American Diamonds Forever PressRoom

British Royal Jewels to Go On Display

2012-01-05T17:30:00.010-06:00

Two centuries of personal jewels worn by British monarchs will be displayed at a special exhibit at Buckingham Palace in August and September.

The “unprecedented display,” titled “Diamonds: A Jubilee Celebration,” is meant to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s diamond jubilee, which marks the 60th year of her reign. In February, Elizabeth II will become only the second sovereign in British history to have reigned for 60 years.

The exhibition includes the Coronation necklace and earrings created for Queen Victoria and subsequently worn by Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth (The Queen Mother), and the current Queen at their coronations. The necklace is formed of 25 graduated cushion-shaped brilliant-cut diamonds and a central drop-shaped pendant of 22.48 cts.

- Queen Victoria’s Fringe Brooch. The brooch, designed to be worn on top the low-cut bodices of the period, consists of a large emerald-cut brilliant surrounded by twelve large brilliants, from which are suspended nine diamond chains. It was made in October 1856 by R & S Garrard. The Queen Mother wore the brooch for the Coronation in 1953.

- The Williamson Brooch. This brooch includes at its center what's been touted as “the finest pink diamond” ever discovered. The stone was discovered in Tanzania in October 1947 by the Canadian geologist J.T. Williamson, who gave the uncut stone to Princess Elizabeth for her wedding. In 1953, Cartier set the cut diamond at the center of the jonquil-shaped brooch.

- The 18th century bloodstone box made for King Frederick the Great of Prussia. The box incorporates nearly 3,000 diamonds arranged pictorially to represent flowers, insects, and musical instruments.

Stuller to Distribute Popular Canadian Children’s Jewelry Line in U.S.

2012-01-05T17:24:00.003-06:00

On Jan. 3, Stuller announced that it has partnered with the Canadian company Bfly, and will be the exclusive distributor of the company’s line to the U.S. independent retailer.

“We’re excited about having the opportunity to offer such a fresh and creative children’s line to our customers,” said Barbara Ryan, Stuller’s new vice president of jewelry. “The collection has a great story, a one-of-a-kind look, and is appealing to both children and their parents.”

The collection is offered in sterling silver or 10k, 14k, and 18k yellow or white gold with any birthstone and is available as earrings, rings, bracelets, pendants, watches, and charms.

Facebook Post Helps Solve Diamond Ring Theft

2012-01-05T17:20:00.001-06:00

Police in Burlington, Vt., were able to nab a diamond thief by way of ring photos posted to a Facebook account.

On Dec. 26, a young Caucasian male around 5’6” with light brown hair entered a Zales store at the Burlington Town Center to look at diamond engagement rings. Store employees noted that the man was about 20 to 25 years old, wearing a black fleece, sweatpants, and sneakers, and had a hickey on the left side of his neck. He looked at several rings for about an hour, then grabbed a 1.01 ct. diamond solitaire set in a four-prong 14k white gold mounting and ran out of the store with it, heading east towards the mall exit adjacent to the garage. The piece was valued at $3,199.

The following day, police received multiple anonymous tips that photos of a diamond ring matching the one described in local news reports had been posted on the Facebook page of Amber Lafountain, who turned out to be the girlfriend of 25-year-old Ryan Jarvis. Police also learned that on the evening of Dec. 26, Jarvis took Lafountain out to dinner, where he proposed. Friends of the couple saw Lafountain’s celebratory pictures posted on Facebook, and phoned the police when they recognized the ring from media reports.

Police went to the home of Lafountain on Dec. 27, where she told them that she thought Jarvis had purchased the ring, but turned it over to them for inspection. Police discovered that the serial number stamped on the diamond matched that of the stolen piece. Jarvis then exited the home, approached Burlington Police Officer Jesse Stewart, and admitted to the theft. Officer Stewart arrested Jarvis, who is charged with felony retail theft, a crime punishable by not more than 10 years in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Officer Stewart noted that Jarvis said he “selected a ring but knew that he could not afford it,” and though he considered financing options and knew it would be “a stupid thing to do,” he ultimately ran out of the store with it.

A Jewelers Security Alliance post noted that the store salesman was able to prevent a much larger theft by only showing one ring at a time, even though the suspect had originally asked for two.

Sears, Kmart Names New President

2012-01-05T17:18:00.003-06:00

Sears Holdings named Ron Biore as executive vice president, chief merchandising officer, and president for the Sears and Kmart formats.

Boire comes to Sears from Brookstone, where he was president and CEO. He will lead merchandising and retail stores for both the Sears and Kmart brands.

The news comes on the heels of a dismal Christmas; the company announced that it would soon close more than 100 stores.

“I understand the company's challenges, but I am more persuaded by the company's opportunities and strengths,” Boire said in a statement. “As a company with over $40 billion in sales, millions of customers, irreplaceable brands, thousands of stores, and committed associates, we have a lot to work with,”

Added Sears Holdings' president and CEO Lou D'Ambrosio: “We have made some difficult decisions recently and will make the hard choices necessary to turn our business around going forward."

Prior to Brookstone, Boire served as president, U.S. Toys, North America, for Toys "R" Us. He has also worked at Best Buy and Sony, and has MBAs from both Columbia Business School and London Business School.

India, China Seek Stronger Ties

2012-01-05T17:10:00.003-06:00

A delegation of officials from the China’s diamond industry group, the Diamond Administration of China, visited its Indian counterpart, the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council, to expand ties between the two countries and seek greater cooperation in the diamond business.

The delegation visited Bharat Diamond Bourse in Mumbai and toured the country’s Kimberley Process office.

The delegation spoke about its plans for a Diamond Cultural Festival, which will educate young Chinese about the importance of investing in diamonds.

The two organizations jointly agreed to promote diamond consumption in India and China by creating new marketing programs.

Diamond Ring Enters Guinness World Records

2012-01-05T17:03:00.001-06:00

Studded with 2,525 cut stones set in 18k white gold, the Tsarevna Swan ring was designed by Lobortas Classic Jewelry House, a manufacturer based in Kiev.

According to Guinness World Records, the ring was presented and photographed in Kiev on July 21, 2011.

Gene Davidov, the American distributor for Lobortas, says the ring, which was valued at $1.3 million, was designed three years ago and took about a year to complete.

“It was intended as a showpiece,” Davidov says, adding that he believed the ring was sold to a Ukrainian collector last year.

NPD: More shoppers out, but spending less

2011-12-17T19:25:00.000-06:00

There was an increase in the number of shoppers in the week ending Dec. 12, with 67 percent of U.S. consumers shopping at brick-and-mortar retail stores as compared to 66 percent the week prior, according to The NPD Group’s Shopping Activity Weekly Holiday Trends report.

Brick-and-mortar shopping conversion remained stable for the week ending Dec. 12 at 67 percent. Stores that increased their shopping conversion rates this week include national chain retailers (up 2 percent) and department stores (up 2 percent).

Despite stability and increases for shopping conversion arates, NPD reported that the average amount spent by shoppers during their brick-and-mortar buying visits was down five percent during the week ending Dec. 12 from the prior week. This is the first decline seen in the average amount spent after five consecutive weeks of increases.

“There is good news and bad news in these holiday results,” Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst at The NPD Group, said. “The good news is that the consumer keeps shopping. The bad news is that the post-Thanksgiving lull continues. Retailers need to be more aggressive in luring customers into stores by using online and by offering more deals. We do see that some stores continued door-busters, and it has paid off.”

The online share of buying visits remained stable at 17 percent in the week ending Dec. 12, marking the second consecutive week at a record high level, according to NPD. While buying visits held steady, online spending levels have declined, with the amount spent per online buying visit dropping 18 percent the week ending Dec. 12 versus the prior week (which included Cyber Monday).

“Online continues to be the bigger story for holiday 2011,” Cohen said. “What I think will be next is more deals offered online that will help to regain the momentum that online has been building.”

The NPD Group’s Shopping Activity Weekly Holiday Trends report is a study fielded to 4,750 United States consumers daily, capturing brick-and-mortar shopping behavior and online purchase behavior in a range of categories.

HRD Awards Top Design Honor to 'Porcupine Theory' By Jiang Zhe

2011-12-17T19:12:00.001-06:00

Five diamond jewelry designers were recognized earlier this week for their winning entries in HRD Awards 2011, titled "You and Me." Diamond jewelry designer Jiang Zhe, who is from China, was awarded first prize for her "Porcupine Theory" (pictured) diamond brooches.

The other four finalists were: Alia Mouzannar from Lebanon, Gabri Schumacher and Maja Houtman from The Netherlands, and Chun Man Ping from Taiwan.

The event also recognized Ling Qiang, the president of the Shanghai Diamond Exchange, with the "Office of the Order of King Leopold II" for fostering strong diplomatic relations between Belgium and China.

The HRD Awards ceremony was held in Shanghai and included many important Belgian guests, including the governor and vice-mayor of Antwerp, the Belgian ambassador to China, the Belgian consul general in Shanghai and representatives from the industry.

The HRD Awards this year were jointly organized by HRD Antwerp and the Shanghai Diamond Exchange, were supported by the Gems & Jewelry Trade Association of China and sponsored by Kimberlite Diamond. The theme this year, Toi Et Moi, or You and Me, referred to the mystery of dualism and Yin and Yang, the balance of extremes.

In the initial selection process, which took place in October 2010, had a panel of experts select 29 designs out of 1,396 original submissions. During the course of this year those 29 finalists created their finished jewelry piece. The top five were then unveiled December 11.

''The fact that we held this year’s HRD Awards ceremony in China indicates that China's diamond industry is highly valued and recognized by the international industry experts,'' said Qiang. ''With the steady development of China’s economy, China's diamond sector has become a major partner in the world's diamond industry.''

Georges Brys, the general manager of HRD Antwerp, added that Chinese consumers are becoming increasingly aware of quality and authenticity, especially when buying diamond jewelry. ''Quality and authenticity is exactly what HRD Antwerp is promoting through its Diamond Certificates. The introduction of the HRD Awards collection in Shanghai will help us to further develop our business opportunities in China, by opening doors and connecting by means of the magic of diamond jewelry.''

U.S. Jewelry Inflation Rises 9% in November Prices Rise But Drop Back From October Record

2011-12-17T18:53:00.003-06:00

The consumer price index (CPI) for jewelry soared 9 percent year on year to 180.5 points in November, marking the second consecutive month with a reading above 180 points. However, November's reading was slightly lower than the record high set in October. The jewelry CPI is based upon the reference point of average prices in 1986, which is set at 100 points.

November's reading was also the 46th consecutive month greater than 150 points indicating the prolonged period of higher precious metals prices and, more recently, the increases related to diamonds and gemstones. Since gold and platinum have dropped considerably this past month, it is conceivable that the CPI reading for December will reflect softer product prices.

So far this year, each month registered inflation increases from the previous month except for May, September and November.

Meanwhile, the CPI for all product categories rose 3.4 percent year on year in November to 226.72 points, just slightly less than the record high set in September. The base period for that overall reading was provided by an average of 100 points taken from 1982 to 1984.

At $116 Mln, Liz Taylor Christie’s Auction Breaks Records

2011-12-16T09:39:00.002-06:00

Renowned actress Elizabeth Taylor was known in life as much – if not more – for her love of jewelry as for her acting. With a record-breaking auction at Christie’s New York sales room last night (Tuesday), another facet was added to the story of her legendary jewelry collection.

“The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor: The Legendary Jewels Evening Sale” achieved an unbelievable $115,932,000, making it the most valuable jewelry auction in history.

The Taj Mahal Diamond
The sale was 100 percent sold both by lot and by value, with 24 of the 80 jewels fetching more than $1 million and six jewels topping out in excess of $5 million. In addition, seven new world auction records were established: price per carat for a colorless diamond and for a ruby; a pair of natural pearl ear pendants; a pearl jewel; an Indian jewel and an emerald jewel.

The top lot of the sale was the legendary 16th century pearl La Peregrina, which realized $11,842,500, setting two world auction records: for an historic pearl (against the previous record of $2.5 million set by La Regente at Christie’s Geneva, 2005) and for a pearl jewel (surpassing the $7 million record paid for The Baroda Pearls at Christie’s New York, 2007).

Another record breaker was the 33.19 carat Elizabeth Taylor Diamond. This D color, potentially internally flawless stone, realized $8,818,500, setting a record per carat price of $265,697. The diamond, a gift from Richard Burton in 1968, was bought at auction as the Krupp diamond, for $300,000.

Burton also gave Taylor The Taj Mahal Diamond, which he bestowed on her for her 40th birthday in 1972. The diamond, which was set on a gold and ruby chain, by Cartier, realized $8,818,500, setting a world auction record for an Indian jewel (against the previous record of $5.2 million set by the imperial Mughal spinel necklace at Christie’s Geneva, May 2011). Inscribed with the name Nur Jahan, the wife of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahangir, this heart-shaped diamond is believed to have been a gift from the ruler to his son, who became the great emperor Shah Jahan (1592-1666).

Another husband gifted the Mike Todd Diamond Tiara, an antique diamond tiara, circa 1880, which sold for $4,226,500. As noted in her 2002 book My Love Affair with Jewelry, Todd presented this antique diamond tiara to her, saying, “You are my queen.” She wore it to the Academy Awards in Los Angeles in 1957, where Todd’s film Around the World in 80 Days won for best picture.

“The extraordinary results of the first jewelry sale are a tribute to Elizabeth Taylor's expert eye for fine gemstones and jewels, as well as her stature as a legendary star and inspiring philanthropist,” said François Curiel, International Jewelry director and president of Christie’s Asia. “I know she would be thrilled that her passion has inspired others through this landmark event. Being the auctioneer for this sale was one of the most memorable auctioneering events of my life.”

The jewelry sale was just the first of a four-day auction extravaganza dedicated to the personal collection of Elizabeth Taylor. The sales continue today with 190 additional jewels, including personal mementos and gifts.

GIA Expanding Into Japan

2011-12-16T09:33:00.003-06:00

GIA has announced plans to establish a laboratory in Japan in 2012. The decision comes as GIA as experiencing a surge in the lab's services, creating a backlog of a number of weeks.

In addition to developing a lab presence in Japan, a GIA facility in Israel is scheduled to open in 2012 in the Israel Diamond Exchange complex.

Both initiatives will benefit the Institute’s ongoing efforts to expand lab capacity, GIA said.

“We are excited to develop a presence in Japan,” said Donna Baker, president and CEO of GIA. “Japan, along with India and China, are the world’s leading diamond markets, behind the U.S.”

Baker added, “GIA’s mission is to promote the public trust in gems and jewelry and, as such, we will do everything within our means to carry forth this mission in Japan and to assist the Japanese diamond community in furthering these goals.”

Further details on the GIA facility and services in Japan will be announced at a later date

'Green Monday' Online Retail Sales Top $1B

2011-12-16T09:31:00.000-06:00

Online retail sales for Christmas season 2011 in the U.S. continue to grow at a 15 percent pace for the period November 1 through December 12, according to comScore. So far this season, ecommerce retail sales have reached $26.8 billion following sales of $1.13 billion on ''Green Monday,'' which was December 12. Jewelry made comScore's list of categories for strong sales growth, coming in second place behind ''digital content and subscriptions.'' Other strong categories this season included, consumer electronics, video games, software, toys, sporting goods, hardware, apparel and event tickets.

Green Monday, which falls on the second Monday in December, experienced a 19 percent increase in online sales from 2010 and ranked as the third heaviest spending day of this season so far, following Cyber Monday at $1.25 billion and December 5 at $1.17 billion, comScore stated.

''Green Monday was another exceptional day for the online holiday shopping season, posting more than $1.1 billion in sales with a growth rate of 19 percent versus last year,'' said comScore's chairman, Gian Fulgoni. ''Green Monday also kicks off what should be the heaviest week of the year for online shopping, where we could see several billion dollar spending days, punctuated by 'Free Shipping Day' on Friday, December 16. It is interesting to note that for the past three years, Cyber Monday sales have exceeded those on Green Monday, demonstrating the degree to which retailer promotions and consumer awareness have grown the popularity of the Monday after Thanksgiving Day as the day to be buying online.

''That online holiday spending growth has remained well into the double digits throughout all the key days of the season also underscores the clear strength of the ecommerce channel,'' he said.

De Beers to Announce New DTC Sightholder List

2011-12-16T09:27:00.002-06:00

The Diamond Trading Company (DTC) has finalized its sightholder list for the next contract period beginning in April 2012 and will inform applicants of their status on Monday, December 19.
The De Beers distribution unit opened the application process in March requiring applicants to submit contract proposal questionnaires, which would demonstrate their financial stability and that the company meets De Beers best practice principles and ethical standards, among other requirements.

The new contract will run for three years through to 2015.

DTC is the main distribution unit for De Beers, however, there is growing market speculation that the mining group will supply less rough through the sightholder channel. This is largely the result of De Beers agreeing to supply 10 percent of its Botswana production to the Botswana government to tender those goods independently and as it has increased its efforts recently to expand its Diamdel auction business.

Currently, DTC has 66 sightholders in London, 16 in Botswana, 13 in South Africa, 10 in Namibia, and one in Canada, according to the company’s sightholder directory. There are also four sightholders for De Beers industrial diamonds.

Tourneau Turns to MICROS-Retail for Ecommerce Platform

2011-12-16T09:26:00.002-06:00

Tourneau launched its Tourneau.com ecommerce website using MICROS-Retail Open Commerce Platform. Tourneau needed a front-end design that reflected the iconic brand while developing an innovative navigation system and browsing mode for multiple platforms. To further build client relationships, the shopper can now schedule service appointments online or have a timepiece delivered to the store for future pickup.

The new website also acts as a showcase for Tourneau timepieces with high-resolution product photography that enables customers to view the slightest detail from inner-workings of the pieces.

MICROS-Retail's all-channel solution set includes MICROS-Retail's order management system, retail porter, and Open Commerce Platform, which is a Java-based, highly flexible commerce framework. In the near future, its Relate CRM solution will drive Tourneau's client outreach, and allow sales professionals to provide white glove service to their customers, regardless of where the transaction begins or ends.

"When embarking upon this new venture, we were impressed by the variety of MICROS-Retail's offerings and its forward-thinking multi-channel approach,'' said Don McNichol, the senior vice president of direct marketing for Tourneau. ''The integration of technology across all touch-points of the business affords a seamlessness that can truly benefit our business and our customers.''

John Gularson, the managing director of MICROS-Retail, explained, ''We worked closely with the Tourneau team to push the envelope and deliver a highly creative and interactive design that will engage and captivate the customer."

De Beers Diamond Jewellers Opens in Kowloon

2011-12-16T09:20:00.001-06:00

Today De Beers Diamond Jewellers opened at ELEMENTS in Kowloon, an urban area of Hong Kong. The luxury group defined ELEMENTS as being at the epicenter of luxury shopping and it marks the company's second store in Hong Kong after The Landmark in Central.

The highlight of this opening was the world debut of the Swan Lake Collection by De Beers. Inspired by the fluidity, beauty and elegance of ballet, intertwining lines of specially selected fancy-cut diamonds (pear, oval and marquise cuts) are reminiscent of the complexity and sophistication of a dancer’s choreography and performance. The special “Red Carpet” Swan Lake necklace features 258 white, fancy cut diamonds for a total of almost 123 carats.

The new 850-square-foot ELEMENTS store features a completely new design concept of glass, light and openness. At the opening ceremony, François Delage, the chief executive of De Beers Diamonds Jewellers, said, ''We are thrilled to open our first store in Kowloon, and further more our second location in Hong Kong. The magnetic energy at ELEMENTS has the ability to draw the most sophisticated shoppers in Hong Kong to the mall.''

Also presiding over the grand opening ceremony was Andrew Coxon, the president of De Beers Institute of Diamonds, who said, ''Fire is the scintillation or spread of color that we see, Life is the sparkle and, brilliance is the natural transparency of the diamond. We know that the highly discerning clients in Hong Kong will no doubt appreciate the superior fire, life and brilliance that our specially selected diamonds exhibit.''

