First, a self promotional note – I will be speaking on “The Top Five Hot Diamond Topics” at the JCK Show in Las Vegas (at the Venetian), Wednesday May 30, from two to three. It will basically be the same talk I gave at the AGS Conclave, but with a different title and at least one new joke (sorry, can’t promise two.) If you are reading this and I don’t know you, feel free to say hi.

And now the news (posted early for Memorial Day weekend) …

–Some details on the new Berkshire Hathaway-owned mega-supplier. Modern Jeweler’s blog weighs in.

-De Beers increases prices.

-GIA to open overseas labs (includes interview). Cutting Table’s take.

-De Beers’ retail chain to open stores in Houston, Washington DC and San Francisco.

Zale has loss in the third quarter, is calling in outside consultants, may sell assets. Looks bad over there.
– Good summary of results: Analyst says Zale will be hurt unless it “radically changes its business model.”
– Dallas Morning News article includes rumors of new merger talks with Sterling.

-Wall Street Journal’s Tiffany article has the interesting rumor that Tiffany is a takeover target, and mentions De Beers partner LVMH as a possible taker-overer. Once again, the WSJ site is unpredictable, so if you can’t get the article, I can send it to you: rbates@reedbusiness.com.

-DMIA warns of trade show fraud

-Chaim: “Something fundamentally wrong in diamond mining.”

-Media Watch: Business Week on problems in Antwerp.

–Jewelry price inflation moderates but specialty jewelers have no pricing power. (Idex/Gassman.)

-Blue Nile enters colored diamond market. But are they threatened by Amazon?

-Former GIA Gem Instruments head latest recruit to GCAL, though apparently he will NOT start an instrument division.

-Antwerp diamond conference apparently back from the dead. Nobel-winning economist to appear.

-Mining news: Steinmetz buys Sierra Leone mine for $18 mil., Rio likely to buy Cullinan.

-Not so negative space: “Right hand ring” campaign wins some award

– The latest diamond-covered doo-dad: The diamond mouse, billed as the “most expensive” computer mouse in the world. I think I’m using the cheapest.

-Bloggery: De Beers’ Forevermark-eting.

See (many of) you in Vegas. Feel free to comment on any of the above by clicking the button below, have a great Memorial Day weekend, and get in the mindset, people.

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