In the gloom of the down economy, the price of gold has been an unusual bright spot.

How bright? Enough that Cash4Gold, which buys old buy tiffany jewelry by mail, could afford a prime Super Bowl ad starring Ed McMahon and M.C. Hammer.

Across the country -- and across North Texas -- people are responding to TV spots, billboards and newspaper ads that promise to turn rings and trinkets into cash.

Most discover that the metal is worth a fraction of the purchase price -- a ring that sold for $150 a decade ago might be worth $50. But many sell the items anyway, figuring that a bit of cash in the hand is better than an old ring stuck in a drawer.

Compared with other used items, this may be a particularly good time to sell gold, experts say. Collectibles and other commodities are flooding the market, driving prices down. But gold was priced this week at better than $900 an ounce, which is near a record high.

Gold has historically been a haven for investors in tough times because many people have confidence that the precious metal will hold value when other commodities are tanking. That faith persists in the current meltdown.

Combine high prices with a growing number of people nervous about their cash flow and you generate the kind of revenue that pays for the Cash4Gold Super Bowl ad. In the post-game buzz, some commentators said it was sad to see McMahon and Hammer reduced to hawking a mail-in gold resale company.

But Cash4Gold founder Jeff Aronson said it reflects what's happening with the economy. "I feel more sad when I see people being laid off from the largest companies in America," he said.

Laid-off workers are some of his customers, and they're among those bringing gold to pendants jewelers in North Texas.

William Oyster, president of Dallas Gold & Silver Exchange in northwest Dallas, said he's buying four times more gold now than last year.

"It started picking up about the middle of last year and since then we are spending almost $10 million buying gold. We were spending half of that, about $5 million, before the price of gold went up," Oyster said.

Fuller's Jewelry Store in Addison is another of the many places in North Texas where people can take gold for resale. Fuller's didn't buy scrap gold until customers who saw the Cash4Gold ads asked about it, said Ken George, who handles much of the gold purchasing and marketing for Fuller's.

George was tactful about the urgency some people are feeling about getting money for their gold.

"We have been very pleased with the number of responses we are getting from the advertising we're doing," he said.

Like many other places that buy gold, Fuller's says it's willing to help newbie sellers learn the process. And getting smart about gold is a good idea, said Chris Burgess, vice president and chief compliance officer for the Dallas office of the Better Business Bureau.

He warns potential gold sellers to be prudent about their transactions. Better Business Bureau offices across the country have been fielding complaints about gold resale, he said.

Some of the complaints are about potential scams, but others are from people who don't understand that a gold transaction isn't as simple as buying peas at the grocery store: A low initial offer should be the start of a negotiation that the seller can walk away from.

"There is a certain amount of dickering that has to be done in this transaction, and there is not a lot of experience in the American public with doing that," he said.

Consumers can check with the Better Business Bureau for ratings and complaints about individual companies.

Cash4Gold, for instance gets a C+, which the Better Business Bureau considers a "good rating." A relatively few customers from last year's 500,000 transactions complained about not getting their jewelry back fast enough if they wanted a return, or not getting what they thought was a fair offer.

Other places will pay more for gold, but they don't provide the same level of convenience and service, Aronson said.

"I'm never going to be the highest payer on the street, nor do I ever want to be," he said.

Fuller's has an A rating with the Better Business Bureau.

People seeking to resell their earrings jewelry need to realize that it doesn't matter how pretty it is or how much they liked it, George said. For scrap sale purposes, it might as well be a hunk of ore.

"I'm just looking at it as raw materials," he said.

Al Dia staff writer Lorena Flores contributed to this report.

MARKET TEST

Wondering what your unwanted gold jewelry might be worth? We tested the resale market with some trinkets -- three 14-karat gold rings and three shiny charms that turned out to be gold-plated and essentially worthless.

Calculated worth:

We had 14.2 grams of 14-karat gold, which is 8.2 grams of actual gold. The price for gold on the day we got our bids was about $29 per gram. So on the spot market, we had about $238 worth of gold.

The offers:

--$150 for the rings from Fuller's Jewelry Store in Addison

--$110 for the rings, plus $3 for the golden flakes on the J-shaped trinket, from the traveling GemCo appraisers who set up for the week in a Richardson hotel

--$105 for the rings from Central Diamond Center in Richardson

What we learned:

--The offers will be much less than you originally paid.

--Don't be afraid to bargain; this is a negotiation.

--Go to several places.

--The more gold you have to sell, the better price you can get per ounce.