Liberian Government Signs Memorandum of Understanding with the Israeli Diamond Industry

2007-11-25T12:53:00.001-06:00



Eli Dasa	Enlarge

IDI Chairman Moti Ganz, President Johnson-Sirleaf and IDE President Avi Paz

In a festive ceremony, a memorandum of understanding was signed today, November 20, under the aegis of Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, by Israel Diamond Institute Chairman Moti Ganz and Liberia's Minister of Lands, Mines & Energy Dr. Eugene H. Shannon. The memorandum of understanding lays the foundations for strategic cooperation between the Liberian government and the Israeli Diamond Industry in the area of diamonds.

In addition to President Johnson-Sirleaf, the ceremony was attended by Liberia's Minister of Lands, Mines & Energy Dr. Eugene H. Shannon, Liberia's Defense Minister and other ministers, senior members of Israel's Diplomatic Corps, Chairman of the Israel Export Institute David Arzi, foreign ambassadors, senior representatives of the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Industry Trade and Labor, and leaders of the Israeli Diamond Industry.

Chairman of the Israel Diamond Institute (IDI), Moti Ganz, noted in his speech that the Israeli Diamond Industry attributes great importance to Africa in general and Liberia in particular. "Africa is a continent of opportunity. Current opportunities and future opportunities. Let us make sure not to miss this chance."

Ganz spoke of President Johnson-Sirleaf's vision and noted that "the president symbolizes a new spirit in Africa. She brings great hope to all of the countries in the region. She is a woman of vision who is determined to do her best for her country and her people."

"The future of Liberia's economy is embedded with diamonds," Ganz remarked. He expressed his conviction that a new page will soon open in Liberia's history. "The Israeli Diamond Industry believes in the new Liberia. If you wish it, it is no longer a dream."

"The memorandum of understanding is only the beginning of cooperation that will undoubtedly enrich both partners," declared Ganz.

In his introduction, the IDI's Managing Director Eli Avidar noted that President Johnson-Sirleaf is the first woman to be elected head of state in Africa in general and Liberia in particular. "The president has fought for democracy in her country and was even imprisoned. Later, she went into exile."

In 2005 she was elected President of Liberia and in November 2007 President George W. Bush awarded Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf the Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award given by the United States.

"Johnson-Sirleaf's credentials as a Harvard trained economist have strengthened her stature in the international community and the road has been paved towards the cancellation of Liberia's huge foreign debt as well as the rehabilitation of its economy," he noted.

President Johnson-Sirleaf thanked the participants for their activity on behalf of Liberia and noted that she is acting to strengthen the good relations between the two countries. She described the historical ties between Israel and Liberia and the many agreements signed between them in the past. She added that two former presidents of Liberia visited Israel and recalled the visit of former prime minister Golda Meir to Liberia. Recalling Golda Meir, she noted that female African leaders are following in her footsteps today.



Eli Dasa	Enlarge

IDI Chairman Moti Ganz and Liberian President Johnson-Sileaf shake hands as Minister Eugene Shannon looks on

The President noted the lifting of the sanctions imposed on Liberia's diamond industry and its reinstatement in the Kimberley Process. "Liberia has many natural resources. Until recently these mineral riches served to promote internal conflict in the country rather than go to my people's benefit. In fact, the minerals were described as a curse."

"Revenue from diamonds was exploited mainly for destruction and contention. Therefore, Liberia has a long way to go until it reaches its proper course. But I am pleased to say that despite the fact that we have dealt with such hardship, today Liberia has the opportunity to rehabilitate itself. We have renewed growth. We have succeeded in changing the poverty level. Our economic policy has reinstated the confidence of the international community. We will do everything in our power to rebuild our infrastructures, fight poverty and give our youth a good education."

The President spoke of the good relations that Liberia now has with neighboring nations and noted that "we are endeavoring to achieve regional cooperation that will enable us to broaden our markets beyond our borders."

"We are pleased that the sanctions on our diamond industry have been lifted due to recognition of our efforts. We will use our resources to establish a transparent system for governance of revenue from diamonds and other minerals," she added.

"Our country is on the right path," noted the President. "The challenges are great and our administration is aware of the long road ahead. We believe that with a committed government and with the help of those working alongside us, including the international community, Liberia has the opportunity to rebuild itself. Thank you for being a part of Liberia's future."

President Johnson-Sirleaf thanked the hosts of the festive event and expressed the hope that the ties in the area of diamonds between Liberia and the Israeli Diamond Industry will grow ever stronger.

Liberia's Minister of Lands, Mines & Energy Dr. Eugene H. Shannon and IDI Chairman Moti Ganz then signed the memorandum of understanding and the guests subsequently attended a luncheon in honor of the Liberian President.

Gitanjali Honors Wimbledon Champ With Diamond Coated Tennis Ball

2007-11-25T10:38:00.001-06:00

Gitanjali subsidiary, Jewellery Marketing Company, presented tennis championVenus Williams with a diamond encrusted tennis ball to honor her victory at the 2007 Wimbledon tennis championships.

Jewellery Marketing Company chief executive officer, Nehal Modi, presented Williams with the ball --with the 4,300 diamonds covering it-- at a ceremony in New York.

“Venus Williams is a style icon all over the world. The youth try to emulate her not just on the tennis court but also off it,” said Mehul Choksi, CEO of Gitanjali. “The love and passion that she has for her game are in line with the Gitanjali Group's zeal to make the best jewelry which has a universal appeal.”

India-based Gitanjali Group has the licensee rights to develop and market jewelry under the Wimbledon brand.

WJC Unveils New Rendering

2007-10-30T09:13:00.001-05:00

The World Jewelry Center has released a new artist’s rendering of the 50-plus story tower that will be the focal point of the new international marketplace for the gem and jewelry industry in Las Vegas.

The WJC trade tower, designed by Altoon + Porter Architects, LLP, will contain office condominiums of more than 700,000 square feet and owned by several hundred companies from around the globe. WJC businesses will have access to grading labs, an educational center, meeting facilities, and exhibition space. There will also be banking facilities, an advanced security system, restaurants, an exclusive private club, and fitness facilities.

The top floors will be reserved for some 90 "ultra-luxury" residential condominiums with a dedicated elevator system. Condominium owners will have a complete array of services available to them in a high-security living-working environment.

“With over 100 companies having already reserved their space, the office tower is rapidly being filled with many of the industry’s leading companies in every sector of the trade," said WJC managing director Bill Boyajian. "It will not only be one of the world’s most iconic buildings, but also one of the industry’s most important.”

Robert Zarnegin, founder, president, and chief executive officer of Probity International Corp. is developing the project.

Winning Bids for Rio Tinto Pink Diamonds

2007-10-30T09:10:00.001-05:00

A total of 65 pink diamonds were sold to 17 successful bidders from around the globe, many at record breaking prices, during the 23rd annual Rio Tinto Diamonds Argyle Pink Diamond Tender, held in Perth, Australia, Hong Kong, and New York.

The exclusive diamond sale featured the world’s rarest pink diamonds from the Argyle mine in Australia, with about 100 key clientele personally viewing the diamonds in secret locations.

The Argyle Signature Stones picked for 2007’s tender attracted substantial interest due to the range of vivid and deep colors. Purplish reds, deep pinks, and a rare grey-violet diamond were included in this year’s collection, Rio Tinto said in a statement.

Details of winning bids for the diamonds, amount of bidders, and total revenue generated from the Tender are not disclosed to protect successful bidders’ confidentiality. However, Rio Tinto pink diamonds are known to command prices exceeding $400,000 per carat, 20 times the price of equivalent white diamonds, due to rarity and market demand.

Leading colored diamond designer and luxury retailer, John Calleija, did participate in the tender for the 11th consecutive year, and spoke about it.

"I was thrilled to successfully win four diamonds, including three of the incredible purplish red diamonds," he said. "I am already planning jewellery designs for my Argyle Signature Stones, which will be the flagship of my new London store."

The Rio Tinto Pink diamonds are predicted to run out by 2018.

Swatch Chair Picks Clooney for Energy Firm

2007-10-30T09:08:00.001-05:00

George Clooney will become an executive board member of a new Swiss company that will develop clean energy systems for car motors and other devices, The Associated Press reports.

The new company will have different branches doing research and development in the clean production of hydrogen, solar energy and fuel cells, said Nicolas Hayek, Sr., chairman of the Swatch Group, who is setting up the firm.

"First I hesitated between Al Gore and Clooney," Hayek said in an interview with daily Berner Zeitung on Oct. 20.

Hayek reportedly said he didn't ask Gore because he wasn't sure whether the former vice president would run for president and therefore might have accepted the post as a mere public relations exercise.

Clooney will sit on the board alongside Swiss astronaut Claude Nicollier and others, Hayek reportedly said.

Clooney's spokesman, Stan Rosenfield, confirmed the report in an e-mail to The Associated Press.

Hayek, who chairs the executive board of Swatch Group AG, the world's largest watchmaker, said he will also preside over the board of the new company, which will be based in Biel.

He did not say when the new company, which has yet to be named, will be launched, the AP reports.

George Clooney in an advertisement for Omega, part of the Swatch Group

JCPenney, Charles & Colvard Launch 'Milestone Moments' for Women

2007-10-23T08:55:00.001-05:00

Moissanite creator Charles & Colvard and retailer JCPenney launched a Milestone Moments campaign in October asking women to share their personal or professional milestones.

The campaign is a way to honor those significant events in every woman's life that have marked her progress, moved her forward and created who she is today, the campaign partners contended. The Milestone Moment campaign is hosted on O Magazine's website (The Oprah Magazine.)

From now through January 16, 2008, women in the United States can share inspirational stories and at the completion of the contest, one grand prize winner will be selected to share her story nationally. The winner will also receive a one-of-a-kind platinum pendant set with an approximate 5ct. round, brilliant-cut, moissanite jewel surrounded and accented with micro-set diamonds valued at $10,500.

"Offering outstanding beauty, quality and durability, moissanite is fast becoming the must-have piece in today's fine jewelry industry," said Beryl Raff, executive vice president at JCPenney. "It is an ideal gift for celebrating the key milestone achievements in a woman's life."

Bob Thomas, Charles & Colvard's CEO, added, "This contest is a way for us to honor extraordinary women who live brilliantly, celebrating her intricacies of spirit, individuality and milestone achievements.

"We hope this contest will help to create another unforgettable milestone moment in the winner's life."

Tiffany & Co. Aggressive U.S. Expansion

2007-10-23T08:37:00.001-05:00

Tiffany & Co. said Wednesday that it plans a "significant increase" in the number of TIFFANY & CO. stores it plans to open in the U.S. To make this happen, the luxury jeweler developed a new, smaller-format store that will occupy approximately 2,000 square feet and offer jewelry designs with the exception of engagement jewelry. It has the working name TIFFANY & CO. COLLECTIONS and the first store is expected to open in 2008.

"The addition of this new format affords us with the opportunity to ultimately operate as many as 170 stores in the U.S.," said Michael J. Kowalski, Tiffany chairman and chief executive officer. "This new format has the potential to significantly accelerate U.S. sales growth over the medium- to long-term and enhance profitability due to a merchandise mix weighted with higher-margin products."

Kowalski said the company still plans to open five to seven traditional TIFFANY & CO. stores per year, averaging about 5,000 square feet. Tiffany currently operates 68 TIFFANY & CO. stores in the U.S.

Beth O. Canavan, Tiffany executive vice president, said the new stores will cater to the self-purchase customer theroughout the U.S.

"The location opportunities in existing and new markets are vast and geographically broad-based and add enormous sales potential and longevity to our store expansion strategy," Canavan said.

After opening the first store in 2008, Canavan said the company plans to open eight to 12 stores per year.

Movado Launches Tom Brady Limited Edition

2007-10-23T08:31:00.000-05:00

NFL quarterback Tom Brady is the star of Swiss luxury watch Movado’s new Series 800 limited edition Tom Brady Automatic Chronograph. Brady, who plays for the New England Patriots football team, is only the fourth quarterback in NFL history to lead his team to three or more Super Bowl wins. He worked closely with the Movado team on the watch’s design.

“Movado is very proud of our association with Tom Brady,” says Jeff Cohen, president of Movado Worldwide. “He is one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the NFL and embodies everything that Movado Series 800 stands for: timing, innovation and a commitment to excellence.”

The new timepiece is the first in what is expected to be an ongoing series of limited edition sport watches starring leading sports figures.

The limited edition automatic timepiece comes in two versions. One is made with Movado’s own trademarked surgical grade stainless steel alloy (“Performance Steel”), with black or silver dial, on Movado’s own composite resin XTremeResin strap, reinforced with Kevlar, the first strap of its kind in the Movado Series 800 line. There are 1,000 watches, $2,500 each. The other is solid 18K rose gold, on an alligator strap. There are 12 watches only, each numbered, $20,000 each.

Both versions come with a certificate of authenticity signed by Tom Brady and Efraim Grinberg, president and chief executive officer of Movado Group, and with the rotor of the Swiss automatic movement decorated with Brady’s jersey number, "12."

6.04 Carat Fancy Vivid Blue Diamond Sells for $7.98 Million

2007-10-11T10:58:00.001-05:00

Fancy vivid blue
diamond fetches
$1.32 million p/c
Photo: Sotheby's

Demand for large diamonds with exceptional color drove the price of a 6.04 carat, emerald cut IF / fancy vivid blue diamond ring to $7,981,835 following an intensive auction at Sotheby’s Monday in Hong Kong. The winning bidder is reportedly Moussaieff Jewellers.

The sale, a record per carat price for Sotheby’s at $1,321,590 per carat (p/c), was part of the Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite auction in Hong Kong.

The bidding lasted eight minutes, with seven telephone bidders competing for the rare diamond.

According to Quek Chin Yeow, head of Sotheby’s Hong Kong Jewellery Department, Hong Kong dominates the market at the top end for white and colored diamonds in Asia.

The per carat price exceeded the previous record of $926,000 p/c for the Hancock Red, a 0.90 carat red diamond sold in 1987.

Diamond-Studded Top on the Auction Block

2007-10-09T12:47:00.001-05:00

The $1.4 million diamond-studded top unveiled in February during Milan Fashion Week will go on the auction block in Dubai in mid December.

The top was created by the late renowned fashion designer Gianfranco Ferré in a joint effort with diamond company and DTC sightholder Dalumi. It concluded Ferré's women’s collection for fall/winter 2007/2008. Matched with black tuxedo pants and a black silk cape, the outfit was worn on the runway by British rock singer Skin.

More than 900 diamonds weighing more than 300 cts. were stitched in curved horizontal rows across a sheer black vest. The diamonds were of G color and VS and higher clarity and were set in white-gold studs. A single Ferré employee hand-stitched each diamond onto the fabric.

The glittering top was displayed in jewelry shows around the world, including BaselWorld, The JCK Show ~ Las Vegas, the Hong Kong Jewellery & Watch Fair, and the Forevermark DTC event in Tokyo.

Dalumi, in a statement said placing the top up for auction is the logical next step. The auction is scheduled for mid-December in Dubai. No other details were released.

"All the world will have the possibility to admire the wonderful top," the statement read.

Ferré, who died June 17 of a massive brain hemorrhage, spoke about his love of diamonds in a story that appeared in the May issue of JCK.

“The diamond has a place in everyday life, obviously, as long as there is no loss of style, no pointless ostentation,” he said. “In my opinion, the diamond has all the natural allure and personality necessary for always making the difference, for adding a truly special touch. Even in the case of a simple white shirt and pair of jeans.”

Ring Box with LCD Technology

2007-10-09T12:45:00.001-05:00

A new electronic invention, sourced from the world of cell phones, provides consumers with highly personalized packaging. Its inventor is calling it "YouTube in a luxury ring box."

Danny Oh, founder and president of Euri, Inc., Torrance, Calif., has patented Euricase, a multimedia ring box that incorporates a LCD panel that automatically plays a customer’s personalized video, picture slideshow, or audio when opened.

Each case, which can be customized, is about the same size as the average ring box. Soft perimeter lighting focused on the ring when the box is opened enhances the presentation. The 2-inch LCD panel includes a clock, alarm, calendar, and photo-album display.

It is available in various colored and metallic finishes. The box interior can be lined with leather or velvet. When the ring is not in the box, a placeholder with the retailer’s logo is available.

Even technically challenged customers will be able to drag and drop, via a USB port, an enhanced marriage proposal, a slide show or video with music of special courtship moments, such as the wedding, honeymoon, or birthdays, Oh said. The multimedia can be easily updated at any time. It can store more than 500 pictures or 60 minutes of video.

Oh—who previously spent more than 12 years in the semiconductor industry, developing components for companies such as Samsung, Motorola, and LG—said Euricase will change jewelry gift-giving.

“It will not be thrown away or put in a drawer," Oh said. "The box will be shared with family and friends as an ongoing reminder of the couple’s special life events."

The keepsake nature of the Euricase is an ongoing benefit to the retail store, Oh said. Retailers can customize the box with their store colors, logo, promotional videos, and advertising.

The Euricase ring box retails for $198.95, which Oh says provides a potential profit center as opposed to an expense.

Charles & Colvard Battles Breast Cancer

2007-10-09T12:43:00.000-05:00

For the first time, Charles & Colvard created Moissanite and Boscov’s, the country’s largest family-owned department store, are teaming up to help women fight against breast cancer. For the month of October, as part of Boscov’s annual storewide efforts to raise funds for breast cancer awareness, 5 percent of all moissanite jewelry purchased in-store and sold nationally online will go toward funding the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, a not-for-profit organization.

In addition, to help educate women and raise awareness for the cause, the two companies are giving away a free moissanite ribbon pin with every moissanite jewelry purchase. The ribbon pin features a moissanite set in the center and will also be accompanied with an educational bookmark detailing tips on combating breast cancer.

The store will also have a moissanite ribbon pendant specially priced at $299.97 for the month of October. It is normally available for purchase at $829 suggested retail. The pin and pendant were created by jewelry manufacturer Samuel Aaron Intl. exclusively for Boscov’s. Customers can purchase moissanite from any of Boscov’s fifty store locations or by logging onto the store’s Web site.

Diagem Updates Trade on 9ct+ Pink Diamond

2007-09-11T16:59:00.000-05:00

Six months ago, Diagem Inc. of Canada purchased a 9.32ct pink rough diamond from an artisan miner in Brazil for about $445,000. The miner held a permit to mine diamonds on Diagem's property 370/98. At the time it was estimated the rough stone would end up as a 5ct heart shape polished diamond, but it turns out that estimate was a little optimistic.

Diagem shipped the diamond to the Natural Diamond Corporation of Belgium for analysis, cutting, and polishing.

Jacky Lewy, a director of Diagem and a principal of Natural Diamond, has been directing the cutting and polishing process, which is nearly complete at 3.13cts.

The heart-shaped, orangey-pink diamond (pictured) has peaked the interest of some auction houses.

According to Lewy, "Christie's has expressed interest in including the diamond in its next auction or the auction preceding Valentine's Day. Other houses are also showing interest."

Lewy and others who have examined the diamond express confidence that the diamond will likely achieve a significant value, but the company cautioned that it is not possible to obtain a definitive valuation because of the unique and rare nature of the diamond.

Diamonds Feature Prominently at MTV Awards in Las Vegas

2007-09-11T16:53:00.001-05:00

As the evening lights went up on Las Vegas September 9, 2007, music television channel MTV hosted its annual video music awards. The Diamond Information Center noted too that diamonds rocked the strip, sparkling from the red carpet right on up to the awards stage.

This season’s diamond fashion trends featured stacked diamond bangle bracelets, boldly adorned Right Hand Rings, and stylish diamond statement earrings the group stated. The “sister act,” diamond jewelry designers Ofira and Lorraine Schwartz styled some of the leading ladies at the awards, including Ashanti who shined bright in a glitzy diamond Right Hand Ring set in platinum.

Singer Ashanti and diamond jewelry at the MTV video music awards.

Singer Beyonce′ donned five diamond Caviar bangles; and two diamond Monkey Collection bracelets also by Lorraine Schwartz; and singer Mary J. Blige hit a high note wearing 18 karat gold diamond statement earrings by Ofira.

