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Last
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Vol.
26 No. 9 - APRIL 2013 |
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Ethiopia
Mulls Rough Opal Exports |
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Quietly
and under the radar, Ethiopia appears to be developing
into a significant force in the gemstone industry. Speaking
last month, Ato Tollosa Shagi of the country’s
Ministry of Mines reported that over a six-month period
the country had earned $288 million from the export
of gemstones. Ato Tollosa was speaking at a seminar
held at the Canadian Embassy in Addis Ababa. He told
participants that currently some 250 companies have
taken licenses to operate mining exploration in the
country.
Ehiopia is
best known for its opal production, which was first
included in the Ethiopian federal government’s
list of exportable items in 2005. As a result, output
increased, both in terms of production and revenue. |
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Ethiopian opal. |
In
January it was reported that the federal government
was considering banning the export of rough opal, in
order to persuade exporters to add value locally. It
will be the second extractive resource to be banned,
after the ministry suspended the export of unprocessed
tantalum.
Ethiopia exported
10,104 kg of gemstones during the last two quarters
of 2012; 600 kg more than in 2011. India took close
to 80 percent of exports.
More than
2,000 miners, working under the umbrella of 17 associations
are engaged in opal mining. There are 200 exporters
recognized by the ministry. According to Tekle Yilma,
president of the Ethiopian Gemstone Association, almost
all gemstones are sold as rough, without any value addition. |
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Lucara
Unearths 239-carat Rough |
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Lucara
Diamond Corp has recovered a 239.2-carat rough diamond from
its Karowe Mine in Botswana, along with two other large pieces
of rough weighing 124.0 carats and 71.1 carats. The finds
follow the discovery of a number of larger pieces of blue
rough at the mine. A 9.46-carat blue diamond from Karowe sold
in the fall for more than $450,000 per carat, and in January
Lucara announced the discovery of pieces of blue rough weighing
4.77 and 0.2 carats. |
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Lucara
said it unearthed the diamonds in the central kimberlite
domain, which only recently became an ore feed to the
plant as the pit expands south. The company plans to
send the diamonds to Antwerp for study before they are
sold later this year.
“The
recovery of these large stones is hugely significant
to both Lucara and Botswana. To the best of my knowledge,
the 239-carat stone is one of the largest diamonds ever
to have been recovered from the highly prolific Orapa
kimberlite field in over 40 years of production,”
said Lucara President and CEO William Lamb. “The
recovery of a diamond of this size, the confirmed population
of blue diamonds and the strong operational performance
in our first few quarters of operation demonstrate the
quality of the assets as well as the competence of the
operations team.” |
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Karowe Mine is one of Lucara’s two key assets and
is 100 percent owned and operated by the company. The
other is the Mothae Project in Lesotho, which is 75 percent
owned by Lucara. |
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This 239-carat rough diamond was one of
three large finds Lucara Diamond Corp. recently made at
its mine in Botswana. |
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Myanmar
Looks to Increase Gem Output
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The
Ministry of Mining of Myanmar (Burma) has announced that new
gem mining permits in Mogoke, Mineshu and Nanyar Sate will be
issued at $1,167 per gem mining block, while permits for old
jade mine blocks that expired during January, February and March
will be soon be renewed. |
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This
suggests an increase in mining activity in Myanmar,
but for the meantime at least gemstones will not be
heading toward the United States. On February 22, the
Office of Foreign Assets Control at the U.S. Department
of the Treasury issued General License 19, which authorized
additional U.S. economic activity in Burma, but does
not cover the importation into the United States of
jadeite or rubies mined in Burma, or of articles of
jewellery containing jadeite or rubies mined in Burma.
But
there has been a significant relaxation of the sanctions
regime. General License 19 furthers the process, enabling
individuals, companies and financial institutions to
conduct most transactions — including opening
and maintaining accounts and conducting a range of other
financial activities.
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Speaking
to the Burmese parliament last month, the country’s
deputy minister for foreign affairs, Zin Yaw, said that
the Government of Myanmar will lobby for the repeal
of U.S. legislation banning gem traders from exporting
to the United States. “Repealing a law in the
U.S. is a step by step process that includes political,
legal views as well as methodology. Our government,
and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is constantly asking
that all the sanctions imposed on our country be lifted,”
he stated.
