MANUFACTURERS
Findings manufacturer BA Ballou was put into receivership in March, although an employee of the 130-year-old company said it hopes to reopen under a new “management agreement.”
Fourteen protesters were arrested trying to block the auction of the assets of Colibri Group, Providence Journal reports. The jewelry manufacturer closed down Jan. 15 without warning, leaving 280 employees without jobs.
LABS
American Gemological Laboratories will reopen after being closed by its previous owner, Collectors Universe, when it chose to exit the gem and jewelry business. The gem identification laboratory, founded in 1977 by C.R. “Cap” Beesley, will reopen under the new ownership/leadership of Christopher P. Smith, vice president and chief gemologist of AGL for the past two years.
AUCTIONS
Rio Tinto has organized a showcase of rare blue diamonds from its Argyle Diamond Mine for its Once in a Blue Moon sale. Bidding was set to end in April.
SHOWS
LUXURY & PREMIERE, the 10-year old invitation-only event for fine jewelry retailers and manufacturers, will be held for three days rather than the previously announced four days, JCK Events said in a statement. The new dates are May 27–29.
Jewelers International Showcase‘s October show will start a day early. It will begin Oct. 1 and run through Oct. 5, at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami Beach, Fla.
The JCK New Delhi show, scheduled for June 27–30 at Pragati Maidan, has been canceled because of the economic downturn.
ASSOCIATIONS
The Israeli Diamond Institute has launched an initiative to provide marketing support to Israeli diamond manufacturers and exporters. It will include an IDI news service, Internet marketing, e-commerce, trade show support, and VIP service to buyers.
Diamonds For A Cure said it will make a $5,000 donation Stand Up To Cancer based on the fund-raising results of its pre-Oscar promotion.
CONTROVERSIES
Partnership Africa Canada has called on the United Nations Security Council to place an embargo on trade in Zimbabwean diamonds, after violence continued in its diamond areas.
MEDIA
IDEX Online will now produce the Diamond Intelligence Briefs newsletter, produced by Tacy Ltd. The publication is shifting from print to a PDF format that will be e-mailed to subscribers.
IN COURT
Rolex has lost an eight-year legal battle in Germany against eBay over counterfeit Rolex watches allegedly sold on the auction site.
AWARDS
Advertising agency Fruchtman Marketing, which specializes in the jewelry industry, took home a Silver Addy Award at the Advertising Club of Toledo‘s annual Addy Awards competition, held Feb. 26. It was honored for creating an animated commercial series for Bremer Jewelry, located in Bloomington and Peoria, Ill.