The Diamond Information Center listed the following hot diamond trends:

Stacked Diamond Bangle Bracelets

Ashanti -- Lorraine Schwartz -- Diamond bracelet set in platinum and diamond and platinum bangles
Beyonce -- Lorraine Schwartz -- Five stacked diamond Caviar bangles; two diamond Monkey Collection bracelets
Jennifer Hudson -- Ofira -- Diamond and 18 karat gold bangle bracelets
Mary J. Blige -- Ofira -- Diamond and 18 karat gold bangle bracelets

Boldly Adorned Right Hand Rings

Ashanti -- Lorraine Schwartz -- Diamond Right Hand Ring
Britney Spears -- Hellmuth -- Diamond Right Hand Ring
Eve -- Jacob & Co -- 3.5 carat diamond Right Hand Ring
Jennifer Garner -- Cartier -- Diamond Right Hand Ring
Mary J. Blige -- Lorraine Schwartz -- White and brown diamond Right Hand Ring set in 18 karat gold
Megan Fox -- Rafinity -- 10 carat diamond Right Hand Ring valued at $49,000
Nicole Scherzinger -- Sol Rafael -- 18 carat intense yellow radiant diamond Right Hand Ring valued at $450,000

Stylish Diamond Statement Earrings, including diamond hoops and studs

Ashanti -- Lorraine Schwartz -- Diamond Caviar hoops set in platinum
Britney Spears -- Diamond studs
Jennifer Hudson -- Ofira -- Diamond and 18 karat gold earrings
Mary J. Blige -- Ofira -- Diamond and 18 karat gold earrings
Megan Fox -- Rafinity -- 2.5 carat giant skinny hoop earrings valued at $4,600
Nicole Scherzinger -- Sol Rafael -- 6 carat diamond studs valued at $150,000
Rihanna -- Diamond studs

The following celebrities all wore diamonds to the 2007 VMA MTV Awards:

Ashanti -- Lorraine Schwartz -- Diamond bracelet set in platinum; diamond and platinum bangles; diamond Caviar hoops set in platinum; diamond Right Hand Ring
Ashlee Simpson -- Jacob & Co -- 7 carat black diamond mesh cuff; 7 carat diamond chandelier earrings
Audrina Patridge -- Erica Courtney -- Diamond Enchantment bracelet featuring 0.51 carat yellow diamond set in 18 karat gold and 0.56 carat oval diamond set rose gold, both stones in 2.18 carats of pave diamonds valued at $33,000; diamond earrings; diamond Right Hand Ring
Beyonce′ -- Lorraine Schwartz - Five diamond Caviar bangles and two diamond Monkey Collection bracelets; diamond Monkey Collection earrings
Britney Spears -- Diamond cuff; diamond studs; diamond rings; including Right Hand Ring by Hellmuth
Eve -- Jacob & Co -- 3.5 carat diamond Right Hand Ring
Jennifer Garner -- Cartier -- Diamond bracelet; diamond earrings; diamond Right Hand Ring
Jennifer Hudson -- Ofira -- Diamond and 18 karat gold bangle bracelets; diamond and 18 karat gold earrings
Lauren Conrad -- Diamond bracelet and diamond Right Hand Ring
Ludacris -- Lorraine Schwartz -- Diamond studs (his own); black and white diamond ring
Mary J. Blige -- Ofira and Lorraine Schwartz -- Diamond and 18 karat gold bangles by Ofira; diamond and 18 karat gold earrings by Ofira; white and brown diamond Right Hand Ring set in 18 karat gold by Lorraine Schwartz
Megan Fox -- Rafinity -- 2.15 carat diamond giant skinny hoop earrings valued at $4,600; 10 carat diamond Right Hand Ring valued at $49,000
Nicole Scherzinger -- Sol Rafael -- 6 carat diamond studs valued at $150,000; 18 carat intense yellow radiant diamond Right Hand Ring valued at $450,000
Paris Hilton -- Diamond cuff bracelets; diamond earrings; diamond Right Hand Ring
Rihanna -- Two stacked diamond bracelets; diamond studs; diamond Right Hand Ring
Whitney Port -- Diamond earrings; diamond Right Hand Ring
Moon Man Award -- Jacob & Co. -- Diamond Moon Man Award, 13.75 total carats of white and black diamonds, plus 14k yellow gold valued at $200,000

Dalumi to Showcase 'Simplicity' at Hong Kong Show

2007-09-11T16:52:00.000-05:00

Israel-based Dalumi Group has plans underway to showcase a new jewelry design at the upcoming Hong Kong Jewellery and Watch Fair.

The Diamond Trading Comany siteholder will be presenting the first looks at its "Simplicity" collection. The line features a mix of round and square diamonds, many of which were polished in the company's new cutting center in Botswana.

The rings (pictured), earrings and necklaces (also pictured) use white as well as yellow gold in the designs. Marketing communications manager Michal Marx told Rapaport News that the collection's theme is based upon "understated design elements" to achieve a "new language of intimacy."

Marx said that the jewelry was designed for East Asian and the United States markets, with a medium price point. She stressed the importance of the Hong Kong show to Israel, especially in terms of sales, and for reaching the intended target audience.

"We have a very large booth in Hong Kong," she explained. "Our display is 99 square meters. We are present at other shows all over Asia, but this is our most important show…it's a very good show for sales. Basel is a show to be seen, but Hong Kong is a sales show."

Marx told Rapaport News that the booth will be located in Pavilion 5, and not among the 40 IDI-sponsored jewelers from Israel in the Israel Diamond Pavilion. She said the decision was made because the Dalumi Group is an international company with a significant presence in Hong Kong.

PGI Unveils Fourth Commissioned Water-Inspired Design

2007-08-28T12:37:00.001-05:00

Platinum Guild International unveiled on August 23 in Mumbai the fourth in a series of water-inspired jewelry pieces, which they commissioned. Dubbed “Iraja,” a Sanskrit word meaning ‘Born of Water’, the flowing neckpiece falls in chains over the shoulder of the wearer.

Iraja was manufactured by Ganjam, a well-known Indian jeweler, and created by the company’s senior designer Arunima Bhaumik.

Earlier such commissioned pieces include “Aqua,” by Italian studio Orlando Orlandini; “Shibuki,” Japanese for ‘Splash of Water’; and “Jiang,” a representation of China’s Yangtze River.

Iraja is made of 450 grams of platinum, set with 303 diamonds and has 1,500 links and 840 beads. It was produced using five innovative manufacturing techniques and three different surface finishes.

Although valued at $250,000, the Iraja is not for sale.

Al Gore Awarded First Brand Icon by Corum

2007-08-28T12:13:00.001-05:00

Former U.S. vice president Al Gore received the first “Brand Icon of the Year” award from Swiss luxury watch brand Corum and the Global Brand Forum. This is the first year for the award, which is designed to recognize individual contributions in global branding. Gore was honored at the 2007 Global Brand Forum, held Aug. 6 and 7 in Singapore.

Al Gore accepts a Corum Romvlvs watch
from Corum president Michael Wunderman.

In presenting Gore with the the award—a Romvlvs timepiece by Corum—Michael Wunderman, president of Corum Timepieces said that Gore represents “the kind of determination and commitment to excellence” admired by so many companies.

"We are very pleased to co-present this honor with Global Brand Forum 2007,” he said. “I have high admiration and respect for Mr. Gore for his passion, determination and resolve to … conquer challenges whether as a politician or environmentalist, [to be] a 'cutting edge' brand leader of great … responsibility to humankind.”

A Global Brand Forum statement said the award was created to "highlight the achievements [of those] in the global arena who have made a significant contribution to the branding industry and the world community at large.”

Gore was chosen as the inaugural Brand Icon of the Year for “his unique and valuable contributions in the fields of media and the environment."

De Beers Funds Air Mercy Services

2007-08-28T12:10:00.000-05:00

The South Africa Red Cross Air Mercy Service unveiled its refitted addition to its fleet of specialist medical rescue aircraft. De Beers donated R1.6 million($220,000) to help fund the extension and building of a larger hangar at Kimberley Airport for flying doctor operations, including the medical conversion of the AMS Pilatus PC-12 aircraft; installing a specialist MedPac Medical Interior, which better equips the aircrafts medical staff to attend to ill and injured patients.

John Stone, CEO of SA Red Cross Air Mercy Service (left),
Mary Thuntsi, acting HOD Health Services in the Northern Cape,
and David Noko at the launch of the new aircraft medical interior.

The Red Cross AMS provides flying doctor services to rural towns of the Northern Cape, and transfers patients by specially converted aircraft to treatment centers in Kimberley. Other funding for the medical rescue service came from ExecuJet ($130,000) and the National Lottery Board ($117,116). The newly fitted aircraft was launched Wednesday at an event attended by Northern Cape government representatives, corporate business leaders, and volunteer doctors and medical professionals.

The Red Cross AMS used the donations for infrastructure which supports the almost seven thousand medical flights flown each year, volunteer pilots, and medical personnel. These services provide both routine healthcare and specialized or emergency medical assistance to thousands of people living in the Northern Cape.

David Noko, MD of De Beers Consolidated Mines, and John Stone,
CEO SA Red Cross Air Mercy Service, viewing the new aircraft medical interior.

“We live in a country where the needs of communities are enormous," said John Stone, Red Cross Red Cross chief executive officer. "It is impossible for us as individuals to begin to contribute to meeting these needs, but if we join hands and work together we will be able to rise above the challenges and make a significant difference to the quality of lives of those less fortunate than ourselves."

Stne continued: "The cooperation between a non profit organization such as the SA Red Cross Air Mercy Service, the government and the private sector such as is witnessed here today should be an inspiration and sign of hope for a better future. De Beers was the first corporate sponsor of this program way back in 1996 and we are proud that we, together, have been able to make a difference to access to health care for the Northern Cape Communities."

"This Red Cross AMS service is one of the projects all our De Beers employees are proud we support as a company because of the huge impact it has in the lives of children, women and the elderly in the rural Northern Cape; providing access to health care as well as training and capacity building for doctors and other health professionals at rural clinics and hospitals in the Province," said David Noko, the managing director of De Beers Consolidated Mines. "It is encouraging for the private sector to see this program grow from strength to strength, providing professional services to thousands of people in need each year, through the partnership between the SA Red Cross AMS, the Northern Cape Department of Health and De Beers.”

Gemfields Resources Unearths 10,050 Carat Emerald

2007-08-21T12:45:00.001-05:00

Gemfields Resources PLC, an AIM-listed colored gemstone exploration and mining company, discovered a 10,050 carat emerald at the company’s Mbuva-Chibolele emerald mine in Zambia.

The crystal is a 10 centimeter-long hexagonal stone.

The company has been engaged in exploration activities in Zambia’s gemstone sector since 2000. Its flagship emerald mine, the Mbuva-Chibolele project, has been in commercial production since June 2006.

Indian Jeweler Launches Mobile Stores

2007-08-21T12:37:00.000-05:00

Introducing an innovative concept, Dia Vente Jewellery launched their Vibrant brand Sunday, sending out six specially designed vans that will sell its jewelry in Mumbai.

Vibrant is a collection of jewelry in silver, steel, brass, copper and rubber, accented with cubic zircons, colored crystals, enamel and epoxy. Prices range from Rs. 100 to Rs. 4,000 ($2.50 - $100), with a few pieces going for Rs. 15,000 ($368). Its main target is the youth segment.

As young urbanites are always rushed for time, so the concept of bringing jewelry to the doorstep – whether it is housing complexes, pubs, colleges, or workplaces – with vans staffed by young salespersons seems to be asked for.

The concept is the brainchild of Hemant Shah, who along with designer Yuriko Menon set up Dia Vente last year.

The vans have been specially designed by India’s leading car designer Dilip Chhabria, better known as DC, internationally renowned for his souped up vehicles.

Shah said at the launch that Chhabria’s reaction to the concept of mobile jewelry outlets was “Out of the world.” That set the design tone for the van redesigns, giving them a futuristic, spaceship look.

Renting Jewelry Not Just for the Stars

2007-08-14T13:50:00.000-05:00

Renting isn’t just for movie night anymore. These days, people are turning to rental companies, some of them online, for everything from high-end bridal jewelry and sparkling party-wear to designer bags, at a fraction of the cost of buying them.

A rental allows fashion-conscious customers to walk around with the latest item, without having to shell out for a designer piece that has the shelf life of a very ripe tomato. It also allows costumers with a limited budget to show up at an important event with a diamond necklace they could not otherwise afford. The opportunities for a diamond jewelry retailer with a dormant stock are clear.

Adornbrides.com and Borrowedbling.com are two such rental sites, the first offering fashionable bridal jewelry, and the second letting customers “shop like celebrities: see it…want it…borrow it!” They offer a wide range of jewelry and accessories, including hair clips, belts, sunglasses, bags and even jewel-encrusted sandals.

Bagborroworsteal.com is one of the first rental sites, originally launched as a designer handbag rental site. Presently they also offer scores of different types and styles of jewelry, including items with precious and semiprecious stones, from designers such as Charriol, Chanel and Gucci.

The standard procedure on the jewelry rental websites is that a customer signs up for a monthly fee and chooses which pieces they want to rent. Some sites, such as bagborroworsteal, have different membership plans at different costs.

This site allows the customer to choose from a category, such as Trendsetter, Princess, Diva, Couture and Guest, according to the price range in which they’re interested. Costs run from $9.95 per month to a yearly fee that amounts to about $5 per month. The higher priced memberships usually offer a wider range of jewelry.

The return procedure varies with each site, but it usually comes down to simply sealing the borrowed items in an envelope and shipping them back to the original location.

Jennifer Lam Wins GIA London Design Competition

2007-07-24T09:30:00.000-05:00

Jennifer Lam's winning
design, 'Oceanic'
GIA London recently named Jennifer Lam, a graduate of GIA London’s graduate gemologist program, as the winner of the H. Goldie Jewelry Design Competition. Lam received an award of £1,000 ($2,063) and a £500 ($1,031) trip to the European jewelry fair BaselWorld.

Lam’s winning “Oceanic” design was inspired by the sea and included a pendant and earring set constructed from 18 karat yellow gold, with a spread of melee diamonds ranging from 0.01 to 0.15 carats for accent.

According to Edward Johnson, director of GIA London, the H. Goldie competition will take place two to three times a year, depending on the number of Jewelry Design courses offered. The competition is sponsored by London-based diamond brokers H. Goldie & Co. Ltd., And Goldie International Ltd.

“Through H. Goldie’s generosity, this ongoing competition offers a valuable introduction to the gem and jewelry industry, with both a financial prize as well as a guided tour of BaselWorld,” said Johnson. “This competition is a wonderful opportunity for our Jewelry Design students.”

Contestants must submit a design for diamond jewelry in yellow and/or white gold, which can be either a pendant and earring set for women or cuff links and a tie bar or tie tack for men. Designs are evaluated on quality of painting, technique, design idea, and overall presentation.

Antwerp: Michielsen Launches Centenaire Diamond Cut

2007-07-24T08:03:00.000-05:00

Diamond manufacturer Michielsen Manufacturing & Co., based in Antwerp, introduced a new diamond cut trademarked as the Centenaire cut.

With its round shape and 100 facets the Centenaire cut will guarantee the highest glittering and brilliance, which is never seen before in all other diamond cuts Michielsen concluded.

"As an aureole of sunrays the light will exit the diamond and with this it shows the characteristics of this very special diamond cut, which makes it recognizable from far," the company wrote in a statement.

"Even more than in other diamond cuts you will see the light in the Centenaire cut in all colors of the rainbow move from one facet to an other."

Due to its special cut that carries through from center to the edge, light reflection makes the diamond appear larger than a comparable brilliant cut, Michielseon contended.

"Because its special refraction, a diamond cut into the Centenaire cut will show a higher color than a comparable diamond cut in an other way. Even natural inclusions are, because of the many facets, more difficult to observe. All these pros make the Centenaire cut even more beautiful when used in a jewel."

The company supplies Centenaire cut with an IGI certificate from 0.30-carats on up.

Manak Couture Launches Rose Cut, Color Diamonds

2007-07-24T07:59:00.001-05:00

Beverly Hills, California: Can't get enough of Rose Cut diamonds, or color diamonds on hoops and bangles, large candy-color rings and rainbow gold tones?

Manak Couture has launched several new extraordinary collections reflecting these new trends.

Some of the new designs display the company's ethnic Indian (Gem Palace) heritage, while others reflect everyday fine fashion jewelry.

All designs however do incorporate color, which is a key component of Manak Couture's product reputation.

Spelling Collection to Debut on HSN

2007-07-24T07:55:00.000-05:00

Multichannel retailer HSN said Thursday that it has added Tori Spelling to its lineup with the debut of “The Tori Spelling Collection,” a jewelry line available exclusively at HSN. The actress and designer will introduce her collection on HSN and www.HSN.com on Tuesday as part of the company’s 30th birthday celebration.

The 12-piece collection includes necklaces, earrings, cuffs, and bracelets. The collection, which includes gold-tones and semi-precious stones, have prices ranging from $29 to $129.

The Tori Spelling Collection premieres on HSN on Tuesday at 1 a.m. and 8 p.m. EDT. The collection will also be available at www.hsn.com.

Jewelry company crafts platinum pink ribbon jewelry lures

2007-07-17T09:03:00.001-05:00

MacDaddy’s, a manufacturer of precious metal and gemstone fishing lures and flies, has selected platinum as the signature medium for its new “Fishing for a Cure” breast cancer campaign. A solid platinum lure with a ribbon design in pink sapphires is the lead item in this year’s campaign. Matching earrings are available and the hooks are removable to allow the lure to be worn solely as jewelry.

The Arroyo Grande, Calif.-based company introduced its new platinum jeweled pink ribbon decorative lures at The JCK Show ~ Las Vegas. Ten percent of all sales will be donated to breast cancer research and recovery. The lure is crafted in platinum and gold, and encrusted with 100 carats of diamonds and rubies (4,753 stones in all). It was manufactured by Uneek, Fine Jewelry Collections.

“The nature of platinum, its purity and rarity, makes it the ideal medium for this charity campaign to help in the fight against breast cancer,” said Mac McBurney, co-founder of MacDaddy’s and the company’s chief jewelry designer. “I chose to design in platinum because of the eternal, enduring character of the metal, and its ability to provide an extremely secure setting for precious gemstones.”

In addition to the solid platinum lures, the company plans to offer a line of copies to allow participation in the campaign by patrons at lesser price levels. These include 14K gold lures with pink sapphires and sterling silver lures with pink cubic zirconia settings. Pricing for these versions is expected to begin at $49.95.

KGK Enterprises Celebrates Freedom Day

2007-05-07T10:50:00.001-05:00

KGK Enterprises, a Diamond Trading Company sightholder with a sight in both London and South Africa, was the main sponsor for two 13th Freedom Day of South Africa events taking place in India. The event was held on the evening of April 27, 2007, in Mumbai and on April 28 in Delhi.

In Mumbai the celebrations included a gala dinner in which chefs were flown in from South Africa to prepare authentic cuisine from their homeland. A live performance by South Africa troupe Thembi Skosana entertained the audience.

From Left to Right: Amit Ghiya, Tanaz Irani, Monika Divekar, N.R. Kothari, Buzi Kuzwayo (Consul Gen. South Africa,) Sandeep Kothari, Preeti Kothari. Photo courtesy of KGK Enterprises.

KGK chairman N. R. Kothari said, "As we are a sightholder in South Africa, we have long term interest in this young country.

"South Africa is the economic powerhouse of Africa with political and economic stability. It is also strategically located," he said.

Diamond and jewelry demand is on the increase in South Africa from the domestic markets as well as from tourists. "In South Africa our approach has been to add value to the producing country by bringing in our technical expertise, our know-how and skills," Kothari said.

KGK trains locals for employment opportunities. "We are BEE compliant and have several Beneficiation schemes for the people. Hence it was a natural extension to join hands with them and partake in their celebration, both in Mumbai as well as Delhi,” Kothari said.

KGK was founded in 1905 first as a colored stone business, but the firm later diversified into diamonds. KGK became a sightholder in London in 1997, and then took on a sight in South Africa in 2005. KGK is present in all the major diamond markets, across 14 countries, and has a stake in diamond manufacturing, jewelry manufacturing, and retail sectors.

