JCK eMonday - November 13, 2006

Dear Reader,

Beginning with this issue we are proud to announce that JCKeMonday will be published twice a week. The electronic newsletter will now be sent to subscribers every Monday and Wednesday morning. The decision to add a second newsletter each week wasn't taken lightly. Our open and click- through rates are outstanding, telling us that you value the information we provide. As we expand our frequency we will continue to provide you with the most relevant and timely news in the jewelry industry. Please let us know what you think and be prepared for more announcements as we continue to enhance our Internet presence.

Anthony DeMarco
JCK Senior Editor

1. Robert Crowningshield, 87, Gemological Pioneer
2. Raising Minimum Wage is Democratic Majority’s Goal
3. Two Eastern Pennsylvania Jewelers Merge
4. Plenary Concludes with Agreements for Strengthening KP
5. WDC and JA Urge Renewal of Kimberley Process
6. Federated Reports Third Quarter Loss Despite Increased Sales
7. Sotheby's Third Quarter Sales up 2%
8. Signet Reportedly Rebuffs Ratner Bid
9. Journe Again Wins Top Luxury Watch Prize
10. Rodolphe makes management changes; wins 'Watch of the Year' Honor
11. Jaeger-LeCoultre Celebrates Reverso's 75th
12. Finlay to Buy Congress Jewelers
13. Anna Martin to Receive WJA Hall of Fame Award
14. ICA Moves Congress Back a Week
15. GIA Brochure Explains the Four Cs

For more news and updates, please go to www.JCKonline.com.

1. ROBERT CROWNINGSHIELD, 87, GEMOLOGICAL PIONEER
Robert Crowningshield, a legend in the field of gemology revered for his pioneering work in many areas of gemological research, died Tuesday night after a long illness at the age of 87. To read more click here.

4. PLENARY CONCLUDES WITH AGREEMENTS FOR STRENGTHENING KP
The Kimberley Process (comprising 71 nations, representatives of civil society, and the World Diamond Council) concluded its 2006 plenary meeting in Gaborone, Botswana, with agreements on measures that participants say will further strengthen the Kimberley Process. To read more click here.

5. WDC AND JA URGE RENEWAL OF KIMBERLEY PROCESS
Eli Izhakoff, chairman of the World Diamond Council, said failure of the Kimberley Process is not an option, and he called for renewed commitment to its success from all sources. He blasted critics who said the industry is not interested in seeing a robust and effective certification scheme. To read more click here.

6. FEDERATED REPORTS THIRD QUARTER LOSS DESPITE INCREASED SALES
Federated Department Stores Inc., owner of the Macy's and Bloomingdale's chains, on Wednesday reported a third-quarter loss of $3 million, compared with a profit of $436 million, during the same period a year ago. To read more click here.

7. SOTHEBY'S THIRD QUARTER SALES UP 2%
Sotheby's reported third-quarter operating revenues of $57.4 million, a $0.9 million, or 2 percent, increase from the prior period, primarily due to higher finance segment revenues, offset by lower auction commission revenues. To read more click here.

8. SIGNET REPORTEDLY REBUFFS RATNER BID
The Signet Group plc, the world’s largest retail jeweler, has reportedly rejected a second bid by retail jewelry entrepreneur Gerald Ratner to buy its British operations, says the Times of London in a Nov. 4 report. London-based Signet is the parent firm of Sterling Inc., Akron, Ohio, which operates Kay Jewelers and Jared Galleria, and provides over 70 percent of its sales. Signet’s British jewelry chains include H Samuel and Ernest Jones. To read more click here.

9. JOURNE AGAIN WINS TOP LUXURY WATCH PRIZE
The luxury watch business awarded its top 2006 awards Thursday at the “Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève” ceremonies in Geneva, Switzerland. The prestigious annual jury-judged competition is open to all watch brands and companies, and isn’t limited to Swiss ones. Some 1,500 guests attended the gala event and dinner at the city’s Grand Théâtre. To read more click here.

10. RODOLPHE MAKES MANAGEMENT CHANGES; WINS 'WATCH OF THE YEAR' HONOR
Swiss luxury brand Rodolphe Watches & Jewellery has made some top management changes. In a related story, Rodolphe's Instinct Chrono 180° has been named "Watch of the Year 2006" by a leading European watch magazine. To read more click here.

11. JAEGER-LECOULTRE CELEBRATES REVERSO'S 75TH
Swiss luxury watch brand Jaeger-LeCoultre rolled out the red carpet to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Reverso, its signature timepiece collection, Nov. 5 at the Morgan Library and Museum in New York City. To read more click here.

12. FINLAY TO BUY CONGRESS JEWELERS
Finlay Enterprises Inc., the largest U.S. operator of licensed fine jewelry departments in department stores, on Nov. 8 said it will buy privately owned Congress Jewelers. Finlay executed a stock purchase agreement for the acquisition, subject to various closing conditions and obtaining necessary consents. To read more click here.

13. ANNA MARTIN TO RECEIVE WJA HALL OF FAME AWARD
Women’s Jewelry Association board of directors named Anna Martin of ABN AMRO as the 2007 “Hall of Fame” recipient. She will be honored during WJA's 24th annual Awards for Excellence gala, at Pier Sixty in New York City on July 29, 2007. To read more click here.

14. ICA MOVES CONGRESS BACK A WEEK
The International Colored Gemstone Association has changed the dates of its upcoming ICA Congress in Dubai. Due to the lack of hotel availability in late April in Dubai, the Congress dates have been moved one week to May 5-9, 2007. To read more click here.

15. GIA BROCHURE EXPLAINS THE FOUR CS
The Gemological Institute of America is offering a new brochure to assist retail jewelers in explaining the Four Cs of diamond quality to their customers. To read more click here.

That's all for this week!

Yours,
The Editors of JCK eMonday

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