Wishing everyone a happy new year …

 

A Merry Christmas!

– Spending Pulse says sales up
8.4%. (!!!)

– Jewelers upbeat.

– So are industry
analysts.

– Jewelry websites doing
well too.

 

NY Times: Sales return to
“pre-recession level.” 

 

More shoppers using
mobile phones.

 

Gassman/Idex: Jewelry price inflation increases.

 

Jewelry retail stocks show
strength.

– Zale shares rise
ten days in a row.

– Investors suddenly love
Zale stock.

 

Alrosa fires Sergey Oulin. Wow.

 

Is Zimbabwe running out
the clock?

– KP chair makes one last attempt at consensus.

 

NGOs: Diamond money enriching
Mugabe party.

 

Israel dealer expelled for violating KP.

– Caught smuggling.

 

Will Ivory Coast problems lead
to more blood diamonds?

 

Lazare Kaplan wins round in PhotoScribe suit.

 

Michael Hill’s family moves to increase control of retailer.

 

47^th Street Gem Tower begins
construction.

– New York Observer: It’s “risky.”

 

Surat diamond workers plan documentary on
their plight. Worth paying attention to.

 

Theft at Manhattan
Ultra Diamonds.

– Inside
job?

 

Alorsa to develop
three new deposits.

.

Robbed U.K. diamond dealers refused
insurance money.

 

Man shoots Mumbai
diamond trader.

 

CMKM Diamonds balance sheets analyzed, found
amusing.

 

Fred Meyer launches
football promotion.

 

Pandora concept stores in
Russia.

 

Groupon files for equity
financing round.

 

LeAnn Rimes’ engagment
ring.  And Reese Whiterspoon’s.

 

A cute way to end the year: A kind of silly, but not-bad
diamond joke.

 

One of Those Exciting
Year-End Lists

Just for fun, here are my top five blog posts, as measured
by visitor traffic, of the last six months (since June, when we started
measuring) …

1. Pandora’s
Plans: Online, Watches, Sunglasses and More!

2. EXCLUSIVE:
Major Changes Coming to De Beers U.S. Advertising

3. GIA
“Certifigate” Scandal Pops Up Again

4. Helzberg
Diamonds Joining AGS

5. The
Latest Twist in the De Beers Class Action Saga

 

Media Watch:

Miami Herald on improving jewelry sales. I’m always happy for a chance to belabor the obvious.

 

Have a fantastic new year!

 

 

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