--"Golden" doesn't mean it's gold. Gold-plated key rings jewelry has no gold resale value.

Jeffrey Weiss

WHAT'S IT WORTH?

Calculate what your gold is worth on the spot market:

--Find out what your gold weighs. Unless you own a jeweler's scale, you'll probably need to go to a jewelry store.

--Find today's spot price for gold for whatever units of weight you have -- troy ounces, grams, pennyweights.

--Find out what karat your gold is. If you don't know, a jeweler should be able to tell you.

--Calculate what percent of your jewelry is actual gold.

24-karate gold is 100 percent gold

18-karat gold is 75 percent gold

14-karat gold is 58.33 percent gold

10-karat gold is 41.67 percent gold

--For example, a 5-gram ring made of 14 karat gold contains 2.91 grams of pure gold. If pure gold is selling for $29 a gram on the open market, 2.91 grams of pure gold would be worth $84.58.

--The offer you get will be some fraction of the open market value, minus the cost of handling and processing -- usually the material is sent to a smelting company -- and the profit taken by the buyer.

A primer on units:

--Karats are a measure of the purity of the gold. Pure gold is 24 karats. Most jewelry is 14-karat gold, which means that the other 10 karats are copper, nickel or zinc. (Carats are different, used with gemstones.)

--Troy ounces are a little bit larger than the 16 avoirdupois ounces that make up a pound.

--A pennyweight is 1/20th of a troy ounce.

A Sunday appearance by the band Guns N' Roses in connection with New York Return to Tiffany Week took place at the Gramercy Park Hotel. A Tuesday article about designers adopting heavier, warmer fabrics incorrectly identified the location as a John Varvatos boutique.

(WSJ February 19, 2010)

This winter's unexpectedly cold weather has done more than raise (mistaken) doubts about global warming in some corners. It appears to have inspired several New York designers to turn back to heavier, warmer fabrics for the collections they plan to sell in the fall.

Tweed, mohair and wool flannel are sweeping the runways at New York Fashion Week.

In fact, after nearly disappearing during the height of the recession, the warmest material of all -- fur -- is making a high-profile comeback at the weeklong parade of fashon shows that kicked off Thursday. Designers including Catherine Malandrino, Alexander Wang, Rebecca Taylor, Diane von Furstenberg and Zac Posen have Return to Tiffany Heart tag pendant furs and fleeces, ranging from Himalayan fox and sable to Mongolian lamb and goat, into their lines.

Furs were featured in collars and trim, knitted into sweaters, dyed, or sewn together with fabric or leather, as in an elegant coat that Carolina Herrera showed Monday morning at Manhattan's Bryant Park.

"Fall is a very luxurious season. Cashmere, tweed, mohair and fur, all of these feel wonderful to the touch and look well mixed together," Ms. Herrera said in an email after her show.

Heavy layers also were a major theme for fall 2010: coats over cardigans over sweaters over shirts, with a scarf wrapped around the neck and long, long leather gloves. Pants were presented under skirts, and leggings and leg warmers remained a fixture. Richard Chai, for example, showed a look in which two cotton shirts were worn over a henley and under a blazer.

The ultimate effect was warm and cozy -- which seems fitting for an industry that keeps talking about a return to tradition, heritage, and familiarity, as well as less lofty prices. That's an attempt to recapture consumers' interest in shopping after a nearly two-year pullback in spending.

All those layered clothes and accessories -- legwarmers, gloves, vests -- also provide more items to sell.

Ms. Herrera -- a designer known more for her impeccable, rich clothes than for trend setting -- Return to Tiffany mini heart tags bracelet one of the more arresting looks so far. More than the cut, it was the fabric, which resembled a watercolor of wood grain, that stood out on three of her looks, a jacket, a dress, and then a gown. She called the effect "faille brush stroke print."

Like a lot of designers this week, Ms. Herrera mixed her metaphors by pairing differing materials and textures -- a technique that also creates a feeling of layering. This worked especially well in a crocodile jacket with wool sleeves.

It didn't work as well in Mr. Posen's collection, which he showed early Monday morning to a room full of fashion editors, some of whom complained they had been out too late the night before to see the band Guns N' Roses at an after-party at the John Varvatos boutique.

Mr. Posen's first looks were clean and almost classic, but with verve. But those that followed were often cluttered, with so many elements stitched together that they appeared to swarm.

