The Skinner jewelry auction, held in early December, grossed $ 3,693,963, and the most expensive lot was beads of two jadeite threads sold for $ 348,000, or four times more than the pre-auction valuation of $ 80,000, Rapaport reports. The organizer of the auction noted that the products in the Art Deco style were realized at very high prices, in particular, the long chain of platinum with diamonds went under the hammer for $ 162,000, more than double the preliminary estimate.
One of the auction's main auction items - the platinum diamond pendant from Cartier, was bought for $ 90,000, and a ring of platinum, Burmese rubies and diamonds with a 4.66-carat oval-cut ruby, went under the hammer for $ 150,000, compared to the pre-auction estimate in the $ 60,000.
The auction sold well lots with pearls and diamonds, for example, a diamond necklace from Cartier was sold for $ 90,000, and a platinum ring with a diamond weighing 4.08 carats - for $ 60,000.

Against the background of a sharp decline in demand in Asia, the export of Swiss watches in September for the first time in three years fell. Its volume decreased by 2.7% compared to the same period last year and amounted to $ 1.9 billion. Such a sudden decline followed the steady growth in the last 30 months. However, this did not become a cause for particular concern, as demand is now growing due to the festive period at the end of the year. Some well-known watch brands have seriously reacted to the update of the assortment and added to their collections with new attractive models, issued especially before Christmas.
The said decline confirms the expected slowdown of economic growth and aims the industry in its general movement towards the planned figure for this year, which will far exceed the level achieved in 2011. The corresponding change in the first nine months of this year was + 13.6%.
In general, good forecasts for the Swiss watch market are supported by various studies conducted by industry experts. Among them - Jean-Claude Biver, President of Hublot, expecting a doubling of exports to CHF 40 billion ($ 43 billion) over the next 15 years.

2012, sales in American jewelry stores jumped 11.8% on a year-on-year basis to $ 6.301 billion, Rapaport reports. This result was a record high monthly sales since December 2007, when the sales volume reached $ 6.5 billion. Taking into account the negative consumer price inflation (CPI) for jewelry - this index fell by 2.9 in December %, - it can be noted that the growth in sales indicates even an even stronger market.
Annual sales in jewelry stores in the US showed an increase of 5.7% compared to 2011 and amounted to $ 30.797 billion, which was a record high since 2007, when sales amounted to $ 30.82 billion.
Considering the fact that during this time many retailers left the jewelry business, exceeding the $ 30 billion mark for the first time in five years was an impressive achievement in the field of jewelry sales. In 2012, the consumer price index for jewelry remained high, but by the end of the year it showed a weakening, and the average price growth eventually amounted to only 1%.

According to the results of 2012, the import of diamonds to Hong Kong decreased by 4% year-on-year, to $ 16.573 billion, according to the Diamond Federation of Hong Kong, China Limited. By volume, polished imports fell 21% to 20.592 million carats, while the average value of carat of precious stones increased by 23% to $ 804.82, Rapaport reports.
Imports of diamonds from India in 2012 decreased by 12% compared to 2011 and amounted to $ 7.1 billion. Imports from Israel decreased by 9% to $ 2.1 billion. Imports of diamonds from Belgium increased by 8% on a year-on-year basis to $ 2 billion; Import from the US declined 3% to $ 1.8 billion; The import of diamonds from mainland China jumped by 29% to $ 1.3 billion.
Hong Kong's diamond exports in 2012 fell 12% to $ 11.528 billion, while net polished imports totaled $ 5,044 billion, an increase of 23% compared to 2011.
According to the statistics of the Diamond Federation of Hong Kong, polished exports to India fell by 37% to $ 3.2 billion, while exports to mainland China fell by 5% to $ 2.1 billion.

The European Gemological Laboratory (EGL), the largest network of independent gemological laboratories, opened a new center in the south of India in Chennai in January, Rapaport reports. EGL has built a full-fledged laboratory equipped with modern equipment, designed to serve jewelers and protect the interests of jewelry consumers in southern India.
EGL gained fame due to the promptness of certification services, and Indian jewelers can also expect to conduct certification within 24 hours at no additional cost.

The Italian elite led by President Fiera di Vicenza Roberto Ditri, Director of the Fashion and Consumer Goods Department of the Chamber of Commerce in Milan Raffaello Benetti and Director General of the Media Center Milano Fashion Media Diego Valisi presented a new edition of the "The White Book of Jewelery - Yearbook 2013".
The annually published reference book for the jewelry industry is presented in a new version, expanded in comparison with previous editions.
Currently, the directory contains more than 7,000 addresses and contacts of companies, including manufacturers, operators and traders, engaged in jewelry business, from more than 100 different countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and North, Central and South America. The directory also presents manufacturers of tools and equipment for processing metals and precious stones, suppliers of display cases and related equipment for jewelry stores, manufacturers of security systems and software.
The directory will also be available in the electronic version and will certainly become an indispensable assistant to any company for starting partnerships with leading foreign markets.

American / International Diamond Week in the Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE), Tom Moses, senior vice president of the Gemological Institute of America, achievements in the field of gemology, Rough & Polished was informed by the IDE press service.
Moses highlighted the problem of synthetic diamonds, describing the two main methods of their production - the process of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and the process of treatment at high temperature and high pressure (HPNT). He noted that the technologies for the production of synthetic diamonds are constantly being improved. Synthetic stones, falling on the market under the guise of natural, represent a huge danger to the industry.
However, Moses assured that the GIA can identify synthetic diamonds, thanks to the technologies of inspection and scanning, the use of modern equipment and the attraction of highly qualified employees, and also conducts constant research and scientific development and completes the database of diamonds.

Following the results of the first two online auctions in 2013, De Beers sold 98% of the offered goods in value terms, noting a significant improvement in the situation on the rough diamond market. The company refused to disclose data on the proportion of products sold by the number of lots, Rapaport reported.
"Demand in 2013 significantly improved compared to the fourth quarter of 2012, with many categories of goods attracted such a level of interest of buyers who have not been a year or more," - said Rapaport News by e-mail Neil Ventura (Neil Ventura), senior Vice President of De Beers on auction sales.
Ventura explained that the trend of increasing demand covers all regions, consumer segments and product categories. He noted that demand from Indian buyers increased sharply in the second series of auction sales, which ended recently, while demand from buyers from the Asia-Pacific region, Belgium and Israel also increased. The participation of buyers from Israel has reached the highest level in the last two years, he added.
Participants in auctions that are not sightholders purchased about 70% of the products sold at auctions since the beginning of the year.
De Beers auction sales fell 12% in 2012 to $ 356 million. De Beers' strategy involves selling up to 10% of its products at auctions.

According to a recently released report in the field of the gemstone and jewelry industry, it was found that jewelry sales figures in India and China combined exceeded sales of the US, traditionally the world's largest consumer jewelry market, Israelidiamond.co.il reports. a reference to Jewelry News Asia.
The report, entitled "Forecasting the Development of the World Gem Market," among other things, notes that India is the largest importer of rough diamonds and an exporter of diamonds, while China is the largest consumer of platinum, while India and China are the world's largest consumers of gold.
According to Jewelry News Asia, other eastern countries, such as Vietnam and Thailand, are also large and active consumers of gold.
The authors of the report - TechSci Research - forecast that, amid rising disposable incomes in the Middle East and the Far East, the international jewelry market will continue to show an increase in turnover by an average of 5% per year and reach an annual turnover of $ 272 billion in 2018.

American / International Diamond Week in Israel was officially opened, IDEX Online reports. The president of the Israeli Diamond Exchange (IDE), Yair Sahar, called the event a "historic moment".
"This event allows us to maintain our leading position in the diamond business," Sugar said, speaking to the visitors in the crowded trading floor of the exchange. "This is the format of events that will help us to move forward and develop over the next decade."
Varda Shine, executive vice president of sales for De Beers, who officially opened the event, said that she was pleased to witness the first event, which she hopes will become a tradition in Israel.
"While the situation around the world remains volatile, we must find ways to continue moving forward," she said. - Innovations, which we see in Israel, were not in other countries. This is an important undertaking, and it will provide Israel with a leading place in the world diamond trade. "
Moti Ganz, chairman of the Israel Diamond Institute, said the goal of the event was to help the Israeli diamond industry grow and flourish. He said that this is part of the industry's efforts to re-acquire itself, which is "crucial for business expansion."

Sales in jewelry stores in the US in January showed an increase of 14.7% on a year-on-year basis to $ 1.954 billion, a record for the first month of the year in the history of the US Department of Commerce, Rapaport reports. In addition, consumer price inflation for jewelry (CPI) in January fell by 3.5%.
It is noted that the total retail sales in the US in February rose by 3.6% to $ 339.3 billion, sales in retail stores increased by 4.7%.
The National Retail Federation (NRF) revealed that US consumers quickly adapted and revised their spending in response to rising income taxes and fuel prices in the reporting month.
"The retail sector continues to demonstrate its importance to the economy as a whole," said NRF President Matthew Shay. "Our research points to the caution of consumers who make complex decisions and limit spending in the light of economic uncertainty, which is especially true for consumers with an annual income of less than $ 50,000."

jewelry retailer Tiffany & Co. filed a lawsuit against the company Costco Wholesale Corporation, demanding to suspend sales of "fake engagement rings" and recover damages caused by illegal sale of products under the brand name Tiffany & Co. in past. According to Tiffany & Co., the wholesale company Costco is guilty of violating trademark rights, counterfeiting products, unfair competition, damage to reputation, misleading consumers and dishonest advertising, Rapaport reports. The amount of the claim is $ 2 million.
In response to the lawsuit Tiffany & Co. Costco stated that it was selling jewelry "in the style of Tiffany", defining it as a general term used for many years. The word "Tiffany" is a general term for determining the rings of rings. The defendants' lawyers claim that Costco sold unmarked Tiffany-style rings. In addition, unlike Tiffany's products in proprietary blue packaging, the rings distributed by Costco were packaged in ordinary beige gift boxes where the brand was not indicated.
Thus, the wholesale company refutes Tiffany's allegations of copyright infringement and requests the court to exclude in the future making any demands for the exclusion of the word Tiffany from the description of the appearance and style of jewelry as a general concept.

