Rob Bates

Rob Bates travels around the world meeting dignitaries, climbing in and out of diamond mines, and analyzing the impact of politics and policy on diamond prices and availability. He is one of the few journalists who actually visited strife-torn Sierra Leone to get a first-hand look at the ravages from the conflict diamond situation. Rob oversees both the UpFront news section and the retail-focused Jewelers’ Notebook section of JCK. The grandson of a diamantaire, Rob is also a popular speaker and a winner of the prestigious Richard T. Liddicoat award for outstanding journalism in the jewelry industry.

User Stats

Recent Posts - 6
Avg Posts Per Week - 3
Posts Written - 264

Cutting Remarks

Recent Posts

Can Brands Go Upscale?

May 9, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (1)

A recent post on a blog called "Branding Strategy Insider" argues that it's impossible for companies to go "upscale" (and mentions Zale.)

This is becoming a big issue for our industry. Chains (yes, including Zale) are looking into going upscale to avoid getting in price wars with Wal Mart. And independents are trying to go upscale to avoid competing with chains, Blue Nile, and the rest.

I will agree that, as with most things in life, going uphill is harder than going down. But I think it can be done. I would consider Kay an example of a jeweler that has much better consumer and trade perception today than when I started in this business.

I've also seen it happen. My old neighborhood -- the ...Read More

Recent Posts

Who Owned Vivid Collection?

May 8, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

Chaim’s big scoop today about a lawsuit that will subpoena GIA about possible“certifigate” communication it had with New York sightholder Julius Klein is certainly something we’ll be watching closely.

GIA’s response, through spokeswoman Laura Simonton: “We received the subpoena on Tuesday, and are reviewing it.” For what it’s worth, I hope GIA does not to fight the subpoena. I understand there are legal restrictions on what they can say currently. But this is a request for information from the court. If GIA really believes in the truth coming o...Read More

Recent Posts

The De Beers Forevermark: The Beginning of a New Age?

May 6, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (1)

De Beers’ big Forevermark "kick-off" last week may turn out to be a seminal event in the history of the diamond industry.

De Beers is making it clear that it no longer wants to support the rest of the diamond market with its advertising. Instead, it's putting considerable marketing muscle behind the Forevermark -- basically its entire $200 million marketing budget, except for the U.S. The Forevermark is being looked at as not just a brand, but a possible profit center. The presentation said it will be comparable to the &ldquo...Read More

Recent Posts

Diamond Shavings: Your Friday Web Roundup

May 2, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

And here is the week that was …

De Beers starting a lab.

- Forevermark release.

- Could branding hurt beneficiation?

Whitehall gets new CEO.

- One note: I have to say that Whitehall is one of the strangest big companies I have ever covered. They always have contact names on the bottom of their releases, but those na...Read More