Last week’s Business Excellence Seminar (BES), an exclusive event for Sightholders hosted in London by DTC CEO Varda Shine, continued to stress on the need to change the ways of doing business and encourage evolution of the Supplier of Choice system. %% In her opening remarks, Shine said that evolution will be the watchword and described the recently announced changes in the distribution policy as a way of responding “to the different world in which we now live.” Some of these include Sightholders being allowed to participate in Diamdel online auctions, simplification of the Sightholder profile and application process, the possibility of adding new Sightholders to the list even midway through the next contract process among others. %% In what will have been his last presentation to a BES, outgoing De Beers CEO Gareth Penny cautioned the audience that there are “challenges ahead of us.” %% While it may be premature to assert that further changes are definitely on the anvil, clearly the season of change that began with the rather sudden announcement about the stepping down of Gareth Penny as CEO of De Beers is far from over.

Global gold consumption has leaped in the second quarter ending June 30, 2010, by 36 per cent in volume to 1,050 tonnes and 77 per cent by value in dollar terms (y-o-y)to $40.4 billion, as per the World Gold Council. The foremost driver in this leap has been the investment segment standing at 534.4 tonnes, rising by 118 per cent (y-o-y). The various forms of investment, be it gold coins, bars, ETFs have all risen in demand. In India, the largest gold consumer, investment demand rose around 6.7 per cent to 41.5 tonnes. The Indian market seems more open now to new forms of investment apart from gold jewellery. %% Global demand for gold jewellery dipped 5 per cent to 408.7 tonnes; India’s jewellery demand slipped only by 2 per cent to 123.0 tonnes, not too bad considering the high prices. This period begins the season in India, including religious festivals and weddings, and this slight dip is likely to be made up in the coming months. %% One will have to wait for the season to roll out and the end of year results to see how the market for both jewellery and investments shapes up further. Meanwhile the International Gold Convention taking place in Goa over the weekend, will provide more insights into likely developments in the near future.

The huge turnout on Day One and Two of the India International Jewellery Show (IIJS) 2010 which commenced on 19th August, has boosted confidence levels, and the industry is hopeful that the next few months will see brisk business both on the export and domestic front. The massive response to the first ever IIJW, held just before the IIJS has been an added positive. %%
The first two days of IIJS 2010 saw a very high level of visitor interest. The surprise was Day One, as large crowds are not very common on the first day of most trade shows. The scale of the show, which is growing larger each year, and the development of specific sections like the separate loose stone section are also indications of the growing maturity of the exhibition and the industry. %% The backdrop to IIJS 2010 has been very positive. India’s total exports of gems and jewellery for the last financial year stood at US$ 28.41 billion. The Indian diamond industry has a 70 percent share by value and 85 percent share by volume in the international market. With an annual growth rate of almost 15 percent per annum, the industry has been exhibiting excellence each year. Also, IIJS, being recognised as a “Made in India” brand by the Government of India, expectations of growth are reaching new heights this year.

The Indian gem and jewellery industry is abuzz with anticipation over the two significant events that are set to unfold in the coming week in Mumbai. Expectations are high that they will provide a further impetus to the country’s rise as a major international jewellery hub. The India International Jewellery Week (IIJW), which will open on August 15, is a first-of-its-kind show that will showcase the best of Indian designer jewellery. The scale of the show even in its debut year indicates the level of maturity that jewellery manufacturing in India has reached, with many companies creating designs and quality of international standards, and the industry making every effort to boost its appeal among Indian consumers. %% IIJS 2010, which opens on August 19, is on a larger scale than last year. The growth in the show reflects the increased interest of global players in the Indian industry, as well as the emergence of a modern, organised segment within the domestic industry. All indications are that the show will be a big success, and mark the beginning of a hectic season for both the export and domestic segments of the industry.

The recovery in the diamond industry which began in late 2009, has continued through the first six months of this year, and seems set to continue over the second half as well. Major manufacturing centres clocked in significant increases in polished diamond exports in this period. In value terms India’s exports rose by 87.6 percent, Israel’s by 91.7 per cent and Belgium’s by 32.2 per cent, over the corresponding period of 2009. Though volumes also increased, the rise was considerably lower in percentage terms. %% India’s performance during and post the recession has been particularly significant. It seems to have weathered the storm better than others, ending 2009 just a miniscule 1.7 per cent below its 2008 levels in value terms, while in carat terms exports were actually up 13 per cent. The trend has continued, and the country’s share in the US market has risen sharply from 20 per cent earlier in the decade to an estimated 30 per cent now while Israel’s has declined from 53 per cent to below 45 per cent. Antwerp’s share remains more or less steady. %% A realignment is clearly underway. And with expectations regarding business at the India International Jewellery Show (IIJS) later this month being high, the Indian industry appears on track to scale new peaks during the rest of the year.

