RAPAPORT... Robbins Brothers has appointed Marc Friedant CEO, to succeed Andy Heyneman, who is stepping down after 14 years with the jeweler.The company has promoted Friedant from president and chief financial officer, positions he has held since July 2018, it said Tuesday. Previously, Friedant served as chief financial officer for Qualawash Holdings, Vogue International and Clement Pappas. He was...Read More
RAPAPORT... Belgium has introduced legislation requiring managers of diamond companies to prove their good conduct and knowledge of money-laundering laws.The rules, passed in November by royal decree, are intended to control access to the sector and came after the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) called for improvements.Firms wishing to trade diamonds or continue as an accredited diamond bu...Read More
(IDEX Online) - A 117-carat diamond has been recovered Lulo alluvial mine in Angola. This is the 14th 100+ carat stone found at the mine.The diamond was among the specials (+10.8 carat diamonds) recovered from Mining Block 19. This area is located between the prolific Mining Blocks 6 and 8, which have produced 12 of the +100 carat diamonds found at the mine, including the country's biggest re...Read More
(IDEX Online) - The Canadian Jewellers Association has appointed Kelly Ross as its managing director, Loss Prevention. Kelly has over two decades of law enforcement experience as a police officer with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). During his time in the RCMP, Kelly specialized in crimes that involve diamonds, gemstones and precious metals, investigating hundreds of criminal cases...Read More
RAPAPORT... Lucapa Diamond Company has recovered a 117-carat, gem-quality diamond from its Lulo alluvial mine in Angola.The stone is the miner's 14th over 100 carats from Lulo to date, and its first in that size category this year, it said Thursday. Lucapa found the stone in mining block 19, located between its high-value mining block 6 and mining block 8 portions of the deposit. That area wa...Read More
RAPAPORT... The Canadian Jewellers Association (CJA) has appointed diamond-crime expert Kelly Ross managing director of loss prevention.Ross spent 23 years as an officer with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), specializing in crimes involving diamonds, gemstones and precious metals, the CJA said Monday. He was also the lead Canadian delegate to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) ty...Read More
RAPAPORT... Cartier was not the first to sell natural pearls, but the brand may have the most memorable backstory in relation to them. In 1917, Maisie Plant, wife of businessman Morton F. Plant, fell for a double strand of white natural pearls at the French jeweler. The price? $1 million. At the time, her husband was looking to vacate his 653 Fifth Avenue residence, so he negotiated the excha...Read More
RAPAPORT... Watches of Switzerland has appointed Craig Bolton to the newly created role of executive director of UK operations, as the company looks to grow its business.Bolton is a 15-year veteran of the company, having previously served as executive director for two of its retail brands, Mappin & Webb and Goldsmiths. The group also owns the Watches of Switzerland and Mayors brands. Davi...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Danish jewelry company Pandora has announced that it will meet its sales forecast for 2019. The company said that based on unaudited financial numbers, its fourth-quarter same-store sales are expected to be down 4 percent. For the full year, it expects to see a decline of 8 percent - in line with expectations. Organic growth is expected to be down 1 percent for Q4 and dow...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Tiffany & Co. recently unveiled its newly redesigned Shanghai flagship store. At 10,000 square feet, the store has doubled in size and is the largest Tiffany outlet in Asia. The two-story store also houses the Chinese Mainland's first Tiffany Blue Box Cafe, which is located on the upper level. It carries high jewelry designs, classic collections, fashion accessor...Read More
(IDEX Online) - IDEX Online has launched the 2020 edition of its annual trade fair and guide.The guide provides details regarding a wide range of trade fairs taking place throughout the year. It also provides information relating to De Beers' Sight dates in 2020. Click here to see the 2020 issue of the Trade Fair Guide. Read More
RAPAPORT... Signet Jewelers is losing market share to competitors and faces risks from its credit operations, according to an analyst's report that sent the retailer's stock tumbling.Ike Boruchow, senior analyst at Wells Fargo, raised concerns that consumers were moving away from the US's largest diamond retailer due to high prices and a lack of product innovation. He also cited the...Read More
The World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) is mourning the passing of Sergey Oulin, who died on December 31, at the age of 69.WFDB president Ernie Blom has, on behalf of the organisation, expressed sadness at the loss of Oulin, who was the president of the Diamond Chamber of Russia and a former member of the WFDB executive committee.AdvertisementIn paying tribute to Oulin, Blom said he had &ld...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Diamond tender house Bonas will hold a gemstone tender viewing at the February Bangkok Gems & Jewellery Fair (BGJF) from February 25-27. The tender will feature 500 lots of colored gemstones. The lots will also be available for viewing in Hong Kong from March 1-4. Items on offer in the tender which is being organized with the support of the Asia Gem Center in Bangkok,...Read More
RAPAPORT PRESS RELEASE (Revised), January 7, 2020, Las Vegas... Diamond market conditions improved in December as US and Chinese holiday demand helped raise sentiment. Polished prices stabilized and improved for sizes under 1 carat, supported by shortages of G+, VS2+ goods. High-end qualities (F+, VVS+) of 3 carats and larger diamonds remain weak. The RapNet Diamond Index (RAPI?,,?) for 1-car...Read More
RAPAPORT... Pandora's shares rose 12% after the company released preliminary results indicating it would meet its sales outlook for the year.The Danish jeweler expects same-store sales - at branches open for at least a year - to have fallen 4% in the fourth quarter of 2019 and 8% for the full year, it said Monday. The figures are in line with the forecast the company issued at the beginning o...Read More
RAPAPORT... A 5.01-carat yellow-diamond ring was the most expensive piece of jewelry purchased on eBay in 2019, selling for $65,950.The piece, which is set on a gold band and flanked by 1-carat side stones, was one of two yellow diamonds that appeared in a list of the five priciest jewelry purchases at the e-commerce giant last year, the company said last week. A princess-cut, 7.31-carat, lig...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Dominion Diamond Mines and De Beers are both looking to expand their current projects in Canada. The two companies have submitted applications to the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board requesting permission to ramp up their exploration activities, according to nnsl.com. Dominion has requested a five-year license to explore the area around Glowworm Lake, which lies to the ea...Read More
(IDEX Online) - The National Association of Jewelry Appraisers (NAJA) has updated and expanded its Appraisal Studies Course (ASC) in its latest online incarnation. The ASC course covers a wide range of subjects from appraisal theory and methodology to jewelry history. There is a quiz at the end of each lesson to check students' knowledge. There are also interactive sections within each l...Read More
RAPAPORT... Output at Lucapa Diamond Company hit a record in the fourth quarter, leading to its strongest annual production, the miner said Monday.Production for the three months ending December 31 increased 72% year on year to 14,007 carats from the company's Lulo mine in Angola and Mothae mine in Lesotho. The record was buoyed by Mothae, with production from the deposit more than tripling c...Read More