As he stepped out of Mr. Posen's runway show, retail executive Todd Hanshaw said he will need to see the fabrics up close before making commitments to buy the collection. "I have to see the weight. It's been a lot of heavy stuff this season," said Mr. Hanshaw, divisional merchandise manager for the shops at the Wynn Las Vegas casino, who is looking for lighter, more-seasonless fabrics.

Saks Fifth Avenue was undeterred, however. As she stepped out onto the street, Colleen Sherin, fashion market director at Saks Inc.'s New York flagship, said Mr. Posen's new lower-priced line, Z Spoke, is already selling well online after being available only about a week. Z Spoke dresses are priced from about $200 to $500. "It's a good price point," she said.

In its show at the Park Avenue Armory Sunday evening, Y-3's collection was also full of warm woolens. The label is a collaboration between avant-garde Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto and athletic giant Adidas AG. The odd pairing is producing versatile, wearable clothing that offers much for casual Fridays in the office -- especially for men. That's because Mr. Yamamoto is a tailor, as well as an artist.

While the collection won't work as everyday wear on Wall Street, the trench and pea coats and a number of wool jackets offer the kind of well-constructed edge that many men seek on dress-down days.

Donna Karan, the working woman's fashion advocate, used tweeds and Tiffany 1837 Round lock pendant wools in a collection with dramatic collars and shoulders. It included a number of "cocoon" coats -- so named because they envelop the body like a cocoon -- and dresses that could work in a boardroom, a category that can be hard to find at Fashion Week.

Ms. Karan described her system for the season in her notes: "Start with a foundation dress," add a skirt or leggings and "throw on" a cocoon jacket or coat.

Archive 1887 is built on over 100 years of music, specifically dating back to Heart Link lariat. Using rare photos and other never-before-seen relics from the Sony Music archives, the brand has created a fresh take on the ultimate music t-shirt.

The brainchild of diehard music fans, the mission was to make cool t-shirts with a story, and to present a piece of music history in the form of authentic one-of-a-kind t-shirts. Through exclusive access to historic behind-the-scenes photos by music's infamous photographers like Jim Marshall and Mick Rock, combined with amazing album artwork, posters, ticket stubs and other relics; Archive 1887 created a line of wearable pieces of history which embody the vibe and spirit of the time.

Each t-shirt comes with an interactive hang tag containing a digital playlist from the artists' Link necklace, a history of the artist's career and information on the unique elements incorporated into the design. In addition, every t-shirt comes with a key that can be worn as a necklace unlocking the "All Access" vault that opens up when you wear an Archive 1887 creation.

The t-shirts are made in the sunny Los Angeles, California, from the softest 100% cotton. The graphics are expertly printed and feature unique placement and innovative printing techniques, not to mention the distinct look and design that our t-shirts have from using the most selective and exclusive artwork from our authentic archives! The T-shirt styles range from a classic crew, to more fashionable fits for Men, Women, and Kids.

Archive 1887 will be sold at Barneys New York and specialty boutiques across North America, as well Europe and Asia. Namaste will be the exclusive showroom for the US and Canada.

Archive 1887 will showcase their line at ENK Las Vegas starting on today, Tuesday February 16th, through Thursday February 18th at Paloma's X earrings 1302.

For more information on Archive 1887 go to www.archive1887.com.

PARIS--Provocative British designer Alexander McQueen has died, the cheap cufflinks that owns his eponymous fashion house said Thursday.

"He has passed away," said a spokeswoman for Gucci Group, part of Paris's retail-to-luxury group PPR SA. Mr. McQueen's body was found at his London home Thursday morning, according to Samantha Garrett, a spokeswoman for the British fashion icon.

Little was immediately known about the circumstances surrounding his death, which came as the fashion elite gathered in New York for the start of fashion week, but police said it wasn't being treated as suspicious.

Recently posted comments on his Twitter page showed signs of anguish over the Feb. 2 death of his mother. He said he wanted his mother to rest in peace, adding "but life must go on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" The British designer's death also comes three years after the suicide of fashion guru Isabella Blow, who helped launch Mr. McQueen's career.

Mr. McQueen was the creative chief behind the brand he founded in the 1990s and sold to Gucci Group in 2000. His dramatic designs, such as reptilian dresses and hoof-like shoes, were met with critical acclaim--he was named British Fashion Designer of the Year on four separate occasions. Yet he struggled to get cheap earrings success.

"He's such an amazing talent. It's hard to put into words. That's a gigantic loss to the fashion world," said Simon Doonan, creative director at Barneys New York, which carries the Alexander McQueen brand. "His shows were just so extraordinary and such amazing hire-wire acts of creative tension it sort of raised the bar on what people perceived as a fashion show."

