Diamond Shavings: Your Friday Web Roundup

 

As there was no Diamond Shavings last week, this will cover the past two weeks …

This edition… The diamond industry gets more good news,
something which it is very much unaccustomed to … The industry and governments
seem just as confused about what is going in the Kimberley Process as the rest
of us… China has one billion people. And may soon have one billion jewelry stores … All below …

 

Luxury, jewelry strong
in June
: SpendingPulse.

– Jewelry strong at Neiman
Marcus
, Saks,
and Bon
Ton
.

 

“Record visitors” at
Hong Kong jewelry show.

– “Marked improvement.”

 

Lazare Kaplan settles
suits with insurers
, and makes some very, shall we say, interesting
accusations about its (former) bankers.

 

Birks & Mayors may
expand into China
.

– First quarter sales up
18.8 percent.

 

Luxury retail rents rising
dramatically.

– More vacancies at
U.S. malls.

 

BJ’s Wholesale Club sold
for $2.8 billion.

 

Diamond demand largely from
Middle East, Russia.

– “Arab spring” helping prices
rise.

– De Beers’ prices have risen
40% this year.

– Firestone Diamonds: Rough tender prices up
42%.

– Industry has “crossed the
rubicon.”

 

Analyst: Tiffany “able to raise
prices
.”

– Profit boost “tremendous.”

 

New diamond investment fund starts
up.

 

Antwerp diamond exports, imports rising.

– So are Israel’s.

– Botswana exports headed for
record.

 

KP: Still Tangled in
Marange

– My thoughts on the Kimberley
Process and human rights.

– Edahn Golan: “Follow the
money.”
Good advice.

– India unsure about Marange
shipments.

– South Africa’s role in KP/Zimbabwe affair “slammed.”

– Marange shipment allowed
from Dubai. Headed to
India.

– Switzerland rebukes chairman.

– Diamond groups split over KP decision.

– Human Rights Watch warns
customers away from Marange diamonds
.

 

Zimbabwe suspends local
diamond sales.

– Zim plans rules to increase
transparency.

– Government probes
De Beers.

 

De Beers CEO makes
first industry appearance.

– Sightholder questionnaires due.

 

Alrosa holds first online auction.

– Russia may
cut stake.

 

Sierra Leone diamond production falls.

 

Sarasota newspaper has the latest from
lab-grown diamond producer Gemesis.

 

Australia’s first
diamond cutting factory?

 

Israeli dealer nabbed
for smuggling.
(A few more details here.)

 

Yair Sahir elected
new IDE president.

 

WFDB president assails
mandatory RJC membership.
 Weird.

 

DDC, IDCA now offer
“reciprocal membership.”

 

Antwerp Diamond Council signs deal
with Chinese bank.

– “A
significant deal
.”

DMIA re-elects
Friedman president.

 

Andrew Block joins
Jacob and Co.

 

Charles and Colvard names
new vice president.

 

De Beers Diamond Jewellers names
new communications director.

– De Beers opens store in
Kazakhstan.

 

Illinois bans cadmium
in jewelry.

 

Swipe fee caps lowered.

 

California passes Internet
sales tax.

– Two other states add
laws.

– Centurion poll: Most
jewelers favor.

 

Blue Nile aims “beyond
the engagement ring.”

– Gemvara founder is
a “30 under 30.”

– Gemvara hires advisor
to CEO.

 

Belgian online jeweler raises
$4 million.

 

Groupon moves into
“hyper-local.”

 

Google chief predicts one-third of stores will
accept mobile payments in a year
.

 

New York Times: Watches rediscovered
by cell phone generation.

– Movado: “About
to take off?”

 

PPR purchases
Girard-Perregaux owner.

– LVMH buys
Swiss watchmaker.

 

Terrible news: Houston jeweler killed.
Suspect arrested.

 

Thief who targeted London diamond dealers caught
by own geo-tracking device.

Gets
four years.

 

Surat diamond thieves found.

– Gold, diamonds found
at Indian temple.

 

Rockwell Diamonds may
list on London exchange.

Appoints
new COO
.

 

Petra Diamonds director dies.

 

Elizabeth Taylor’s jewelry set
for world tour.

 

Prince William, Kate Middleton receive
Canadian diamonds.

 

Eva Peron jewelry recovered
in Spain.

 

Julie Benz’ engagement
ring
.

 

Media Watch:

British
TV channel
on “The Real Price of Gold.” More in Daily
Mail.
   

A
South African newspaper
on the Kimberley Process. Quotes this here blog.

 

From the Blog:

De
Beers CEO Makes First Industry Appearance.

The
Kimberley Process and Human Rights.

 

Feel free to comment on any of the above in the box below,
and enjoy your weekend …

 

– Cutting Remarks RSS feed. 

– Email: rbates – at – jckonline.com.

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JCK News Director

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