Diamond Shavings: Your Friday Web Roundup

Happy new year, everyone. Glad to be back. Hope you all had a nice holiday and new year’s … 

And now the news …

Holiday 2007: How much did it stink?

- Worst jewelry sales in two decades?
- Jewelry stocks get pummeled:  Zale, Signet, Tiffany, Finlay, Blue Nile.

- Online jewelry sales “decline.” 
- Chicago Trib: luxury sector down.
.

The De Beers class action settlement is on!

- JA’s talking points for retailers. Article.

- JVC claim form help.

- Official settlement web site.

“Activist investor” Breeden increases stake in Zale to 13.3%.
 

Derco in San Francisco declares Chapter 11. Alpha Omega does too.

37% of Glamour readers say they’ll skip engagement rings. Whoa.

Going backwards?: DTC India to focus on generic diamonds, not brands.

GJEPC: New DTC list will cut Indian manufacturing by 25%.

- Idex’s newest sightholder list.

- More thoughts from Varda Shine, Charles Wyndham and Vinod.

Ice.com gets more capital.

- Bidz buys back shares. Investors shrug.

Big robbery on New Years Eve in New York.

Chaim on security problems in mining.

The latest on Leviev’s move to London.

It’s find gems in your food week:

- Diamond found in fudge.

- Pearl found in clams.

Media Watch:

- Sunday Times links energy firm to blood diamonds.

- Wall Street Journal on men’s jewelry.

- Seattle Times article on Blue Nile, which quotes only the most authoritative sources.

From JCK:

- My article on lab-grown diamonds.

- My article on the GJEPC conference in India.

From the blog:

- Is Jewelry Advertising Going Too Far? (Seriously, people, check that ad out.)

- Zale Corp: What’s Breeden’s Game?

Have a great weekend …