The Diamond Empowerment Fund to Benefit Africa - Founded by Russell Simmons

2007-05-07T09:39:00.000-05:00

After a recent fact-finding trip to Botswana and South Africa to see if - & how - diamonds were empowering Africans where they are a natural resource, Russell Simmons started the non-profit Diamond Empowerment Fund (D.E.F.) under the aegis of his Simmons Jewelry Company to raise money for educational programs to uplift the people and communities of Africa. To raise funds for the D.E.F., he started the Green Initiative.

"Our trip to Botswana and South Africa was a wake up call to take action to support the growth of these amazing people," explains Simmons."The African people don't want a hand out, they need a hand up. What better way to do that than to engage them in the world of business? It's my intention for Simmons Jewelry Company to be an example to the jewelry industry that we can all benefit from giving back to Africa. I hope that one day, all the big companies have their own green lines and the good we've done as an industry will long lasting and deeply felt throughout Africa."

The Green Initiative collection is a unique combination of modern, traditional and inspirational hip-hop inspired jewelry in stainless steel, green rubber and diamonds. The line features the diamond encrusted Ohm Watch and Ohm pendant, as well as bracelets, pendants, chains and rings priced from $200 - $80,000. The first Green Initiative piece, the Green Bracelet - made from genuine native African green malachite beads and a rough African conflict-free diamond - has already shown up on the A-list wrists of Penelope Cruz, Paris Hilton, Gabrielle Union, Serena Williams, Eddie Murphy, T.I. & Beyonce.

Bangle bracelets are again commanding attention

2007-04-18T16:34:00.000-05:00

You can't really say that bangle bracelets are back since they never completely went away, but this season they're a full-fledged fashion trend. The way to wear them is in stacks, so get used to hearing that jingle-jangle or clickety-clack they make as a cluster shimmies up and down the arm.

The sound they make depends on the materials they're made of, and right now anything goes, says Kim Renk, co-founder and co-designer of jewelry company Sequin. "There's something sexy about the jingle. It's like the bell of a woman calling your attention," Renk said.

There are bangles to be found in all price ranges, from Candie's kelly green ribbon bangle for $16 at Kohl's to the $625 Frank Gehry Tube bangle made of sterling silver and ebony wood for Tiffany & Co.

Bangles made their biggest splash in the 1960s as the kitschy complement to mod miniskirts and then resurfaced in the '80s -- like today, another period that borrows from the '60s.

What makes a bracelet a bangle is that it's circular, stiff and without links, says Silvio Hidalgo, president and designer of Florida-based jeweler Hidalgo, which claims enamel and diamond jewelry as its specialty.

A clasp is optional, he explains, but bracelets without clasps will move a lot more on the arm. A bangle with a clasp can be narrower and tends to have a more oval shape. Bangles with a clasp also tend to be more expensive, he adds.

The trend right now is to wear a mix of widths at the same time, though Hidalgo says he personally likes the look of a single bracelet type in a variety of colors.

Renk, wearing a slew of thin turquoise-and-silver bangles with a turquoise-and-silver python-print dress, says you can never wear too many bracelets.

But her sister and business partner says that if you go past the elbow, you've gone too far.

Gemesis Signs Up Teen Golfer Morgan Pressel

2007-04-12T12:27:00.001-05:00

Golfer Morgan Pressel

Lab diamond maker Gemesis has signed teen professional golfer Morgan Pressel to a multi-year endorsement contract.

According to Gemesis CEO Stephen Lux, “[Pressel’s] youthful style and elegance fits right in with the Gemesis corporate image.”

Florida native Pressel said in a press release that she is a big fan of technology and diamonds, and therefore the endorsement deal was “a perfect match”. She won the 2005 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship soon after turning pro.

At the age of 18, Pressel is the youngest woman ever to win an LPGA major when she recently won the 2007 Kraft Nabisco Championship.

Gemesis is the leading producer of cultured diamonds.

Tiffany Diamond Shines at Smithsonian

2007-04-12T12:11:00.000-05:00

Tiffany Diamond Shines at Smithsonian

Light flashes across the 82 facets of the Tiffany Diamond, highlighting the brilliance of the giant gem at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.

One of the world's largest yellow diamonds, the stone is on loan from Tiffany & Co., from Wednesday through Sept. 23. It joins such famed jewels as the Hope Diamond, Hooker Emerald and Oppenheimer Diamond.

The Tiffany Diamond weighs 128.54 carats and is in a cushion cut. Perched on it is a gem-encrusted bird known as the 'Bird on a Rock,' designed in the early 1960's by Jean Schlumberger. The bird is gold and platinum with white and yellow diamonds accented by a ruby eye.

Million-Dollar Backgammon Set among Items to be Auctioned at ICA Congress

2007-04-08T14:11:00.000-05:00

A Burmese ruby, a tsavorite from Africa, and a diamond-studded backgammon set are some of the items to be put up for sale at the “Magnificent Jewels Auction” sponsored by Tzoffey’s 1818 Auction. The auction will be held May 9 during the International Colored Stone Association Congress in Dubai.

The ICA Congress will bring together leading gemstone industry figures from more than 42 countries, creating a one-of-a-kind market for the most desirable items in the trade, says Avner Sofiov, Tzoffey’s owner and president. “This is a unique gathering of the most important leaders in the world of gemstones, in the exciting, rising venue of Dubai,” he says. “We couldn’t have chosen a better location to hold our 19th international auction.”

Important gemstones to be offered at the auction include a cushion-shaped, unheated ruby from Burma and a 23.23 ct. tsavorite known as the “Green King of Africa.”

But it is the full backgammon set, decorated with black, white and fancy colored diamonds, that should spark the greatest interest, Tzoffey said. Auction items will be available for viewing throughout the week at the Congress venue, the Al Murooj Rotana Hotel & Suites, located in Dubai’s business district.

The 12th bi-annual ICA Congress will be held in Dubai May 5-9. The first Congress held in the region, the gathering will focus on the Gulf’s business opportunities for the worldwide gemstone, diamond and jewelry industries.

Tzoffey's 1818, with its slogan "Action in Auction,” has long been an international brand in the auction world, primarily targeting the diamond community, high-end jewelry producers and gem, and diamond collectors worldwide.

A Month’s Salary Spent on Diamond Engagement Ring in U.S.

2007-04-08T14:02:00.000-05:00

Below is a research study that was done by the International Diamond Exchange.

Young men spend an average of one month’s salary on the engagement ring for their betrothed, based on recently released figures from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Diamond Information Center.

The typical first-time groom in American is 27.1 years old and earns about $38,500 annually, according to newly released figures from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The Diamond Information Center (DIC) recently reported that the average ticket for a diamond engagement ring (DER) in the U.S. was $3,200 in 2006. This average ticket is almost exactly one-twelfth of the average wage for a young single American male.

Depending on your source, jewelers typically recommend that a groom should spend at least two months’ salary on a diamond engagement ring, though recently some jewelers have upped that recommendation to three months’ salary.

The following graph illustrates the recent trend in the average ticket for a diamond engagement ring in the U.S. market, according to statistics provided by the Diamond Information Center.

Source: DIC

Diamond Engagement Ring Average Ticket Jumps in 2006

During 2006, the average amount an American shopper spent on a diamond engagement ring jumped by more than 16 percent to $3,200 from the prior year’s $2,750. While research conducted by IDEX Online Research confirms that the average ticket for a diamond engagement ring rose, some of the increase in value reported by the Diamond Information Center is due to a change in research methodology. In prior years, the DIC sampled consumer spending via postal surveys. However, in 2005, it began conversion to internet sampling, and in 2006, virtually all of its results came from a sample of U.S. households conducted via the internet. While roughly two-thirds of all U.S. households have internet access from their homes, the one-third of the households who do not have internet access are generally lower income consumers. Though the DIC researchers apparently made allowances for this sampling disparity, it appears that the results may be biased to reflect the spending by higher income households. This may, in part, explain the jump in some of the DIC’s reported figures.

The percentage change in the average ticket for a diamond engagement ring in the U.S. market is illustrated by the following graph.

Source: DIC

While the overall average ticket for the diamond engagement ring market showed significant growth in 2006, not all merchants registered gains. Tiffany & Co., the world-renowned jeweler, said its average diamond engagement ring ticket was $10,400 in 2006, flat with 2005.

Blue Nile’s estimated average ticket for diamond engagement rings fell slightly to $5,600 in 2006 from $5,700 in 2005, largely due to the company’s strategy to cut prices of its diamond jewelry in an effort to boost sales and leverage expenses.

Engagement Ring Market Grows

Last year, diamond engagement ring sales were $6.2 billion in the U.S., up 8 percent from the prior year according to the DIC. This represented about 17.6 percent of total diamond jewelry sales. This was up slightly from the prior year’s 17.2 percent of sales, based on restated numbers. The DIC also restated the size of the diamond engagement ring market, based on its new research methodology. In the past, it had estimated that diamond engagement rings were slightly fewer than 15 percent of total diamond jewelry sales; its new research shows that diamond engagement ring sales are really closer to 17-18 percent of diamond jewelry sales.

The table on the left summarizes new and restated numbers for the U.S. diamond market and the diamond engagement ring market.

More Brides Receive A Diamond Engagement Ring

Diamond engagement ring penetration continues to rise. While the DIC did not formally release diamond engagement ring penetration for 2006, IDEX Online Research estimates that 84 percent of all brides-to-be received a diamond engagement ring, up from 83 percent in the prior year. Historically, just over 80 percent of all brides-to-be – or about four of five brides – received a diamond engagement ring.

The following graph illustrates the trend in engagement ring penetration among brides-to-be in the U.S. market. The trend line on the graph shows that diamond engagement penetration rates have risen over the past seventeen years.

Source: DIC

Nowata Man Finds Fame After Diamond Discovery

2007-04-08T13:56:00.000-05:00

Tulsa World, NOWATA: A year after he made headlines coast to coast for his discovery of a large diamond in Arkansas, Marvin Culver believes he has become a victim of his own success.

Culver has been back to the Crater of Diamonds State Park near Murfreesboro, Ark., several times since March 12, 2006, when he discovered the 4.21-carat gem, which he named the "Okie Dokie Diamond."

Each time he has returned, he's felt crowded by throngs of diamond-hunters who flocked to the state park because of publicity generated by his and other big recent finds.

And, more recently, Culver, of No wata, was surprised that he had to pay full retail price at the park's gift shop for a postcard and kitchen magnet bearing a picture of his "Okie Dokie Diamond."

"In some ways, I'm a victim of my own success," joked Culver, who retired last May from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol after 33 years.

Despite those problems, the fame and celebrity treatment he received in the weeks after discovering the diamond - the biggest found at the park in six years - was more than he could have dreamed.

As soon as his find made headlines, Culver received a call from the "Today" show in New York so he could appear there.

He and his wife, Lyndall, along with nephew and niece Dylan and Christina McMahan - all of whom were with him when he found the gem - were flown to New York for two days.

They were treated to limousine rides and were put up in a lavish two-floor penthouse at the posh Hilton Hotel.

It was at his appearance at "Today" when Culver learned how much the flawless, yellow diamond was worth.

A gem expert from Sotheby's auction house was invited on the show and put the diamond's value at between $15,000 and $60,000.

"I didn't know there was such a thing as a yellow diamond," Culver said.

After his New York appearance, Culver went to appear on "Inside Edition" and the Travel Channel, along with interviews with other media outlets.

"We've even had calls from the media in Canada," he said.

"You couldn't have scripted a better story," he said of his adventure.

Culver remembers quite well the day he discovered the stone.

It was a Sunday, two days after Culver, an Enid native, turned 58.

"My wife and I had wanted to make that trip for 10 years, so we finally did it on my birthday weekend," he said.

So Culver packed his prospecting gear - his own sifting screens, a pick, shovel and a bucket - and headed to Murfreesboro, Ark., with his wife, nephew and niece.

Culver said he found the diamond, about the size of a peanut M & M, within the first hour, but thought nothing of it.

"I just slipped it into my pocket and continued looking for diamonds for another three hours," he said.

After his day was through, Culver had the stone weighed at the park. That's when he learned it was a genuine diamond and the biggest found there since 2000.

The next day, he started getting calls for interviews and TV appearances. That continued throughout the week and into the next week.

Culver sold the Okie Dokie in May to Jim Houran of Grapevine, Texas, who collects many of the stones found at Crater of Diamonds State Park.

Culver said his sale prevents him from disclosing how much he was paid, but he did note that it was enough to buy a luxury car.

But Culver didn't buy a car.

He used some of the money to set up retirement accounts for his nephew and niece and paid some bills. The rest of it is in savings for a rainy day, he said.

The Okie Dokie's discovery wasn't the first time Culver has been lucky.

He and his wife regularly enter contests, and over the years they've won a new car and trips to Hawaii, Colorado, Florida and North Carolina.

There is no mistaking, though, that his most famous bit of luck was no bigger than a peanut M & M.

Copyright (c) 2007, Tulsa World, Okl

Zimbabwe Smuggling Estimated at $400M for Nine Months

2007-04-08T13:46:00.000-05:00

Zimbabwe has lost at least $400 million in the past nine months through looting of diamonds and smuggling of the precious stones, national newspaper The Herald reported April 5, 2007.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe's governor Gideon Gono told the newspaper the nation needs a robust system for mining and marketing diamonds to guarantee maximum benefits for the people of Zimbabwe.

Only a few benefit from diamond riches at present as backroom deals continue to be the norm despite governmental regulations Gono said.

I Do, Wal-Mart Style

2007-03-27T18:52:00.000-05:00

Probably not the romantic setting most couples have in mind for tying the knot, but Wal-Mart, and G Squared, a Wal-Mart exclusive brand from Gartner Studios, are offering seven couples the chance to marry July 7, (7/7/07)-one of the most sought-after wedding dates in recent years-at local Wal-Mart Superstores.

The retail superstore will foot the bill for seven betrothed couples to wed in stores’ lawn and garden areas, in addition to receptions.

Experts anticipate that more than twice as many weddings will take place on 7/7/07 than on the corresponding weekend in 2006. This means that many couples are finding most venues and vendors booked solid. "The popularity of 7/7/07 can be attributed to the symbolism associated with the number seven," said Kathi Mishek, vice president of Gartner Studios.

"Both Gartner Studios and Wal-Mart appreciate that this is a major day in couples' lives and we're proud to be able to share in these celebrations," Mishek added.

Seven "Lucky in Love Wedding Search" couples will receive wedding packages worth more than $5,000 each. The packages include the wedding ceremony and reception venues, 14 karat gold and diamond wedding bands for bride and groom, wedding invitation package, wedding and groom's cakes, l bouquets, digital cameras and digital photo frame, portable GPS, reception food, as well as a $1,000 Wal-Mart gift card.

The bride's ring will be a 14 karat Keepsake genuine diamond band, set with 11 diamonds weighing 1/8 of a carat. The groom's 14 karat Keepsake genuine band contains three diamonds weighing 1/10 of a carat.

Romance isn’t dead yet, at least not at Wal-Mart.

Jack Kelége Premiere's New Jewelry Collection

2007-03-27T16:57:00.001-05:00

Jewelry designer Jack Kelége and Robb Report magazine hosted an evening to celebrate designs and craftsmanship at the Beverly Hills, Calif., private residence of the world-renowned designer.

More than 150 guests previewed Kelége’s new collection of precious jewels paired with an array of luxury partners that define the art of living well, including Rolls Royce Motor Cars of Beverly Hills. Some of the VIP guests in attendance included actors Jane Seymour and James Keach, and Marek Djordjevic—exterior designer of the Rolls Royce Phantom.

Kelége’s collections of one-of-a-kind jewelry were on display for guests to preview while a model adorned in his jewelry strolled with the guests.

RITMO Named Official Watch of Miss USA Pageant

2007-03-27T16:53:00.000-05:00

The Miss USA Pageant has named RITMO MUNDO as its official timepiece. The Beverly Hills, Calif.-based maker of fine Swiss made luxury timepieces has been acclaimed for offering a wide selection of timepieces that blends tradition with trends.

As a result of the partnership which make RITMO the official timepiece of the pageant, Beverly Hills, Calif.-based maker of Swiss luxury timepieces will present a $30,000 diamond studded Jumbo Jet with Mystery Dial watch to the pageant winner at the end of tonight's telecast.

In addition to its alliance with the Miss Universe organization, RITMO is the official timepiece of the IndyCar Series, Randy Jackson of American Idol, and the upcoming movie, Ocean’s 13.

RITMO MUNDO was founded by luxury retailer and watch aficionado Ali Soltani. With offices in Milan, Italy, and inspired by timepieces of the 1920’s, ‘30’s and ‘40’s, RITMO has found selective partners to highlight its product through diligent distribution in each region. RITMO has redefined luxury timepieces by providing a unique blend of century old designs with sensuous extraordinary Swiss and Italian craftsmanship.

Backes & Strauss Launches New Luxury Diamond Watches in Mid East

2007-03-15T17:31:00.000-05:00

The Middle East is the latest market for Backes & Strauss’ new line of luxury diamond watches. The oldest diamond company in the world joined forces in December with the Franck Muller Group to launch the collection which made its Mid-east debut at the Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition earlier this month in Qatar.

Diamond pieces in the collection retail from £25,000 ($48,000) and above.

Next stop on the line’s roll-out is Geneva’s 10th World Presentation of Haute Horlogerie (WPHH) April 16-22.

Diamond Glitter at Indian Celebrity Wedding

2007-03-15T17:29:00.000-05:00

While for much of last week the Indian media headlined the elaborate celebrations surrounding the wedding of British film star Elizabeth Hurley to Indian playboy-businessman Arun Nayar, many of the actual details remained under wraps due to the reported contract giving celebrity publication Hello! exclusive rights of the events’ photos.

But a few facts have emerged – among them information about how diamonds added to the overall glitz and glitter.

According to a release from the Diamond Information Centre, UAE, Hurley’s wedding ring is an “Ice Cube” wedding band composed of 20 square cut diamonds weighing 3.91 carats and 118 brilliant cut diamonds set in white gold designed by Chopard's Creative Director and Co-President Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele.

Chopard also made the actress's engagement ring, a magnificent 15.09 carat Asscher cut diamond, set in white gold and surrounded by a pave-set band from the Haute Joaillerie collection.

Another media website, monstersandcritics.com, reports that Hurley also wore a diamond encrusted pink sari worth £4,000 ($7,690), earrings worth £40,000 ($76,900) and a £20,000 ($38,450) bracelet.

On a different note, Bombay Times, a supplement of Indian daily The Times of India, reports that jewelry had a role to play in the last minute cancellation of a party that was to be hosted for the couple in Mumbai by Nayar’s father Vinod and his wife Joanne. According to the report, Hurley was “upset that Ms Nayar had used the wedding to promote a range of jewelry.”

Joanne Nayar has recently become the brand ambassador for Nayaab, an upmarket designer jewelry store in Bandra, Mumbai.

Russell Simmons Launches ‘Green’ Jewelry Line

2007-03-09T10:26:00.000-06:00

In a bid to raise money for communities in Africa, Simmons Jewelry Company, owned by Russell and Kimora Lee Simmons, is launching the Green Initiative. A portion of the jewelry line proceeds will benefit the Diamond Empowerment Fund (DEF).

According to the company, the DEF is an "international, non-profit organization with a mission to raise money for educational programs to uplift the people and communities of Africa." The Green Initiative’s mission is to raise funds for the DEF.

Hitting retail stores at the end of March, the line’s designs featuring diamonds, steel, and rubber have already made a statement in Hollywood. At the Academy Awards ceremony, Oscar winning actor Forest Whitaker wore the Los Angeles stainless steel and green rubber cross bracelet with laser engraved logo and diamonds. According to the company, the green bracelet, made of African green malachite beads and a rough conflict-free diamond, was also being worn by Beyonce, Naomi Campbell, Eddie Murphy, Penelope Cruz, Jon Voight, Chris Tucker, Gabrielle Union, T.I., and other celebrities.

Twenty-five percent of net profits from the Green Initiative collection will go to the DEF, while fifty percent of net profits from the line’s green bracelet piece will go to the fund.