British auction house Christie's said that in mid-May at the auction in Geneva will be exposed to a unique diamond of impeccable purity. The auction house said that in April, on the eve of the auction, will be organized displays of this gemstone, weighing 101.73 carats, in New York and Hong Kong.
"On May 15, Christie's in Geneva will offer customers an amazing 101.73-carat pear-shaped diamond, which was created as a work of art," said Christie's jewelery division head in Switzerland and the American region, Rahul Kadakia. "By its size, quality and rarity, it's one of the most beautiful white diamonds that Christie's ever had the honor to exhibit for auction."

Jewelry retailer Chow Tai Fook reported that its sales in comparable stores in January and February fell by 2% on a year-on-year basis due to continuing weakness in the retail market in China. In terms of sales in comparable stores decreased by 3%, reports Rapaport.
The company noted that there was a lull in the retail market in China during the whole period, except for the Chinese New Year.
Sales in comparable stores in China for two months fell by 7% in monetary terms, while the volume of sold products decreased by 10%. However, sales in Hong Kong and Macao rose by 5-16% in volume, continuing the trend of gradual improvement of the market that began in November, the jewelery company said.
Chow Tai Fook expects that the implementation of its program to expand operations and open new stores will take longer than planned, due to the weakened market conditions in mainland China. During January and February, the company opened 32 stores, bringing the total number of outlets in China, Hong Kong and Macao to 1,834.

The TAG Heuer brand recently announced the launch of the first online boutique, designed to reflect the conceptual style of TAG Heuer, Rapaport reports. Now consumers can go deeper into the assortment of the brand at any convenient time, wherever they are. TAG Heuer offers exclusive watch products, products and accessories, available in limited quantities, including goggles, cufflinks, bags and clothing items.
"Like the eight TAG Heuer boutiques operating in the US, the new online boutique allows us to personalize the brand for our customers and provides them with unrivaled shopping conditions and first-class service," said TAG Heuer CEO in North America, Ulrich Wohn. "By opening an online boutique, we can expand our audience that will be able to appreciate the spirit, history and prestige of the Swiss watch brand at any convenient time and from anywhere."
The site of Shop.TAGHeuer.com presents the latest collections of mechanisms TAG Heuer 1887.

The 30th Hong Kong Fair of Precious Stones and Jewelry, held in Hong Kong from March 5 to 9, provided optimistic sentiment for market participants, according to a weekly message from Diamond World. According to the organizers of the fair, this year the event was attended by a record number of exhibitors - 3,300 companies from 49 countries and regions. The customer traffic at the Hong Kong Fair was also active, which confirms the importance and leading role of the Asian markets, and also indicates the return of interest in goods and revitalization in the industry. 
It seems that the participants of the diamond industry were satisfied with the Hong Kong Fair. Demand for diamonds was good, although prices did not fully meet the wishes of buyers. However, the very fact that diamonds are in demand is evidence of the process of replenishment of stocks and consequently of certain activity in the market.
Over the past few years, Asian markets have been key drivers of demand, they have experienced the same periods of economic turmoil, high diamond prices and low demand. Last year, the business of diamantaires was rather sluggish. But now, when the demand for diamonds is restored and a huge number of Chinese buyers have come to the market, industry participants hope that the enthusiasm observed at the fair will become the basis for the development of the industry in a new, positive direction.

polished imports in the US rose 10.6% year-on-year to $ 1.676 billion, Rapaport reports. Although the volume of imports decreased by 4.4%, the average cost of imported diamonds jumped by 15.7% to $ 1,647 per carat.
Exports of polished diamonds jumped by 28.7% in the month to $ 1.513 billion, thus, the net import of diamonds was only $ 164 million, significantly down from $ 340 million in the same month of 2012.
Import of rough in the US increased by 2.6% to $ 39 million compared to January 2012, while exports of rough diamonds fell 50% to $ 25 million, resulting in a net diamond import of $ 13 million for the same month of 2012 the net import of diamonds was negative and amounted to $ 12 million.
The net US diamond account for January 2013 (the difference of net imports and exports) was $ 177 million compared to $ 328 million in the same period last year.

Thanks to the joint project of the Italian Trade Commission (ICE) and Fiera di Vicenza, with the support of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), a unique platform for the presentation of the Italian jewelry industry in Hong Kong was created.
Fiera di Vicenza specializes in studying the latest trends in the jewelry industry, and its TRENDVISION Jewelery + Forecasting division regularly publishes reviews of trends and forecasts that are gaining popularity in many countries. Specially designed Italian program at the Hong Kong Jewelry Fair included a number of business meetings and seminars, as well as a press conference dedicated to the unique platform for studying, analyzing and forecasting trends in the jewelery market from TRENDVISION. At the Hong Kong Fair, 60 Italian jewelry companies were also represented.
The cooperation of the two organizers and important participants of the jewelry market - HKTDC and the organizer of the VicenzaOro fair - ensured the success of the presentation of the possibilities of the Italian jewelry industry for the Asian markets.

Good consumer traffic and strong demand for some categories of diamonds raised the mood of diamond dealers at the Hong Kong International Jewelery Fair last week, Rapaport reports.
Many participants were satisfied with the results of the fair and said that they exceeded expectations and were better than the corresponding figures in 2012. Exhibitors watched a lot of interest and received a large number of preliminary applications for goods, which would not necessarily lead to the corresponding sales, since there remains a significant discrepancy between the prices offered by buyers and the requirements of sellers.
Although sellers raised prices, buyers remained relatively conservative, despite improved demand for goods.
Among visitors to the fair, buyers from mainland China prevailed, and their interest in the goods surprised some dealers who noted that the Chinese New Year's season was not particularly good. Some participants say that in the last nine months, the Chinese have almost never entered the market, so now their stocks are depleted.
Diamonds were bought actively, but selectively, because neither the retailers in the Far Eastern region nor their colleagues from South-East Asia want to increase their inventory excessively.

prices for certified diamonds remained stable, as the situation in the US market and the increase of consumer confidence in the Far Eastern markets ensured the growth of demand for stones of VS-SI categories, Triple EX cut, Rapaport reported.
In February, the price index for diamonds RapNet Diamond Index (RAPI ™) for stones weighing 1 carat increased slightly - by 0.2%, while the price index for diamonds weighing 0.3 carats increased by 2.7%; diamonds weighing 0.5 carats went up by 0.7%, while the RAPI index for stones of 3 carats decreased by 0.2%. In general, following the results of the first two months of 2013, prices for diamonds showed stability.
The growth of RAPI index for diamonds weighing 0.3 carats is due to the increase in demand for this product from the Far Eastern region during the Chinese New Year season.
As Rapaport's recently published monthly report, Steady Markets, Rough Anxieties, says, the supply and demand for diamonds and the situation in retail jewelry markets are balanced, but the recent rise in prices for rough diamonds seems unstable .
In February, prices for rough diamonds increased by about 4%, while prices for large stones weighing more than 15 carats jumped by more than 12%. Trade in De Beers' boxes in the secondary market is intensifying, and now they are sold with a 5% premium. Deliveries of rough diamonds remain under control and at a fairly low level, while diamond cutters have sufficient reserves to meet current orders. It is expected that diamond cutting enterprises will keep production capacity at a low level, at least until the beginning of the next financial year in India.

At the Hong Kong International Jewelry Fair, opened last Tuesday, more than 3,300 exhibitors are presenting their products - a record amount for the 30-year history of this exhibition, the organizers say. The fair is held from 5 to 9 March at the Hong Kong Exhibition Center HKCEC.
Companies from Cyprus, Libya and Peru take part in the spring Hong Kong Fair for the first time. According to the organizers, at the exhibition they expect more than 90 delegations of buyers from 5000 companies representing more than 6,500 customers from 80 countries.
One of the novelties of the Hong Kong Fair is the small orders area, located at the entrance of the exhibition center. Here, buyers can purchase from 5 to 500 products at prices below $ 1,000 for the product. This innovation is designed to stimulate sales.

The estimated cost of the last De Beers site was $ 550 million; the company adjusted the composition of the boxes by improving the quality of diamonds, Rapaport reports.
Sightholders note that although in general, De Beers kept the prices for rough diamonds at the same level within the site that ended on February 28, due to the change in the range, the boxes went up by about 4%.
"In general, the boxes look very attractive, and I believe that the site received good feedback from customers," said one of the sightholders. "De Beers has changed the assortment, so the prices have slightly increased, but this increase looks justified."
Prices for rough diamonds in February showed an increase, and according to some reports, BHP Billiton tender prices increased by 4% on average. Similarly, bonuses for De Beers pits, which are traded on the secondary market with a 5 percent premium, increased. Prices for large diamonds weighing more than 15 carats jumped by more than 12%.
Dealers note that premiums vary depending on the type of product, cheaper diamonds are sold at a premium of about 8%, while more expensive stones are traded at low premiums.
One of the Indian sightholders expressed concern over the fact that despite the recent rise in prices for raw materials, prices for polished diamonds remain stable.

An exclusive pear-shaped emerald weighing 100 carats will be one of the outstanding lots offered for sale in the US / International Diamond Week, scheduled for mid-March, according to a press release from the Israeli Diamond Exchange, which leads the portal Israelidiamond.co.il.
On both sides of the 100-carat emerald will be placed emeralds weighing half of this large stone, so these precious stones can be used to make a set of pendant and earrings. It is expected that the cost of precious stones following the auction will be $ 4 million.
According to the owner of the auction company Tzoffey's 1818, which sells emeralds for sale, these stones were made from one emerald mined in a mine in Zambia, and unlike most stones that hit the market, they were not subjected to additional processing and ennobling and even did not fit in An "oil bath".
Together with many other gemstones put up for sale during the event, these emeralds can be inspected in the building of the Israeli Diamond Exchange during the American / International Diamond Week from March 17 to March 20.