Prices of gold continued their fall over last week, and are currently at Rs. 17,750 per 10 grams, recorded as the lowest in the last three months. Though this is approximately 25 per cent higher than prices at this time last year, the respite from the new peak of Rs 19,000 per 10 grams recorded in late June have brought buyers back to the stores. The current fall in prices has also been the longest phase of sustained decrease this year so far. %% Retailers are encouraged by the increased number of buyers and although the start of the festive season is yet two weeks away in India, the largest consumer of gold in the world, buyers are cashing in on the reduced prices. %% Some signs of relative stability in the global economy has helped bring down gold prices, and expectations are that this will reflect in a stronger demand. Retailers are predicting the trend to continue atleast until Diwali and are unveiling more promotions and marketing schemes to attract buyers. With the festive season just around the corner, and gold being bought much for its auspicious symbolism apart from beauty-sake, in India, the retail prospects seem bright ahead.

The release of H1 results by De Beers on Friday has evoked mixed reactions across the industry, since the positive figures were accompanied by news of the resignation of Gareth Penny as CEO. %% The H1 figures send out a clear message that the worst days of the recession have been left behind. Mine production is up 133 per cent and DTC sales are up 84 per cent, driven by strong consumer demand from China and India, and a modest improvement in demand from the US. The company looks at the future with “measured optimism”, both due to external factors like better demand and internal ones such as “transformation of business undertaken last year”. %% The “feel good” impact is however tempered by Penny’s resignation. As CEO for the last five years he steered the ship through these troubled times. The announcement has come too close to press time to permit any comment on its implications. Those will become clearer as more information on the resignation and Penny’s successor become available.

The fact that the KP mini-summit held alongside the 7th Annual World Diamond Congress at St Petersburg this week has arrived at a consensus agreement between all stakeholders, comes as welcome relief to the diamond industry. Under the agreement, between now and September two supervised diamond exports will be allowed from Zimbabwe. Though a temporary measure, this is at least a start, and augurs well for a more permanent resolution of the imbroglio which has rocked the diamond world for the last many months. %% Moreover, it also provides a window for further dialogue and discussion towards the ultimate aim of ensuring that the pipeline remains free of all diamonds that may be perceived as being ‘tainted’ by the final consumer. Yet again, the industry has displayed that it can face challenges and weather storms in a mature and organised manner, and find solutions through dialogue. We hope this is the first firm step for a long term solution.

The need to concentrate forces and resources to boost consumer oriented diamond promotions is one of the key mantras of the global diamond industry today. Efforts are on to build a collective front of manufacturers, retailers, mining companies and trade bodies, to combat the strong challenge faced from other luxury categories. %% These moves assume greater importance as there are signs of a turnaround in major markets with positive growth in the first half of 2010. Individual promotions like DTC’s Everlon and Forevermark or Rio Tinto’s Champagne Diamond campaigns, and the Anant diamond jewellery platform established by GJEPC alongwith manufacturers and retailers in India have been going on, but a collective effort will take this to a new level. %% An initiative like the International Diamond Board is slated to be a key topic of discussion at the 34th World Diamond Congress that begins in Moscow July 11. If this moves ahead in a positive manner that would certainly add strength to the industry efforts.

The forthcoming World Diamond Congress attended by delegates of the two most important trade bodies, the WFDB and IDMA, to be held from July 11 to 13, 2010 at Moscow promises to be a landmark one. %% Discussions to break the impasse on the Marange diamonds issue undoubtedly tops the agenda in terms of immediate importance, but other crucial topics such as the lack of generic promotions, and the push to get the International Diamond Board (IDB) off the ground as well as steps to ensure that the financial burden is shared across the pipeline, are also important. %% Presence of senior representatives of US jewellery trade bodies will ensure that all stakeholders have a buy-in to any decisions. %% Both WFDB and IDMA are strong associations with a long standing history, making them ideal platforms to bring about a real and effective change in the industry. All eyes are now turned towards Russia. We hope that the promise is fulfilled and some conclusions are reached.

