Meghan markle makes gold sales sparkle
NEW YORK/LONDON: The Meghan Markle effect has spread to yellow gold jewellery, helping boost United States sales in the first quarter of 2018 with further gains expected, jewellers said. The first three months of the year were the strongest first quarter for gold jewellery demand in the United States since 2009, according to the World Gold Council. Sellers say that is due in no small part to the public’s fascination with American actor Meghan Markle, who was engaged to Britain’s Prince Harry last November and who married him in a dazzling ceremony last Saturday. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, favours yellow gold. “Around that time (of the engagement), we started seeing more sales of yellow gold and the last couple months it’s increased more,” David Borochov, of New Yorkbased R&R Jewellers, said on Thursday. “Yellow gold jewellery sales have risen about 30% this year.” For the last 15 years, white gold, silver and platinum have been the metals of choice for jewellery and couples tying the knot, jewellers said. Over the last few years, rose gold has become a favorite, while yellow gold was considered outdated. Borochov said he typically sells about 70%to 80% in white gold and platinum, and 20-30% in yellow and rose gold. He expects the latter to increase.
Meawhile, in UK a Coat of Arms has been created for Markle, featuring California’s state flower and a blue background to represent the Pacific Ocean. Meghan is now officially the Duchess of Sussex. Harry’s office said on Friday the design for her Coat Of Arms had been approved by his grandmother Queen Elizabeth and Thomas Woodcock, the Senior Herald in England based at London’s College of Arms. “Her Royal Highness worked closely with the College of Arms throughout the design process to create a Coat of Arms that was both personal and representative,” Kensington Palace said in a statement.
Back in New York, living the fantasy of Britain’s royal wedding, American kids dressed up as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for a photoshoot. Tricia Messeroux, a New York photographer, who has been capturing children in red carpet looks from the Oscars, Grammy and Golden Globe award ceremonies, recreated the cast, including Markle’s mother Doria Ragland, Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, bishop Michael Bruce Curry and cellist Sheku KannehMason. As the bride, Naiyah Otero, 7, wore a version of Markle’s boat-necked Givenchy wedding gown as interpreted by Esaie Couture. “I think she’s pretty and it’s an honour to marry Prince Harry, like, dress up as her,” Otero said at the photoshoot on Tuesday.
Andrew Robert Joy, 6, embodied bearded Prince Harry with the help of eyebrow pencil on his smooth jawline that matched his close-cropped red hair.