This week: Is the Surat bourse a “dud”? Is Rolex too dominant? Is the “Mob wife” thing just a lot of hype? All below.

 

U.S. opts for “self-certification” to enforce Russian diamond ban

– European Union issues (somewhat tighter) requirements

– Statement from Canada

– World Federation of Diamond Bourses worried about G7 plan

– DMCC (and KP) chair Ahmed bin Sulayem blames Antwerp

 

Alrosa net profit drops 15%

 

New sanctions target Russian diamond exporter

 

Most jewelers still not checking for lab-growns

– Why that exposes them to risk (video)

 

France plays synthetic diamond “name game”

– Tom Chatham not happy

 

Surat bourse “turns out a dud” (subscription)

– The Sun takes us inside

 

Debswana sales down 25% in 2023

 

New York jeweler charged with wire fraud

 

Firestar Diamond trustee sues to undo deal (subscription)

 

UAE removed from financial watchdog’s “gray list”

 

Madagascar’s ex-president convicted of seeking bribes for mining licenses

 

Sierra Leone residents win right to sue mine owners

 

Namibian union protests against diamond cutters

 

Macy’s to close about one-third of its stores

– Turnaround “won’t recapture the old magic”

 

Jim Cramer calls Signet “a winner”

 

Zulily IP assets put up for sale

 

LVMH is tied to China

 

Rolex sales topped $17 billion in 2023

– Does Rolex dominance hurt rest of the Swiss watch industry?

– Rolex, Patek secondary markets gets more realistic

– Foundation that controls Rolex reshuffles board (subscription)

 

Indian fashion brand Kushal’s secures $34 million in funding

 

Central banks bulk up on gold

 

Kashmir sapphires may “dazzle the world again”

 

Ex–De Beers chair Cutifani to advise Diamond Standard

 

Former De Beers exec joins World Gold Council

 

Signet appoints former Cracker Barrel CEO to board

 

Nikia Levesque named vice president of WJA Foundation

 

Italian Exhibition Group appoints jewelry division manager

 

Eira Thomas to become chair of North Arrow

 

Heitor Barbosa, who discovered Paraiba tourmaline, dies at 90

 

Gem dealer Gary Ralph Hansen dies

 

South African billionaire Christo Wiese returns to diamond-hunting roots

 

JVC announces luncheon speakers

 

Brooches and diamonds made SAG Awards a show to watch

 

Upcoming Sotheby’s sale is like jewelry’s hall of fame

 

Sotheby’s MoonSwatch suitcases sell for over $600K

 

Medici family jewels head to auction

 

“Mob wife” is not a real trend

 

NYPD closing in on jewelry robbery crew

 

Beverly Hills jeweler sues Scott Storch

 

Actress in Kay Jewelers ad was a finalist on two reality shows

 

Harlem man inspired by African culture as jewelry designer (video)

 

Thrift store’s $24 watch may be a Gucci

 

Man finds pearl in his dinner

 

From the Podcast     

 The Jewelry District, Episode 116: Tucson, Russian Diamond Sanctions, an Instagram Suspension

 

 

Email: rbates – at – jckonline.com

– Twitter: @robbatesjck

– Connect on LinkedIn

 

Have a good weekend.

 

 (Photo: Getty Images)  

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