growth of 17%. These retailers also reported that their best-selling silver jewelry opportunity is female self-purchase.
The Silver Promotion Service was introduced in 2008 by the Washington DC based Silver Institute. The objective of the SPS is to develop and implement programs designed to enhance the image of and stimulate demand for silver jewelry in major international markets. For more information on the SPS please visit www.savorsilver.com