Each special Oscar green bracelet included a Gem Certification & Assurance Lab (GCAL) certificate, insuring diamonds are conflict free. GCAL, with its Source Veritas service, gives buyers the assurance that the diamond originated from a Kimberley Process compliant company and complies with the 2003 U.S. Clean Diamond Act. A special DVD message from Russell Simmons with footage from his trip to Africa is also included with the bracelet.

The Green Initiative collection features the diamond encrusted Ohm Watch and Ohm pendant, as well as bracelets, pendants, chains and rings priced from $250 to $80,000.

Chopard Designs Hurley’s 15.09 carat Engagement Ring

2007-03-09T10:22:00.000-06:00

Hurley's 15.09 carat Assher cut
diamond engagement ring

Chopard’s Creative Director and Co-President designed Elizabeth Hurley's engagement ring, a 15.09 carat Assher cut diamond, set in white gold and surrounded by a pave-set band, reports Vogue UK. Chopard also made the actress’s wedding band, a white gold ring set with 20 square-cut diamonds with a total weight of 3.91 carat.

Hurley married Arun Nayer on Saturday. The couple picked the diamond out of the ‘Haute Joallerie’ collection at Chopard's Bond Street store.

Celebrity engagement rings have become a topic of great interest in recent years, influencing purchasing habits. Jennifer Lopez’s 6.1 carat pink diamond engagement ring, from actor Ben Aflek, created a strong interest in the rare fancy color diamonds.

Britney Spears’ 5 carat, double banded engagement ring was quickly copied, with cheaper versions of it becoming almost immediately available for fans.

GIA Hong Kong to Open Lab Services March 8

2007-03-09T10:03:00.000-06:00

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) will open the first of its new GIA Laboratory Service Centers in Hong Kong on March 8, 2007 with a special VIP grand opening reception, ribbon-cutting ceremony, and open house.

Thomas M. Moses, senior vice president of GIA Research and Laboratory, will host the event. Other participants will be Sheryl Cashmore, manager of the new Laboratory Service Center; Ken Scarratt, director of research at GIA Laboratory Bangkok; and invited VIP guests, including laboratory clients, GIA alumni, and the media.

"The purpose of the new Laboratory Service Centers is to bring the Institute's Laboratory services closer to customers throughout the world," said Moses. "Expanding the number of take-in centers and making GIA services more easily accessible should help reduce overall shipping and turn-around times for customers."

According to Moses, the GIA Laboratory Service Centers will complement the GIA LabDirect consolidator network the Institute announced in August 2006.

"Our clients in Hong Kong will have easy, convenient access to our services and can both submit and pick up their items locally. They will pay the same fees as all GIA Laboratory clients, and will work with a GIA staff that is bilingual in English and Chinese."

Doors open at 10:30 a.m., and the ribbon-cutting will take place promptly at 11:00 a.m. when local tradition holds that timing to be the most auspicious. The event will end at 2:00 p.m.

The Laboratory Service Center in Hong Kong is in the same building as the GIA Hong Kong international school which opened in 1994. The GIA Laboratory Service Center is located at Room 1203, 12/F, Aon China Building, 29 Queen's Road, Central Hong Kong.

Philip Rickard Honolulu Opens Seventh Retail Location in Hawaii

2007-03-09T09:21:00.000-06:00

Philip Rickard Honolulu, a manufacturer of Hawaiian heirloom jewelry, has opened a seventh retail location on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. The new gallery store opened on Feb. 21 at the newly renovated Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center.

The official grand opening celebration for the Philip Rickard Honolulu Gallery will take place Friday on the first floor of the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center. The celebration will begin with a Hawaiian blessing by Kumu Keoni Craig at 9 a.m. followed by light snacks and coffee. All customers will receive a 10 percent discount on all purchases for the day.

"The sincere passion and respect that I have for this jewelry and its rich history is reflected in each piece I create," said Philip Rickard. "I am thoroughly excited about sharing my pieces at our new location."

The gallery will feature all of his existing collections, including the Diamonds & Flowers Collection, Black Pearl Collection, and the custom wedding line. This location will also showcase the Philip Rickard exclusive Ali’i Collection, which was inspired by Hawai’i sovereign history, this collection uses royal blue enamel to accent the classic Old English scrolling. Fans of Rickard’s pieces include rock star and fashion designer Gwen Stefani.

Six Jewelry Designers Honored with Niche Awards

2007-03-04T11:15:00.000-06:00

Winners of the 2007 NICHE Awards for jewelry were honored in a ceremony at the Philadelphia Buyers Market of American Craft. The coveted NICHE Award was presented to artists in 36 categories including ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, metal, and wood.

The Jewelry category is divided into six sections: Fashion, Gold, Gold with Stones, Silver, Silver with Stones and Sculpture to Wear. The winners are:

Fashion
Greg Geyer
Santa Barbara, Calif.
Sea Glass Pendant

Gold
Todd Reed
Boulder, Colo.
Gold Cluster Necklace

Gold with Stones
Elizabeth Gualtieri
Portland, Ore.
Empress

Silver
Danielle Crampsie
Toronto, Canada
Interlocking, Play, Pause, Record Ring

Silver with Stones
Lisa Hawthorne
Coquille, Ore.
Delicate Balance

Sculpture to Wear
David Bausman
Laredo, Texas
The Dating Pool

Sponsored by NICHE magazine, the trade publication for retailers of American craft, the NICHE Awards program recognizes excellence and innovation in the American and Canadian craft industry.

American and Canadian craft artists submitted more than 1,000 entries for the 2007 competition. In November 2006, NICHE magazine announced the 151 finalists, who were invited to display their work in the NICHE Awards exhibit at the Philadelphia Buyers Market, Feb. 16-19, 2007. Winners will be featured in the Spring 2007 issue of NICHE magazine.

Entries were judged on three main criteria:

* Technical excellence, both in surface design and form

* Market viability

* A distinct quality of unique, original and creative thought

Applications for the 2008 NICHE Awards will be available in early Spring 2007 at www.AmericanCraft.com.

Three New Tiffany Stores to Open by April 2007 in Japan

2007-02-12T17:33:00.001-06:00

Tiffany & Co. plans to open two boutiques in recently renovated department stores in Tokyo's main commercial and luxury shopping areas, as well as one boutique in Hiroshima's premier department store by end of second quarter 2007.

On March 2, 2007 the jeweler will open a boutique in Tokyo's Seibu department store, 21-1 Udagawa-cho in Shibuya; another boutique will open in the Takashimaya store at 5-24-2 Sendagaya in Shinjuku in late April. In addition, a new Tiffany watch corner is expected to soon open within the new watch department on the store's remodeled 4th floor. Also, Hiroshima boutique, located in the Fukuya department store, 6-26 Ebisu-cho Naka-ku, will open in late April. The new boutiques bring the total number of Tiffany's Japan locations to 55.

"The newly designed stores offer Tiffany & Co. Japan wonderful new opportunities to delight our customers and make new friends," said Michael C. Christ, president of Tiffany & Co. Japan Inc. "The opportunity to join Seibu in their successful location in Shibuya will represent our first store in that vital Tokyo market. And the exciting new remodel of the Takashimaya Times Square in Shinjuku will be a perfect showcase for Tiffany design. Included in the new Shinjuku renovation will be the first exclusive Tiffany watch corner in Japan. Finally, it is a privilege to join the historic Fukuya Department Store in Hiroshima and the fine retail business they have built over the years."

Raymond Weil Sues Charlize Theron for Wearing Another Watch Brand

2007-02-12T16:46:00.000-06:00

Swiss luxury watchmaker Raymond Weil has sued Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron Monday, Feb. 5, in the New York Supreme Court for allegedly wearing another brand.

Theron was promoted as the “new face” of Raymond Weil’s global watch marketing between October 2005 and December 2006 in an exclusive endorsement deal that required she wear only Raymond Weil watches for its duration, said the legal action.

However, the Geneva-based watchmaker’s breach of contract suit contends that Theron—who also had an endorsement deal with Dior perfume—was photographed wearing a Christian Dior watch at a March 2006 news conference at an Austin, Tex., film festival.

The suit doesn’t specify monetary damages.

According to published accounts, Raymond Weil spent some $20 million on the Theron global campaign, which was announced with some fanfare by Olivier Bernheim, Raymond Weil SA company president and chief executive officer, at the 2005 international BaselWorld watch fair in Switzerland. At that time, he called her “the new face” of Raymond Weil watches and the “the perfect ambassador for our timepieces, representing beauty, style, and perfection of function.”

Theron won the 2004 Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Monster (2003).

Montblanc Launches First Luxury Jewelry line in an Ice Palace

2007-02-12T16:44:00.000-06:00

Montblanc launched its new diamond jewelry collection on Friday with a glittering celebrity gala and fashion show in a specially built ice palace in the French ski resort of Chamonix, at the foot of famous Mont Blanc mountain, between France and Italy.

The new diamond line is the first-time entry into high-end jewelry by Mont Blanc, a leading luxury products brand known for its fine pens and watches.

Some 200 international VIP guests partied together with Lutz Bethge and Wolff Heinrichsdorff, managing directors of Montblanc International, at "The Night of Stars” gala in ice palace built of 180 blocks of transparent ice. Among them were actresses Lucy Liu, Naomi Watts, Juliette Binoche and actor Christopher Lee. Together, they drank champagne, dined, and enjoyed the singing of British opera star Katherine Jenkins, a Montblanc brand ambassador.

A highlight was the catwalk show. Five top models—Naomi Campbell, Lily Collins (daughter of Phil Collins), Franziska Knuppe , Nieves Alvarez , and Mary Ma—presented both the new "Montblanc Diamond Jewelry Collection" and the exclusive "Montblanc is celebrating Red Carpet Moments" pieces. Naomi Campbell wore the most precious ensemble: the necklace and earrings "Etoile" (“Star”), worth almost $4 million.

LA Jeweler Launches Collection to Help SA AIDS Orphans

2007-02-01T15:42:00.000-06:00

In an effort to raise awareness and generate widespread support for the millions of orphans in South Africa whose parents have died or are dying of AIDS, Mia & Kompany, a Los Angeles-based jewelry company, has designed a diamond jewelry collection whose proceeds will benefit a community-based child and youth care projects in the country.

The Isibindi Diamond Medallion Collection was inspired by the Isibindi community-based child and youth care projects in South Africa. Built upon principles of family preservation and the belief, “it takes a village to raise a child,” the goal of Isibindi is to create safe and caring communities for orphans in “child-headed homes”.

The National Association of Child Care Workers (NACCW), a South African non-governmental organization (NGO) along with other local governmental support initiates Isibindi projects in key regions throughout South Africa.

“I was deeply touched by the Isibindi project because it provides hope to South African children deeply in need. It empowers orphans to courageously help themselves, as it teaches child orphans the necessary skills so that they may stay with their siblings and receive ongoing nurturing and care in their family home,” said Mia Koniver, creator and designer of Mia & Kompany. Up to 20 percent of the proceeds from the collection will benefit the projects.

The collection ranges in price from $190 to roughly $1,200 and includes a 14-karat gold or sterling silver 25mm or 10mm round medallion necklace on a 30-inch or 16-inch chain or black cord; a 14-karat gold or sterling silver Isibindi tag on a 20-inch chain or black cord; and a 14-karat gold 10mm round Isibindi medallion ring.

Each medallion is engraved with the words, “Isibindi” and “Dapperheid”, a Zulu and Afrikaans words that mean courage. A diamond is embedded on each side of the medallion.

The collection is available for sale now through April 30, 2007 at a variety of retailers such as miaandkompany.com, Kitson in Los Angeles, shopkitson.com and other retail locations in the U.S.

New Journey Print Campaign to Debut in February

2007-02-01T15:41:00.000-06:00

The Diamond Trading Company (DTC), in conjunction with JWT, is launching a new print advertising campaign for the Journey Diamond Jewelry concept. The new campaign, to debut in February, will not only communicate the Journey concept but also highlight the various styles and designs that are currently available in the market, JWT announced.

Journey Diamond Jewelry is defined as a piece of jewelry containing diamonds of different sizes, arranged in a graduated pattern from smallest to largest. The piece must be exclusively diamond, with at least four stones and at least one stone being of significant size. The graduated stones represent how your love grows stronger over time making it a perfect gift of love.

There will be at least three executions of the new print campaign, entitled “Line.” The first will launch in February and will have two versions: one featuring the “S” curve pendant and one featuring a heart pendant.

Future executions will feature drop earrings and a circle pendant, as well as other designs and piece types. The ads will run in female-targeted publications such as InStyle, W, Vogue, Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, Gourmet and Town & Country in 2007.

In addition to the new print campaign, the “Dandelions” TV commercial will continue to run in 2007 featuring the Journey “S” curve pendant. The adiamondisforever.com site has a Journey micro-site, which features a variety of designs.

To help the industry support Journey Diamond Jewelry, the Diamond Promotion Service (DPS) offers a variety of marketing materials that can be downloaded from dps.org, including 4-color photography, newspaper ad slicks, postcards and more. A new commercial program developed in conjunction with Spot Runner, a TV advertising agency provider is also available to jewelers. For under $1,500, an advertiser can personalize their own Journey commercial and create a targeted cable and/or broadcast media plan. The beauty of it is that it’s all created online at spotrunner.com/dps.

Additional offered aids include The Journey Roadmap package, an in-depth program that helps sales associates find success through selling Journey. In addition, dps.org features an interactive Journey Motif Guide to help retailers build their own Journey collections using the six most popular motifs: Hearts, Zig-Zags, Drops, Curves/Vines, Ladders, and Circles.

SAG Awards: Diamonds Abundance and Classic Elegance

2007-01-29T18:30:00.000-06:00

The 13th Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards ceremony was a further test case for the impact of the recent public discussion on Hollywood’s A-list celebrities. With Tinsel Town and one of its major studios, Warner Brothers, voicing criticism of the diamond industry, last night it was a display of confidence in the value of diamonds.

Cate Blanchett at the SAG Awards ceremony

Hundreds of carats worth many millions of dollars were seen on the red carpet, as noted celebrities had no qualms being seen with diamonds, leaving the issue to be judged on fashion merits alone. Cate Blanchett was a focal point, donning a rose cut Diamond Indian pendant necklace featuring more than 100 carats of rose-cut Diamonds, along with a pair of 2 carat antique mine cut Diamond stud earrings by Fred Leighton.

Helen Mirren, the night’s winner for ‘Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role’ for her performance in “The Queen”, walked down the red carpet wearing Chopard jewelry, including a 25 carat diamond bracelet, 15 carat diamond hoop earrings, a 29 carat diamond brooch, and an oval diamond watch.

Diamond earrings including classic studs, delicate drops, and modern linear:

Cate Blanchett - Fred Leighton - Antique old-mine cut Diamond stud earrings, 2 carats each

Helen Hunt - Martin Katz - 7 carats total round Diamond drop earrings, valued at $65,000

Eva Longoria - Verdura - Diamond drop earrings

Jamie Pressly – Antique Diamond linear earrings

Reese Witherspoon - Van Cleef and Arpels -Classic Diamond studs

Diamond cuff bracelets added a touch of elegance:

Felicity Huffman - Martin Katz - Diamond bangle bracelet with 750 Diamonds valued at $40,000

Helen Mirren - Chopard - 25 carat Diamond bracelet

Jaime Pressly - Diamond cuff bracelet

Nicollette Sheridan - Diamond cuff bracelet

Reese Witherspoon - Diamond cuff bracelet

The following stars all wore Diamonds to the 13th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards:

Adriana Barraza - Damiani - 25.50 carat Diamond and platinum Ragnatella necklace, valued at $155,250; 16.27 carat Diamond and 18 karat white gold vintage bracelet, valued at $37,134; 4.12 carat Diamond and platinum Ragnatella earrings, valued at $26,340; 1.17 carat Diamond and 18 karat white gold fireworks ring, valued at $3,980

America Ferrera - Neil Lane - Yellow Diamond drop earrings

Anika Noni Rose - Chopard Diamonds

Cate Blanchett - Fred Leighton - Rose cut Diamond Indian pendant necklace with over 100 carats of rose-cut Diamonds; Antique mine-cut Diamond stud earrings, 2 carats each

Chandra Wilson - Diamond choker; Diamond bracelet; Diamond drop earrings

Constance Zimmer - Martin Katz - 3 Diamond line bracelets total of 8 carats, valued at $27,500; Diamond cluster earrings with 7 carats of oval and marquise Diamonds, valued at $72,000

Diane Kruger - Diamond cuff bracelet; Diamond studs

Edie Falco - Fred Leighton - Diamond and gold necklace; 19th century cushion cut Diamond pendant earrings, 2 carats each; 19th century Diamond cluster Right Hand Ring

Ellen Pompeo - Andrea Lieberman for Mouawad - Diamond bangle bracelets; Hoop Diamond earrings

Elizabeth Perkins - Chopard - Diamond chandelier earrings; Diamond Right Hand Ring

Eva Longoria - Verdura - Diamond drop earrings; Diamond hair pin

Felicity Huffman - Martin Katz - Diamond bangle bracelet with 750 Diamonds, valued at $40,000; 8 total carat rose cut Diamond drop earrings, valued $150,0004; 4 carat kite shaped Diamond Right Hand ring, valued $120,000 and Diamond band, valued at $15,000

Heather Graham - Diamond bracelet

Helen Hunt - Martin Katz - 5 carat cognac Diamond pendant, valued $75,000; 24 carat Diamond bracelet, valued at $95,000; 7 carats total round Diamond drop earrings, valued at $65,000; 4 carat round cognac Diamond Right Hand Ring, valued at $68,00

Helen Mirren – Chopard - a 25 carat Diamond bracelet, 15 carat Diamond hoop earrings, 29 carat Diamond brooch plus an oval Diamond watch

Jamie Fox - Diamond stud earrings

Jamie Pressly - Antique Diamond linear earrings; Diamond cuff bracelet

Jenna Fisher - Martin Katz - 18k Diamond cuff bracelet, valued at $85,000; Diamond hoop earrings with 15k round Diamonds, valued at $65,000

Julie Andrews - Chopard - "Happy Spirit" Diamond pendant; Pear shaped Diamond cluster earrings

Kate Walsh - Neil Lane and Sonya Ooten - Neil Lane Diamond earrings; Sonya Ooten Right Hand Ring

Kim Raver - Neil Lane - Diamond ball bracelet; Diamond ball earrings; Diamond flower Right Hand Ring

Mariska Hartigay - Fred Leighton - 3 1960's Diamond and 18k gold bracelets; 20k rose cut Diamond pendent earrings

Megan Mullally - Neil Lane - Diamond drop earrings - Diamond Right Hand Ring

Nicollette Sheridan - Diamond cuff

Patricia Arquette - Neil Lane - Diamond Riviera necklace from the 1820's valued at $1 million; Diamond studs; Diamond Right Hand Ring

Rachel McAdams - Diamond stud earrings

Reese Witherspoon - Diamond bracelet; Diamond studs

Rinko Kikucki - Diamond star pendant necklace; Diamond star cluster earrings

Sandra Oh - Diamond stud earrings

Shirley Jones - Diamond statement necklace

Svetlana Metkina - Diamond drop earrings

Teri Hatcher - Kwiat - Diamond and platinum Right Hand Ring

Tracey Edmonds - Damiani - 29.59k of white and fancy yellow Diamonds and 18 karat white gold Fancy necklace, valued at $425,000; 7.20 carats of white and fancy yellow Diamonds and 18 karat white gold earrings, valued at $105,000; 4.30 carat Diamond and 18 karat white gold Parachute ring, valued at $22,190

Two Steal $260K Diamond Necklace from a Sam's Club

2007-01-29T18:19:00.001-06:00

Two men were caught on video tape stealing a $260,000 diamond-encrusted necklace from a Hillsborough County, Florida, Sam's Club (Wal-Mart) warehouse store January 23, 2007. The necklace, 82-total-carat-weight, had pear-shaped diamonds. Hillsborough is the county seat for Tampa.