The
United States’ hardline attitude began to relax
after Burmese President Thein Sein took office in March
2011, and soon after released political
prisoners, including the Nobel Peace Prize laureate
Aung San Suu Kyi, who later took up a seat in parliament. |
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‘State
of the Diamond Industry’
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Diamond
industry analyst Chaim Even-Zohar of Tacy Ltd spoke
at Israel Diamond Week on the ‘State of the International
Diamond Industry’.
Even-Zohar
covered topics including diamond prices, banking debt
and the global retail demand for diamonds, as well as
the issues of synthetic diamonds in the gem diamond
market and the impact of recycled goods on the market.
For
this year’s annual diamond pipeline, Even- Zohar
has added gem quality synthetic diamonds and recycled
goods, since both of these goods affect the diamond
market significantly. According to Even-Zohar’s
lowest calculations, some US$0.5 billion out of US$22
billion on the diamond market last year was synthetically
produced. Even-Zohar forecast that rough diamond prices
would not increase in any meaningful manner in 2013
or 2014, and that supply and demand would be in equilibrium.
Concerning
the financial status of the diamond industry, Even-Zohar
said that the “industry’s financial situation
has never been better.” During the global financial
crisis, “money came back into the business as
people brought money from home,” he explained.
Even-Zohar discussed the banking debt of global diamond
centres such as India and Israel, and reassured the
audience that “worldwide, the diamond industry
has a very good name in terms of the banking risk”.
Regarding
the issue of synthetic diamonds being traded on the
gem diamond market without being declared as such, Even-Zohar
warned that the industry faces a problem concerning
this issue. “The diamond industry has to start
thinking about what it does in those situations,”
he warned. According to locals in Surat in India, between
5% and 7% of 1, 2 and 3 pointers are synthetic stones,
said Even-Zohar. He explained that most of the synthetics
are being set in jewellery before being exported, and
hence do not enter the gem diamond market.
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Top : Chaim Even-Zohar
Bottom : A photograph of the undisclosed synthetic diamonds
submitted to the IGI in Antwerp |
Turning
to recycled goods, which Even-Zohar estimates reached
US$1.2 billion last year, he noted, “The other
thing impacting pipeline level is the pawn shops. That
business is a huge business. Many companies now have
a business model of buying recycling goods. It impacts
prices whether you like
it or not,” he said.
Even-Zohar
concluded by calling on the industry to take action
concerning the loss of diamond jewellery from the consumer
share of luxury goods. “We are losing our attraction
to the consumer and losing their wallet share. There
is something fundamentally wrong. We are competing with
other products and we are losing. We need to capture
back our share of the consumer wallet,” he explained.
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Top
Jewellers Join the ‘Happening’ Midyear Fair in Bangkok
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IGJ
2013 – the International Gems & Jewelry Fair
– is Thailand’s only midyear gem and jewellery
event, and is being held 13-16 June 2013 in the Royal
Paragon Hall, located in the upmarket Siam Paragon shopping
mall in the Bangkok city center.
IGJ
2013 is drawing enthusiastic responses from exhibitors
– top jewellers from Thailand, from the Asian
Region, and from around the world. Exhibiting at IGJ
2013 are:
In
the Elite Pavilion we have Beauty Gems Group,
Diamrusa Ltd, Lee Seng Jewelry (LS Jewelry), Ta Jewels
(Jeweltech International) and Mahallati AK
participating. These are all leading jewellers in Thailand
with an international customer base.
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Elite Pavilion |
The
International Pavilion has drawn the Hongkong
Jewellery and Jade Manufacturer’s Association
to bring 12 leading companies from its members. Taka
Jewellery will be showcasing the affordable
luxury besides having international exhibitors like
Aspire Designs, Sade Is Mounting, Avi Paz
Diamond, Mor Brothers Diamond and many
more. |
The
Jewel Fest Club will be represented
by a pavilion consisting of Premier Group,
World Crystal and many other
leading members. The Gemstone and Diamond exhibitors
comprise top names including Om Diamond,
the Unique Group, RMC, K.G.K. Group, Gemma International,
Cosmos Gems, Azuga Gems, Pornchai Inter, Sukhadia Stones,
Expert Gems, Star Shine, Star Lanka and
many more. Chantaburi will
be represented by members of both the exporters and
manufacturers associations. |
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Other
top jewellers at the fair include JNB, Thai Jewellery
Manufacturer, Miki Siamese, R.C. Jeweller, Savvy Jewelry, STD
Design, Jewellery Sakai, Real Stones.
The
Show is supported by all Thailand’s major gem and jewellery
trade associations, as well as the GIT,
the AIGS, and other top laboratories.
