Dear Reader,

Veteran GIA executive honored for distinguished achievement. Consumers continue to take to shopping online for holiday gifts. JCK Events announce new additions to its marketing team. Finlay acquires Congress Jewelers. GIA unveils its synthetic grading reports. ICA Congress sets its speaker lineup for 2007. Grading reports become a niche business. GIA researchers will be among the speakers at AGA conference. Dubai trading center prepares a master plan for diamonds. GIA Alumni Association seeks auction items. West Coast Jewelry Show offers free rooms.

1. Kathryn Kimmel Receives Liddicoat Award for Distinguished Achievement
2. Holiday Online Retail Sales Up 24%
3. JCK Events Adds to its Marketing Team
4. Finlay Completes Acquisition of Congress Jewelers
5. GIA Provides First Look of New Synthetic Grading Reports
6. ICA Congress Speakers Announced
7. GSI's Customized Grading Reports is a Growing Business
8. AGA to Host Conference in Tucson
9. Task Force to Create Master Plan for DMCC diamond sector
10. GIA Alumni Association Seeks Auction Items for Annual Dance Party
11. West Coast Jewelry Show Offers Free Hotel Rooms for Attendees

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

1. KATHRYN KIMMEL RECEIVES LIDDICOAT AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT
Kathryn Kimmel, vice president of Marketing and Public Relations for the Gemological Institute of America, has been awarded the Institute’s Richard T. Liddicoat Award for Distinguished Achievement, the highest honor GIA bestows on an individual. To read more click here.

2. HOLIDAY ONLINE RETAIL SALES UP 24%
During the first 31 days of the 2006 holiday, total online retail spending (non-travel) reached $ 11.7 billion through Dec. 1, representing a 24-percent increase versus the corresponding days in 2005, according to comScore Networks. To read more click here.

3. JCK EVENTS ADDS TO ITS MARKETING TEAM
JCK Events announced new additions to its marketing team. Stacey Huzi, a trade show marketing veteran has joined as director of marketing and will be responsible for overseeing the strategic direction of the JCK Events portfolio. In addition, advertising agency Kerwin Communications will represent the series of JCK Events to develop corporate communications partnership programs. To read more click here.

4. FINLAY COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF CONGRESS JEWELERS
Finlay Enterprises, Inc. has signed a definitive merger agreement and closed the acquisition of Congress Jewelers. The total purchase price includes approximately $6 million of cash and the retirement of approximately $10 million of debt, Finlay said in a statement. The transaction will be financed with additional borrowings under the company's revolving credit facility. To read more click here.

5. GIA PROVIDES FIRST LOOK OF NEW SYNTHETIC GRADING REPORTS
The Gemological Institute of America released the first image of one of the new GIA synthetic diamond reports. The report image is posted on GIA's Web site, www.gia.edu. To read more click here. 
 

6. ICA CONGRESS SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED
The International Colored Gemstone Association announced its line-up of speakers and topics for the upcoming ICA Congress in Dubai, May 5-9, 2007. To read more click here.

7. GSI'S CUSTOMIZED GRADING REPORTS IS A GROWING BUSINESS
Gemological Science International, which focuses on grading needs of major retailers, is providing a growing number of its clients with customized grading reports to be used as selling tools for their branded jewelry collections. To read more click here.

8. AGA TO HOST CONFERENCE IN TUCSON
The Accredited Gemologists Association will hold a daylong conference in Tucson Jan. 31, 2007, at the Marriott University Park. The conference will be followed by a gala dinner dance and awards ceremony. To read more click here.

9. TASK FORCE TO CREATE MASTER PLAN FOR DMCC DIAMOND SECTOR
A task force led by Peter Meeus is charged with drawing a Master plan for the diamond sector of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre. The key objective of the plan is to develop a comprehensive service economy supporting the international diamond trade. The task force will identify the needs, formulate proposals, and detail a plan of action. To read more click here.

10. GIA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION SEEKS AUCTION ITEMS FOR ANNUAL DANCE PARTY
The Gemological Institute of America Alumni Association is asking for auction items for the 2007 Tucson Dance Party, “GIA Rocks Tucson,” on Feb. 2, 2007. To read more click here.

11. WEST COAST JEWELRY SHOW OFFERS FREE HOTEL ROOMS FOR ATTENDEES
Heading into its third year, the West Coast Jewelry Show has added a complimentary hotel room program for retailers attending the show from 50 or more miles away. In addition, the show has shifted to later dates, Sept. 9-10, 2007. The location will again be the Anaheim Convention Center, Hall E, Anaheim, Calif. To read more click here.

That's all!

Yours,
The Editors of JCK eWednesday