The failure of the KP Intersessional Meeting to break the impasse on the question of Marange diamonds is, in the words of the KP chair, Boarz Hirsch of Israel, “unprecedented”. While further discussion is scheduled during a special session involving all stakeholders to be held within the WDC Meeting in St. Petersburgh on July 14-15, it is unlikely that the differences can be reconciled either by more debate or more time. %% It is clearly utopian to expect either a drastic change in the approach of the Zimbabwe regime leading to a very real change in the ground situation at Marange, or some dilution in the demands being raised by NGOs. The inconclusive meeting may accelerate the “evolution” of KP as suggested by some. Or lead to its replacement with some other body or system altogether, as others have proposed. Whichever way, going forward, the industry has really to come up with some uncommon solutions.

The appreciable rise in the value of polished diamond exports and imports witnessed across key trade centres of the world is a positive sign for an industry that was badly hammered by the global recession of 2008-09. The most recent polished export figures from India note a 73 percent increase in May on y-o-y levels; Israel’s polished diamond exports rose 64 percent in May and Belgium’s polished exports rose 39 percent, while U.S. improved imports of polished goods by 71 percent in April. %% This rising trend has been continuous over the consolidated five month period (January – May 2010). Belgium’s respective exports rose 29.3 percent; India’s exports increased 95 percent, Israel’s polished exports rose 82 percent and imports of polished stones in the U.S. increased 73 percent on y-o-y basis ( between January – April 2010). Having managed to come out of the worst downturn the industry has seen in a long time, manufacturers and traders will now be looking forward to matching, if not bettering, the pre-crisis trading levels of 2008 sooner rather than later.

pa rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.luxist.com/tag/DamienHirst/img vspace=4 hspace=4 border=0 align=right src=http://www.blogcdn.com/www.luxist.com/media/2009/10/88952818.jpg alt=damien hirst/Damien Hirst/a is again playing the role of philanthropist (so I have to be nice), along with Raqib Shaw and a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.luxist.com/tag/MarcQuinn/Marc Quinn/a. The artists have donated paintings to an auction that a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.luxist

pimg height=399 alt=lil wayne hspace=4 src=http://www.blogcdn.com/www.luxist.com/media/2009/09/lwbd21.jpg width=580 vspace=4 border=1/Grammy Award winning rapper, Lil’ Waynea rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://tharealderickg.blogspot.com/celebrated his 27th birthday with friends/a, receiving a a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.chopard.com/#homeChopard/a diamond encrusted watch worth a reported $1 million./ppThe a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.chopard.comChopard/a watc

pFiled under: a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.luxist.com/category/decor/Decor/a, a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.luxist.com/category/events/Events/a, a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.luxist.com/category/celebrity-shopping/Celebrity Shopping/a, a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.luxist.com/category/green/Green/a/pimg vspace=4 hspace=4 border=1 src=http://www.blogcdn.com/www.luxist.com/media/2009/09/diamteak.jpg alt=/br /The VIP tent at the annual a

The existence of the diamond has a positive influence on our society, with others for ages. Diamond jewelry began as a luxury for the rich, and many others to do well, but recently, Diamond has become a jewel for all human beings. Unable to perform Translation:invalid textThe most popular diamond jewelry, an engagement ring. With millions of married couples who each year commitment to buy diamonds or alliances. There are many people who are not sure, when an element or, as has been done. Since t

  1) El uso más antiguo de los diamantes fue para pulir hachas Existe evidencia de que los antiguos chinos fabricaban hachas de rubí o de zafiro (son el mismo material, pero en diferentes colores) y como estos son el segundo material más duro sobre la tierra, sólo pudieron haber sido pulidas con diamantes. Los chinos daban a estas hachas un acabado de espejo, hace ya 4,500 años. 2) Los diamantes no son la sustancia más dura sobre la Tierra Bueno, aquí hay que hacer una precisión: Los

Honestly, it looks like a very week card, and we all know it is going to be Booker T appearing as the mystery partner, are you buying the PPV or wait until it is on DVD to buy or rent and why

http://www.gemesis.com/index.cfm Or is the cost of the diamond (5th C; equivalent to commitment), the thing that matters most to you? Anyone know if there’s still a cost savings with Gemesis diamonds? Last time I looked into it was 6 years ago, and the operation and website was then relatively rinky-dink. Any downside to man-made diamonds for aesthetic use?

ou Assine o RSS Feed? ALESSANDRA NOGUEIRA em 9.07.2009 as 13:40 A Flórida, nos EUA, é uma das capitais mundiais do diamente. A empresa Gemesis criou um processo especial para gerar as raras e preciosas pedras artificialmente. O processo conta com dezenas de encubadeiras, que não geram monstros alienigenas, mas diamantes. As encubadeiras da Gemesis permitem a col