Israeli diamond company Leibish & Co. announced that she managed to purchase a rare diamond of a fantasy pink color with a bright purple hue that will replenish the collection of the company and will be put on open show, the Israelidiamond.co.il portal reports.
A unique stone of the category SI2 GIA weighing 2,02 carats of cut "kushon" will be presented to the public for the first time at the stand of the company, organized at the HKTDC International Jewelry Show, which takes place this week.
Most pink diamonds are of Australian origin and are mined on the Rio Tinto mine Argyle, but the stone purchased by Leibish, called The Leibish Pink Promise, was mined at the Kao mine in Lesotho, which only emphasizes its identity and uniqueness.
Leibish bought this stone untouched when its weight was 5 carats. The diamond was purchased at a tender in Antwerp, which was held in November 2012.

The investment conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway, which owns jewelry companies Ben Bridge Jeweler, Borsheims Fine Jewelry, Helzberg Diamonds and Richline Group, as well as many other diversified assets, reported an increase in net income by 42% to $ 15.3 billion in 2012, is due to increased income from investments in derivatives and, to a lesser extent, retail sales, which did not show impressive results. Net income attributable to shareholders jumped 45% to $ 14.8 billion. Revenue rose 13% to $ 162.5 billion, Rapaport reports.
Nevertheless, Berkshire chairman Warren Buffett called the financial results of the company "not good enough", as the value of assets per share increased by only 14%, not reaching the index of the S & P 500. The
retail division of the company, including jewelry companies, retailers of furniture and household goods, See's Candies, Pampered Chef and Oriental Trading Company, registered a revenue growth of 4% year on year -. to $ 3.7 billion, profit before tax increased by only 2% to $ 306 million.
However, Buffett said stable state of the US economy and the situation in the retail sector, saying that the company expects growth in retail sales in 2013.

Three well-known personalities stand out among the leading series of lectures that will take place within the first in the history of the American and International Diamond Week, scheduled for the Israeli Diamond Exchange (IDE) from March 17 to March 20, Rough & Polished was told in the press service IDE.
Senior vice president of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) Thomas Mozes (Thomas Mozes), Tacy Consulting CEO Chaim Even Zohar and Martin Rapaport of Rapaport Co. will highlight relevant issues and share with IDE participants and visitors their views on the state and prospects for the development of the global diamond industry.
Martin Rapaport, an analyst with the diamond industry and a journalist who has received special recognition for the development and maintenance of diamond price-lists, will deliver a lecture on his favorite topic - "The State of the Diamond Industry"

The auction house Sotheby's reported that its revenues for the 2012 fiscal year decreased by 8% on a year-on-year basis, amounting to $ 768.5 million, reports Rapaport. The decline in revenues is explained by the reduction in the commission amount by 11%, caused by a corresponding decrease in auction sales by 10%.
Sotheby's net profit fell 37%, to $ 108.3 million, or $ 1.57 per diluted share.
Before the end of the financial year, Sotheby's refinanced its long-term debt until 2022, as a result of having registered additional costs of $ 15 million. However, refinancing the debt will allow the auction house to cut funding costs by about $ 5 million a year from 2014 onwards.
"The indicators of consolidated sales in 2012 were quite high - at $ 5.4 billion, which is caused by a lot of excitement at the auction of works of art around the world," said Sotheby's chairman Bill Ruprecht. "Our operating results reflect a number of significant achievements, but the previous year was one of the best in the history of the auction house, so the comparative figures look clearly dim; In addition, the reporting period was marked by high competition. In general, I remain optimistic about the prospects for the development of the market. "
Earlier this year, Sotheby's announced that the revenue of its jewelry division in 2012 reached a record figure of $ 460.5 million, which is due to the successful sale of private collections, exceptional diamonds and precious stones, jewelry of historical significance and impressive provenance.

The diamond brand Forevermark has added three new regional managers to its staff in response to the growing demand and plans to expand the distribution of polished diamonds in the US, Rapaport reports.
Forevermark announced the appointment of Kristyn Beausoleil to the position of sales manager in the Mid-Atlantic region. Previously, Kristin held the position of business development manager in the retail sector at Platinum Guild.
Natalie Humphrey joined the Forevermark team as a sales manager in the New England region. She previously worked for A. Link, a partner of Forevermark.
Sam Panasiuk (Sam Panasiuk) was appointed to the position of sales manager in the Western region of the United States. Prior to that, Sam served as sales manager in the same region at Lazare Kaplan International.
"We are pleased to join the Forevermark team with three sales managers and are confident that their knowledge and experience will perfectly complement the resources of the current team, consisting of Bruce Lake, sales manager in the south-central region, Michael Rousso - in southeast region, and Jeffrey Skaret (Jeffrey Skaret) - in the mid-western region, "said Kevin Lane, vice president of sales for Forevermark.

Experts in the mining and processing of diamonds predict that shortly there will be a shortage of the world's most expensive mineral. In 10 years, the demand for diamonds will be 2 times higher than supply, while production will remain at the same level, specialists are sure, according to ITAR-TASS.
Henry Krohmal, co-owner of the Belgian company Krohmal end Lieber, specializing in diamond polishing and polishing, told the journalists in St. Petersburg about the trends in the diamond and diamonds market. Last week he took part in the presentation of a collection of exclusive diamonds, which was brought to St. Petersburg by the world famous jewelry house Korloff. By some estimates, by 2020, the global demand for rough diamonds will reach $ 20 billion, while the supply will not exceed $ 9 billion at the current rate.
"Diamond production will not increase - more than we can not get now," says Krohmal. He explained that "in the world practically no new deposits are discovered, and those that are recently discovered, for example in Russia, allow to extract only technical diamonds that can not be used for making jewelry."
The demand for diamonds and diamonds will grow, as expected, due to actively developing countries - China, India and Brazil.

The cost of diamonds labeled De Beers Forevermark brand was $ 500 million in 2012, said on Friday Stephen Lussier (Stephen Lussier), CEO of Forevermark, reports Rapaport.
Speaking at the opening of the Signature show in Mumbai, Lucier said that since the launch of the brand in India in January 2011, this country accounted for 8% of the brand's sales during the year. De Beers plans to bring this figure to 20% within the next five years.
De Beers reported last week that revenue from Forevermark increased by 50% in 2012 after the brand expanded its partnership with retailers, increasing the number of retail outlets by 40% to over 900 stores. Currently, the brand is represented in about 85 stores in India, and it is planned to further expand the network to about 130 stores by the end of 2013, Rapaport News recently told Sachin Jain, managing director of Forevermark India.

The US consumer price index (CPI) for jewelry in January 2013 fell by 3.5% on a year-on-year basis and amounted to 176.7 points in response to a significant decline in prices for precious metals, Rapaport reports.
In January 2013, the index held at a level slightly lower than the corresponding value in December, while the December value of the index was revised to 176.8 points.
Nevertheless, at present the index remains at a record level, and in January CPI exceeded the average mark of 170 points for the 25th consecutive month. In January 2012, the index jumped to a record high of 185 points, but then, throughout the year 2012, prices for diamonds, gold and platinum declined.
The average CPI for 2012 fell by 0.9%.
The general consumer price index for all product categories in January increased by 1.6% on a year-on-year basis and reached 231.2 points, slightly below the record high registered in October 2012. The average CPI for all categories of goods in 2012 increased by 2.1%.

Company Namibia Diamond Trading Company (NDTC) announced the launch of the annual competition for the design of diamond jewelry under the name Shining Light.
The Namibian reported that a record number of applications for a total of 103 jewelry designs was submitted to participate in the 2012/2013 contest, which indicates the growing popularity of the competition, which will be held this year for the third time.
Only six contestants were selected as finalists. According to their designs, jewelry was made using diamonds produced in Namibia. Last week, a local hotel hosted a display of these jewelry.
According to the publication, similar competitions will be held in Botswana and South Africa.

Revenues of Blue Nile for the fourth fiscal quarter ended on December 30, 2012, increased by 21% to $ 136.1 million, reports Rapaport. However, production costs jumped 24% to $ 110.5 million. The company's revenue for the quarter increased 17% to $ 4.9 million, or 39 cents per share. Online retailer said that sales of engagement jewelry in the US showed an increase of 31% to $ 73.6 million, while sales of other jewelry products increased by only 5% to $ 42.5 million.
International sales in the fourth quarter increased by 27 % % to $ 20 million. The gross profit of Blue Nile for the reporting period fell to 18.8% of net sales, compared with 20.7% a year earlier. The number of new customers of Blue Nile has increased by approximately 8%.
As a result of the financial year, Blue Nile reported revenue growth of 15% to $ 400 million. The company's operating expenses increased by 18% to almost $ 325 million, resulting in a 27% decrease in operating income. Net profit of the company in 2012 fell by 26%, amounting to $ 8.4 million or 64 cents per share.
At the end of 2012, sales of engagement jewelry in the US rose 22% to $ 226.6 million, while revenue from sales of other jewelry products rose 5% to $ 111 million. International sales increased 12% to $ 62.4 million. The number of registered buyers of Blue Nile grew by 18%.

