January 31, 2008

ICA to organize Gem Fair Dubai 2008

by Jo Black

The International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA) will launch the ICA International Gem Fair Dubai 2008, to be held under the patronage of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) and supported by the ICA GemBureau Middle East. The show, which will be the region’s first-ever dedicated colored stones trade fair, will be held in Dubai from [...]


Third International Rough Diamond hopes big

by Jo Black

The Third International Rough Diamond Conference, to be held on February 11 and 12, 2008, will feature representatives of more than 99% of the world’s rough diamond production, the Israel Diamond Institute (IDI) reported today. This includes the leadership of the five largest world producers (by value): Botswana, Russia, Canada, Angola and South Africa, all [...]


European jewellers directory launched

by Jo Black

The Jewelers of Europe organization has collated an online directory of European jewelry and watchmakers, which may be an exciting and new way of reaching jewellery and watch retailers across Europe.
The European Jewellers Directory©, or EJD, will provide the customers with the ability to identify and reach retailers with pinpoint accuracy across Europe’s biggest and [...]


January 30, 2008

Paramount to explore for uranium, diamonds at Vlakfontein

by Jo Black

A project with uranium and diamond potential has been applied for by Australian company Paramount Mining Corporation Ltd in Free State, South Africa through its 100% subsidiary, Paramount Mining South Africa (Pty) Ltd (”PMSA”).
The project area is positioned to have captured the expected dispersion of alluvial diamonds shedding from the world-famous Jagersfontein Kimberlite Mine (mined [...]


Stornoway reports content of 162 cpht from Aviat sample

by Jo Black

Stornoway Diamond Corporation and Hunter Exploration Group reports a diamond content of 162 carats per hundred tonnes (cpht) from Dense Media Separation (DMS) processing of 20.6 dry tonnes from the AV2 kimberlite (interpreted as an outcrop exposure of the larger AV267 sheet) at the Aviat Project, located on the Melville Peninsula in eastern Nunavut, Canada. [...]


CityView updates Angolan Diamond Projects

by Jo Black

Australia-based holding company CityView Corporation announces that Endiama, the Angolan National Diamonds Company, acknowledge the grant to CityView of the exclusive right to acquire 100% of Canzar Resources plc (”Canzar”), the holders of a 41% legal and beneficial interest in 3 kimberlitic diamond concessions. The concessions are Caufo, Luachisse and Nheffo. CityView has paid US$1,030,000 [...]


January 29, 2008

True North staking doubles Baffin Island sapphire property

by Jo Black

True North Gems announces the expansion of its Beluga sapphire property by staking six additional claims comprising 18.95 km2 contiguous to True North’s existing claims. The Beluga sapphire property, now covering 38 km2, is located near the hamlet of Kimmirut, along the south coast of Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada.
The new claims were staked to cover [...]


Rockwell on power outages affecting South Africa business

by Jo Black

Rockwell Diamonds Inc. reports on the situation regarding power outages in South Africa and the impacts on its mining operations.
Recent media reports have highlighted the power outages that have taken place in South Africa since the start of 2008 as a consequence of load shedding procedures being implemented by ESKOM, the National electricity utility supplier.
In [...]


Pangea updates private placement

by Jo Black

Pangea DiamondFields plc announces that despite the recent volatile global market conditions, marketing of its previously announced private placement in the U.K. and Canada is expected to complete early this week and pricing is also expected to be determined the week of 28 January, 2008. It is anticipated that the Offering will close on or [...]


January 28, 2008

Diagem provides update on the Collier-04 diamond project

by Jo Black

Diagem Inc. reports that 412 diamonds weighing more than 1 carat for a total carat weight of 879 carats have been recovered from March to December 31st, 2007 at the Company’s Collier-04 development project in the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil. These larger diamonds represent 7.4% of the total carat weight of all diamonds larger [...]