A major promotion is planned both for international buyers as
well as local visitors using social media, TV, radio and international
and local print media.
For
more information you can access our website at www.thaigemjewelryfair.com |
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Swarovski
GemsTM Presents Latest Innovations at Baselworld
2013
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Swarovski
GemsTM, Swarovski’s premium product brand
for precision-cut genuine gemstones and created stones, is
at Baselworld, the prestigious industry showcase being held
in Basel, Switzerland from April 25 to May 2, 2013. On this
occasion, Swarovski GemsTM is part of the extraordinary concept
Swarovski booth located in New Hall 1.1, Stand C21. Here Swarovski
GemsTM presents its well-balanced genuine gemstone and created
stone palette
to the world of fine jewellery and watches. The brand highlights
its latest innovations, the revolutionary cut for genuine
topaz and its zirconia novelties at this important gathering,
which also sees the launch of the new Gem Visions 2014 trend
and design publication.
The Swarovski GemsTM Brand
Over
a century ago, Daniel Swarovski, inventor, entrepreneur and
visionary, pioneered precision cutting technology for jewellery
stones and founded his enterprise based on a philosophy of
uncompromising creativity, technological excellence and social
values. It is the pursuance of these founding principles that
have made Swarovski known worldwide for meticulous craftsmanship,
quality, technical virtuosity and inspiring creativity. Starting
in 1965, Swarovski has also offered a range of beautifully
crafted genuine gemstones and created stones. This service
evolved into the Swarovski GemsTM brand, now synonymous for
quality in genuine gemstones and created stones that include
sapphire, rhodolite, peridot, amethyst, citrine, black spinel,
topaz, marcasite, zirconia and synthetic stones. |
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Natural Brilliance: Swarovski Genuine
Topaz
GemsTM
has now turned its profound knowledge and expertise in precision
cutting of fine stones to the creation of a dazzling new cut
for genuine topaz: the patented Natural Brilliance cut.
Conceived
and executed according to the Gemological Institute of America’s
exacting parameters for insuring the maximum refracted light
and fire, the impeccably calibrated precisioncut facets unleash
all of the stone’s inner light and radiance. Swarovski
Genuine Topaz gemstones now achieve a 130% higher brilliance
than any other topaz available on the market.
Swarovski
GemsTM prides itself on the perfect symmetry and
superb finish of all its stones, and its topaz possesses the
same unerring consistency and uniformity of size, shape and
dimension. Every Swarovski Genuine Topaz has perfect proportions,
regardless of however extensive the order, guaranteeing a diameter
tolerance of +/- 0.05 mm. These qualities make these exquisite
stones simple to match and quick and easy to set, minimizing
any possible pitfalls of chipping or wastage. It is the express
goal of Swarovski GemsTM that working with Swarovski Genuine
Topaz be not only creatively inspiring but also efficient and
effective. |
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White
topaz, the traditional expression of pure femininity and the
colour of choice for gala occasions achieves dazzling heights
with the innovative Natural
Brilliance cut. For contrasting looks, Swarovski GemsTM has
made Swarovski Genuine Topaz also available in a stunning
range of vivid colours created with the unique Thermal Color
Fusion (TCF™) treatment. Unlike other processes, TCF™
creates a beautifully coloured topaz containing absolutely
no radiation. The TCF™ treatment, patented in both Austria
and the United States, has been demonstrated to be both permanent
and able to sustain cast-in-place production methods and cleaning
processes.