Zale Corporation (NYSE: ZLC) reported its financial results for the second reporting quarter ended January 31, 2013, in a press release received by Rough & Polished. According to the company, comparable store sales (sales, compared in the same stores, existing for more than a year) increased by 2.8%, with such positive growth being registered for the 9th consecutive quarter. Sales in Zale branded stores increased by 3.6%, increasing the corporate profit rate by 7.6% or 110 basis points against the same quarter of the previous year. Jewelry retailer increased its net profit by $ 0.25 per diluted share, bringing it to $ 1.02, which is an increase of 32%. The first half of fiscal year 2013 brought the company a net profit of $ 13 million or $ 0,
"The growth in the third quarter was due to our exclusive, branded collections, and further expansion of the range of these products and their support combined with convincing marketing and staff training is an important part of our strategy," said Theo Killion, executive director of Zale Corporation.
The company's revenue was $ 671 million, an increase of $ 7 million, or 1.1%, compared to $ 664 million in the second quarter of 2012.
In the second quarter of fiscal year 2013, comparable store sales increased by 2.8%. This growth was followed by an increase in sales of 5.8% in the same period last year. With a constant exchange rate, comparable store sales increased by 2.2%. Zale's brand stores, including Zales Jewelers and Zales Outlet, reported an increase in comparable store sales by 3.6% compared to a 10.1% increase in the same period last year. American jewelry brands of the company, selling high-quality products, including the regional brand Gordon's Jewelers, increased the volume of comparable store sales by 2.8%. This growth was followed by an increase in sales of 8.9% in the same period last year. Canadian jewelery brands Zale, which sell high-quality products, which includes units Peoples Jewellers and Mappins Jewellers, demonstrated an increase in comparable store sales by 3.8%. This growth was followed by an increase in comparable sales by 0.7% in the same period last year. With a constant exchange rate, comparable sales in the second quarter of fiscal year 2013 grew by 0.5% after an increase of 2.3% in the same period last year. Piercing Pagoda, jewelry division of Zale, which sells from kiosks, demonstrated an increase in comparable store sales by 1.0%. In the same period last year, comparable sales fell by 3.0%. Zale jewelry division, which sells from kiosks, demonstrated an increase in comparable store sales by 1.0%. In the same period last year, comparable sales fell by 3.0%. Zale jewelry division, which sells from kiosks, demonstrated an increase in comparable store sales by 1.0%. In the same period last year, comparable sales fell by 3.0%.

 www.zales.com , www.zalesoutlet.com , www.gordonsjewelers.com , www.peoplesjewellers.com and www.pagoda.com .

Kiran Jewels (India), a local diamond jewelery manufacturing and marketing company for Kiran Gems, a sightholder of the Diamond Trading Company (DTC), is preparing to showcase its new diamond jewelry collection at the IIJS Signature international jewelry fair, which will be held on February 22-25 in Mumbai, Rapaport reports.
Kiran will also present a new collection of diamond jewelry that will surprise viewers. The new collection was developed based on the urban audience.
The design of diamond jewelry unites current international trends with the traditional Indian ethnic style. The collection is intended for retailers of jewelry products from middle to upper class in various cities of India. Jewelry collection shows diamonds of transparency from VVS to SI and in the color range EF-IJ.
Details of the new concept of jewelry are now kept secret and will be made public during the show.

A specially created working group on the development of Indian diamond trade encourages the government to create special trading zones for the diamond industry, as well as to establish a fund for refinancing local diamond producers, Israelidiamond.co.il reports with reference to the Indian edition of the Financial Chronicle. The ultimate goal of this proposal is to turn India, which is already the largest diamond manufacturing center, into a global center for diamond trade.
The committee, headed by Anup Pujari, director of the International Trade Department, proposes the creation of a $ 3-5 billion bank fund that will assist Indian diamantaires in refinancing their dollar loans, the Financial Chronicle writes.
The purpose of these initiatives is the revival and revival of the diamond industry, which occupies an important place in the Indian economy and experienced a significant blow in the past year. While in 2011 India exported diamonds, precious stones and jewelry worth $ 46.2 billion, in 2012 this figure fell by 17% and amounted to only $ 38.3 billion.

The Israeli Diamond Industry, the largest diamond supplier in the United States, is preparing to once again organize a large national pavilion and ensure the wide presence of diamantaires at the JCK Show, which will be held in Las Vegas in June, the press release received Rough & Polished.
An Israeli diamond pavilion, organized by Israel Diamond Institute (IDI), will present 32 companies to visitors, and 22 Israeli diamond companies will participate in the exhibition separately.
The JCK Fair is of particular importance to the Israeli diamond industry, as the United States is the largest consumer market for Israeli diamond products, which accounted for about 40% of polished exports last year, or $ 2.3 billion.
IDI Chairman Moti Ganz ): "We are looking forward to a successful fair and active trade this year, and we are confident that the Israeli pavilion will be popular and will demonstrate good sales figures."

The diamond brand Forevermark Group De Beers announced the completion of the list of diamantaires and manufacturers in the United States. The message Forevermark, received by Rough & Polished by e-mail, says that each diamantair is selected according to its individual characteristics taking into account its features and uniqueness of products.
"We are pleased to announce the results of our selection of diamantaires and manufacturers for the Forevermark brand for the period 2013-14," said Charles Stanley, president of Forevermark in the United States. "Our goal is to strengthen our supply base by expanding the range of suppliers of unallocated gems and final jewelry products, as well as ensuring the availability of goods"

The participation of the Antwerp diamond industry in the Jewelry Shanghai 2013 trade fair was indicative of the growing trade turnover between the two states, which has intensified in the last five years, the Diamond World portal reported.
In 2012, about 31.3% of Antwerp diamonds were exported to China (in 2011 this share was 29%). Antwerp's exports of rough diamonds and diamonds to the Celestial Empire jumped by 73% over the period from 2007 to 2012. In addition, imports of diamonds from China to Antwerp have increased by 70% over the past five years. At present, China is the leading diamond export destination from Antwerp.
Ari Epstein, CEO of the Antwerp World Diamond Center, said: "The Chinese market has great potential. Due to the economic development of China and Hong Kong, the demand for diamonds is growing, as evidenced by the dynamics of our trade statistics in recent years. We want to be sure that Antwerp will retain its role as the main trading partner for China and Hong Kong, so we decided to organize within the exhibition a special program aimed at strengthening ties and developing cooperation. "
From 10 to 13 May, representatives of a number of Antwerp companies visited the Shanghai Fair to participate in the four-day event, in which the Antwerp Diamond Pavilion was organized for the first time in the history of the fair, as well as meetings of diamantaires with potential Chinese buyers.

JC Penney Company Inc. reported a 16.4% drop in sales, to $ 2.64 billion, according to the results of the first financial quarter, which ended on May 4, Rapaport reports. Sales in comparable stores decreased by 16.6%. The loss of the jewelry retailer for the quarter was $ 348 million, or $ 1.58 per share, while in the same period last year the company received a net loss of $ 163 million, or $ 0.75 per share.
In the first quarter, the company launched a large-scale restructuring program, which identified costs for changes in the corporate governance system of $ 72 million.
According to the recently appointed CEO of JC Penney, Myron E. Ullman, the goal of the restructuring is to return the company to the path of progressive development and ensure profitability, and therefore spent the last few weeks on developing measures to stabilize the position of the retailer.

Auction house Christie's put up for auction in Hong Kong diamond necklace, which can be sold for about $ 10 million, the portal Diamond World. The auction of "Magnificent Jewels" will be held on May 28, and one of the most valuable lots offered for sale will be a necklace with a purple-pink cut diamond "marquise" and an impeccably clean diamond with a weight of 75.36 carats of "Briolet" cut diamonds D , type IIa.
According to Diamond Intelligence, this lot can go under the hammer at a price of $ 8.5 million to $ 12.5 million, while the total revenue following the auction, which will be exhibited 290 lots, is expected at $ 74 million or more.
Among other significant lots that will be presented at the auction in Hong Kong, a ring with a natural ruby ​​oval-cut ruby ​​of 8.88 carats, which is surrounded by pear-shaped cut diamonds and a "marquis" cut, as well as a necklace with emeralds and diamonds from Boucheron. Pre-auction evaluation of these two lots is $ 2.5-3.5 million and $ 3-5 million, respectively.

The company Petra Diamonds sold an exceptionally rare blue diamond weighing 25.50 carats for $ 16,910,180, which is equivalent to $ 663,144 per carat, Rapaport reports. Diamond was extracted at the Cullinan mine in South Africa in April this year.
Petra's CEO, Johan Dippenaar, said: "We are very pleased with the successful completion of the procedures relating to the sale of the exclusive blue diamond. Bidding was very active, we received many bets and offers because of the unimaginable rarity and value of this precious stone. The results of the auctions once again underline the uniqueness of the Cullinan diamond mine as one of the most important sources of blue diamonds in the world. "

sales in American jewelry stores showed an increase of 9.9% on a year-on-year basis, to $ 2.31 billion, Rapaport reports. In addition, the consumer price index (CPI) for jewelry in March fell by 2.9%.
Throughout the first quarter of the year, sales in jewelry stores showed good performance. According to the results of the 1st quarter, the sales growth was registered at 8.2% in the year-on-year terms to $ 6.99 billion, while the CPI in each of these months declined.
According to the latest estimate of the results of sales in American department stores, in April there was a decrease in sales by 6.9% in the year to $ 13 billion.
A recently published report by the National Retail Federation (NRF) says that improving employment and revitalizing the stock markets has ensured a growing consumer confidence that has intensified purchases.
However, as noted by NRF's leading economist Jack Kleinhenz (Jack Kleinhenz), there is no guarantee that retail sales and buying activity, observed in April, will determine the improvement in performance for the second quarter.

Hong Kong's polished imports rose 4% year-on-year to $ 4,485 billion, Rapaport reported citing data released by the Diamond Federation of Hong Kong China Limited. The volume of polished imports for the reporting period increased by 5% to 5.608 million carats, and the average cost of imported stones decreased by 1% to $ 799.82 per carat.
Hong Kong's imports of diamonds from India rose by 20% to $ 2.19 billion during the reporting period. Imports of polished diamonds from Israel fell by 7% to $ 581.7 million. Imports of diamonds from Belgium increased by 3% to $ 478.9 million, while imports from the United States fell by 16% to $ 400.4 million.
The Hong Kong polished diamond exports in the first quarter of 2013 decreased by 10% to $ 2.962 billion. Thus, net polished imports jumped 49% year-on-year to $ 1.523 billion.
Hong Kong's imports of rough diamonds rose 45% to $ 464.49 million , while exports of rough diamonds jumped 61% to $ 695.86 million. Net diamond imports fell to a negative value of $ 231.37 million compared to a deficit of $ 112.55 million for the same period last year.
The Hong Kong net diamond account (the difference in aggregate imports and exports of diamonds and diamonds) rose 42% on a year-on-year basis to $ 1.292 billion.

