(IDEX Online) - A daytripper paid a $10 entry fee to dig for diamonds - and went home with a 4.38-ct yellow gem.Noreen Wredberg was enjoying a day out with husband Michael at the Crater of Diamonds State Park, near Murfreesboro, in Arkansas, USA."I didn't know it was a diamond then, but it was clean and shiny, so I picked it up," she said.Park superintendent Caleb Howell said: "It'...Read More
RAPAPORT... Diamond jewels belonging to actress Hind Rostom, the "First Lady of Egyptian Cinema," will go under the hammer at an upcoming Sotheby's auction in Geneva.Rostom was one of the most popular movie stars during the golden age of Arab cinema, starring in more than 80 films and often heralded as the Arab world's answer to Marilyn Monroe, the auction house said Sunday. Her family will offer...Read More
(IDEX Online) - International standards are to be introduced on the grading and classification of diamonds under 0.25-cts.The Swiss-based ISO (International Organization for Standardization) has already specified the terminology, classification and methods to be used for the grading and describing single unmounted polished diamonds above that size.The World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) says agr...Read More
RAPAPORT... Jewelers of America (JA) will present its 2022 GEM Award for Lifetime Achievement to Stephen Lussier in recognition of his dedication to the industry during his career."It is truly a pleasure to be able to celebrate the achievements of Stephen Lussier," said JA CEO David Bonaparte. "[He] has done so much for the diamond business and, in turn, for the jewelry industry as a whole."Lussie...Read More
RAPAPORT... US polished-diamond imports saw yet another month of sharp growth, with shipments more than doubling year on year to $1.73 billion in July. The increase reflected higher volumes, which outweighed a steady average price, according to Rapaport calculations based on data from the US Department of Commerce.US Trade Data for July 2021 Read More
(IDEX Online) - Chow Tai Fook aims to open more than 2,000 new stores across China by 2025.The jeweler is already the country's biggest by market value, and currently has 4,850 points of sale. It is planning to increase that number by 2,150 to 7,000.To put that in perspective, Signet, the biggest jeweler in the US, trading as Kay Jewelers, Zales, Jared, H. Samuel, Ernest Jones, Peoples,...Read More
There was little movement overall. Rounds were down, fancies were mixed.Rounds Rounds were largely unchanged during September. Price drops dominated in most sizes. Half-carats (0.50-0.69-cts), one-carats (1.00-1.25-cts) and two-carats (2.00-2.99-cts) saw small clusters of decreases. Smaller goods - 0.18-0.69-cts - saw more price drops than rises. 0.70-0.89-ct goods fared better. HIGHLIGH...Read More
(IDEX Online) - A British jeweler is crafting engagement rings for car-mad couples - made with precious metals from catalytic converters and inspired by the designs of favorite makes and models.Edward Fleming, from London, has so far created rings that pay tribute to the Mini Cooper, the Lamborghini Huracan supercar and the more modest Ford Fiesta.It's a partnership with the UK website Scrap...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Ana de Armas, who fronted the Natural Diamond Council's first celebrity campaign, appears as the new Bond girl in the movie No Time to Die which opens today.She wears three pieces of Chopard's haute joaillerie from its Green Carpet Collection, the first made entirely from sustainably mined and ethically certified gold and diamonds.Her necklace is set with pear-shaped diam...Read More
RAPAPORT... Sales of rough diamonds at Mountain Province jumped in the third quarter amid strong demand ahead of the holiday season.The company sold 1 million carats from its Gahcho Ku?(C) mine in Canada during the period, up 43% from the previous quarter, it said Monday. Revenue climbed 41% to $74.1 million, as the increase in volume outweighed a 1% drop in the average price to $72 per carat. The...Read More
RAPAPORT... The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) has hired Brad Brooks-Rubin as strategic adviser and North America engagement lead.In his new role, Brooks-Rubin will be responsible for advancing policy and deepening connections between international policy makers, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and RJC member companies, the organization said Wednesday.He will also continue as senior advi...Read More
Diamond market cautious after slow Sep. trading. Some softening in 0.30 to 0.70 ct. goods; 1 ct. and larger firm. US-focused dealers upbeat for 4Q holiday season as jewelry sales maintain momentum. US consumer confidence down following end of Covid-19 relief money and resurgence of Delta variant. China Oct. 1 Golden Week begins amid concerns about economic slowdown and government crackdown on tech...Read More
RAPAPORT... Sales of jewelry and other hard-luxury items rebounded in August amid the launch of a government-backed stimulus program.Revenue from jewelry, watches, clocks and other valuable gifts climbed 28% to HKD 3.17 billion ($406.9 million) during the month, the municipality's Census and Statistics Department reported Thursday. Sales across all retail categories rose 12% to HKD 28.6 billion ($...Read More
RAPAPORT... The Platinum Guild International USA (PGI) has hired industry veteran Rebecca Moskal as its vice president of marketing.Moskal will be responsible for establishing and implementing marketing and communications strategies for PGI USA and its luxury jewelry brand, Platinum Born, PGI said Wednesday. Previously, Moskal worked as a marketing and communications specialist at jewelry houses B...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Botswana Diamonds has taken control of the Thorny River diamond project in South Africa.The UK-based exploration company exercised its pre-emptive right to acquire outstanding third-party interests in Vutomi Mining, which holds mineral rights for the project.It then sold just over a quarter of the shares to Baroville, a local South African group, to ensure compliance with black emp...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Two former employees have appeared in court charged with stealing marine diamonds worth $420,000 from a Debmarine vessel.Emmanuel Shikololo and Rodney Klim, both aged 48, denied theft and conspiracy to steal at the start of their trial at Windhoek High Court, Namibia.They are accused of stealing 453 diamonds, with a total weight of 668 carats between September and November 2011 whi...Read More
RAPAPORT... The Natural Diamond Council (NDC) has expanded its Assure verification program to include diamond-set jewelry.The new version of the project, called the Assure Program 2.0, can identify whether both open- and closed-back mounted stones are natural or lab-grown, the NDC said Monday. The organization has also added a second independent testing laboratory, located at the University of Ant...Read More
(IDEX Online) - A ruby and diamond bracelet presented by Britain's King Edward VII to the American socialite Wallis Simpson is to be auctioned by Christie's Geneva. The estimate is $1.08m to $2.015m.It was a first anniversary gift after he abdicated in 1936 (becoming the Duke of Windsor) and married twice-divorced Simpson (who became the Duchess of Windsor) in a move that rocked th...Read More
RAPAPORT... Hong Kong-based jeweler Chow Tai Fook plans to open a slew of new stores, as it works its way into smaller and more rural cities in China.The move, which will see the company open more than 2,000 locations internationally by 2025, will capitalize on increased mainland demand since the beginning of the pandemic, the company said Tuesday. "It is expected a rise in disposable income of re...Read More
RAPAPORT... Lab-grown brand Diamond Foundry plans to open a new production site in Spain at a cost of EUR 740 million ($868 million).The facility will use entirely solar electricity, taking advantage of the Extremadura region's plentiful sunlight, the company said this month. Diamond synthesis will start in 2024, with the aim of reaching 10 million carats in annual output, serving both the je...Read More