This blog is now five years old (and one week)! Here is the very first post, from those carefree and innocent pre-recession days of 2007. I will have some things to say, and a something of an announcement, after the news … 

This week … Synthetics become a little more real … People invest in the idea that you can invest in diamonds … Plus the Kimberley Process again gets on Facebook. But does it have any friends? .… All below ….

 

Colorless lab-grown gems being sold on the Internet. (Finally.)

 

Harry Winston, Apollo may be bidding for Ekati.

 

Report: De Beers makes Anglo less vulnerable to takeover.

 

Gold price tops platinum’s.

 

Diamond investment fever …  starting up again?

 

Zale Corp. appoints new GM for Piercing Pagoda.

– Passive investor takes 5.5 percent stake in Zale.

 

Basel and Bracha

– Decent diamond demand at Baselworld fair.

– Exhibitors “optimistic.”

– Hublot introduces $5 million watch.

 

Ben Janowski on the Hong Kong show.

 

Edahn Golan: The Kimberley Process must investigate Lebanon.

 

Kimberley Process site relaunched. It even has a blog!

 

USAID promotes Central African Republic land rights project.

 

Angolan “blood diamond” hearing begins.

– Report: Bermuda company linked.

 

Issues at Zimbabwe’s River Ranch mine.

– Disagreements among backers intensifies.

 

New Russian diamond mine planned.

 

India worried about surge in exports.

 

Government of Botswana forms new diamond trader.

 

Sotheby’s Hong Kong auction features notable pinks, blues.

– Christie’s auctioning jewels from heiress.

– Sotheby’s gets Brook Astor estate.

 

Merit sues Sterling over pendant.

 

Tiffany, Swatch legal battle intensifies.

 

Analyst: Tiffany, Signet looking better than Blue Nile.

– “Three reasons to invest in Signet.”

 

Have salespeople signed on to new J.C. Penney strategy?

 

Avi Paz offers condolences for Belgium bus tragedy.

 

Presenting … diamond dog collars.

 

Rush Limbaugh: Republican men buy women diamonds.

 

Halle Berry’s engagement ring contains “codes and symbols.”

– The Bachelor’s engagement ring.

 

Media Watch:

– The Wall Street Journal on the new Gem Tower. Has some choice words for the current state of the Diamond District.

– AOL’s Daily Finance on buying an engagement ring. I have to say, Blue Nile is smart to downplay the two month salary guideline. People hate that thing.

– Reuters on diamond recycling.

– Reuters on colored diamonds.

– CNN and Australian Broadcasting Corp. on Zimbabwe’s diamonds.

– Radar’s 10 hottest celebrity engagement rings (of the moment).

 

From the Blog:

Diamond Investment Fever … Starting Up Again?

Colorless Lab-Grown Gems Are Being Sold on the Internet (Finally).

 

So I’m pleased to say, just like on this blog’s first anniversary, “Cutting Remarks” is again a finalist for the prestigious (or so they tell me) Neal Award, this time for “Best Commentary,” for its coverage of the Kimberley Process and the issues in Zimbabwe. (JCK’s May issue and web series Rock Star are also finalists for Neals.) 

The award ceremony is going on as this is being posted, and I have no idea what will happen, but it’s an honor just to be nominated. (Again, so they tell me.) This blog is also a finalist for the “Best Blog” category in minonline’s “Best of the Web” awards, up against blogs from Entertainment Weekly and Slate. That award ceremony takes place in two weeks, and while I doubt I’ll win, it’s nice to be competing against blogs that people have actually heard of. (JCKonline.com and the daily newsletter received several other min nominations.)

In any case, if this forum has any value at all, it’s in large part due to all the feedback, input, and comments (well, most of the comments) from my trade readers and sources, both on and offline. Thank you all so much for reading and for contributing. I appreciate it more than I can say. Have a great weekend … 

 

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