With
the Natural Brilliance cut from Swarovski GemsTM transforming
earth’s topaz into a highly refined gem of perfection
and precision, Swarovski has
succeeded in revealing the true brilliance, and elegance of
the much-coveted gemstone. Natural Brilliance offers customers
both precisely cut stones and the detailed know-how needed
to incorporate them into any creative concept. International
visitors to Baselworld 2013 will be able to discover this
first hand at the Swarovski booth. |
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The
pure brilliance concept for Zirconia
Swarovski
GemsTM created a sensation with its Pure Brilliance concept
for zirconia when it first launched its revolutionary Round
Pure Brilliance Cut. This was a stone of unparalleled craftsmanship
that conformed to the GIA’s extensiveset of standards
for grading diamond cut quality. Swarovski GemsTM then enhanced
this innovation with the creation of the stunning Zirconia
Diamond Colours: Fancy Yellow, FancyPink, Fancy Blue and Fancy
Brown. Each colour equates to one of nature’s most celebrated
coloured diamonds, the Tiffany, the Agra, the Hope and the
Golden Jubilee. Completing the trilogy of innovation that
is the Pure Brilliance concept for zirconia, Swarovski GemsTM
next introduced Zirconia Fancy Diamond Cuts. The five original
cuts, the Square Princess, Marquise, Pear, Oval and Baguette
Princess, exemplify the pinnacle of cutting technology, each
with its own distinctly individual character and unique story
to impart. |
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Zirconia product
novelties for 2014
New
to Baselworld in 2013 are three product novelties that further
enhance the Swarovski GemsTM story of the Pure Brilliance
concept for zirconia. Further drawing on the company’s
expertise, the Swarovski Zirconia is now also presented in
two new colours: Fancy Green and Fancy Purple. Fancy Green
is a colour also found in natural diamonds and is modelled
on the famous Dresden Green Diamond originating from India,
while the amethyst-shaded Fancy Purple offers unique design
opportunities for new colour combinations. As with the original
Zirconia Diamond Colours, the colour of every single stone
is uniform, regardless of the size of the stone and the order.
Rounding
out the group of product novelties is the new Cushion Cut
– another classic cut in the jewellery industry, now
precision-cut by Swarovski GemsTM. |
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Gem Visions 2014
Baselworld
is also the showcase for the launch of the 2014 edition of
Gem Visions, Swarovski GemsTM unique inspirational tool that
explores the megatrends and design directions for the upcoming
year. Gem Visions 2014 is set to delight industry and jewellery
devotees by presenting new and visionary insights for the
scintillating world of jewellery and associated products,
the result of passionate research by the company’s trend
and design experts. For Gem Visions 2014, the team has taken
the year’s projected megatrends and broken them down
into four constituent design directions to facilitate a journey
of discovery illustrated by key stories. These design directions
are further matched to colours, materials and gemstone cuts
and ultimately, to the most appropriate stones from the Swarovski
GemsTM assortment. The 2014 trends centre on a concept of
dualities, which foster a dialogue between contrasted polarities
that unite to forge a new visual vocabulary. There will also
be a focus on the gemstone as work of art, a naturally occurring
rarity that transcends its beginnings to become both an asset
and an object of exceptional beauty. New to Gem Visions 2014
is the inclusion of two trend topics chosen by the Swarovski
GemsTM experts for special focus and elaboration. These areas
of interest, “Jogging Gems” and “Vienna
Vibrations”, were chosen as inspirations that are expected
to have a significant impact in 2014. They not only inspire
creators but also unleash opportunities for storytelling,
a concept still central to successful jewellery design. |
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Jogging Gems
With
Jogging Gems, Gem Visions 2014 focuses on the evolution and
growing sophistication of sports-wear. Moving from the purely
functional into the headier realm of the superchic, must-have
fashion statement, this trend received a huge boost during
the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, when leading
sportswomen chose to express their style by wearing fine jewellery
during their competitions. Gem Visions 2014 illustrates that
this direction is in line with a new mood in fine jewellery.
Jewels are shifting toward a more casual, confident preciousness
and everyday opulence. Women increasingly choose jewellery
not only for its visual impact but also pieces that feel sensual
on the skin and move with the body. Women now want jewellery
that can be worn for work, play, or sports: at the gym or
out jogging. |
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Vienna Vibrations
Gem
Visions’ second theme for 2014 focuses on Vienna, the
city that nurtured the dreams and aspirations of the young
Daniel Swarovski, the company founder. It was in Vienna in
1883 that the budding scientist and entrepreneur first discovered
the enormous potential of electricity, which in turn sparked
his ingenious invention of a machine to precision-cut jewellery
stones. Today, Vienna, situated at the heart of a renewed
Europe, is regaining its position as a major cultural and
design powerhouse. Vienna revels in its art, music and pride
of intellect. It is a magnet for talented individuals, who
vibrate with inspiration and innovation, while fusing tradition
with modernity. Gem Visions 2014 presents an up-to-the-minute
celebration of the art, craft and design
of Vienna.
Swarovski
GemsTM invites visitors to the unique new Swarovski
booth at Baselworld to discover its stunning innovations and
initiatives. Natural Brilliance Topaz, Swarovski Zirconia
novelties and Gem Visions 2014 are stories of light captured
and reflected in the unmatched genuine gemstones and created
stones from Swarovski GemsTM . |
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