Grizzly Diamonds announces death of director

by Jo Black

Grizzly Diamonds Ltd. announces the passing of one of Grizzly’s founding shareholders and director, Brian Elkow. On Tuesday morning, January 15, 2008, Brian Elkow of Whitecourt, Alberta passed away peacefully at the age of 66 years.
Brian was a founding director and one of the driving forces behind Grizzly Diamonds. He was a strong believer [...]


Another large diamond recovered from Paramount’s Pealstar project

by Jo Black

Larger diamonds are occurring periodically during bulk sample testing of one of several kimberlite fissures at the Peakstar Project – the South African venture involving Australian company, Paramount Mining Corporation Limited.
The latest diamond, weighing 7.64 carats, was recovered this week, and comes from a depth of 45 metres, the level currently accessed via the Nikita [...]


January 25, 2008

OGI announces launch of USB Laser Marker

by Jo Black

OGI Systems Ltd. the world leading company in technological solutions for the diamond industry is honored to announce the launch of its new USB LASER MARKER, one more product from the Plug ‘n’ Play USB technology that OGI is so specialized in.
The new model, has a micro foot print for the laser marking technology and [...]


Zale Corporation names Theo Killion as Executive Vice President

by Jo Black

Zale Corporation , a leading specialty retailer of fine jewelry in North America, announced that retail industry veteran Theo Killion has been named Executive Vice President, Human Resources, Legal and Corporate Strategy. Mr. Killion will report directly to Neal Goldberg, President and Chief Executive Officer.
“Theo brings tremendous experience and leadership skills to our senior management [...]


Diamondcorp provides trading statement

by Jo Black

Diamondcorp Plc provides trading update for the six months ending 31 December 2007.
Lace Mine
In the last week of September, commissioning of a 1.6 million tonne per annum dense media separation plant was completed at the Company’s 74% owned Lace diamond mine near Kroonstad, 200km southwest of Johannesburg.
During the period, 320,045 tonnes of tailings were treated [...]


January 24, 2008

Tahera announces suspension of mining

by Jo Black

Tahera Diamond Corporation announces today that it will suspend mining activities at the Jericho mine in approximately two weeks. The suspension of mining will preserve the Company’s existing cash position and fuel inventory at the mine while it works on its previously announced re-structuring plan.
Following the suspension of mining activities, ore processing and diamond [...]


Sanatana announces Pricing for Private Placement

by Jo Black

Sanatana Diamonds Inc. announces that the pricing for the private placement previously announced on January 14, 2008 will be $1.35 per Unit and $1.55 per Flow-Through Share.
A syndicate of agents led by Genuity Capital Markets and including J.F. Mackie & Company Ltd., Haywood Securities Inc. and Raymond James Ltd. (the “Agents”) will act as agents [...]


HRD Antwerp appoints Emile Schoeters as new Senior Manager of HRD Diamond Lab

by Jo Black

HRD Antwerp NV, which provides grading, gemmological, educational, technological and research services to the international diamond and jewellery industries, has named Emile Schoeters as the new Senior Manager of the HRD Diamond Lab. He replaces Anita Dillen, who left the organisation at the end of 2007.
Mr. Schoeters joins HRD Antwerp from Agfa-Gevaert, where he served [...]


January 23, 2008

Sarin Technologies acquires 23% of IDEX Online for US$3.4 million

by Jo Black

Sarin Technologies, a world leader in supplying technological tools to the diamond industry, has acquired a 23% equity interest in IDEX Online for a total amount of US$3.4 million, of which US$0.5 has already been advanced as a loan, an additional US$1.0 million will be paid immediately, and US$1.9 million will be paid by June [...]


FUQI International to acquire Shanghai Tian Mei Jewelry Co. Ltd. and Beijing Yinzhong Tian Mei Jewelry Co., Ltd.

by Jo Black

FUQI International, Inc. has signed a Term Sheet to purchase two jewelry companies, Shanghai Tian Mei Jewelry Co. Ltd. and Beijing Yinzhong Tian Mei Jewelry Co. Ltd., collectively known as Temix (”Temix”), for 100% ownership of the business from their existing owner, Mr. Chujian Huang.
The total amount of consideration payable for Temix is approximately RMB [...]