(IDEX Online) - The World Diamond Council (WDC) System of Warranties (SoW) has entered a public review period following the completion of an industry review. The SoW review and reform process is part of the WDC Strategic Plan and is intended to help industry participants better implement and demonstrate commitment to responsible business conduct when buying or selling rough and polished di...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Botswana Diamonds has been awarded the 2.5 hectare Mooikloof kimberlite pipe concession close to De Beers' flagship Venetia Mine. "The award of the Mooikloof Prospecting Licence is an important development for Botswana Diamonds," the firm said. "Mooikloof is a known 2.5 hectare diamondiferous kimberlite pipe last prospected in 1986. The adjacent Oaks mine was owned and...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Synova, a manufacturer of high-precision laser diamond cutting systems, has opened its second Micro-Machining Center (MMC) in India. The new MMC, located in Mumbai, will allow Synova to better serve existing local customers and to meet the growing market demand in the area, the firm said. The new MMC offers laser sawing jobs such as straight sawing, pie sawing and fa...Read More
JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – A return of capital expenditure (capex) and inorganic sources of growth are seen as a key corporate priority for 2018 and beyond, CRU Group senior consultant Aleksander Popovic said on Wednesday.The provider of marketing intelligence to mining told the Junior Indaba that the company’s 200-response April survey showed that the managing of supply-side fu...Read More
Aim-listed Botswana Diamonds has been awarded a prospecting licence for the 2.5 ha Mooikloof diamondiferous kimberlite pipe concession, in Limpopo, South Africa.The award of the Mooikloof prospecting licence is an important development for Botswana Diamonds, since the company believes that past explorers have systematically underestimated the kimberlite pipe size, grade and diamond quality of the...Read More
RAPAPORT... Signet Jewelers' sales jumped in the first fiscal quarter,boosted by income from recent acquisition James Allen.Group sales grew 5.5% year on year to $1.48 billion in thethree months ending May 5, the retailer said Wednesday. Revenue from e-commercewas up 81% at $146.5 million for the quarter, accounting for 10% of total sales. Of the divisions, James Allen - which Signet bought l...Read More
RAPAPORT... Botswana Diamonds will not continue exploration of the Ontevredenpipe in South Africa, after discovering it was smaller than previouslyexpected, it said Wednesday. "Modern mineral exploration technology is not a magic bullet,"said chairman John Teeling. "Modern geophysics indicated a 0.7-hectare pipe atOntevreden.Our drilling confirmed asmaller pipe, which is not currently commercial."...Read More
RAPAPORT... Nine jewelry designers have received the ManufacturingJewelers & Suppliers of America (MJSA) Vision Award, which honorsoutstanding creativity, craftsmanship and technological prowess in the field. Prizes include cash and gift certificates for tools andsupplies, as well as scholarships for students, the trade body said Tuesday. Winnerswill also be profiled in the MJSA Journal, and r...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Jewelers for Children held its 20th annual Facets of Hope event on June 3, announcing that $1.95 million had been raised to support their charity partners in the year ahead bringing the cumulative total since 1999 to $55.5 million that has been donated on behalf of the industry to help children in need. "What an amazing milestone for the charity, and particularly for our in...Read More
RAPAPORT... The Las Vegas jewelry week ended on Monday with tradingreflecting a steady US market, despite the slower foot traffic at the variousshows. "Traffic was a bit down, but it was an okay show," saidone Israeli polished supplier exhibiting at the JCK fair. "Dealers were lookingfor goods, and retailers were maintaining relationships." Some noted that activity was better for jewelry suppliers...Read More
(IDEX Online) - The Diamond Empowerment Fund (D.E.F) has reported its most successful Diamonds Do Good Awards to-date. The funds raised will be used to provide higher education scholarships and assistance to empower young people living in diamond producing countries and where the diamond industry does business and to help communicate the 'diamonds do good' impact to consumers. Botsw...Read More
JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s government has scrapped plans to compel mining companies to contribute 1% of their annual turnover to a new community development agency because it feared the funds could be abused, the nation’s mining minister said.The levy was proposed in a draft of the nation’s new Mining Charter that was introduced by Mosebenzi Zwane, the former mineral res...Read More
RAPAPORT... Barbara Wheat will leave her position as president of theAsian Institute of Gemological Sciences (AIGS), the institute's owner, the HoGroup, said Tuesday. Wheat (pictured) will relocate from Thailand to the US to become vicepresident of international relations and business development for the Ho Group.Before joining AIGS, she was executive vice president of the Natural ColorD...Read More
RAPAPORT... Technology group Synova has opened a new diamond-sawingcenter in Mumbai, the company said recently. The hub - the Swiss manufacturer's second in India -will provide laser-sawing services, stone analyses and machine demonstrations,which will speed up turnaround for diamonds sent in by customers for cutting,the company said. "We will be able to serve our local customers better and f...Read More
RAPAPORT PRESS RELEASE, June 5, 2018, New York... Diamond prices were stable in May as businesses focused on the Las Vegas shows that began on May 30. The JCK fair was relatively slow, with fewer retail buyers attending. Steady dealer demand supported polished price levels.The RapNet Diamond Index (RAPI?,,?) for 1-carat diamonds slid 0.2% in May. RAPI for 0.30-carat goods dropped by the same margi...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Some 38 Indian gem and jewelry exporters participated in the JCK Show Las Vegas in the India Pavilion organized by the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC). It is the 15th consecutive year that the trade body has organized an India Pavilion. GJEPC Chairman Pramod Agrawal, said, "The USA is an important market for the Indian gem and jewelry industry. India's...Read More
RAPAPORT... The Diamond Producers Association (DPA) is planning a campaign focused on boosting demand among female self-purchasers. "We've started the creative process with the idea of expanding the territory of our Real is Rare campaign," CEO Jean-Marc Lieberherr told Rapaport News at the JCK Las Vegas show. The DPA, which runs category marketing on behalf of the diamond industry, launched its Re...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Barbara Wheat, President of the Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences (AIGS), part of the Ho Group of Companies, will relocate to the United States in June to take on a new role as Vice President of International Relations & Business Development for the Ho Group. "As much as I have enjoyed my role with AIGS, I am looking forward to representing the Ho Group of Companie...Read More
RAPAPORT... Zimbabwe's rough-diamond production will more than triple to11 million carats in 2025, according to the nation's state-owned miningoperation. Output will grow at an average of 21% per year from 3million carats in 2018, a spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company(ZCDC) told Rapaport News Monday. "This growth is anchored on investment of around $400million across the en...Read More
RAPAPORT... Royal Asscher has opened its first Amsterdam boutique inpartnership with luxury retailer Schapp Citroen, the diamondcompany said Monday. The store - in the PC Hooftstraat shopping area - hastwo floors featuring the brand's diamond-jewelry collections, as well as stonesin the Amsterdam-based company's Royal Asscher and Royal Asscher Brilliant cuts. "Royal Asscher has always played an im...Read More