Diamond Shavings: Your Friday Web Roundup

UPDATE/This just in … Argyle for sale?

And so it continues: The President of Zale North America resigns, amid so-so financial results. With all the turnover, things there look pretty bad. 

Meanwhile, Signet (Sterling) doing well. And Blue Nile is doing great. (Blue Nile’s conference call.)

Media Watch:

- Another Wall Street Journal article on the industry: This time on “borrowed bling.”

- Legal Times  on “cultured” issue. (My thoughts.)

Bad first quarter for jewelry suppliers (Gassman/Idex.)

Newsweek: Venezuela causing problems for the Kimberley Process. It is interesting the two biggest thorns for Kimberley are Zimbabwe and Venezuela, “problem” states. Plus, Iran and Libya may be involved too!

Chaim: Does rough diamond jewelry violate the Kimberley Process? (WSJ article he mentions is here.)

An Israel-India free trade zone?

New Anglo chief speaks of “synergies” with De Beers.
- Speculation ensues: Will it sell its De Beers stake? Or buy more?

Alrosa signs deal with Armenia. Plus: Russia looks for diamonds in the Arctic.

Amazon.com launches jewelry stores internationally.

Tiffany wins counterfeiting case.

The term “bling” is now officially uncool. So says the U.N. High Commission on Catch-Phrases.

Beyonce covers Marilyn! (via diamondblog.)   

From the blog: Is diamond mining environmentally damaging?

Have a good weekend …