The US consumer price index (CPI) for jewelry in April 2013 fell 1.2% on a year-on-year basis and amounted to 174.96 points in response to a significant decline in precious metal prices, Rapaport reports. The value of the index was kept only 1 point lower than the corresponding March indicator.
Nevertheless, at present the value of the index remains at a record level, and taking into account the data for April, CPI exceeded the average mark of 170 points for the 28th consecutive month.
In January 2012, the price index for jewelry reached a record high of 183 points, but then, throughout the year 2012, prices for diamonds, gold and platinum declined.
According to Rapaport Research, diamond prices stabilized and gradually recovered, but gold prices dropped to $ 1,350 an ounce in mid-April, recovering to $ 1,470 per ounce by the end of the month.
The general consumer price index for all product categories in April increased by 1.1% on a year-on-year basis and reached the mark of 231.49 points, which slightly did not reach the record high of 232.77 points recorded in February.

major Hindu festival, designed to bring prosperity and luck to Indians, was marked by a fall in gold prices, and retailers actively promoted their new collections and held special promotions, according to a weekly message from Diamond World.
Gold prices for the holiday of Akshay Tritiya (May 13) fell almost to 400 rupees for 10 g, which is 5% lower than the corresponding figure last year. Consumers took advantage of the new opportunities, and jewelry companies registered an increase in sales of jewelry, gold bars and coins by 20-25% on a year-on-year basis.
The most active sales of gold on Akshaya Tritiya day were held in Delhi, Mumbai and Coimbatore. The fall in gold prices has become the main driver of sales. According to some estimates, Indian sales of gold jewelry and coins increased by 10-15% in volume compared to the same period last year. The trading of gold ETFs on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was active, registering a 14% growth to 6.91 billion rupees, as well as an increase in online sales.

Akshay Tritiya festival began in Mumbai, during which the Indians buy gold and the city actually embraced the "gold rush", while jewelry companies in Pune never opened their stores, losing about 2 billion rupees of income.
Mumbai jewelers registered a significant increase in sales, as customers actively bought large jewelry, gold bars and coins, inspired by the decline in gold prices. According to analysts, only in Mumbai gold sales amounted to about 4 tons. Some jewelry companies note that gold sales growth was at least 15%.
Throughout the week preceding the Akshaya Tritiya holiday, Mumbai jewelry stores were closed to protest the actions of tax authorities, which intend to introduce a new tax in the city, but by the beginning of the festival the stores met buyers with solemn decoration and flowers.

An impeccably clean diamond weighing 101.73 carats last week was sold at Christie's auction in Geneva for $ 23.5 million, the Swiss media reported.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) awarded the "white" diamond with the highest color category (D) and the highest degree of purity IIA (this category includes only about 2% of the world's jewelry diamonds).
The diamond was discovered on the mines in Botswana, it was polished for 21 months, and the original weight of the raw stone was 236 carats.
The new owner of the pear-shaped jewelry, which will henceforth be called "Winston Legacy", was American jeweler Harry Winston.

Belgian polished exports in April rose 23% year-on-year to $ 1.157 billion, Rapaport reported citing statistics from the Antwerp World Diamond Center (AWDC). At the same time, the volume of exports for the reporting month fell by 9% compared to April 2012, amounting to 533 18.25 carats of diamonds, and the average price of exported products jumped 36% to $ 2,170.60 per carat.
Belgian polished imports rose 8% to $ 1.009 billion. Net polished exports (the difference in exports and imports) rose sharply to $ 147 million from $ 11.5 million a year earlier.
Belgian imports of rough diamonds rose 38% to $ 1.422 billion in April, while raw material exports increased by 28% to $ 1.528 billion. Belgian net imports of rough diamonds remained negative at $ 105 million as compared to a deficit of $ 167 million in registered in April 2012.
The Belgian net diamond account (the difference in aggregate exports and imports of diamonds and diamonds) in April rose 42% year-on-year to $ 253 million.
In the first four months of 2013, Belgium's polished exports remained stable at $ 4.506 billion, while polished imports declined by 9 % to $ 4.227 billion. The total export of polished diamonds rose to $ 278.66 million, compared with a negative figure of $ 129.17 million in the same period last year.

The Diamond Development Initiative (DDI) announced that members of the American Jewelry Design Council (AJDC) have joined the DDI friends program, according to a press release received by Rough & Polished.
"The purchase of diamonds in compliance with high ethical standards is of great importance to leading jewelry designers in the United States and around the world," explains Dorothée Gizenga, CEO of DDI. - As diamonds mined by diamond miners take an increasing share of the total volume of world diamond production, the field of DDI activities aimed at developing and implementing social and economic opportunities in local communities is expanding. We are very happy to enlist the support of designers who have set an excellent example for other industry participants, and we hope to further expand the number of participants in the program. "

Leading diamond wholesaler Rubel & Ménasché, part of the Dali Diamond Group and specializing in high-quality small diamonds, has announced its participation in the Diamond Empowerment Fund (DEF) Diamond Trade Program.
DEF is an international non-profit organization, co-founded by business tycoon Russell Simmons. The goal of DEF is to promote higher education for young people in diamond-mining countries in Africa.
Rubel & Ménasché attaches great importance to the implementation of programs to support local people, both locally and globally. The Diamond Trade Program supports community assistance programs in the areas where precious stones are mined. "Rubel & Ménasché has long made ethics one of the main leitmotifs of its activities, and the need to join the Diamond Empowerment Fund

The volume of jewelry production in January-March 2013 in Armenia amounted to 5.1 billion drams, an increase of 50.2% compared to the same period of 2012, the Russian Jewelery Network reports with reference to the National Statistical Service of Armenia.
At the same time, in January-March 2013, 219.3 kg of jewelry was produced against 177.8 kg over the same period last year (an increase of 23.3%).
The volume of polished diamond production in Armenia in the reporting period amounted to 25,641 carats, an increase of 2.1 times compared with January-March 2012.
At the same time, exports of precious and semiprecious stones, precious metals and products from them amounted to $ 46.3 million in the first three months of this year (an increase of 24.3% compared to the same period in 2012).

The results of the Indian gem and jewelry sector for the 2012-13 fiscal year were very well received by the Council for the Promotion of Gem and Jewelry Export (GJEPC), as the turnover showed a 154% increase year-on-year, providing India with foreign currency earnings in The import of rough diamonds increased by 12.65% year-on-year, which indicates the intensification of diamond polishing and polishing activities, as well as the surge in jewelry production. The export of gold jewelry increased by 33%. The import of polished diamonds fell 61.45%, ensuring India's foreign exchange cuts and trade deficit.
Some time ago, the editorial portal Diamond World portal quoted the statement of the Secretary of the Department of Financial Services under the Ministry of Finance of India Snehlata Shrivastava (Snehlata Shrivastava) that the industry of precious stones and jewelry is considered by the Indian government as the main field for creating export demand. In addition, the GJEPC welcomed the efforts of the government, which adopted the recommendations of the working group whose implementation is designed to ensure that India becomes an international center for diamond trade.
Given this general positive background, the industry is undoubtedly opening new prospects, one can hope for further positive steps in the regulation of the industry, including the introduction of quotas for duty-free diamond imports, the organization of diamond tenders and auctions in India, the formation of a commission for analysis and optimization of conditions bank financing sector. The participants in the sector of precious stones and jewelry are in high spirits and hope for growth and development.

Congress of the World Jewelry Confederation (Confédération Internationale de la Bijouterie, Joaillerie et Orfèvrerie, CIBJO) opened in Tel Aviv. It is attended by about 200 representatives of the world jewelry industry (of which approximately 130 are delegates of national jewelry associations from around the world), as well as representatives of international corporations and industry organizations.
The president of CIBJO, Gaetano Cavalieri, opened this annual event, emphasizing the openness and transparency of the organization's meetings. "We are an organization that invites us to participate in the common cause, our meetings are open, all interested parties are invited to participate in it, and they are given the opportunity to express their opinion." And when we make decisions, this is done in the bright light of the day, "said Dr. Cavalieri.
Speaking with a keynote address, South African Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu said that one of her country's goals in 2013 as chair of the Kimberley Process is to demonstrate the relevance of this organization. She stressed that the parties concerned should confirm their commitment to the diamond industry.
"We all need to advance diamonds and ensure that they are not used to fuel conflicts and insurgents.We must lead the business of the KP along an open path that leads to harmony.The diamonds must continue to play an important role in Africa because it is a matter of life and death, and we must also give the opportunity to see future prospects for future generations. "South Africa seeks to contribute to the process in order to make diamonds appropriate to the times," said Susan Shabanga.
Then the Minister of Mining of Zimbabwe, Obert Mpofu, spoke, who said that the jewelery industry in his country is in its infancy. "We urge you to show interest in the diamond industry of Zimbabwe and to participate in its development," he said to the congress participants.

Firestone Diamonds said it earned $ 5.1 million in revenue from the sale of 55,950 carats of rough diamonds during the two tenders held in February and April.
A message sent via email to Rough & Polished said that the average price per carat increased from $ 84.49 at the February tender to $ 101.67 at a tender in April.
In total, during the February tender, 35,718 carats of diamonds were sold, which helped Firestone earn $ 3.02 million in revenue, while at the tender held on April 20, 20,232 carats of diamonds were taken from the hammer, which brought this diamond company- junior $ 2.06 million.
However, Firestone reported that at the April tender, expensive stones were not sold, despite the fact that it was registered high prices.

