Jewelers of America (JA) and the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) issued statements urging their members to take extra care in ensuring their diamonds carry proper Kimberley Process certifications, amid growing concerns of possible conflict diamonds being smuggled out of Zimbabwe, the National Jeweler reported.

Diamonds harvested from Zimbabwe’s controversial Marange diamond fields have been banned since November, as part of a 12-month plan put into place by Kimberley Process-member countries to make Harare comply with KP directives. The ban will remain in place until Zimbabwe agrees to the appointment of Kimberley Process monitors for the diamond fields.

According to the report, the Jewelers of America group said it had reason to believe that Marange diamonds are being smuggled out of Zimbabwe with illicit or counterfeit Kimberley Process certificates, in violation of both international and US Law; prompting the group’s request for extra vigilance by its members.

> continue reading "Jewelers of America urge vigilance in diamond deals"

Kaushik S. Sanghvi, Managing Director of Mahavir Gems, Mumbai, said on Saturday that 90 per cent of diamonds sold in the world are cut and polished in India.

He was speaking at the inauguration of a seminar on “Understanding diamonds” organised by the Manipal Institute of Jewellery Management here.

Mr. Sanghvi said that India was the first region in the world where diamonds were mined in 1000 A.D.

The first diamond mine was in Golconda. Even people in ancient times knew how to cut and polish diamonds. “India is the third largest consumer of polished diamonds after the U.S. and Japan,” he said.

> continue reading "India tops in diamond cutting"

Botswana is seeking cutting and polishing training from Indian companies as part of its effort to develop a beneficiation industry in the Southern African country.

“We are looking for increasing the number of slots for Botswana nationals to come for training courses here, especially in the diamond polishing and cutting sector,” Botswana’s High Commissioner to India, Dorcas Ana Kgosietsile, told Indo-Asian News Service (IANS).

> continue reading "Botswana Looks to India For Diamond Cutting Training"

Panning for diamonds in Zimbabwe, an unknown fate

The fate of a large stock of diamonds is shrouded in mystery, as a Zimbabwe minister defied a court order late last week and confiscated rough diamonds that later disappeared and still remain missing as of press time. Some may argue that any twist and turn is possible in the corrupt and mismanaged African country. However, the story of these diamonds has continued to surprise many as the subject of constant media and diamond-industry attention.

> continue reading "Further Twists in the Fate of the Marange Diamonds"

The most coveted piece of jewelry this time of year does not come from Paris Hilton’s jewelry box or Tiffany’s display window. Nope, it’s the Super Bowl ring, symbolic of victory in the National Football League’s annual overhyped, usually anti-climactic championship game.

Some players wear them. Some store them. Some have even sold them. But for the most part, it’s the only piece of jewelry guys have ever really dreamed about. Welcome to our world.

Here is a snippet of a piece done in the New York Times a while back that gives interesting details about the coveted bauble. And while we’re at it - - Go Saints!

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> continue reading "Ring in the Super Bowl!"

Russia’s State Precious Metals and Gemstones Repository Gokhran said it sold $45.32 million worth of rough diamonds to Russian buyers in 2009.

Gokhran said that the bulk of its sales – $13.46 million – were the result of two auctions for large diamonds weighing over 10.8 carats; adding that some 5,500 carats of large goods were sold at the auctions.

According to Idex Online, quoting an Interfax report, in addition to the local sales, Gokhran exported 75,800 carats, or $7.482 million worth, of rough diamonds and exported 1,600 carats of cut and polished diamonds for about $1.3 million.

> continue reading "Russia’s Gokhran says sold $52.5M of rough diamonds in 2009"

WITH only a week to go before Valentine’s Day, anyone considering a generous romantic gesture should take heart from the fact that diamonds have proved to be a strong hedge against the falling pound over the past year, and prices are now rising.

As the world went into recession in 2008, diamond prices began to fall. Roughly half of the world’s diamonds and diamond jewellery are bought by Americans, so as US consumers retrenched, demand began to slip. Now, as confidence grows Stateside, prices are firming and are expected to creep up further as the recovery gains pace.

> continue reading "Diamonds continue to sparkle despite downturn"

DNA2Diamonds, a premier creator of GIA-certified diamonds custom created from personal carbon, is set to announce the expansion of its Memorial Diamond Affiliate Program at the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA) Show. The Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, in San Antonio, Texas will be hosting the show from March 10th - 13th, 2010. During the show, DNA2Diamonds will be speaking with representatives from various corporations to introduce the DNA2Diamond Memorial Diamond Affiliate Program.

The International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association is the only international trade association representing all segments of the cemetery, funeral service, cremation and memorialization profession. Founded in 1887 as the Association of American Cemetery Superintendents, the organization was created by a group of 18 cemeterians whose goal was to improve the appearance and operations of their properties. Today, the ICCFA is composed of more than 7,400 cemeteries, funeral homes, crematories, memorial designers and related businesses worldwide.

> continue reading "DNA2Diamonds to Announce Memorial Diamond Affiliate Program"

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) India and the Indian Institute of Gems and Jewellery, Jaipur (IIGJ) announced they would be offering Accredited Jewelry Professional (AJP) diploma courses in Jaipur during February. The courses are designed to focus on effective jewelry sales techniques.

Nirupa Bhatt, managing director of the GIA India-Mideast Region, told Diamond World that, “Our vision is to make GIA’s Diamond and Colored Stone classes available to important gemstone cutting and trading centers such as Jaipur. GIA India plans to reach across 15 cities in the country in 2010.”

> continue reading "GIA India, IIGJ launch joint jewelry marketing courses"

Rockwell Diamonds Inc. has completed the private placement of the recapitalization financings they announced in December 2009, having raised C$8.6 million (US$8.1 million), the company announced Tuesday.

Rockwell intended to raise approximately C$12.5 million (US11.8 million) in a combination of private financings and a shareholder rights offering. In January, the company completed a C$7.4 million (US$7 million) private financing and projected an overall increase of C$2.2 million (US$2 million), with a total target goal of raising C$14.7 million (US$ 14 million).

“As a consequence of the sequencing of the placements and the international aspects of the rights offering, the latter was delayed approximately 8 weeks from the original timetable,” Rockwell stated.

> continue reading "Rockwell Raises $8 Million"