Diamond Shavings: Your Friday Web Roundup

First, a self-promotional note: I will be moderating a panel on “Synthetic Diamonds in Today’s Market,” featuring all the major lab-grown diamond producers, as well as Cecilia Gardner of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee (to shake things up) … Catch it Wednesday, May 28, 2008, from 10:45 AM to 12:00 PM, at room Zeno 4610 … It’s part of a day of diamond seminars that will also have presentations by manufacturer Hertz Hasenfeld and JCK columnist Ben Janowksi. Should be interesting. (Seminar schedule.)

As for the show, just about everyone I spoke to is nervous about it, but personally I’m trying to stay upbeat. There is a lot of pent-up demand out there, and the economy, while not in great shape, seems a little better than it did a few months ago. Remember, there has never been a truly bad Vegas show – some okay ones, perhaps – but never one where people didn’t go home having done business. In any case, it’s probably a good thing expectations are low.

Now the news …

Zale posts 3Q loss.

– Moves please investors.

– Conference call. Upbeat about Mother’s Day.

– Will ”luck”continue?

Whitehall’s sales, profits fall.

Jewelry Television slashes jobs.

Tiffany raises profit, outlook.

– Company “dazzles.”

– “Why haven’t shares done better?”

– How it “rescued its brand.”

– Store hosts book party.

BIDZ stock climbs after LID auction.

– New phase for company?

– Problems “in the past.”

– Can Blue Nile still grow?

Gassman breaks down Harry Winston.

– Ronald Winston retires.

Chaim on GIA/Julius Klein case. Apparently there has been the go-ahead for depositions of the two parties, which are being taken today and next week …

GIA on new Apollo synthetics.

– Joint association statement.

Alrosa: Weak dollar a danger.

– Alrosa seeks deal with Fabrege.

Wyndham: Will De Beers swallow Debswana?

Publicly held jewelers lose market share.

India introduces “diamond hallmark.” Lord knows we need more.

– What exactly is the Forevermark?

New US rough diamond regulations.

– JVC release.

Big Rap price increase.

DDI releases Sierra Leone guidelines. (PDF)