122 thousand visitors from 100 countries were registered by the organizers of the world exhibition of luxury brands Baselworld 2013. The new indicator indicates that interest from visitors to the exhibition grew by 17% compared to 2012. Exhibiting companies working at the exhibition expressed great satisfaction with the new quality of the Baselworld organization and a high level of attention from the media from around the world.
Representatives of different media also set a new record - the exhibition was covered by over 3,600 accredited journalists, which is 9% more than the previous year.
Jacques J. Duchêne, Chairman of the Committee of Exhibitors, proudly celebrated the beginning of a new era for Baselworld, a new quality and aesthetics of the organization not surpassed anywhere else in the world, which Basel affirms as the main meeting place for the industry.
Guido Terreni, managing director of the watch division of Bulgari, called Baselworld an authentic show of luxury, an event that can not be missed.

The Indian jewelery and jewelry industry finished the 2012-13 fiscal year with good results, contributing US $ 2.132.82 million to the treasury of India as foreign exchange earnings. According to the Gem and Jewelery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), the growth was 154 percent compared to the same period last year.
The financial year ended on a positive note: the import of rough diamonds increased by 12.65 percent, which indicates an increase in the production of diamonds in India. The industry also saw an increase in processing industries, as indicated by a 33 percent increase in exports of gold jewelry and balance of payments. In 2012-13, we also witnessed a significant reduction - by 61.45 percent - of polished imports, which indicates a huge drop in India's foreign currency expenditure. This helped to reduce the deficit of current items of the country's balance of payments. The total volume of exports of precious stones and jewelry for the 2012-13 fiscal year amounted to US $ 39.033 billion.

The first ever Indian-Australian meeting of jewelery industry representatives is organized by the Gem and Jewelery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) to establish business links between a selected group of Indian jewelry manufacturers and leading groups of jewelery retailers from Australia, New Zealand and the Fiji Islands. The two-day meeting will be held May 21-22 at the Sheraton on the Park in Sydney. GJEPC is the highest all-India body responsible for the affairs of the country's jewelry industry, in which 5,300 of its members are represented. Established in 1966, GJEPC operates under the guidance of the Ministry of Trade and Industry of India.

the jewelry company Ben Bridge Jeweler presented a new collection of wedding jewelry under the brand Ikuma, Rapaport reports. The marketing campaign of this brand is based on the promotion of products with diamonds of ethical origin. Ikuma diamonds are made from diamonds mined at the Canadian mine Diavik. Certification of diamonds for the brand Ikuma products is made by the American laboratory American Gem Society (AGS).
"We developed the Ikuma brand a decade ago, as a sign of a special commitment to the production and sales of the most beautiful diamonds produced in compliance with high ethical standards," said Lisa Bridge, vice president of Ben Bridge Jeweler. "We are pleased to present a new exclusive collection of bridal jewelry Ikuma, designed to emphasize the uniqueness of the relationship between each pair."
According to the retailer, the design of the engagement rings and engagement rings Ikuma is designed in accordance with the preferences of socially responsible consumers. The collection includes products with diamonds of various types of cut diamonds in a wide price range.

Recently it became known that the French holding Kering - formerly known as PPR - was replenished with a new company. She became the Italian jewelry brand Pomellato, which the owner of the group François-Henri Pinault (François-Henri Pinault) bought for a nondisclosable sum, according to the Russian Jewelery Network.
Prior to the transaction, the Pomellato Group owned two brands, Pomellato and Dodo. The first relates to the segment of expensive jewelry, the second - to the more affordable. The brand owns 86 boutiques around the world: 45 Pomellato stores, 41 Dodo boutiques. Also, brand products can be found in 600 retail outlets.
According to representatives of Kering, their accumulated experience, resources, media and brand management can contribute to the further development of their new offspring. The amount of the deal has not been disclosed yet, but last month reliable bank sources told Reuters that the business cost the Kering group at € 350 million.
After changing the name of the holding in March, Pomellato was the first acquisition of the Kering Group. Prior to that, the former PPR invested in January, when buying the Christopher Kane brand.

Harry Winston announced the opening of the first jewelry salon in Kuwait, in partnership with the leading local retailer - Kuwait Luxury Co., reports Diamond World portal. The outlet is located on a total area of 122 square meters. m among the most prestigious boutiques in the shopping center Avenues Mall. Harry Winston presents a wide selection of jewelry and watches from the most famous collections of Harry Winston.
The company Harry Winston, which applies such epithets as "King of Diamonds" and "Jeweler of the Stars", was founded in New York in 1932. Over the years, the brand has gained a high reputation and sets standards in the segment of luxury jewelry and watches of the highest price category.
Currently, the company owns 28 jewelry stores around the world, which are located in cities such as New York, London, Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Dubai.

Gemesis Diamond Company, the largest distributor of high-quality artificial diamonds and diamond jewelry, presented the world's largest known white diamonds of artificial origin.
On the site Gemesis.com you can buy a brilliant emerald cut diamond weighing 1.29 carats in color E purity VVS2 at a price of $ 7,633.64, reports Rapaport.
The stone is certified by the International Gemological Institute (IGI), it is given a rare type of purity IIa. In addition to this high-quality diamond, other artificial diamonds of different types of cuts - round, emerald and "princess" - for color categories D, E and F. are on sale at the Gemesis online store.
"This is a big breakthrough," says Martin DeRoy, marketing director of Gemesis. - Gemesis proudly presents to the attention of its customers a new range of artificial diamonds, which have exceptionally high quality characteristics of color and purity, similar to natural diamonds. We look forward to further achievements in the production of large diamonds of high quality, color categories from D to F ".

Purchases of jewelry for the Mother's Day in the US will grow by 13% this year and reach $ 4.2 billion, according to a sociological survey conducted by BIGinsight for the National Retail Federation of the United States (NRF).
Mother's Day is celebrated in the US on the second Sunday in May of each year and this year will be celebrated on May 12. According to the study, consumers are willing to spend on gifts for moms on average at $ 169, which is 11% more than $ 153 last year. According to the forecast of NRF, this year the total sales of Mother's Day will reach $ 20.7 billion.
"It's clear that on this year's Mother's Day, Americans want to pay homage to women in the form of unique gifts for the world's most difficult work." After a long winter that held back the sales of spring collections, retailers are happy to open doors and surprise consumers with special promotions every mom, "- said Federation President Matthew Shay (Matthew Shay).

Within the framework of the annual jewelry exhibition JCK Las Vegas Jewelry Show in Las Vegas, the traditional morning conference Rapaport will be held at the Mandalay Bay Hotel, which is scheduled for June 2, Rapaport said in a press release. The conference is open for visitors to the exhibition, but due to the limited number of seats it is necessary to register for the conference in advance.
The presentation by Martin Rapaport will be devoted to a deep analysis of the problems and opportunities in the world diamond and jewelry trade and the forecast of diamond prices up to the 2013 festive season.
The Martin Rapaport conference program includes reports on the topics: "The state of the diamond industry", "Secrets of diamond certification" and "The issue of legitimization in the supply system of diamonds".

Leading Canadian jewelry company Birks in April organized a presentation of a unique fancy yellow diamond weighing 16.01 carats, rimmed with a platinum ring, where a yellow diamond is surrounded by smaller white diamonds, the portal Gemewizard.com.
The ring was put on display in one of the company's retail stores located in the city of Edmonton (Edmonton), after which it will be sent to Calgary.
According to the company, the color of the unique cut diamond Asscher is completely natural, the purity of the stone is classified in the VVS1 category.
Brilliant Birks, of course, is striking and impressive, but it can not be ranked among the world's largest diamonds. In particular, the yellow diamond Tiffany has a weight of 128.54 carats, it was made of a diamond weighing 287 carats. In November 2011, at Sotheby's auction in Geneva, a diamond of the pear-shaped cut Sun-Drop Diamond weighing 110.03 carats was sold. The cost of this stone exceeded $ 10.9 million.
Birks & Mayors is one of the leading retailers that owns 56 luxury jewelry stores in the US and Canada. In Canada, the company operates 30 stores under the Birks brand.

The most stable factor of the second decade of the 21st century is the constant changes. The dynamics of the processes is high, nothing remains in its place for a long time, Moti Ganz, chairman of the Israel Institute of Diamonds (IDI), writes in his article on Israel.ru website israelidiamond.co.il. Always to be one step ahead of global fluctuations is the most important task that the Israeli Diamond Institute set for itself in 2013.
The share of the United States in the total amount of polished exports from Israel is constantly decreasing: 41% in 2010, 39% in 2011, 37% in 2012, and this is not the limit. No one can say that these changes occurred suddenly, and that we did not have time to prepare.
"To our happiness, the decrease in the share of our market in the US is accompanied by an increase in exports to Hong Kong and neighboring regions: 26% in 2010, 27% in 2011, 29% in 2012, and here too, not yet the limit - the growth is only beginning, notes Gantz.
"This trend has a double reason: on the one hand, diamond jewelry prices in large retail chains have not changed, and, on the other hand, the cost of importing rough diamonds to Israel is constantly growing for the subsequent production of diamonds. As a result, Israeli diamonds are less and less suitable for American jewelry, "Ganz said. - It is important to note that last year the US economy "shrunk" not as much as we feared. Growth in 2013 will also be more rapid than we expected, so it would be reasonable to assume that the US economy will show higher growth rates in 2013 than in 2012. All these figures strongly influence the level of consumer confidence, including diamonds. In conditions when profitability is washed out, and the market of diamonds can not keep up with the market of rough diamonds

Leibish & Co. announced that she was once again among the finalists of one of the most important competitions, which honors the dealers of the world jewelry trade - the JNA Awards, Rapaport reports.
The JNA Awards competition is organized by Jewelery News Asia in cooperation with major partners - Rio Tinto Diamonds and Chow Tai Fook, and other participants in the Gubelin, Israel Diamond Institute, KARP Group, Robert Wan Tahiti and Shanghai Diamond Exchange, as honorary partners .
The JNA Awards award ceremony will provide public recognition of the achievements of some companies in the development of the jewelry industry, including the use of modern and innovative technologies, efforts to develop brands, retail trade and online trade, ensure activities in accordance with the world's best practices and high standards and contribute in the jewelry industry as a whole.
The contest will be held in 13 categories, and Leibish & Co. was among the finalists in the "Online Seller of the Year" category, along with companies such as Chow Tai Fook Jewelery Co. Ltd and Plukka (HK) Ltd.

