This week: Asprey losing tons of money. De Beers executive won’t be prosecuted for shooting. Welcome to the jewelry industry, Saddam Hussein’s daughter. All below.

 

Eight retail trends that could change your business.

 

Birks sees 11 percent U.S. sales gain.

 

Costco can sell gray market Omegas, court rules.

 

Swiss Cheesed

– Swiss watchmakers anxious as franc spirals upward.

– Let loose chorus of complaints.

– Swatch prices likely to rise in Europe.

– Cartier too.

 

New TAG Heuer smartwatch won’t be Swiss made.

– Bad news for Apple Watch.

– Is this the company’s “Zune moment”?

– Apple still struggling with battery life.

– How the watch industry “will save itself.”

 

Vacheron Constantin targeting women but ditching diamonds.

 

Diamond industry worried about profits.

– My thoughts on De Beers and its clients.

– “Being a sightholder is a fool’s errand.”

– De Beers selling large stones through forward contracts.

 

Low oil price may benefit diamond business.

– Why 2014 was an unusual year.

 

Losses keep mounting at Asprey.

 

Huw Daniel takes over for James Courage at Platinum Guild.

 

Jennifer de Winter joining Tiffany & Co.

 

Former De Beers sales director joining Venus Jewel.

 

Antwerp Diamond Bank tries to sell Indian branch.

– Bank is going on strike.

 

Surat and Mumbai may soon be 20 minutes away.

 

Namibia, De Beers resume talks.

 

A look at Botswana diamond company Okavango.

 

Zimbabwe diamond industry resists mergers.

 

Diamonds a magnet for criminals, says South African newspaper.

 

Some question Buffalo, N.Y., jeweler’s stiff sentence.

 

Scottsdale, Ariz., jeweler closes, leaving customers in lurch.

 

Gitanjali says former managing director duped it.

 

De Beers executive not prosecuted for Botswana shooting.

 

Iconic Pensacola, Fla., jeweler Rocky Hard dies.

 

GOP unveils online sales tax plan.

– Michigan bill signed into law.

 

Alibaba launches effort to woo U.S. retailers.

 

Facebook, Yelp lose support of small businesses.

 

Fred Meyer Jewelers may install heat-mapping technology.

 

Malls offer experiences lacking online.

– E-tailers keep looking at brick-and-mortar.

 

J.C. Penney bringing back its catalog.

 

Adapting to the changing bridal jewelry market.

 

The industry and buzzwords.

 

Jeweler says he cut record-breaking gemstone.

 

Fairtrade gold throws golden stunt.

 

New Tanishq ad celebrates discounted jewelry.

 

Meet man who starred in Tiffany same-sex ad.

– Tiffany’s issues “transitory,” analyst says.

 

Scio Diamond gets $2 million more in financing.

 

Online Indian jeweler CaratLane gets $31 million in funding.

 

Smart ring gets $5 million in funding.

 

Cash4Gold founder gets into cage fighting.

 

Jennifer Lopez blings out ankles.

 

Fevered speculation surrounds Lea Michele’s ring.

 

Saddam Hussein’s daughter now a jewelry designer. So good to have fresh talent in this business.

 

Jeweler makes jewelry for people who don’t like jewelry.

 

The Harry Potter engagement ring.

– High demand shuts down Etsy store.

– A sign you shouldn’t get married?

 

Media Watch:

Business Insider’s ways to spot a fake diamond.

Jezebel ponders where to sell used rings.

Houston Chronicle columnist wonders about taking off rings following husband’s death.

 

From the blog:

“Being a Sightholder Is a Fool’s Errand”

De Beers and Its Clients: Not a Love Story

 

Have a great weekend!

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