Police believe the suspects stole the necklace before the store closed for the night. Video shows one of the men entered the store with a hammer in his belt, and that both men changed their clothes in the store's restrooms before smashing the jewelry case and grabbing the necklace.

"Blood Diamond" nominated for Five Academy Awards

2007-01-29T18:03:00.000-06:00

Blood Diamond has been nominated for five Academy Awards, for the 79^th Academy Awards ceremony which will take place on February 25, 2007, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Los Angeles.

Lead actor Leonardo DiCaprio was nominated for best actor and co-star Djimon Hounsou was nominated for best supporting actor.

The other three nominations were for best film editing, best sound editing and best sound mixing.

The film first opened in theatres across the United States on December 8, 2006.

JANY Winter Show: Hot Trends for 2007

2007-01-23T17:34:00.000-06:00

With snow flurries in the air and temperatures hovering in the single digits, the JANY Winter Show, the U.S.'s first big industry trade event of 2007, got off to a chilly but good start. Much like the weather outside the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, the buyer registration desks in the early morning had flurries of activity with attendees lining up in small bursts to collect their badges.

Foot traffic was strong, consistent and, more or less, continuous throughout the exhibit halls from midday onwards. The JANY Winter Show, coming so closely upon the heels of the big holiday selling season and so early in the New Year, traditionally has a smaller exhibitor turnout than the summer show. This year's show, with approximately 850 exhibitors, was no exception.

One difference this year, however, was the layout of the show floor. The exhibition area has been reconfigured from a bi-level layout to a single level configuration to encourage a more natural traffic flow.

A fair number of the 'usual faces' were not exhibiting this year. The no-shows cut across nearly all product lines. While many noted the absences, beyond a few passing comments and expressions of surprise, the overall mood on the show floor was decidedly upbeat. Exhibitors showing new lines appeared encouraged by the foot traffic as they offered retailers new fashion forward lines in response to this season's emerging consumer interests. All in all, day one was a nice start.

Hot Trends

Many manufacturers unveiled invigorated post-holiday collections, while many designers took the opportunity to introduce and showcase new lines consistent with consumer interest trend forecasts and models for 2007.

The first seminar of the day, led by Helena Krodel, media manager of the Jewelry Information Center (JIC) was entitled, "What's Hot! What's Not! Smart Buying Insights for the Spring Selling Season and Beyond." The seminar had capacity attendance as attendees eagerly absorbed what the fashion gurus have identified as this year's emerging trends.

Krodel, a masterful speaker with a lot of fashion savvy, spoke authoritatively on trends gleaned from a combination of sources including the worlds of fashion, pop culture, celebrity, and geo-politics.

With whites and creams dominating the runway shows, all the good money appears to be on color accessories to add a dash of excitement into the mix. As Krodel put it, "Pretty is making a comeback and people are going to be looking for color."

Necklaces – Here almost anything goes. Predicted to be popular are collars and chokers with grommets and heavy metal, bibs with a defined "V" and ropes of precious metals, tri-color gold, and even mixed metals. Equally, extra long chain-link necklaces that can be wrapped are believed to be big. But, the real hot, hot, hot trend is charm necklaces. These necklaces, with their removable charms, allow for a great deal of individuality across all age demographics.

Bracelets – As people often say, everything old is new again. Cyclical trends show charm bracelets making a comeback, with a nod to the contemporary as versatile, easily removable, unsoldered charms, whimsical pre-assembled collections (like grandma might have collected one by one) and the time-honored smorgasbord of charms re-appear on the consumer radar. All are making a comeback, but with updated styles and looks. The eighties friendship bracelet is also making a comeback. Thick bangles and cuffs, with dangling charms, gem stone encrusted, enameled, or plain in precious metals are all hot.

Earrings – Hoops are hot. Oversized, front hoops and, wait for it, earrings with charms. Asymmetry is in, from wearing one long and one short earring while sporting sets of three coordinated, but different earrings, is very fashion forward. Chandeliers still popular, as evidenced on the red carpets of the stage, film, and music industries. In addition, button earrings and clip-ons are hot.

Rings – mixing and matching is popular. Right hand, charm, and stacking are all very hot and predicted to remain so with consumers. Large bands, with minimum detail, openwork, polished, brushed or engraved all provide a suitable alternative to the cocktail ring. An emerging trend, not quite globally trend-worthy, but definitely worthy of mention, are rock star-inspired forefinger rings.

Helena Krodel of JIC summed up her trends seminar by exhorting those retailers present to, "Anticipate trends so that you're a leader in the minds of consumers and provide tools for your staff to educate the consumer." Walking the aisles of the JANY Winter Show attendees could see firsthand the accuracy of the trend forecast and, judging from the booth traffic in the afternoon, many retailers were already applying their new found knowledge.

Philips Unveils Diamond Set TV

2007-01-19T10:56:00.000-06:00

Philips Electronics unveiled a diamond-encrusted Ambilight FlatTV celebrating its one millionth Ambilight FlatTV. Created in conjunction with New York–based jewelry company A.Link, the 42-inch Ambilight LCD HDTV features 225 carats of diamonds. The set features close to 2,250 diamonds set into a stylized floral pattern around the edges of the TV.

“Manufacturing our millionth Ambilight FlatTV is a great moment for Philips and demonstrates that consumers have responded strongly to the viewing experience that Ambilight provides,” said Rudy Provoost, chief executive officer, Philips Consumer Electronics.

A.Link, a partner of Diamond Trading Company (DTC) Sightholder Dali Diamond provided the diamonds and expertise in helping create this one-off TV.

“We pride ourselves in developing products that are iconic and highlight the diamonds in a stylish and sophisticated manner,” said Jeffrey Link, president of A.Link.

Tatoo your diamonds...

2007-01-19T10:40:00.000-06:00

Dalumi, has introduced a new collection, "Tattoo your Diamond," a diamond jewelry collection that allows tattooing of a love sentence forever on the diamond.

The project has been acknowledged by the Diamond Trading Company and has received the status of approved Business Initiative—as part of only a few selected ones in the Italian market. The new collection is available to a selected group of 200 stores throughout Italy. It will be followed by a comprehensive advertising campaign and will soon enter the Europe and the U.S. markets.

Professional technicians will tattoo the personal love message on the gem and in few days the customer will receive the tattooed diamond jewel with special lens to read the tattooed words.

Diamonds Still Dripping Off Stars at the Golden Globes

2007-01-16T13:26:00.000-06:00

Despite what was feared to be a Hollywood boycut of diamond jewelry, diamonds were sparkling on 82 of Hollywood’s biggest A-list film and television stars at last night’s 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards. It was a return to old Hollywood glamor as classic diamond earrings, diamond right hand rings and vintage-inspired diamond necklaces were the diamond fashion trends of the Golden Globes red carpet.

Heidi Klum made a statement wearing a Mouawad Diamond platinum choker with Diamond heart locket valued at $1 million. Meanwhile Beyonce enchanted the red carpet with a 25 carat gray, yellow and white diamond right hand ring by Lorraine Schwartz, valued at $110,000.

Major diamond trends on this year’s red carpet included the diamond right hand rings, which made a statement on the red carpet included:
Jennifer Lopez - Lorraine Schwartz - yellow Diamond Right Hand Ring
Penelope Cruz - Chopard - Diamond and platinum Right Hand Ring

Diamond necklaces in bold vintage or delicately layered included:
Angelina Jolie - Bochic - vintage style uncut Diamond necklace
Kate Winslet -Chopard - heart-shaped Diamond pendant
Patricia Arquette - Neil Lane - darkened Diamond and platinum necklace
Toni Collette - Chopard - Diamond riviere necklace

Diamond earrings including classic studs, vintage chandelier, and modern linear:
Sienna Miller - Cartier Private Collection - Diamond chandelier earrings
Penelope Cruz - Chopard - Diamond stud earrings
Jennifer Lopez - Lorraine Schwartz - yellow and white Diamond earrings set in yellow and black gold

Other items seen on the red carpet were:
Abigail Breslin - Harry Winston - Diamond three-stone pendant; Diamond hoop earrings
Ali Larter - Neil Lane - Diamond and platinum bracelets; Diamond chandelier earrings
America Ferrera - Fred Leighton - 19th century Diamond pear-shaped earrings
Ana Ortiz - Fred Leighton - 1920s Diamond pendant earrings
Andrea Bowen - Martin Katz - 7 carat round Diamond drop earrings
Angelina Joile - Bochic - vintage style uncut Diamond necklace; Diamond bracelet set in 22 carat yellow gold
Annette Bening - Diamond bracelet; Diamond drop earrings
Beyonce Knowles - Lorraine Schwartz- natural multi-colored Diamond and old ivory bangle valued at $125,000; natural multi-colored Diamond earrings of a 40 carat total weight valued at $225,000; gray, yellow and white Diamond Right Hand Ring of a 25 carat total weight valued at $110,000
Brenda Strong - Martin Katz - platinum and Diamond multi-strand necklace; platinum and Diamond stud earrings
Brooke Anderson - Kwiat - Diamond necklace
Cameron Diaz - Cartier private collection - Diamond art deco bracelets; Diamond earclips; oval-cut Diamond ring
Cate Blanchett - Lorraine Schwartz - Diamond clasp earrings; Diamond ring; Diamond brooch worn on the dress as a belt buckle
Chloe Sevigny - Bulgari - her own Bulgari bracelet; Diamond stud earrings
Chandra Wilson - Kwiat - Diamond bracelet, custom-made Diamond earrings; Diamond ring
Drew Barrymore - Leviev - Diamond Right Hand Ring; 3-stone Diamond earrings
Elizabeth Mitchell - Sonya Ooten - Diamond slice necklace valued at $17,000
Elizabeth Perkins - Kwiat - Diamond, platinum and black onyx earrings; Diamond platinum and black onyx ring
Ellen Pompeo - Fred Leighton - Diamond cuff bracelet; cushion-cut Diamond earrings
Emilie de Ravin - Neil Lane - yellow Diamond drop earrings; Diamond and gold navette-shaped ring
Emily Blunt - Lorraine Schwartz - 6 carat yellow Diamond stud earrings; yellow 12 carat Diamond ring
Eva Longoria - Diamond bangle; Diamond drop earrings
Felicity Huffman - Martin Katz - pair of 30 carat Diamond bracelets; 10 carat pear shaped black Diamond drop earrings; two Diamond and black Diamond Right Hand Rings
Forest Whitaker - Kwiat - Diamond cufflinks; Diamond shirt pins
Garcelle Beauvais - Martin Katz - Diamond gardenia brooch worn in hair
Gillian Anderson - Harry Winston - Diamond carpet bracelet; oval Diamond drop earring
Ginnifer Goodwin - Neil Lane - Diamond and platinum hoop earrings
Giuliana DiPandi - Chopard - 27 carat Diamond cuff; 8 carat Diamond flower earrings; 5 carat Diamond flower brooch
Heidi Klum - Mouawad - Diamond platinum choker with Diamond heart locket valued at $1 million
Helen Mirren - Chopard - golden Diamond pendant set in white Diamond micro pave on a white gold and Diamond chain; Diamond bracelet; Diamond kite shaped earrings
Hilary Swank - Chopard - 6-carat Cushion-cut Diamond earrings on a white gold French wire; 3-carat emerald-cut Diamond in micro pave setting; Diamond orchid brooch featuring 33 carats of white Diamond enhanced by a 20 carat brown Diamond briolette in her hair
Isla Fisher - Lorraine Schwartz - Two Diamond bangles from the caviar collection; Diamond heart-shaped drop earrings
Jada Pinkett Smith - Fred Leighton - Diamond and gold necklace; 19th century cushion-cut Diamond earrings at a total weight of 2 carats
Jamie Foxx - Diamond stud earrings
Jeffrey Dean Morgan - Damiani - Diamond cufflinks
Jennifer Garner - Bulgari - Diamond floral cluster earrings; Diamond ring
Jennifer Hudson - Fred Leighton - 19th century old-mine Diamond earrings
Jennifer Lopez - Lorraine Schwartz - 10 carat yellow and white Diamond earrings set in yellow and black gold; yellow Diamond Right Hand Ring and additional Diamond ring on her left hand
Jeremy Piven - Neil Lane - Diamond and platinum cufflinks
Jessica Biel - Lorraine Schwartz - Diamond chandelier earrings
Joan Rivers - Harry Winston - 21 carat emerald-cut Diamond ring
Joely Fisher - Martin Katz - micro-set Diamond earrings with 1200 Diamonds
Julia Louis Dreyfus - Diamond studs
Kate Mara - Martin Katz - platinum and oval Diamond drop earrings; emerald-cut Diamond Right Hand Ring
Kate Walsh - Neil Lane - Diamond and platinum bracelets; Diamond drop earrings; Diamond Right Hand Ring
Kate Winslet - Chopard - heart-shaped Diamond pendant; heart-shaped Diamond bracelet; round Diamond bracelet; 8 carat Diamond cluster earrings
Katherine Heigl – Chopard - three Diamond bracelets; Diamond drop earrings; Diamond brooch on her dress
Keisha Whitaker - Kwiat - Diamond necklace; Diamond earrings
Leslie Bibb - Neil Lane - Diamond and platinum chain
Lorraine Nicholson - Harry Winston - two Diamond line bracelets; Diamond hoop earrings
Maggie Gyllenhaal - H. Stern - Diamond cuff bracelet
Mario Lopez - Kwiat - Diamond cufflinks
Mark McGrath - Kwiat - Diamond cufflinks
Mary J. Blige - Bulgari - Diamond floral cluster earrings
Mary-Louise Parker - Neil Lane - four Diamond bracelets; Diamond stud earrings; two Diamond Right Hand Rings
Meryl Streep - Diamond drop earrings
Mia Church - Kwiat - Diamond necklace; Diamond bracelet
Mia Maestro - Neil Lane - darkened Diamond multi-tiered necklace; Diamond cluster earrings
Michael Buble - Kwiat - Diamond tie-pin
Nicholette Sheridan - Diamond stud earrings; Diamond engagement ring
Patricia Arquette - Neil Lane - Diamond necklace, Diamond stud earrings, Diamond Right Hand Ring
Penelope Cruz - Chopard - yellow and white Diamond flower earrings of 10 carats each;oval-shaped yellow Diamond ring
Rachel Weisz - Chopard - Diamond bangles of 36 carats total; 10-carat emerald cut Diamond drop earring in micro pave setting
Reese Witherspoon - Van Cleef & Arpels - Diamond bracelet; Diamond ear studs
Renee Zellweger - Diamond three-stone necklace; Diamond bracelet
Rose McGowan - Neil Lane - Diamond and platinum necklace
Salma Hayek - Chanel Fine Jewelry - Diamond Matelasse earrings; Diamond Right Hand Ring
Sara Ramirez - Kwiat - Diamond bracelet; Diamond earrings; Diamond Camelia Right Hand Ring
Sarah Paulson - Lorraine Schwartz - Diamond chandelier earrings
Sean Combs - Lorraine Schwartz - Diamond stud earrings; two Diamond Right Hand Rings
Sharon Stone - Diamond hoop earrings
Sheryl Crow - Lorraine Schwartz - Diamond chandelier earrings
Sibila Vargas - Kwiat - Diamond necklace, Diamond bracelet, Diamond earrings
Sienna Miller - Cartier Private Collection - Indian-style Diamond bracelet; Diamond chandelier earrings; Diamond swirl ring;Diamond Art Deco brooch
Sofia Milos - Damiani - Diamond "Ragnatella" necklace, Diamond star bracelet, Diamond "Ragnatella" earrings
Svetlana Metkina - H. Stern - Diamond link bracelet by Diane Von Furstenberg for H. Stern; Diamond stud earrings
Tanika Ray - Kwiat - two Diamond necklaces
Tina Fey - Fred Leighton - Diamond drop earrings
Toni Collette - Chopard - oval-shaped Diamond necklace; pear-shape Diamond bracelet; yellow and white Diamond flower bracelet; ascher-cut Diamond bracelet; brilliant Diamond stud earrings of 2 carats; cushion-cut yellow Diamond ring
Vanessa Williams - Fred Leighton - pink and yellow Diamond bangles; rose-cut Diamond pendant earrings
Victoria Beckham - Chopard - 10-carat ashoka-cut Diamond white gold bracelet; 55-carat Diamond flower white gold bracelet; 30-carat rose-cut Diamond drop earrings
Yunjin Kim - Martin Katz - Diamond Journey necklace with pear and asscher-cut Diamonds valued at $255,000; Diamond cuff bracelet with princess cut and pave Diamonds valued at $85,000.

De Beers LV Opens Las Vegas Boutique at Caesars

2007-01-16T13:13:00.000-06:00

De Beers LV, the retail partnership between De Beers and LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, opened a store in Las Vegas at The Forum Shops, Caesars Palace. The store marks the third such opening for the partnership in the United States. De Beers LV operates boutiques in New York and Beverly Hills, California.

The Las Vegas location, which is managed by the Simon Property Group, has roughly 1,200 square feet and offers a design concept inspired by Antonio Citterio -- large open spaces, use of mahogany wood, and a private viewing area. Counters are raised to permit easy viewing, and diamonds are sorted by price range.

De Beers LV also has stores in Dubai, London, Paris, and in Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe, and Kyoto, Japan.

Blood, Diamonds, Hip Hop Doco to Air on VH1 Feb. 22

2007-01-16T13:08:00.000-06:00

VH1's documentary Bling'd: Blood, Diamonds, and Hip Hop, premiers February 22, 2007 at 8 p.m. eastern and pacific times.

The new documentary under VH1's Rock Docs franchise is expected to examine the diamond trade in Sierra Leone as well as the "diamond-obsessed hip-hop community" the producers claim may have "unintentionally played a role in the country's war."

Mid-year 2006, VH1, Article 19 Films, Djali Rancher Productions, the United Nations Development Program, and hip-hop artists Paul Wall, Raekwon (of Wu Tang Clan,) and reggaeton king Tego Calderon, filmed the documentary on location in Sierra Leone.

From the United States, artists Kanye West, Jadakiss, Big Daddy Kane, Juelz Santana, Chris Aire, Mr. T, and others will weigh in on the evolution of hip hop bling, what it means to wear diamonds, and issues surrounding conflict diamonds and poverty in mining communities publicists stated in an announcement.

The documentary will be interspersed with testimonials, factoids and graphic images of those directly affected by the diamond trade. These artists are representative of the hip-hop community coming to terms with its obsession with bling and the discovery of the effect it has on the impoverished people in Sierra Leone.

West --who filmed his own music video on blood diamonds in July 2005, said, "It's just ironic that what made black people feel so empowered was completely demoralizing and destroying other black people."

In Sierra Leone, Wall, Raekwon, and Calderon reported to not only have heard first-hand accounts of the atrocities suffered during the country's war, but they witnessed how these citizens are trying to rise from the ruins of conflict and improve their living conditions publicists stated.

Viewers of the broadcast will meet Ishmael Beah, a New-York based former child soldier who went back home to Sierra Leone for the first time in 10 years to thank the people who helped rehabilitate him when he was just fifteen years old. The artists got a first hand look at the country's main source of diamond mines when they took a helicopter from Freetown to the Kono district in the northeastern section of the country and visited an alluvial and industrial mine as well as the villages that rely upon the diamond trade.

VSPOT, VH1's broadband channel (http://vspot.vh1.com) will feature exclusive scenes and commentary not in the on-air version. For more information on "Bling'd: Blood, Diamonds and Hip Hop," visit http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/vh1_rock_docs/series.jhtml.

A Diamond That’s Out of This World, Literally

2007-01-09T10:03:00.000-06:00

Try to imagine a 10 billion trillion carat diamond. Impossible? Well, it’s out there. Way out there – 50 light years from the Earth in the constellation Centaurus, according to astronomers at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

These astronomers said they have discovered a star that’s essentially one big diamond, according to the BBC. The star is technically known as BPM 37093 but it’s being called ‘Lucy’ after the Beatle’s song ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.’ Lucy is a crystallized white dwarf which is the hot core of a star left over after the star uses up its nuclear fuel and dies. The star is mostly made of carbon and it is 4,000 kilometers wide.

For more than four decades, astronomers have thought that the interiors of white dwarfs crystallized, but obtaining direct evidence was only possible recently.

