Diamcor to partner with SA’s Bbbee Group
by Jo BlackDiamcor Mining Inc. announces the agreement to enter into a formal joint venture arrangement with Nozala Investments (Pty) Ltd (Nozala), a well established South African Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) company, that is controlled and managed by women.
Both companies will immediately execute agreements to reflect this arrangement through two of Diamcor’s dormant wholly-owned South [...]
Charm Diamond Centres awarded
by Jo Black
Charm Diamond Centres, the largest Canadian-owned retail jewelry chain in the country, has been selected as a winner of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies for 2007, showing that the customer is still “king” in Canada and that employees are treated like royalty.
The family-owned Charm Diamond Centres’ mission and vision statement is to “Win the Customer [...]
IDI’s Asia-centered strategy
by Jo BlackThe Israeli diamond industry will have a major presence at the Hong Kong International Jewelry Show, to be held on March 4 - 8 2008. This year over 50 leading Israeli diamond manufacturers and exporters will be exhibiting, with most of them in the Israel Diamond Pavilion, sponsored by the Israel Diamond Institute (IDI).
The Israel [...]
Caledonia appoints VP, Exploration
by Jo BlackCaledonia Mining Corporation announces the appointment of Dr. Trevor Pearton as Vice-President, Exploration for the Company, following the resignation of Jeff Smith. The Board of Directors thanks Jeff for his loyal service and contribution to the company over the years.
Dr. Pearton has worked for Caledonia since 2001. During the time, he was responsible for the [...]
GIA South Africa opens Feb. 21
by Jo BlackThe Gemological Institute of America (GIA) will officially open “GIA South Africa,” its new laboratory in Johannesburg for business on February 21.
Thomas M. Moses, senior vice president, GIA Laboratory and Research, said that launching the GIA Laboratory in Johannesburg has been a top priority for the Institute.
Moses said, GIA is moving quickly to bring its [...]
Mano River Resources appoints CFO
by Jo BlackMano River Resources Inc. announces the appointment of Mr Bevan John Metcalf, aged 50, as Chief Financial Officer with immediate effect. Mr Metcalf is a Chartered Accountant with 27 years global experience in the pharmaceutical and mining industries.
Bevan graduated with a Bachelor of Management Studies degree from Waikato University in New Zealand. He began [...]
Ganz: No shortage of rough diamonds
by Jo Black
Israel Diamond Institute (IDI) Chairman Moti Ganz delivered a clear message to diamond miners, producing countries and fellow manufacturers at a session devoted to “Producer Strategies” at the Third International Rough Diamond Conference that opened today in Tel Aviv.
Ganz disputed claims that there is not enough rough in the pipeline. There is no shortage of [...]
5th member of Sarin Century Club
by Jo BlackSarin Technologies announced that Indian diamond manufacturer and exporter Kiran Gems was accepted as the fifth member of the exclusive Sarin Century Club, by having acquired over 100 Sarin rough planning machines for its manufacturing operations in India.
Established in 1985, with a workforce of over 17,000 employees, sales offices in New York, Antwerp, Hong Kong, [...]
Yehuda to fight Blue Nile action
by Jo BlackThe Yehuda Diamond Company has told a federal court in Washington State that it has done nothing wrong in comparing the price and appearance of its clarity-enhanced diamonds to those natural non-enhanced stones sold by competitor, Blue Nile Inc.
In defending itself against a lawsuit filed by Blue Nile, Yehuda Diamond said in a [...]
Christie’s 2007 jewelry sales up
by Jo Black
Dominated by diamonds, jewellery sales at Christie’s totalled close to $400 million in 2007, an increase of 11% over 2006 ($355 million), which was already up by 27% over a then record 2005 ($279 million).
These results, the highest ever achieved by any auction house, confirm Christie’s position of world market leader for jewellery auctions. 2007 [...]
Zale provides January sales
by Jo Black
Zale Corporation ZLC, a leading specialty retailer of fine jewelry in North America, has reported that for the second quarter ended January 31, 2008, comparable store sales decreased 7.3%. Revenues for the second quarter were $827 million compared to $892 million last year, a decrease of 7.3%. As previously announced, the sale of Bailey Banks [...]
GIA appoints MD, Southern Africa
by Jo BlackThe Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has announced the selection of Marie-Josée Trépanier as Managing Director, Southern Africa, effective February 1, 2008.
Working in coordination with GIA corporate management, Trépanier will be responsible for providing on-site project management and in-country guidance for the setup of new facilities and support functions for Southern Africa (South Africa [...]
Macy’s initiatives to drive sales
by Jo BlackMacy’s, Inc.announced new initiatives to strengthen local market focus and enhance selling service which, in combination with the consolidation of three Macy’s divisions, is expected to enable the company to both accelerate same-store sales growth and reduce expense.
Improving sales and earnings performance requires innovation in engaging our customer more effectively in every store, as well [...]
Blue Nile expands new markets
by Jo BlackBlue Nile, Inc., the leading online retailer of diamonds and fine jewelry, has announced that it will offer international shipping to twelve new countries throughout Europe and Asia-Pacific. In addition to the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland, the Company will now serve customers in Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Netherlands, [...]
BRC Diamond begins trading on JSE
by Jo BlackBRC Diamond Corporation announces that its common shares have been listed on the JSE Limited (”JSE”) in Johannesburg and that trading of such shares on the JSE commenced today, February 4, 2008, under the trading symbol “BCD”.
This listing precedes the pending merger of the businesses of BRC and Diamond Core Resources Limited (”Diamond Core”). [...]
WGI announces new VP for U.S.
by Jo BlackThe World Gemological Institute (WGI), an international diamond grading and research center, announced the appointment of Barak Green as Vice President, Strategy & Development for the United States. In addition, the World Gemological Institute announced its plans to offer informative presentations at trade shows and industry events throughout 2008 to communicate the benefits of World [...]
ICA to organize Gem Fair Dubai 2008
by Jo BlackThe 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 BlackThe 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 [...]
South India Jewellery Show 2008 opens in Bangalore
by Jo BlackSouth India Jewellery Show 2008 is scheduled to be held from Jan 18-20th at the Shree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium, Bangalore. The venue had to be changed from KTPO Trade Center to the Stadium as the location and accessibility of the stadium was better suited for the trade event.
Hailed as south India’s premier B2B Jewelry show, [...]