Michael B. Jewelery & poll about copying designer jewelry

[musette]

Hi! I''m new to Pricescope (and I apologize if this gets posted to the wrong place--I''m still trying to figure out how this site is organized) and found this site browsing for Michael B. jewelry on various search engines. (I wish I had found you years ago!!!) As a Michael B. ring owner, I know how difficult it is to find information about his jewelry online, especially pictures, so here are a couple of links.

http://www.michaelbjewelry.com
http://www.matthewsjewelry.com

Matthews Jewelry Store is home to the Michael B. Jewelry Studio. There is a listing of Michael B. retailers by state on the michaelbjewelry.com website.

I have also been reading the poll on the ethics of copying designer jewelry thread. According to Matthews, "All jewelry designs and collection names are guaranteed to be exclusive to Michael B. under U.S. copyright and trademark laws." I''m not exactly sure how that is enforced, but I thought it was interesting. After reading all (200!) the posts on that thread, I looked inside my Michael B. ring, and there is a copyright symbol engraved inside the band, along with a number (year? design number?) next to the Michael B. stamp. I then went to my jewelry box and looked for the copyright symbol on other pieces. Most of my designer pieces actually do have the copyright symbol, along with the hallmark or designer name. I never noticed before. So, in light of this discovery, I believe that if the designer has gone through the process to copyright a design, that it should be respected.

I was pleased to read on the ethical poll thread that 23rd Street Jewelers was the only jewelry store in Los Angeles who would NOT copy another designer''s pieces.

Greg posted:
"In fact, the only store that didn''t offer to copy the design I was looking for was 23rd Street Jewelers in Santa Monica. They''re a bit pricier than other stores, but of the places I went to when looking for an e-ring, 23rd Street is the only one I''d return to."

23rd Street is also the only place I have purchased and/or had jewelry custom made in the past 15 years (starting with my engagement ring). It''s definitely a boutique, but well worth the personal attention and exceptional quality!

Looking forward to spending way too much time on this site! What delicious eye candy!

Deborah

 

[Superidealist]

musette wrote:

I was pleased to read on the ethical poll thread that 23rd Street Jewelers was the only jewelry store in Los Angeles who would NOT copy another designer's pieces.

Of the ones he visited, of course. I'm sure many jewelers would never even consider it.

My experience with Los Angeles jewelers has run the gamut. I've visited stores that offered to knock off the designer rings they themseves carried (Robbins Brothers). But I've also seen my own jeweler call in unique handmade pieces not available online from as far away as Texas so my wife could look at them. When she found that I liked a men's setting that she didn't carry, she didn't offer to knock it off, she picked up the line (at no small expense).

There are good ones out there, you just have to look around.

 

[musette]

Oops! Thanks for the correction! I didn't mean to imply that all jewelry stores in L.A. were unethical. Apologies! Still numb from reading all the posts on the ethics poll...

Deborah

 

[Greg]

Right, of the ones I visited. Robbins Brothers also didn't make such an offer... but they are shady in so many other ways that I forgot to mention them. Also, I didn't give them the opportunity.