This week: Why watch brands should leave selling to actual retailers. Fugitive Jatin Mehta gets “outrageous” allowance. And a dog finds a woman’s missing diamond. All below.

Happy Fourth of July to all who celebrate!

 

U.S. economy shows “surprising vigor”

 

On “D-day,” De Beers and Botswana stay mostly mum

– De Beers/Botswana saga chronicled in The New York Times

– This has been the “most open debate” on Botswana’s diamonds

– Botswana’s diamonds celebrated in postal stamps

 

Is De Beers’ venture into engagement rings really that shocking?

– Michelle Graff isn’t surprised

 

Federal Trade Commission tells influencers: if they pay, you gotta say

– Provides guidance in Q&A

– Agency proposes new rules regarding product reviews

 

FTC sues Amazon over Prime cancellation policies

– Amazon “poaches” former FTC officials amid antitrust lawsuit

 

Wagner Group benefits from gold trade, U.S. says

– U.S. government’s “Africa gold advisory”

– How Wagner tried to capture Central African Republic

 

Kimberley Process stats show no impact from Russian sanctions

– “Antwerp’s diamond dilemma”

 

Non-KP diamonds coming into Surat

 

State of the Art Jewelry Summit

– Jewelry industry must help fight climate change

– “Biggest issue facing jewelry industry”

– Speakers discuss company culture and artificial intelligence

– Cristina Villegas of PACT has more to say

 

Venetia mine becomes flagship in De Beers’ climate agenda

– De Beers part of planet-healing kelp project

 

Tiffany sets net-zero emissions target

 

Tiffany’s new NYC flagship catches fire

– Daily Mail has more photos

 

Tiffany, Cartier, Hermès sourcing diamonds from Armenia

 

Petra sees lab-grown diamonds becoming “separate product category”

 

CIBJO, International Grown Diamond Association agree to collaborate

 

How a 7.5 ct. lab-grown ended up in Jill Biden’s hands

 

Fugitive Jatin Mehta gets “outrageous” living allowance in London

 

Surat’s diamond industry has a “suicide problem”

– “Diamond city in distress”

 

Surat diamond traders form new association, ditch SDA

 

Alex and Ani closes 20 stores

– Vacating Rhode Island headquarters

 

Charles & Colvard renews credit agreement

 

What’s going on with Swatch Group?

– Watch brands should “leave retail to the experts”

 

Chanel files trademark lawsuit aimed at upcycled jewelry

– Marie Lichtenberg defies imitators with originality

 

JCK intervews gem dealer Dave Bindra

 

London Jewelers hires chief operating officer

 

Swarovski names chief supply chain officer

 

Claire’s has new exec VP and chief merchandising officer

 

British jewelry organization appoints new CEO

 

Jewelry chain apologizes for not accepting Puerto Rican license as U.S. ID

 

Princess Diana’s diamond and pearl auction is called off

 

Taylor Swift fans causing trouble for Pandora

 

You can now propose with a Crocs engagement ring charm

 

Rare Cartier Chiech emerges “from the shadows”

 

Shopper makes “incredible find” in $4 jewelry thrift bag

 

Dog finds woman’s diamond months after it went missing

 

Budding business owners reopen jewelry and lemonade stand

 

Media Watch

Time columnist makes “case against engagement rings”

Portuguese newspaper on natural versus lab-grown (translation)

Brides: the pros and cons of GIA diamonds

 

From the Podcast

The Jewelry District, Episode 98: JCK Las Vegas Report, Lab-Grown Reset, Tracing Diamonds

 

Have a great weekend!

 

– Email: rbates – at – jckonline.com.

– Twitter: @robbatesjck

– Connect on LinkedIn

 

 (Photo: Getty Images)  

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