According to astronomers, the white dwarf is not only radiant but also rings like a gigantic gong, undergoing constant pulsations.

"By measuring those pulsations, we were able to study the hidden interior of the white dwarf, just like seismograph measurements of earthquakes allow geologists to study the interior of the Earth,” said astronomer Travis Metcalfe who led the team of researchers that discovered it.

"We figured out that the carbon interior of this white dwarf has solidified to form the galaxy’s largest diamond," said Metcalfe.

Astronomers expect our sun will become a white dwarf after it dies 5 billion years from now. Two billion years after that, the Sun's ember core will crystallize as well, leaving a giant diamond in the centre of the solar system.

"Our Sun will become a diamond that truly is forever," said Metcalfe.

Film Producer Edward Zwick on the Story Behind Blood Diamond

2007-01-09T09:33:00.000-06:00

This is an interview by Martin Rapaport with famed Hollywood producer Edward Zwick, about his latest story "Blood Diamond".

Edward Zwick is an American film producer, director and writer whose career in Hollywood has spanned across four decades. In addition to this year’s “Blood Diamond,” some of his other notable films include: “The Last Samurai,” 2003; “Traffic,” 2000; “Shakespeare in Love,” 1998; “Courage Under Fire,” 1996; “Legends of the Fall,” 1994; and “Glory,” 1989. Zwick runs The Bedford Falls Company, a film production company, with partner Marshall Herskovitz.

Martin Rapaport: Why did you make the “Blood Diamond” movie?

Ed Zwick: The more I learned about what happened in Sierra Leone during the war, the more I was appalled by what I and other people did not know. I realized that in this tiny country [that many could not even find on a map], there existed very big issues that needed to be addressed — issues that would capture the imagination and increase awareness in the world.

MR: Did the NGOs [nongovernmental organizations] get you to do the movie?

EZ: Oh no. I didn’t even meet any of the NGOs until we were well into the preproduction process. The movie came about, as all the things I have done, through detailed research and homework. I looked to NGOs as a source of information just as I looked to members of the diamond industry, ex-mercenaries, victims and journalists. The NGOs were one resource among many.

MR: Is your film entertainment or education?

EZ: I don’t think those things need to be mutually exclusive. There is a very important Hollywood tradition of movies that have a social conscience. If a movie can teach as well as delight, then that enhances the experience of going to the movies.

MR: In the movie, Danny accuses Maddy of being a journalist who is exploiting suffering to get a good story. Are you exploiting the people of Sierra Leone by making money on this movie?

EZ: Any time that you tell a story about the suffering of someone else, you risk exploitation. This is a question about which all of us thought long and hard. I think that at the end of the day, all that one has is one’s intentions. As I began to talk to people in Sierra Leone, it became clear that they had a great desire and need for this story to be told. Sorious Samura, who made the film “Cry Freetown,” told me that he believed the people of Sierra Leone have never forgiven the children for their role as RUF [Revolutionary United Front] terrorists. He felt that by telling the story of this boy and the terrible things that happened to him, those seeing the movie might come to understand — and perhaps reach forgiveness. That goes for an entire country. The whole principle of truth and reconciliation in South Africa suggests that only by being desperately honest about even the most painful things is there any hope of reconciliation.

MR: Did you make this movie for the money or are you a new Hollywood NGO?

EZ: It would have been infinitely easier for me to have made a truly commercial romantic comedy in some sound station in Burbank or in some lovely comfortable circumstance in America. I think that, over time, I have become fortunate enough that the economics of my career are not the driving concern of my career. There are certain stories that need to be told and this was one of them. I think that, increasingly in America, we have to reckon with the implications of what we do, how we use our resources and how we spend our money.

The film is really about the responsibilities of a consumer society and the fact that the purchase of something in one place has implications somewhere else. This place and that place are, in fact, interconnected. By buying something, you’re essentially endorsing the practices that are involved in getting and producing it. That is something that I felt that I could, in the concept of this story, talk about.

MR: Knowing what you do now, would you buy your wife a diamond?

EZ: Martin, I don’t think you want me to answer that question.

MR: Yes, I do.

EZ: I have been married for 25 years and that marriage has existed without benefit of needing diamonds to confer upon it some false notion of eternity. Although to my wife, perhaps, the marriage may have at times felt like an eternity, I find it hard to “empiricise” [put a monetary value on] love and equate an object with a relationship. So that particular kind of purchase has never been of great interest to me. But that’s not new; it’s a personal sensibility that long predates this movie. In any case, I — and the movie — do not suggest that people should stop buying diamonds. The diamond trade is vital to the economies of many African countries.

I do have an idea that might be good for diamonds. It occurs to me that the diamond industry has labored brilliantly and long to equate the eternity of a diamond with a relationship. I think they can do just as well by suggesting that a relationship, by virtue of a diamond, could become conflict free.

MR: Will your movie have an impact on the diamond industry and consumers?

EZ: Yes. It was only with an increase of public awareness that the Kimberley Process came into being and I think the next steps for taking greater responsibility for what happens in Africa will only come with further awareness. If my film can help raise that awareness, then it will not have been in vain. That being said, I am not Pollyannaish enough to believe that a single film changes everything. The most that a film can do is present a set of iconic images to the culture and precipitate thought, debate and conversation that add to a collective consciousness about a problem. Change happens when a rising tide of voices apply themselves and the aggregate of all those voices and concerns reach a tipping point. So this movie is only one very small part of what I hope is a very large concern.

MR: What do you think the diamond industry should do about the problems of Sierra Leone?

EZ: It’s very important to say that I first approached this as a historian, journalist and storyteller. That is to say, I was describing events that happened. I don’t presume to be an industry insider, economist or expert of any kind. The best that I can do is rely on those who have devoted their lives to trying to understand these issues.

Of course, I began to assemble my own point of view. What is clear is that Sierra Leone is a tragedy and that there is complicity in that tragedy on the part of the entire diamond industry. I believe that it is the responsibility of the diamond industry to now act in ways that provide some restitution for that tragedy. It’s obvious that the only hope for countries such as Sierra Leone is some kind of sustainable development.

MR: Were you personally moved by what you learned, saw and experienced?

EZ: To have seen what I have seen over the course of these past two years has to be called life changing. I think that you cannot spend that amount of time confronting the sights, people and circumstances that we have seen and not be moved and not come to understand some implicit connection between what we do here and what is happening there.

MR: There seem to be a lot of movies about Africa. Is African social consciousness the new cool?

EZ: It’s important to realize that a filmmaker is in his own universe. This process began over two years ago. It may be more accurate to suggest that Africa is inescapably in the artistic conscientiousness and the fact that I or others might be drawn to want to write about it is not a coincidence. But it has nothing to do with cool. There is nothing cool about spending six months in downtown Maputo, as compared to other opportunities that exist for filmmakers, actors and crew. You have to be motivated by more than being cool to go to the lengths that we went to.

MR: Would you like to say anything to the diamond industry?

EZ: I believe that, along with the privileges of being a filmmaker, come certain responsibilities about holding up a mirror to the world and, at times, that mirror is unattractive. I have been the beneficiary of extraordinary privilege and bounty by virtue of what I do for a living. So, too, the diamond industry has reaped extraordinary bounty from Africa. Yet Africa has not shared in that bounty. Somehow that situation needs to be addressed.

Technorati Tags:
conflict diamonds, blood diamond, leo dicaprio, south africa

Download Diamond Buying Tips to your IPod

2007-01-04T10:24:00.000-06:00

American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories launched an iPod-cast for consumers as part of a year-long inititative on diamond education outreach in 2007.

The first segment, titled Diamond Buying Resolutions, is available for download and distribution.
Audio segment download for Quicktime or iPod
MP3 4.3MG

January's segment provides consumer tips on buying diamonds as told by Ruth Batson, executive director of AGS.

Audio segment download for Quicktime or iPod

Technorati Tags:
diamonds, jewelry, education, ipod

2007 Fashion/Design Trends

2007-01-04T09:52:00.001-06:00

2007 Fashion Trends: While greys, pinks, and lace are set to dominate wardrobes in 2007, the natural look will be preferred as far as make up goes, say fashion gurus.

According to designer Priya Kataria, both knee length and long dresses will be in fashion in 2007. "The palette will offer hues like greys, off-whites, beiges, rose pink and other shades of pink," she says.

"This season, people would like to go for well-styled dresses rather than going for jeans and tops -- 2007 will bid goodbye to heavy embroidery, but laces will be more than welcome," Kataria told IANS.

Pooja Arya, also a fashion expert, says the coming year may bring back the retro trends of the 1930's and 1940's.

"People will either opt for straight fit skinny pants or very flared full pants. Buttoned skirts and exaggerating silhouettes will make a come back. Minimal to smaller prints will be in vogue and a lot of geometry will rule this season," Arya predicts.

The designer believes there will be unconventional combinations like metallic juxtaposed with rough denim and sporty clothing contrasted with glitter. The season will favor sequence work but not much of traditional embroidery.

"A lot of funky jewelry will be teamed with casual wear. Hats, scarves and big bags will be happening this season."

Yellow gold and diamonds will continue to dominate the jewelry trends, according to jewelry designer Alpana Gujral.

"Long pendant necklaces, wide cuffs, chunky bracelets and slim chains around the waist will be seen on ladies this season."

Gujral admits that individual choice will reign supreme but contemporary designs would be apt for everyday wear while traditional jewelry goes well for special occasions. She said that international designs too are likely to have an Indian influence.

"In 2007, colored stones are the ones you should hop on to while white gold is the metal you should stay away from," Gujral remarks.

Well-known hair and make-up expert Shahnaz Hussain feels natural long hair and soft curls will definitely be in. "For women, straight hair with broken texture or jagged edges is out. The more natural look will be back with plenty of movement - more flowing and with a look of ease. Long hair with cascading waves and curls with softer look will be in," Huusain says.

She adds: "For special occasions, one section of hair pinned up with glamorous accessories and the other left loose will be in fashion. During daytime, hair tied in a low ponytail, with ribbons hanging loose and velvet bands will make a comeback."

For short hair, the slightly tousled look is predicted. Not harsh or obviously structured, but a careless and casual look will be in. The uniform curls, or straight cuts will be out and a soft and natural layered look will be trendy.
As regards hair colour, subtle and natural highlights will be in vogue, according to Hussain.

The natural look will dominate make-up trends as well.

"The dewy look will be in for the younger lot. Light tinted moisturisers will find favor rather than foundation for both day and night," says Hussain.
The expert advises that less mascara be used in eye make-up and colors like browns, burgundy and purple, with a smudged and smoky look, be used for lining the eyes.

"For eye shadow, purple tones will be popular - like lilac, mauve and purple itself."

Frosted sheen, or shimmer will stay popular for the lips. Lip liners will match the lipstick - there will be no obvious line around lips. In lipsticks, red and shades of red will make a comeback.

"Colors like lilac, mauve and rose will find favour for the day. Orange will be definitely out. For the night, bright metallic colors should be in."

As for nails, pinks are a complete no-no and dark colors like burgundy and chocolate brown will help make a style statement.

Zultanite Gems donates 24.60 CT Turkish Diaspore

2007-01-04T09:22:00.000-06:00

The Turkish Diaspore, which is a 24.60 CT gem was donated to the GIA Museum.

The Gemological Institute of America received a 24.60 ct. step-diamond cut, color-change Turkish diaspore that is marketed as Zultanite. The gem was donated by Zultanite Gems LLC and will become part of the Institute’s permanent Museum collection.

“This donation is meant to show GIA our appreciation for identifying the first Zultanite crystal two decades ago,” said Murat Akgun, managing director of Zultanite Gems LLC. “Through GIA’s research help, we learned that it is a phenomenal gemstone unique to Turkey. We hope its presence in the GIA Museum will help the public learn more about this special gem and its origins.”

Zultanite is a transparent gem with phenomenal properties such as chatoyancy and color change, and it has a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. The stone appears yellow-green/green-yellow in daylight/fluorescent light and shifts to brownish, purplish pink in incandescent light.

Diamonds are Icing on the Cake

2006-12-19T16:00:00.001-06:00

No need to worry about your diet with this extra rich cake because the richness isn’t edible. Instead, it comes from one-hundred diamonds sprinkled on top of the chocolate cake.

The 14-inch dessert is the creation of the Japanese jeweler Sa-Birth, who supplied the gems and Masami Miyamoto, the pastry chef who designed it.

Japan’s Takashimaya department store has the cake on display in Osaka. The diamonds on the layer cake weigh a combined 50 carats. While the store admits the cake is really just a way to draw people into the store, they would be willing to part with it for a mere $850,000. So far though, there have been no takers.

If you’re not willing to fork over the dough for the cake though, you can always opt for the Maybach 57S instead. While the regular version will run you €360,000, the truly rich head for the diamond-embedded version going for a cool €590,000. For that price, your car will be bejeweled with diamonds. The bonus: if you forgot your wife’s birthday gift, you can always run to your car to pick out a diamond.

DeBeers Diamond Journey Pendant

2006-12-14T20:48:00.000-06:00

The Diamond Journey Pendant is the latest marketing campaign put forth by DeBeers. The diamonds represent the different steps made through the journey of life with your significant other. Graduated round brilliant cut diamonds are prong set in highly polished gold or platinum. Find 1.00 CT pendants F/G Color, VVS/VS clarity at American Diamonds Forever for under $1199.

Ask About Diamonds but Don't Boycott

2006-12-14T15:55:00.000-06:00

Now here is a good rebuttal to the last story. It comes from the Christian Science Monitor, and shows the positive effect that the diamond trade has on the people and the land of Africa.

Christian Science Monitor: The depiction of diamonds and disaster in the new film "Blood Diamond," is the latest horrific tale about Africa. The cinematic history lesson about the now-ended civil war in Sierra Leone may be compelling -- but don't start boycotting diamonds. Today's mundane reality is that a worldwide coalition of governments, businesses, and NGOs has built a self-policing regimen that is cutting off the "conflict-diamond" pipeline.

How diamonds are mined matters. Primary, "deep-shaft" diamonds are expensive to mine. Multinational firms, employing highly unionized workforces dominate production. African nations tax these mines for society's benefit. Southern Africa accounts for more than 40 per cent of world output by value, virtually all produced under these conditions.

Secondary or alluvial diamonds can be extracted from riverbeds with just a shovel and sieve. During political conflict, these easily lootable stones have helped finance civil wars in countries such as Sierra Leone and Angola. Anticipatory concern centres on the uneasy peace in Ivory Coast. Conflict diamonds have also been linked to al-Qaida's financial activities.

With these challenges in mind, South Africa, Botswana and Namibia initiated talks in 2000 with major importing countries and representatives from NGOs and the diamond industry. Together, they created The Kimberley Process, an international certification system. Since it began, conflict diamonds have fallen from 15 per cent to less than one per cent of the trade.

Is there more to be done? You bet: the U.S. Government Accountability Office has recommended improvements in America's domestic diamond surveillance system, enhanced capacity for tracking the activities of U.S. certified licensees abroad, and expanded diamond-related assistance for the most heavily affected countries in West Africa. The latter has begun via the Diamond Development Initiative, a global effort to improve the grim lives of artisanal miners who legally dig the alluvial stones.

Consumers can do their part by buying gems from reputable retailers. They should ask where the stones were imported from and where they were mined, and insist that they meet Kimberley criteria.

But boycotting them for fear of supporting conflict in Africa would be counterproductive. Take Botswana. It's a thriving democracy that has the world's second-highest HIV infection rate. Diamonds generate half of its government's revenue. The national producer, Debswana, plays a vital role in Botswana's medical care, including the free provision of antiretroviral drugs. The implications of a major contraction from a boycott in the diamond industry would be dire.

By Marcus Noland and J. Brooks Spector are the authors of "The Stuff of Legends: Diamonds and Development in southern Africa." This column appeared in the Christian Science Monitor.

Copyright 2006 TDNG Inc., All Rights Reserved.

APSC: 'All Diamonds are Blood Diamonds'

2006-12-14T15:51:00.000-06:00

This is an article out of Rappaport, thought it was an interesting read. You can't really believe that you can boycott a whole trade, when the majority of the trade was not involved in the "conflict diamonds"

The African People's Solidarity Committee (APSC) launched a campaign against the diamond trade under the idea that consumers should boycott all diamonds.

APSC wished to "educate the American public about the violence and oppression" in the diamond trade, and members of the organization hit movie theaters playing Blood Diamond on December 8 in Oakland, California; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Boston, Massachusetts; and St. Petersburg, Florida.

The group was founded by the Uhuru (African freedom) movement to organize support from the white community for the African liberation and unification struggle. APSC calls for organized protests targeting the diamond industry, calls all diamonds blood diamonds, asks consumers to donate diamonds to the Uhuru Movement for African-led development programs for renewable energy and water purification in Africa, and supports reparations and national liberation for African people.

APSC rejects the notion that diamonds help those in Africa. According to the group,
"The World Diamond Council admits that $8.4 billion in rough diamonds are extracted from Africa each year. This amount multiplies as the diamonds are refined and sold, traveling from Africa to Antwerp to Israel and the United States, enriching white communities along the way."

Alison Hoehne, campaign organizer, said, “We have the responsibility to shut down an industry that ravages the land and labor of Africa to benefit the white world. For white society, the diamond is promoted to represent the ultimate expression of love. For Africa, the diamond trade has its origins in colonialism, with African people forced to labor on their own land under slave-like conditions for pennies a day.”

“All diamonds are blood diamonds!" Hoehne said. "The diamond wars are just another chapter in the centuries-long history of Western colonial domination in Africa that kidnapped millions of African people for enslavement in the Americas, wiped out whole segments of the African population in Africa, stole African land and resources, and enslaved African people on their own soil for the benefit of the white world.”

APSC provides online readers with a fact sheet that states De Beers controls 80 percent of the world diamond trade, (Rapaport Research estimates it closer to 50 percent.)

Specifically on Sierra Leone the group contends, "According to a recent study, between 1937 and 1996, $15 billion worth of diamonds were exported and sold from Sierra Leone. Yet more than half the people of Sierra Leone live on about 30 cents a day."

"Africa does not need charity programs. There is a growing movement, led by the African Socialist International, for African working people themselves to control their own land and resources for their benefit," the fact sheet reads.

APSC provides readers with an Oakland mailing address for which to send their diamonds. The website offers a flyer for download called: Let people know that all diamonds are blood diamonds.

Blood Diamond movie, the group concluded, blames Africans for oppression.

APSC defines: "The term blood diamond was coined by the brutal De Beers cartel...De Beers was afraid that their worldwide control of prices would be undermined by a market flooded with renegade diamonds. This is why De Beers set up the Kimberley Process—to keep the unregulated diamonds off the market..."

Fishy Diamonds Surface at Russian Airport

2006-12-10T15:47:00.000-06:00

Russian custom officers found 25 large, rough diamonds tucked in a dead fish. The strong aroma drifting from a woman’s suitcase raised their suspicions, resulting in the surprising discovery.

The search of the 51-year-old woman’s belongings took place at the Polyarny airport as she was about to board a flight to Moscow, Ananova reported. During the search, officers pulled a three-foot long pike out of her luggage, and that’s when the diamonds fell out.

Police suspect the diamonds are fishy and have started an investigation. A police spokesperson said, “The woman thought the stink from the fish would be enough to put guards off asking too many questions if she was stopped. Luckily, the guards were keen fishermen and didn't mind at all.”

Industry Members 'Must See' Blood Diamond Movie

2006-12-08T19:26:00.000-06:00

Every member of the diamond and jewelry industry must see this film. It is as strong and violent as Africa. It has the potential to activate us to do good.

The Blood Diamond movie is a clear signal to the diamond industry that we must raise our ethical awareness and moral consciousness. The real issue is not the quality of the movie, its impact on the mindset and subconscious of diamond consumers, or our diamond sales. It is time for us to wake up and question what kind of people we are. Do we give damn about the diggers in Africa or are we only concerned about ourselves, our sales, and our profits?

The real issue is not us. It is the diggers of Africa and the people of Sierra Leone. The war is over but the extreme poverty and suffering continues. We must ask ourselves - is there anything we can do to help these people?

