Hope all who celebrate had a good holiday. Here is what happened when you were chowing down on matzoh …

– Gassman: Polished diamond prices rising.

– De Beers tells sightholders not to money launder. Good advice.

– Chaim: All 93 sightholders will be dropped. But not really. (For the record, he thinks 20 sightholders will really be dropped. We should start a betting pool.)

– Media Watch: Good Christian Science Monitor article on dangers to traveling salesmen.

– Quote of the Week: “Whatever your thoughts might be about a De Beers or a DTC that perhaps you feel you once knew, the DTC that you write about today is a very different business than it used to be.” Varda Shine in letter to Polished Prices. (More on all this here.)

– Rising credit card fees problems for small retailers. (via NRF Smartbrief.)

– Very funny and pertinent post from my colleague Jennifer on how jewelry falls behind other luxuries.

Exciting JCK articles on the impact of Blood Diamond:
– The retail impact.
– The trade tells its side.

– De Beers Diamond Jewellers to sell online.

– De Beers loses Canadian court case; must submit to environmental review for Gahcho Kué mine.

– Lil’ Jon doesn’t just have the world’s biggest diamond pendant, he also has a “bling’d out tequila bottle.” Doing our industry proud!

Bloggery:
–The latest (and hopefully last) post related to “Blood Diamond.”
–Varda vs. Charles.

Have a great weekend ……………

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