The richest people in the world prefer jewelry, precious stones and cars, according to the 2013 World Wealth Report, issued by the consulting company Capgemini and the Royal Bank of Canada. The study used the results of surveys of more than 4,400 wealthy people from around the world.
According to the report, international investors, who own a large fortune, spend most of their funds for the purchase of watches, precious stones and jewelry - this category of goods accounts for 31.6% of investments. In second place at the cost of investment are collectables, such as antiques and wine (24.4%). Cars and yachts occupy the third place in the rating of popularity of rich people, they prefer 19%. A "investment in passion" - works of art - choose 16.9% of respondents.

Indian diamond exports jumped 43% on a year-on-year basis in May 2013 to $ 1.78 billion, Rapaport reported citing figures from the Gem & Jewelery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC). The growth in exports for the month was 27% - to 3.262 million carats of diamonds.
Imports of diamonds to India increased more than threefold to $ 536.98 million. Indian net polished exports in May grew by 19% to $ 1.243 billion.
Indian imports of rough diamonds rose 45% year-on-year to $ 1.64 billion, while diamond exports increased by 15% to $ 134.56 million. Net rough imports to India in May rose 48% to $ 1.506 billion.
The Indian net diamond account (the difference in exports and imports of diamonds and diamonds) in May fell to a negative value of $ 263.1 million compared to a surplus of $ 29.1 million for the same month last year.
In the first five months of 2013, Indian polished exports showed a 19% increase to $ 9.481 billion, while polished imports rose 5% to $ 3.132 billion, according to Rapaport.
Imports of rough diamonds rose 10% to $ 7.282 billion from January to May, while rough diamond exports jumped 27% to $ 920.6 million. The
Indian net diamond account for the five months of 2013 remained scarce at $ 13.24 million with a deficit of $ 918 million over the same period last year.

Brink's and BVC announced a strategic alliance in India, focusing on the Indian diamond and jewelry industry. Cooperation and joint activities of companies was launched in April, the portal Diamond World.
This partnership will provide an ideal combination of the advantages of Brink's international network and unrivaled programs with BVC's experience in providing logistics services in India.
"By combining BVC's exceptional culture of service and sales with Brink's unrivaled international infrastructure, we look forward to offering Indian consumers services that will strengthen India's leading position in the diamond and jewelry industry," said Brink's Managing Director in India Samir Hosangady.
Uday Chinai, the son of the founder of BVC, noted that his company's goal within the alliance is to establish new high standards of efficiency, security and service level by working together with such a recognized global brand as Brink's.

One of Japan's largest retail chains specializing in bridal jewelry, has used technology solutions from an Israeli diamond valuation company, Israelidiamond.co.il reports. A press release from CIMA reports on the plans of the retail network to introduce the system of reports on the evaluation of diamonds Light Performance developed by Sarin in all stores in Japan located in both CIMA brands - Ginza Diamond Shiraishi and Exelco Diamond. The technology will be first applied in two central stores of the group in Tokyo, located in the prestigious Ginza district.
Sarin's Light Performance evaluation reports can be compiled for all solitaire diamonds weighing 0.25 carats. CIMA customers will soon be able to access Light Performance reports electronically, using interactive tags directly at CIMA stores, as well as familiarize themselves with all information about the Light Performance system.
Retail network CIMA has more than 50 jewelry stores in Japan, and its annual sales exceed $ 140 million.

Richline Group Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, has signed an agreement to purchase a brand of products from cultured HONONRA pearls, Rapaport reports.
It is expected that the transaction will be closed in July 2013, the company said.
Richeline President Dave Meleski said that the key goal of the deal will be the use of the HONORA brand financial opportunities and support for Richeline to ensure growth in the domestic and international markets.
"HONORA will ensure the expansion of our product range, being one of the dominant players in the category of jewelry with pearls," Meleski said.
The new structure of the company assumes that the current CEO of HONORA Joel Schechter and President Ralph Rossini will retain their positions and will manage the company as a separate brand within the Richline brand division within the Berkshire Hathaway structure.
Richline Group was formed in 2007 as a manufacturer and retailer of jewelry, it owns brands such as LeachGarner, Inverness, Rio Grande and Richline.

The Indian group of companies Gitanjali Group announced partnership with the retailer of luxury goods Paris Gallery as part of the launch of the Gili brand in retail stores located in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Sharjah in the UAE, as well as in Bahrain and Qatar. Rapaport. Paris Gallery will also be responsible for retail sales of the Giantti Italia brand collection.
Gitanjali Chairman Mehul Choksi said: "Thanks to the expansion of the market for our popular and most successful Gili and Giantti Italia brands, Gitanjali retail outlets in Paris Gallery shops can offer consumers products that are suitable for any occasion and are available in any price range. The design of our products is distinguished by an original combination of Indian and Western style ... The alliance with Paris Gallery gives us excellent opportunities to increase the market share of the UAE and increase its value. "
Paris Gallery Director General Mohammed Abdul Rahim Al Fahim noted that the prerequisite for cooperation with Gitanjali was the desire to follow the needs and wishes of consumers in order to offer them the best quality products in a wide range and Gitanjali meets these requirements. "

Presidents of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) and the World Jewelery Confederation (CIBJO) Ernest Blom and Gaetano Cavalieri signed a cooperation agreement, according to which both organizations will seek to coordinate positions with a view to positive influence on the events in world diamond and jewelry sectors, WFDB reported.
The agreement was signed at a meeting of WFDB presidents in Istanbul.
While WFDB and CIBJO will fully retain their independence as an organization, they will coordinate positions on gemological standards and nomenclature; standards and methods of recognition of synthetic stones processed and manufactured using modern technologies, imitating natural diamonds and precious stones; corporate social responsibility, good governance and sustainable development, including the Kimberley Process.
The parties will also exchange knowledge, information and assessments on developments in the international diamond and jewelry markets, protecting the integrity of members of both organizations around the world.

The Indian jewelery and jewelry industry has faced another problem - the fall of the Indian rupee, according to a weekly message from Diamond World. Last week, the exchange rate against the US dollar reached a record low mark - one dollar was equivalent to 58.64 rupees. Thus, from May 1, 2013 the rate of the rupee fell by 7.7%. Procurement of rough diamonds is made for dollars, and importers now have to pay more for the previous volumes of diamonds they buy. At the same time, diamond sales in the domestic market are not very active, market participants are afraid of inflation after weakening the national currency, which, according to some statements, will cause a drop in demand and sales.
This circumstance to a large extent spoiled the mood of Indian jewelers, already affected by the government's policy and the situation in the financial markets. Recently, the import duty on gold was raised, which increased from 6% to 8%, which jeopardized gold sales due to price increases.
All these unfavorable factors lead to the question of how jewelry manufacturers will calculate profit margins and how this will affect the final price of their products.
Although by Friday the rupee had played a little position from the dollar - the exchange rate was 57.79 / 80 rupees per US dollar compared to 57.98 / 99 rupees per dollar as of the closing of stock markets on Thursday - the markets are in shock and hope to improve the situation in the near future.

Trading Network RapNet Diamond Trading Network announced the launch of the Spanish version of its multilingual website. The introduction of the RapNet website in Spanish will allow Spanish-speaking participants in the diamond community to access local and international markets through RapNet and increase their trading activity.
RapNet Operations Director Saville Stern notes: "We recognize the importance and importance of the Spanish-speaking segment of the diamond market and are extremely pleased that we now have the opportunity to communicate with thousands of our customers in their own language."
RapNet, a professional diamond trade association, brings together over 12,000 exhibitors from 80 countries, and more than 1 million diamonds worth about $ 6.6 billion are being sold for sale within this network. RapNet website versions are available in English, Chinese, Gujarati, Japanese and Spanish.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has experienced a sharp increase in sales of diamond jewelry, due to the economic boom and the growth of consumer purchasing power, the Saudi Gazette writes.
It is reported that for the first 4 months of the year sales of diamond jewelry jumped by 16% compared to the same period last year. Importers expect that the sales volume in 2013 may increase by 40%, based on statements of sources from the local market.
According to forecasts, retail sales this year will exceed 5 billion riyals. The province of Riyadh is the leader among diamond consumers, accounting for 48% of sales. On the second place is the Eastern Province (32% of sales), and the third - Jeddah (20%).
The countries of the Persian Gulf are actively increasing the production of diamond jewelry. In Saudi Arabia currently operate 5 enterprises.
The owner of the jewelry store in Al-Hassa, Ammar Al-Molhem, said that over the past three years, sales of diamond jewelry have increased by at least 45%, leading to an increase in imports from European and African countries.
Naji Al-Sawadi, owner of the watch store, notes the great demand for watches with diamonds during the summer holidays and Ramadan. "About 95% of such watches are bought as a present," he said.

London auction "Important jewelry", organized by the auction house Christie's, brought the total revenue of $ 13,424,431, was sold to 77% of the lot, reports Rapaport.
The leading lot of the auction was a necklace of three strands of natural pearls, sold for
$ 1,636,909, more than double the pre-auction estimate. The brooch with natural pearls and diamonds went under the hammer for $ 663,829, 12 times higher than the preliminary estimate.
Among the other largest lots in the London auction was a pendant with a diamond weighing 18.79 carats, purity VVS2, sold for $ 425,149, and a ring with a yellow cut diamond of 7.07 carat, purity VVS1, which went under the hammer for $ 305,809 .
According to Keith Penton (Keith Penton), head of the jewelry division of Christie's in London, the trades were held briskly and demonstrated strengthening of the market of natural pearls.