We must help. Not because we are guilty of anything…And not because opportunist NGO’s generate publicity. The reason we must relate to the people of Sierra Leone is because we in the diamond and jewelry industry are decent human beings. Because the diggers in Sierra Leone are as much a part of our industry as we are. Because the diamond dream that we all sell does not only belong to our customers and us. The diamond dream also belongs to the people of Africa.

We must wake up to the fact that the poorest people of Africa, the artisanal diggers, are a part of our diamond family -- and that we must share our wealth with them. We must learn to care about other because it is the right thing to do.

I will be writing more in the days ahead and calling on the diamond industry to take on a much more aggressive and proactive role. I will also be taking action.

The Rapaport Group is establishing a non-profit fund for the education of the children of artisanal diamond diggers in Sierra Leone. Rapaport will be donating $100,000 to kick off this program. We have asked and hope that others will work with us so that we may do something powerfully good for the people of Sierra Leone. We are also establishing a non-profit organization -- The Fair Trade Diamond and Jewelry Association -- that will work to ensure fair compensation and beneficiation to the poorest members of our industry.

2006-12-06T11:42:00.000-06:00

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Hip-Hop Mogul Simmons To Donate 25% of Returns

2006-12-06T11:26:00.001-06:00

Back from a nine day fact-finding mission to South Africa and Botswana, hip-hop mogul and owner of Simmons Jewelry, Russell Simmons held a press conference announcing that the Simmons’ jewelry business will help the African people by donating 25 percent of proceeds from their new line of jewelry called the ‘Green Initiative.’ The donations will be made to the Diamond Empowerment Fund (D.E.F.TM.) - a fund set up by the Simmons Jewelry Company.

D.E.F.TM. will support skill development schools, colleges, and other institutions. The idea, according to Simmons, is to enhance the economic development of South Africa and Botswana and to empower the African people.

Simmons said that “in Botswana, 25 percent of the population is employed directly or indirectly by the diamond industry.” Another statistic he learned during this trip: “In Botswana, diamond revenues enable every child to receive a free education up to the age of 13.”

During the trip, Simmons met with Botswana’s President Festus Mogae, he toured the country’s largest diamond mine, Jwaneng, and visited the Eurostar diamond cutting and polishing facility.

“I have witnessed, firsthand, that diamonds can be, as they are in Botswana, the difference between extreme poverty and total stability,” Simmons said at the press conference.

There is speculation, however, that the timing of the trip is no coincidence as the controversial Hollywood movie, Blood Diamond, is set to open on Friday. Simmons’ visit to Africa was sponsored by the Diamond Information Center.

Human rights groups Global Witness and Amnesty International criticized Simmons’ trip. They warned that Conflict Diamonds are still a problem despite the industry’s assurances that 99 percent of diamonds are “clean.”

U.S. State Dept: KP Successful in Reducing Conflict Diamonds

2006-12-06T11:22:00.001-06:00

Ahead of the Blood Diamond film release on December 8, the United States State Department said that illegal trade in conflict diamonds has been sharply reduced in recent years.

Seeking to avert backlash from the film, deputy assistant secretary of state, Paul Simons told journalists, “We feel the film provides a good historical snapshot of the diamond industry, particularly back in 1999, but we feel we have come a long way since the blood atrocities depicted in that movie,” during a briefing on December 4.

Simons noted that in the late 1990’s, between 4 to 15 percent of the world’s diamonds were believed to come from conflict areas, but this has now been reduced to less than 1 percent.

"Kimberly has fundamentally reformed the rules of the game for trade of rough diamonds," Simons added. "The Kimberly Process covers the vast majority of the world's rough diamond trade today and we think it indicates a good success story for multilateral diplomacy."

The United States has been keeping a “vigilant eye” to curb the illicit diamond trade, he concluded.

Blood Diamond, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio, is about an ex-mercenary who smuggles diamonds out of conflict-ridden Sierra Leone during the late 1990's. The profits from these conflict diamonds were often used to buy guns.

A Kimberley Process participant, the United States buys approximately half of the world's diamonds. Many jewelers and diamond industry players are concerned that the film will lead consumers to believe that they are buying goods from conflict zones, negatively impacting the industry’s peak sales period.

First Public Showing of the 'Blood Diamond' Movie

2006-12-06T10:46:00.000-06:00

A sneak preview of the film, "Blood Diamond," was shown in select movie theaters Saturday night. I attended one of the screenings in Philadelphia. "Blood Diamond," as a movie, should gain a great deal of attention based on its storytelling, strong performances, and its brutal depiction of civil war in Sierra Leone. However, it's unclear whether the film will deter people from buying diamond jewelry or even make them more conscientious shoppers. The movie opens nationwide on Friday.

Brian Lowry of Variety—one of the few, if only, reviews at this time—says the movie produced mixed results. Most of the reviews among the movie buffs on the Internet Movie Database message boards who saw the screening are also mixed, ranging from "This film blew me away," to "utterly cliche movie making." Several posters had a debate over the authenticity of Leonardo DiCaprio's accent. One thread criticizing De Beers was started.

De Beers and others in the diamond industry have expressed concern that the film would reduce the public demand for diamonds. Early on, the film uses nongovernmental group Global Witness figures that conflict diamonds account for 15 percent of the diamond trade. De Beers and the diamond trade strongly dispute that figure, saying that the illicit trade of diamonds actually accounted for 4 percent of all diamond purchases and has since been reduced to 1 percent.

De Beers maybe should have been more concerned about its own portrayal in the movie. In a film filled with violent murderers and thugs, the fictitious Van Der Kemp company (correctly name and spelling to come) comes off as one of the most criminal. It is portrayed as a company that knowingly and willingly deals in conflict diamonds.

De Beers isn't alone in taking lumps. In at least four segments of the movie the entire diamond chain, including the U.S. consumer, is chastised for their part in the trading and purchasing of conflict diamonds illegally mined from Sierra Leone. One scene was particularly poignant. Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou) a fisherman who was forcefully taken from his family by the Revolutionary United Front rebels to work in the diamond mines, winds up in London where he is seen looking at a window display of a diamond necklace.

A statement at the end of the film acknowledges the Kimberley Process while urging consumers to know a diamond's country of origin before purchasing.

In my opinion, the entity that receives the most criticism is the African continent. Danny Archer (DiCaprio), an ex-mercenary who turns to smuggling guns and diamonds for a living, uses the initials "TIA" ("This is Africa") when confronted by journalist Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connelly) about his role in profiting from the civil war and the death and suffering of innocents.

The TIA phrase is repeated by a person known in the film known as "The Colonel," a mercenary and Archer's mentor who sold guns to the RUF, the rebel group battling the Sierra Leone government while committing mass human rights abuses against the civilian population. The Colonel is later hired by the Sierra Leone government to kill those same rebels he traded guns with.

It is noted at least twice in the film that if wasn't illicitly traded diamonds being used to finance the civil war it would be another natural resource. And that violence (whether it by white Europeans or black Africans) and mass stealing of natural resources is a practice that goes back hundreds, if not thousands, of years.

In one scene, the Colonel tells Archer that the dirt of Africa is red with the stain of blood from the battles over the land. He adds, "You'll never leave Africa."

With several moral messages, including the way illegal diamonds make it into the diamond pipeline, how those diamonds finance terror, and the history of violence in Africa, the movie covers a lot of ground. Yet it does stay focused on its core story: The discovery of a diamond, and how that discovery affects a group of desperate people whose lives couldn't be more different.

The movie is set in Sierra Leone in 1999. the RUF is gaining power and is seeking to take full control of the country. While working in the mine as an RUF prisoner, Vandy discovers the diamond (estimated at 100 cts.) and hides it in the jungle. He is seen by Captain Poison, a vicious RUF commander. Before he has a chance to remove the diamond from Vandy (and no doubt kill him), government forces attack the mine and both are thrown in jail. Archer (who was caught smuggling diamonds) is in the same jail where he learns of the unusually large diamond.

Vandy sees the diamond as a way to get back his family. His wife and daughter are in a refugee camp. His son, Dia, is facing a far worse fate as he has been captured by the RUF and turned into a child warrior. Archer sees the diamond as a way out of Africa. So does Captain Poison. Bowen sees the diamond as a way to connect the dots so she can write her story about how diamonds are smuggled from Sierra Leone into nearby Liberia, and then moved into the legal diamond pipeline. The Colonel is looking to make a profit.

The movie earns its R rating with horrific scenes of violence, including the mass murders of unarmed civilians, the hacking of limbs with machetes, and terrifying, up-close war scenes. The RUF is shown taking children hostage—and by using equal doses of drugs, alcohol, propaganda, and fear—turn these youngsters into killing machines. In one scene, the children are shown taking over the city of Freeport by gunning down unarmed civilians in their houses and on the streets, throwing them from the upper floors of buildings, and staging all-out warfare against government soldiers. The soldiers are beaten and those who surrender are lined up and gunned down in cold blood. The children then celebrate their victory as the city burns.

These brutal scenes run side-by-side with beautiful images of the African countryside, children at a school mending their physical and emotional wounds, and moving portrayals of people in refugee camps. The movie is well over two hours. Its story is told through the human suffering of its main characters and the millions of innocents caught up in the conflict. It covers a lot of ground. One of its messages is geared toward consumers. The question is, will the message get through?

Hearts On Fire $6.5 Million Diamond Bra Lights Up Victoria's Secret Runway Show

2006-12-06T10:40:00.000-06:00

The Hearts On Fire Company was front and center at the Victoria's Secret runway fashion show held Monday. The Boston-based company dressed the show-stopping $6.5 Million Hearts On Fire Diamond Fantasy Bra. Czech supermodel, Karolina Kurkova modeled the 800-ct diamond bra, along with panties embellished with a $350,000 Hearts On Fire diamond belt.

All the diamonds on the bra were Hearts on Fire "Super Ideal Cuts." It was the first all-diamond made for Victoria's Secret's.

Hearts On Fire also dressed several of the supermodels in diamond couture jewelry for the “Glacial Goddess” segment of the show, including:

* Giselle, in a 20-ct. diamond stilettos and 2 diamond cuff bracelets totaling 150 cts;

* Karolina in a 32-ct. diamond cuff bracelet and diamond pendant

* Allessandra in15-ct. diamond earrings;

* Heather in a diamond necklace and earrings;

* Miranda in a $1 million diamond necklace; and

* Elise in a choker and bracelet.

$1.5M 'Le Chocolat' to Fancy More Than One's Sweet Tooth

2006-11-28T10:28:00.001-06:00

A gift of custom-made chocolates is being iced with a lot more than sugar in Missouri this Christmas season.

A suburban St. Louis chocolate maker and jeweler have teamed up to offer a box of candy decked out with 13 pieces of diamond jewelry.

Their asking price is a cool $1.5 million.

Lake Forest Confections and Simons Jewelers in Clayton created the gift by combining an assortment of chocolates with plenty of jewels.

In addition to lots of diamonds, the jewelry features sapphires, rubies and emeralds.

The gift is being called "Le Chocolat" and will be presented in an intricate box made in Europe.

Chocolate maker Bud Kolbrener says if a serious buyer comes forward, he'll custom make the chocolates out of fresh fruits, creams or even dusted in 24-karat gold.

Christmas Savings Spectacular

2006-11-25T21:24:00.000-06:00

Our Christmas Spectacular Newsletter will be going out this Monday, here is a brief preview of the new deals that are being offered for the Christmas Holiday.

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Blood Diamond PR Ups Ante, Goes to Oprah

2006-11-16T09:07:00.000-06:00

Warner Brother's new "Blood Diamond" film is coming out in a few weeks, and the studio houses are taking their message to the Oprah show.

As the December 8 opening date is nearing, the public relations efforts of the Blood Diamond are increasing. Next week lead actors Leonardo Di Caprio and Djimon Hounsou, together with producer- director Ed Zwick, will appear on the popular show Oprah

The three were interviewed by Oprah Winfrey earlier this week, and the segment will air either Friday or next Monday, the LA Times reports.

Movie makers and NGOs started to sell a red Blood Diamond rubber bracelet. The $2 item was also handed out to attendants of an Amnesty International event held in Los Angeles that focused on conflict diamonds.

Recent PR efforts include another website promoting the movie, Blood Diamond Action, which includes stills from the movie as well as information about conflict diamonds by NGOs and the option to purchase the bracelet. It seems that the site was created by the movie makers together with NGOs Global Witness and Amnesty International.

The LA Times report said that music recorded by rapper Nas for the movie may be on the Blood Diamond Action site some time next week.

The newspaper’s website also reported that a two-hour documentary about the trade in illicit diamonds and the civil war in Sierra Leone is scheduled to air on The History Channel in U.S. December 23.

Smolensk Kristall Offers its Most Expensive Diamond Ever

2006-11-16T09:06:00.000-06:00

Smolensk Kristall put on display its most expensive diamond manufactured in the company’s over 40 years of history. Estimated at around $1.3 million, the unique emerald-cut diamond weighs 33.64 carat was cut from a 68.28 carats rough diamond.

The diamond was presented by the Russian DTC Sightholder at the Jewellers Guild Show held in Moscow earlier this month.

Kristall purchased the rough diamond at an international auction for diamonds weighing over 10.8 carats run by Alrosa, the biggest Russian diamond producer.

A state-owned corporation established in 1963, Kristall’s 2005 sales increased 11.19 percent to $347 million.

DTC Nov. Sight Est. $700M

2006-11-10T12:31:00.000-06:00

The Diamond Trading Company’s (DTC) ninth sight of 2006, commenced on November 7.

Preliminary estimates of the sight suggested a range of between $650-$750 million. According to sightholder estimates and comments there were no ex-plan goods on offer nor were there changes in assortment or price.

1.01 ct Four Prong Princess Solitaire Ring G, VS1, GIA Plat

2006-11-07T12:15:00.000-06:00

Exquisite 1.01 ctw four prong diamond solitaire ring shines with precision. Sparkling princess cut center stone is set in a highly polished platinum setting.

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Gem Pavillion to open at Houston Musuem of Natural Science

2006-11-07T12:10:00.000-06:00

"Intensely hued jeweled masterpieces float wondrously in utter darkness, embodying the ultimate combination of natural perfection and flawless artistic execution.” That is how curators describe the gem treasury awaiting visitors to the new Lester and Sue Smith Gem Vault, set to open to the public on November 17, 2006 at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

In selecting many of the objects for inclusion in the Gem Vault, the Museum’s curators used their extensive connections in the mineralogical world to acquire mineral “cutting rough” freshly extracted from mines around the world. In this way, the museum obtained good quality natural stones and had them cut into faceted gems of exact specifications.

Featuring some of the most extraordinary cut and polished jewels ever displayed in a single permanent exhibition, the Smith Gem Vault will complement and enhance the museum’s existing collection of natural mineral crystals, presently considered one of the finest in the world.

For more than a decade, Lester Smith, a third-generation oilman who began collecting rocks as a boy in his hometown of Wharton, Texas, has served as a trustee of the museum. For the last five years, he has served as chairman of the Gems & Minerals Committee and has provided millions of dollars in funding to advance science education.

The opening of this new permanent exhibit hall at the Houston Museum of Natural Science mineralogically completes the story begun by the world-renowned Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals, where the Gem Vault will be located.

The origin of "diamond"

2006-11-06T12:46:00.000-06:00

The word 'diamond' conjures up a host of illusions - wealth, treasure, excitement, romance and marriage, to name a few. In fact diamonds are amongst the most fascinating objects in human perception; they go beyond the mere technical definition of gem or precious stone. They exude an inexplicable aura and hold out an exotic allure unmatched by anything else.

The word 'diamond' originates from the Greek word 'adamao', which translates roughly into 'I control' or 'I subdue'. The descriptive form of 'adamao' is 'adamas', which was a term used to indicate the unconquerable; over a period of time the word came to be used to describe the diamond, which is one of the hardest substances known to science. The earliest diamonds were uncut and were therefore considered to be symbols of purity and strength rather than beauty.

For all its exclusivity and sophistication, the diamond comes of very humble parentage indeed. The material that goes to make the diamond is actually the very common carbon. Very early in the earth's history, when the solid substance of the earth began to condense and form a sphere, the bowels of the earth were subjected to enormous pressure and temperature. These extreme conditions resulted in the crystallization of the carbon deposits in the center of the earth. Later, with the cooling of the earth's surface and volcanic activity, the rocks carrying the diamond crystals were thrown upwards, where diamonds were later discovered, encased in vertical volcanic tubes. Many diamond-bearing rocks were also washed away into oceans and rivers and subsequently discovered in these locations.

The lustrous phenomenon known as the diamond today was known in India long before its introduction in the European countries sometime around the twelfth century. The stone was originally the preserve of royalty; in fact history has a record of the royal order passed by King Louis IX banning the use of diamonds by anyone other than the royal family. Gradually with the expansion of the diamond trade these prized pellets came to adorn the aristocracy as well as the wealthy trading class.

The value-determining factors of the diamond are the four 'c's carat, color, cut and clarity. The carat is the weight of the stone and is also measured in points, with one carat being equal to a hundred points, or two hundred milligrams. Carat is very often mistaken for size and is sometimes confused with the 'karat', which is a measure of the purity of gold. Larger diamonds are fewer to find and therefore cost more than smaller ones, with other attributes remaining the same.

As regards color, a chemically pure, perfect diamond is colorless and one of the most sought-after qualities of a diamond is the fiery brilliance of light emanating from the colorless crystal. While diamonds come in a wide range of hues, color variations are very fine and can be discerned only by an expert. Naturally colored stones are called 'colored fancies' and are rare and highly priced.

The 'cut' of the diamond determines its angles and proportions and this is the aspect of the stone that is most dependent on human skill. An accomplished cutter can create a thing of unparalleled beauty and brilliance from the rough stone. Diamond cutting and polishing is a craft that calls for great skill and practice. The cutting of the diamond involves polishing tiny surfaces on the diamond known as facets, thereby creating the various attributes of the stone such as crown, culet, table, girdle and pavilion.

The clarity of the stone is in inverse proportion to its imperfections, or 'inclusions' as they are called. These imperfections may range from the presence of bits of carbon in the stone to cracks or 'feathers'. When light penetrates the diamond, the facets of the diamond reflect and refract the beams and this is what imbues the crystal with its extraordinary dazzle. If any substance comes in the way of this dispersion, the brilliance of the stone will be impacted. In the scale of clarity diamonds are graded from 'Flawless' to 'Included '; totally flawless stones are very rare to find and are considered priceless.

The first diamond mines were discovered in India and it took a millennium for diamond deposits to be discovered in other parts of the world such as South Africa, Brazil and Russia. The latest to join the diamond fraternity is Australia where the Argyle mines produce the exclusive and incomparable pink diamonds.

In the annals of time, diamonds have been considered synonymous with wealth, status, strength and longevity. Some cultures have also associated the crystal with protection, mystery, poisons and the occult sciences. The tradition of gifting a diamond engagement was commenced in the fifteenth century when Archduke Maxmillian of Austria proposed to Mary of Burgundy. Gradually the practice percolated down to become a common custom and is now manifesting as the all-pervading solitaire without which no betrothal is considered complete.

Diamonds occupy a unique place in human history and culture and will continue to do so; they are truly eternal and forever.

DeBeers 2007 Sight Release List

2006-11-01T08:26:00.000-06:00

The Diamond Trading Company (DTC) through its Supplier of Choice (SOC) program supplies rough diamonds to 93 sightholders from around the world. These 93 sightholders are the sole distributors of the world's rough conflict free diamonds, being used in jewelry and sold in bulk. The sights will be held in London and Johannesburg.

The following schedule lists 10 upcoming sights for 2007:

* Monday, 15 January to Friday, 19 January
* Monday, 19 February to Friday, 23 February
* Monday, 26 March to Friday, 30 March
* Monday, 30 April to Friday, 4 May
* Monday, 4 June to Friday, 8 June
* Monday, 9 July to Friday, 13 July
* Monday, 20 August to Friday, 24 August
* Monday, 24 September to Friday, 28 September
* Monday, 29 October to Friday, 2 November
* Monday, 3 December to Friday, 7 December