July 12 Diamond Shavings: Your Friday Web Roundup

First, a plug: I will be moderating a panel on blockchain and the jewelry industry on Monday, July 29, at the Jewelers of America National Convention. It will feature a panel of speakers from Signet, De Beers, Richline, and IBM. See more information on the convention here.

 

This week in Diamond Shavings: Recession clouds gather. Famous watch industry scandals. And miners looking for gems find the remains of a giant sea monster. All below.

 

Charming Charlie to close all its stores.

 

How a 20-year-old sapphire theft sparked years of litigation.

 

HRD Antwerp’s finances are “in dire shape.”

– Avi Krawitz: How automation might affect diamond grading.

 

Odds of a recession rise.

– Indicator at highest level since 2009.

 

Signet is the only jewelry retailer on NRF Top 100 list.

– Signet’s stock dropped by 43% in the first half of 2019.

 

Tiffany’s chief artistic officer on making the brand “cool again.”

– A look at the new Tiffany store in the Philippines.

– How Tiffany is fighting turbulence in China.

 

New Forevermark ad takes an “honest” look at marriage.

 

Burger King Germany wants to make “Whopper Diamonds” a thing.

 

Should retailers speak out on social issues?

– The dangers of “woke-washing” and tone-deaf activism.

 

LDC acquires First Casting Co.

 

Galeries Lafayette buys majority stake in jeweler Mauboussin.

 

What Sotheby’s going private might mean.

 

Online stores power pre-owned watch resurgence.

 

Pam Danziger: The RealReal proves appeal of secondhand luxury.

 

Etsy wants sellers to offer free shipping.

 

Eight things to know about Amazon Prime Day.

 

Amazon can be held liable for third-party sales, says court.

– The last surviving Amazon resellers.

 

Amazon workers plan Prime Day strike.

– Company fights image of “Dickensian workhouse.”

 

Michael Hill admits it underpaid employees.

.
Jeweller magazine ponders the diamond biz’s future.

– Lab-growns do well at JCK Vegas.

– Interview with Chris Casey, new head of Lab-Grown Diamond Council.

– African countries worry about synthetic threat.

 

Analyst predicts “slump” in rough prices.

 

Rough diamond prices rose last year, says Kimberley Process.

– Global diamond production rises.

 

De Beers eyeing “global expansion.”

 

The Telegraph: Alrosa is ready to “open up” (subscription required).

 

How Russia digs for diamonds in the permafrost.

 

Bloomberg looks at Argyle’s closing.

 

Lucara very excited about Clara platform.

 

Miner Trans Hex may see a buyout.

 

Angolan state diamond company may be privatized.

 

Human Rights Watch offers (guarded) praise for new Responsible Jewellery Council standard.

 

NGO: Secrecy still surrounds Marange diamond mines.

 

Alrosa denies plans for Marange.

 

Russian deputy prime minister chosen as Alrosa chair.

 

Sam Ziefer joins auction house Fortuna.

 

Forbes Afrique names WDC director to influential women list.

 

Maryland jeweler Donald McCutchen dies.

 

Maine retailer Enid Corey dies at 93.

 

Oklahoma jeweler warns about fake-jewelry scams.

 

Fugitive U.K. jeweler Richard Baldwin convicted of money laundering.

 

Mehul Choksi’s Dubai properties seized.

– Gitanjali trustee seeks help from investigators.

 

Indian trader scammed by fake broker.

 

Tanzanian officials seize gemstones on border with Kenya.

 

India’s trade upset about gold duty.

 

In first, Muslim delegation from Indonesia visits Israel Diamond Exchange.

 

Five notable watch industry scandals.

 

WatchPro grades Georges Kern’s first two years at Breitling.

 

Couple turns grief into jewelry business.

 

Entrepreneur builds ethical British-Kenyan jewelry company.

 

New Jersey artist builds unisex jewelry brand.

 

Kristin Cavallari is building a “jewelry empire” in Nashville, Tenn.

 

The “surprising origins” of emerging jewelry brands.

 

Gucci brings high jewelry collection to Paris runways.

 

Princess Beatrice wears Cartier bracelet with boyfriend’s initial.

 

Profile of Camilla Parker Bowles’ engagement ring.

 

New York City woman loses diamond ring in Central Park.

 

Geico offering jewelry insurance.

 

National Jeweler investigates: Why are opals bad luck?

 

Miners looking for gemstones find ancient sea monster.

 

De Beers employee mentioned in FT article on “corporate activists” (subscription required).

– De Beers invests in program for young women.

 

Having coffee with a diamond explorer.

 

Why giant gold asteroid won’t make us richer.

 

Media Watch

Local TV station looks at GIA’s lab-grown detection efforts.

How Stuff Works looks at platinum.

Forbes calls With Clarity the “Warby Parker of engagement rings.”

 

From the Blog  

How a 20-Year-Old Sapphire Theft Sparked Years of Litigation

 

JCK Podcasts

JCK Las Vegas 2019 Highlights

 

 

Have a great weekend!

 

 

– Email: rbates – at – jckonline.com.

– Twitter: @robbatesjck

– Connect on LinkedIn

 

(Image: Getty Images)

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JCK News Director

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