The largest event of the diamond and jewelery industry in Israel - the JOVELLA exhibition - will be held this year for the 10th time. The event is scheduled from July 2 to July 3 at the Trade Fairs and Convention Center in Tel Aviv. The Jovella exhibition attracts local and foreign buyers with the opportunities that it provides to study the Israeli diamond and jewelry industry, as well as interaction with jewelry designers and manufacturers from all over the country.
This year, around 250 exhibitors from Israel and foreign countries will take part in the exhibition. They will present unfinished diamonds, gold jewelry, products with diamonds and other precious stones, silver jewelry and other products.
Organizers expect a record attendance at the 10th Jovella exhibition, organized by the Stier Group with the support of the Israel Jewelry Manufacturers' Association, the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor, the Institute for Export and the International Cooperation (Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute) and the group of companies Israel Diamond Institute.
As Israela Stier stated: "The Israeli jewelry industry has something to offer the general public, especially in light of the growing interest of buyers in silver and fashion jewelry. In view of the fact that Israeli designers are well represented in the international market, we believe that buyers will come to Tel Aviv in search of new products. "

Belgian polished exports in May this year rose by 7.7% to $ 1.271 billion, while the price per carat of diamonds rose by 12.5% to $ 1.993, according to the Antwerp World Diamond Center, .
Imports of polished diamonds rose 27.9% to $ 1.314 billion, while the net deficit of diamond exports was $ 43 million, compared to net exports of $ 154 million in May 2012.
Belgian rough imports fell 5.4% to $ 1.051 billion in May, while exports rose 6.1% to $ 1.221 billion. The rough diamond export deficit last month was $ 170 million from $ 40 million in May last year.
Belgium's balance of operations with diamonds and diamonds, reflecting the difference between exports and imports, declined and reached a deficit of $ 3 million compared to a surplus of $ 194 million a year earlier.
During the first five months of 2013, Belgium exported polished diamonds for $ 5.778 billion, which is 1.4% more than the same period last year. In turn, polished imports fell 2.3% to $ 5.542 billion.

prices for certified diamonds remained at the same level amid a low-profile trade during the exhibition in Las Vegas, Rapaport reported. The mood in the American retail jewelry sector has improved in connection with the strengthening of confidence among consumers, the growth of employment in the country and the emergence of upward trends in the real estate market and the stock market. However, weakness in other areas created an atmosphere of caution in the trade in diamonds.
While the mood in Las Vegas was positive, the trade in diamond products was slow, but in line with expectations. The exhibition signaled the stability of demand for jewelry in American retail, which raised forecasts for the second half of the year. The Far East and Indian markets remain cautious, while the US continues to be the basis for a global diamond and jewelry market.
In May, the RapNet diamond index (RAPI ™) for certificated diamonds weighing one carat decreased by 0.1 percent. RAPI for stones weighing 0.30 carats increased by 2.1 percent, based on a stable demand for affordable commercial diamonds. RAPI for stones weighing 0.50 carats decreased by 0.1 percent and RAPI for stones weighing 3 carats increased by 0.8 percent.
During the first five months of this year, polished prices for most sizes remained stable, while prices for 0.30 carat stones increased by 8.7 percent amid rising demand in the Far East for this commodity category.

polished exports from India showed an increase of 37% on a year-on-year basis to $ 1.832 billion, Rapaport reported citing figures from the Gems and Jewelery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC). In terms of volume, polished exports grew by 14% year-on-year to 2.547 million carats.
Imports of polished diamonds increased 12% to $ 400.32 million in the reporting month. Indian Indian polished exports soared 47% to $ 1.432 billion.
Indian rough imports for April rose 22% to $ 1.921 billion, while exports of raw materials jumped 110% to $ 242.13 million. Net imports of rough diamonds rose 15% year-on-year to $ 1.679 billion.
The Indian net diamond account (the difference in aggregate polished exports and diamond imports) in April was negative at $ 277.4 million compared to a deficit of $ 489.7 million in the same period last year.
In the first four months of 2013, Indian polished exports increased 15% to $ 7.701 billion, while polished imports fell 7% to $ 2.594 billion. Imports of rough diamonds in January-April 2013 increased by 3% to $ 5.641 billion, exports of diamond raw materials jumped by 30% to $ 786 million. The
Indian net diamond account increased to a positive value of $ 294.84 million compared with a deficit of $ 947 million a year earlier.

Imports of diamonds to Japan increased by 20 percent year-on-year, reaching $ 67.9 million, Rapaport reports with reference to Momozawa agency, which cites data from the Ministry of Finance of Japan. By volume, imports increased by 47 percent to 178,280 carats, and the average price of diamonds fell 18 percent to $ 381 per carat.
Imports of diamonds from India grew by 15 percent year-on-year to $ 34.4 million; from Belgium - by 0.4 percent to $ 10.8 million; imports from Israel fell by 7 percent to $ 4.8 million. Within a month, polished imports from Hong Kong more than doubled to $ 7.9 million, while imports from the US increased 120 percent to $ 3 million.
During the first four months of the year, Japanese polished imports in monetary terms decreased by 0.7 percent to $ 271.1 million, while physical imports rose by 27 percent to 747,695 carats.

Visibility, presence (in stores) across the country, offers, discounts, prizes and other such things seem to have become a "mantra" these days for retailers selling jewelry in India. Such giants as Tanishq, Joyalukkas, Malabar Gold & Diamonds and a variety of retail stores are considering building large chains to make their presence in the Indian domestic market palpable. Needless to say, the domestic market is on the rise and intends to grow in the coming years repeatedly - "a la China." While China's domestic market is focusing on the modern, pro-Western design of its jewelry, India is in demand for a whole range of design solutions, including modern Western design, Indian design (it varies depending on the region) and Indian voluminous wedding jewelry. This obviously causes demand for diamonds of different quality, size, shape, color, cut and weight, which bodes well for the diamond-cutting industry. Not surprisingly, the Indian diamond industry was able to survive, despite a decline in demand due to the global recession in the economy, as the domestic market provided it with a livelihood.
Like many other large retailers and chain stores in India, PC Chandra Jewellers (PCJ), part of the PC Chandra Group, also joined the movement to become a huge online retailer in India. With its current 23 stores, PCJ plans to open 17 new showrooms, as well as create 50 outlets across the country by the end of the current financial year. Within a few days, the company will open three sales outlets in Gujarat.

the diamond cutter profession has been recognized as one of the most desirable in Belgian Antwerp, Israelidiamond.co.il reports referring to the Antwerp World Diamond Center (AWDC) statement. The ranking of occupations is published annually by the Public Employment Service of Flanders.
The image and attractiveness of this profession became a logical result of the contribution of the Antwerp diamond industry to the formation and support of a new generation of cutters that will replace the professionals retiring. Among other things, within the framework of these efforts, the educational course on the basics of diamond cutting was recently organized, after which the diamond industry was replenished with 11 new specialists, AWDC reports.
In the near future AWDC plans to open a special website to help diamond cutters find work in the Antwerp diamond industry.

The US Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) registered the Wedding Day Diamonds trademark on May 28, 2013, in the name of Marquis Jewelers Inc., based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, on Rapaport message.
Wedding Day Diamonds is registered under number 4341422. Marquis Jewelers applied for registration of this trademark on July 27, 2012.
The trademark Wedding Day Diamonds refers to services in the field of retail jewelry stores.

Imports of polished diamonds in the US jumped 19% year-on-year in April 2013 to $ 1.71 billion, driven by an increase in the average value of imported diamonds by 20% to $ 1,934 per carat, Rapaport reported. At the same time, polished exports for the month increased by 40% to $ 1.609 billion, while the average price of exported diamonds jumped 47% to $ 1,530 per carat. US net diamond imports fell 64% to $ 101 million.
US rough imports rose 22% to $ 33 million in April, while exports increased 73% to $ 26 million. Thus, net imports of rough diamonds in April were $ 7 million compared to $ 12 million for the same period last year.
In April, the US net diamond account was $ 108 million, down 63% relative to April 2012.
US polished imports increased 9.5% year-on-year to $ 6.839 billion, while polished exports rose 11.6% to $ 6.073 billion. Net polished imports fell 4.5% to $ 767 million.
Import of rough diamonds for the first four months of 2013 decreased by 5.4% to $ 139 million, rough diamond exports fell 24% to $ 95 million, thus, net imports of raw materials increased to $ 43 million compared to $ 22 million a year earlier.

JeweleryeryAsia organizes a seminar on "Success in Jewelery eCommerce", which will be held the day after the opening of the Hong Kong Jewelery & Gem Fair in June, Rapaport reports. The seminar will be held on June 21 in Hall S226 of the Hong Kong Exhibition Center.
Jerome Hainz, e-commerce manager at UBM Asia, explained that e-commerce is now one of the most pressing issues for jewelery manufacturers and retailers. "That is why we are extremely pleased to have the opportunity to invite two recognized experts who will talk about the main tasks, opportunities and problems associated with supporting online stores in jewelry trade. Undoubtedly, the participants of the seminar will receive important knowledge. "
Elle Hill of the jewelery retail online site Plukka will highlight issues related to attracting and retaining online buyers, focusing on the specifics of the European and American markets, and Wayne Wang (Zbird's Wayne Wang) will tell the audience about how to arrange to themselves Chinese consumers.

Company Stuller Inc. announced the appointment of Maren Rosen (Maren Rosen) as director of the jewelry and wedding products division within the group of companies, Rapaport reports. In the new position, Rosen will be responsible for identifying and exploring new and emerging trends, as well as developing jewelry collections, in addition to her already existing responsibilities within the wedding department of Stuller.
"Maren's ability to transform her vast experience in merchandising, sales and production into successful results for the company made her an excellent candidate for a position in the jewelry division," said Danny Clark, marketing and merchandising director Stuller. "For two years of her work in Stuller we saw the real development of our department of wedding products."