Mr. McQueen, who was also once the designer for French fashion house Givenchy, was due to present his collection during Paris fashion week in less than a month. A presentation of his secondary label, McQ, had been scheduled for Thursday's opening day of New York fashion week. Mr. McQueen had never been expected at the show, which was quickly canceled.

News of the designer's death sent shock waves through the fashion industry, casting a pall over New York fashion week. "I think everybody is absolutely devastated and shocked," said Linda Fargo, women's fashion director at Bergdorf Goodman. "Life churns on, but you feel it here [at the tents]. Everybody's feeling not good this morning."

Fashion designer Richard Chai, who learned of the news as he was preparing for his 11 a.m. show at Bryant Park, called Mr. McQueen's death a tragedy. "He was a genius. I really have no words. It is just sad," he said.

Known for his dramatic statement pieces and impeccable tailoring, Mr. McQueen helped raise the profile of British fashion and was recognized by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003 when she made him a Commander of the British Empire for his fashion leadership.

The designer received his training at London's Central St. Martin's College of Art and Design, cheap jewelry recognized for its fashion-forward approach and encouragement of young designers. He worked for traditional Savile Row tailors Anderson and Sheppard, and Gieves and Hawkes before branching out into his own more theatrical designs.

"He was 16 when he came here," said John Hitchcock of Anderson and Sheppard. "He was a boy from Essex, he wanted to learn tailoring. He was a little bit different--he was very ambitious."

The Associated Press and Ray A. Smith contributed to this article.

Frink Middle School student Nicole Robinson plans to compete next month in Greenville during a National History Day event.

Robinson, 13, said she has a passion for women's fashion tiffany, so after watching a movie two years ago about French fashion designer Coco Chanel, she decided to portray Chanel's life during National History Day.

Twenty-two students from Frink will participate in the event on March 31, which will feature regional contestants. Each student studied the lives of those in history that made impacts on society and will present a living history program at East Carolina University based on research.

Frink teacher Chris McAllister said each student's presentation will feature a 2000-word essay and display boards on the person they selected from the history books.

"The students will portray a historical person in the first person," McAllister said. "Students become the person they studied."

Robinson said she selected Chanel after discovering Chanel's impact on women's fashion beginning during the early 1900s.

"She made womens' clothing more fashionable and functional," Robinson said. "cheap bangles also founded the little black dress worn by women today."

Robinson said Chanel was born on Aug. 13, 1883 and later died during 1972. Chanel moved to New York City, where she lived during the 1920s and 1930s. Chanel also launched a perfume line named Chanel 5.

Robinson will wear a Chanel-designed little black dress, hat and additional accessories when she presents at ECU next month.

"Nicole will begin her presentation speaking in French," McAllister said. "It's amazing to watch Nicole transform into CoCo."

Acting in plays and dramas is also a passion for Robinson, who has performed in class plays at Frink for the past three years. She said she hopes to continue acting when she attends North Lenoir High School next year.

Robinson said she hopes to attend the University of North Carolina at cheap bracelets Hill after her high school career.

"I plan to study science," she said. "Eventually, I'd like to live in Raleigh."

As elegant as it is powerful, the special Edition S550 sedan features exclusive cheap cufflinks White metallic exterior paint, Sahara Beige/Black interior, and 20" AMG 5-spoke light-alloy wheels with high-performance tires. A car for those who appreciate superior handling and power, the S550's 5.5-liter, 382-horsepower V-8 engine will rocket this sedan from 0-60 mph in only 5.4 seconds.

"The S550 offers auto enthusiasts not only what they've come to expect from Mercedes-Benz -- progressive automotive design, award-winning technical innovations and unparalleled performance -- but now, as part of KEY TO THE CURE, a unique opportunity to help make a difference in the fight against cancer," said Steve Cannon, vice president of marketing for Mercedes-Benz USA. "This is a cause that touches so many lives and we are proud to partner with Saks Fifth Avenue and the Entertainment Industry Foundation in this important campaign."

