Diamond Shavings: Your Friday Web Roundup

Jewelry sales increased 7.2 percent in October?

The recession may be over.

- Or not: Unemployment hits 10%.

Signet sales down 2.5%, U.S. same-store sales down 2.4%.

- Investors conference transcript. (PDF)

Blue Nile sales rise 2.4 percent.

- “Better than expected.”

Shareholder investigation launched against Zale.

Industry bankruptcy update (Henry Dunay, Beaudry, Shane, Finlay.)

- Finlay salaries detailed in SEC filing.

Everlon and Love’s Embrace: Great minds?

- Everlon launches TV spots.  (Video.)

- De Beers to crack down on “infringement.”

60 Minutes to air piece on gold and Congo.

- Industry “must be prepared.”

KP doesn’t ban Zimbabwe.

- NGOs release. Smillie: It’s a “disgrace.”

- KP monitoring mission report on Zimbabwe. (PDF)

- Zimbabwe claims: We’ve met requirements.

- Did Zimbabwe threaten NGOs?

- Country blames Kimberley for problems.

- Wall Street Journal on Mozambique smuggling.

- Mine planned “on atrocity site.”

- Media reports: Wall Street Journal, transcript of SABC documentary on Zimbabwe’s diamonds (excerpt), New York Times.

- Chaim endorses petition. (See it here.)

- My thoughts.

Surat facing rough shortage.

“Tough year” for Namibian diamond industry.

Alrosa claims it will quadruple profits.

Leviev “worth nothing”?

Jury favors Yehuda over Blue Nile.

FTC delays “red flags” rule.

Obama praises Botswana.  (Seemingly no mention of diamonds.)

Cavalieri meets Clinton.

Van Cleef and Arpels targets Japan.

Charles and Covard signs deal with Stuller.

Women loses diamond in Halloween bag.

Michael Jackson commemorative phone has gold and diamonds.

Media Watch:

- The Wall Street Journal, which seems obsessed with jewelry lately, on the problems of small jewelers and alternatives to gem styles.

- Good Morning America on filled rubies.

From the Blog:

Everlon and Love’s Embrace: Great Minds?

Jewelry Industry Bankruptcy Update.

Kimberley Craziness.

From JCK:

My story on computer customization programs.

Have a great weekend …

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