This week: A new bitcoin alternative is based on gold. Snobby thief returns gold chain because it’s phony. Mariah Carey wears diamonds on her underwear. All below.
Chicago CBS station runs exposé on lead glass–filled rubies.
De Beers lowers prices as CEO changes tone.
– Martin Rapaport sounds off about diamond profitability.
– Chaim Even-Zohar: The year the industry lost confidence in its future.
Why the industry’s in a funk: Six theories.
– Jewelry sales not growing at HSN.
– Retailers, wholesalers close up shop.
– Counterpoint: Record Mother’s Day jewelry spending predicted.
Retailers closed more than 6,000 stores this year.
Post-purchase layoffs at Scott Kay.
– Company hires new sales rep.
Interview with new chairman of Spence Diamonds
Macy’s debuts T.J. Maxx–like chain.
– Do off-price stores cannibalize?
– Maxx’s stores now top Macy’s.
Blue Nile sees sales “below expectations.”
What watches and jewelry get wrong in digital.
– Indian jewelers focus on online.
Hong Kong watch retailers cut prices to stay ahead.
Swatch plans revolutionary battery.
Jewelers now gold-plating Apple Watch.
– Funny and insightful review of Apple Watch.
– A day in the life with the Apple Watch.
Richemont looking at smart watchbands.
Mashable: This Swiss watchmaker’s video beats Apple’s.
Charles & Colvard earnings call transcript.
Pandora paying $151 million in tax settlement.
Tiffany on Forbes 2000 list for first time.
List of accredited rough buyers.
Analysts want Anglo to spin off De Beers.
– But one says “they don’t want to.”
Big diamond default in India.
New Indian transaction system aims to prevent defaults.
Reserve Bank of India taking aim at defaulters (mentions Winsome).
$20 million theft hits Cannes ahead of film festival.
Marange gems sent to Asia on private planes.
– Zimbabwe diamond beneficiation “a pipe dream.”
Debaswana moving to x-rays instead of strip searches.
A rare plant might transform how we find diamonds.
Local opposition kills possible diamond mine in Finland.
Pebble mine backers aren’t giving up.
Gold threatens Ivory Coast’s peace.
Crypto-currency introduced that is based on gold.
AGS Lab exec director Peter Yantzer to retire.
Matthew Tratner named publisher of National Jeweler.
Nordstrom names three brothers copresidents.
Hartmut Kraft to lead Kering Watches in North America.
Wolfgang Sickenberg joins Ulysse Nardin as sales director.
Thierry Collot to head Parmigiani Fleurier Americas.
Nikon testing Star Wars watches.
Graduation-theme jewelry becomes big hit in China.
Chinese banks shielding counterfeits, report says.
Woman sues Tennessee jeweler over lost topaz, overvalued diamond.
An overview of engagement ring law.
Case with two jewelry companies centers on phone-call issue.
Botswana reporters may be charged over diamond (and oil) corruption story.
Steinmetz’s company pleads its case in U.K. court.
Alrosa discovers 76.07 ct. diamond.
No one bought Borsheims’ 50 ct. diamond.
The world’s richest diamond owners.
Snobby thief returns chain because it wasn’t real gold.
15 things you didn’t know about gold.
– Here’s another: Switzerland is world’s biggest gold trader.
Rolex demands apology from Italian prime minister.
The 40,000-year-old Siberian bracelet.
$100,000 watch lost at Newark Airport returned to owner.
Zac Brown designing jewelry.
Mariah Carey wears diamonds on her underwear.
Media Watch:
– Gizmodo has pictures of diamond mines.
– Boston Globe writer learns to love her diamond.
– Yahoo Finance says diamonds are bad investments.
– Worldfolio says Kimberley Process returns to roots.
– Desert News has charts to pick an engagement ring.
From the blog:
Interview With the New Chairman of Spence Diamonds
Why the Industry’s in a Funk: 6 Theories
Have a great weekend!
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