The Special Edition S550 is equipped with:

-- Diamond White Metallic Paint

-- Exclusive Sahara Beige / Black Leather Interior with Burl cheap earrings Trim

-- 20" AMG 5-spoke light-alloy wheels with high-performance tires

-- Sport bodystyling (front air dam, side skirts and rear bumper with dual

stainless-steel exhaust)

-- Available 4MATIC all-wheel drive

Known world-wide for achieving the best in luxury, safety and comfort, the Signature Edition S550 also features AIRMATIC air suspension with Adaptive Damping System, heated and active-ventilated drive-dynamic multicontour front seats with 4-level massage feature, a power sunroof, PARKTRONIC audiovisual parking assist, KEYLESS GO, electronic trunk closer, and a rear view camera. Each Special Edition S550 sedan is also equipped with GPS navigation and a 14-speaker harman/kardon LOGIC7 surround sound system with Dolby Digital 5.1, SIRIUS satellite radio, an in-dash 6-disc DVD/CD changer, an in-dash memory card reader, voice control for audio, telephone and navigation, and an iPod integration kit.

To celebrate the 10th Anniversary of KEY TO THE CURE and give a voice to those the campaign supports, Saks Fifth Avenue, EIF and Mercedes-Benz USA is co-sponsoring a road trip, during which blogger Lori Raimondo is traveling in the special edition Mercedes-Benz to Saks Fifth Avenue stores across the country. Lori began the journey in San Francisco and is making stops in Beverly Hills, Phoenix, Dallas, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Chicago, Chevy Chase, and New York. The Saks Fifth Avenue store in each city is hosting Lori and introducing her to cancer survivors, community partners, local businesses, and media. Lori is blogging about her trip on http://www.kttcroadtrip.com, where readers can share their personal stories.

Adding additional star power to the campaign, Academy Award(R) winning actress Gwyneth cheap jewelry has been named Entertainment Industry Foundation ambassador for Saks Fifth Avenue's 2008 KEY TO THE CURE and will show her support by wearing this year's KEY TO THE CURE limited edition t-shirt designed by Karl Lagerfeld. Ms. Paltrow will appear in promotional materials and in a national public service announcement (PSA) to bring attention to this critical issue. The PSA will appear in major fashion and lifestyle magazines this fall.

Saks Fifth Avenue's charity shopping weekend will take place October 16th to 19th at all of its stores nationwide and through saks.com, during which 2% of sales will benefit local organizations through EIF's Women's Cancer Research Fund. The Special Edition S550 sedan will be displayed at Saks Fifth Avenue stores during this timeframe. Additionally, the limited edition t-shirt will retail for $40 (over $35 to charity), exclusively to benefit KEY TO THE CURE and will be available at Saks Fifth Avenue beginning October 1st.

Funds raised for Saks Fifth Avenue's KEY TO THE CURE will benefit more than 50 charitable programs nationwide dedicated to finding new detection methods, treatments and cures for women's cancers. Organizations benefiting from these funds include: EIF's Women's Cancer Research Fund; The Breast Cancer Research Foundation; the Cleveland Clinic; Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; the Nevada Cancer Institute; and many others.

Mercedes-Benz USA

Mercedes-Benz USA, headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, is responsible for the sales, marketing and service of all Mercedes-Benz products in the United States. In 2007, MBUSA achieved an all-time sales record of 253,433 new vehicles, setting the highest sales volume ever in its history. More information on tiffany bracelets and its products can be found on the Internet at http://www.mbusa.com.

EIF's Women's Cancer Research Fund

The Women's Cancer Research Fund, a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation, was established by Chairs Rita Wilson, Tom Hanks, Kate Capshaw and Steven Spielberg, along with Founders Kelly Chapman Meyer, Anne Douglas, Quinn Ezralow, Marion Laurie and Jamie Tisch. The Women's Cancer Research Fund supports innovative research, education, and outreach directed at the development of more effective approaches to the early diagnosis, treatment and prevention of all women's cancers.

Entertainment Industry Foundation

As a philanthropic leader of the entertainment industry, the Entertainment Industry Foundation has distributed hundreds of millions of dollars -- and provided countless volunteer hours -- to support charitable initiatives addressing some of the most critical issues facing society today. For more information, visit http://www.eifoundation.org.

Saks Fifth Avenue

Saks Fifth Avenue, one of the world's pre-eminent specialty retailers, is renowned for its superlative American and international designer collections, its expertly edited assortment of handbags, shoes, jewelry, cosmetics and home furnishings, and the first-rate fashion expertise and exemplary client service of its Associates. Today, Saks operates 54 full-line stores in 25 states,

2 stores in the Middle East in Dubai and Riyadh, 49 OFF 5th Outlet Stores and saks.com, the tiffany earrings online store.

Union County issued the following news release:

The Thursday, October 9th sale of the Volunteer Guild of RUNNELLS tiffany Hospital of Union County will feature sterling silver and fashion costume jewelry from Jewels N' More. Make your selections from pins, earrings, bracelets, anklets, necklaces and rings that will be on sale in the facility's multi-purpose room, 40 Watchung Way, Berkeley Heights. Sale hours will be 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. All major credit cards accepted.

"All sales are open to the public," said Union County Freeholder Chester Holmes, liaison to RUNNELLS SpecializedHospital. "A percentage of each purchase made at these sales is credited to the Volunteer Guild. They use all funds raised to enrich the lives of residents and patients by obtaining items that may include cheap bangles, DVD players/VCR's and prizes for their bingo games as well as paying for a variety of entertainment throughout the year. The Guild, which makes vendor sales possible, also sponsors a holiday party/gift distribution and a summer ice cream social in cooperation with the Berkeley Heights Lions Club."

The Volunteer Guild and the Office of Volunteer Services of RUNNELLS Specialized Hospital are always interested in recruiting volunteers. Flexible hours and a variety of opportunities exist with resident contact as well as performing other tasks. Anyone who would like further information should call the Office of Volunteer Services at 908-771-5847.

Contact: M. 'Peggy' Salisbury, 908/771-5730; cheap bracelets T. Sheld, 908/771-5815.

M. 'Peggy' Salisbury, 908/771-5730; Norma T. Sheld, 908/771-5815.

Skinner, one of the nation's leading auction houses for antiques and fine art, today announced it has set tiffany bracelets world records for some of the most expensive bottles of fine wine sold at auction. At the recent Boston sale of Fine Wines, held September 19, 2008, Skinner sold three bottles of Domaine de la Romanee Conti, Romanee Conti 1911 for $60,750, including buyer's premium. The lot was estimated at $15/20,000. Other record breaking lots included Lot 105, Screaming Eagle (est. $2/3,000) which sold for $4,860, as well as Lot 76, Harlan Estate 1993 (est. $1,3/1,900) which sold for $2,430. 93% of the nearly 300 lots were sold, bringing the total sale to $526,617.45. In partnership with Lower Falls Wine Company, Skinner is the only major auction house in New England to offer fine wines at auction.

"Boston has emerged as a strong contender in the fine wine market as prices realized at our last auction are just as competitive as those realized in the New York, Chicago and west coast auctions," said Marie Keep, director of Fine Wines, Skinner Inc. "Despite current market conditions, there is an excitement around fine wine that does not waiver in the wake of uncertainty in the financial market. History has shown that fine wine remains a safe haven for buyers who value the investment of a fantastic bottle of vintage wine."

The Skinner Fine Wine auction produced strong prices across the nearly 300 lots of Bordeaux, tiffany rings, Champagne and Port. Other top lots included Lot 142, Chateau Pichon Longueville, Lalande 2000 (est. $1,8/2,400) which sold for $2,795, Lot 3, Chateau La Mission Haut Brion 1989 (est. $9,5/14,000) which sold for $12,150 and Lot 215, Domaine de la Romanee Conti, La Tache 1972 (est. $1,6/2,400) which sold for $3,645.

At the sale, there was an excitement among buyers given the impressive lots featured and an interest in bidding, regardless of volatile conditions surrounding today's consumer. A social event, the auction not only produced notable sales but offered folks a night out in Boston to celebrate their purchase and indulge in lively conversation around the joy of fine wine.

The next Skinner auction of Fine Wines will be held in early spring 2009, in Skinner's Boston gallery.

About Skinner

Skinner, Inc. is one of the nation's leading auction houses for antiques and fine art. With expertise in over 20 specialty collecting areas, Skinner draws the interest of buyers from all over the world and its auctions regularly achieve world record prices. Skinner provides a broad range of auction and appraisal services, and it is widely regarded as one of the most trusted names in the auction business. Skinner's appraisal experts regularly appear on the PBS-TV series, Antiques Roadshow, and its specialty departments include American Furniture & Decorative Arts, American & European Paintings & Prints, European Furniture & Decorative Arts, 20th Century Design, Fine Ceramics, Fine Silver, Fine Jewelry, Couture, Fine Musical Instruments, Asian Works of Art, Fine Wines, Rare Books & Manuscripts, Science & Technology, Oriental Rugs & Carpets, American Indian & Ethnographic Art, Fine Judaica, Antique Motor Vehicles, Toys, Dolls & Collectibles, and Discovery. Skinner galleries tiffany bracelets located in Boston and Bolton, Mass. For more information on upcoming auctions and events, visit Skinner's web site http://www.skinnerinc.com