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Richline
in 11th Annual May is Gold Month |
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Richline
Group Inc. announces the eleventh annual May is Gold Month
TM event., This annual online and in-store intiative
brings many of the finest jewellery retailers in the world
together to celebrate the love of gold karat gold. For 2014,
May is Gold Month has been reimagined to share the largest
gold trends, while also introducing all new contests and sweepstakes.
This includes ways for fashion-savvy shoppers to share their
love of gold on both and Pinterest and instagram.
"In May we look to celebrate
our love for mothers, graduations, weddings and mark these
moments and relationships with something that will last forever,
said Lindsey Woodruff, Richline’s vice president of
marketing “This year, as gold makes a triumphant comeback
in fashion, we explore our personal experiences with gold,
how we give, why we remember and what we love about this extraordinary
precious metal.” |
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The May
is Gold Month websife, brings together 14 of the largest
jewellery retailers in The U.S., including Amazon.corn,
BJ’s, Fred Meyer Jewelers, Helzberg Diamonds,
HSN, JCPenney, Kay Jewelers, Kmart, Kohl's, Macy’s,
QVC, Sam's Club, Walmart. In addition To The unveiling
of many partners will be also be own May is Gold Month
events and media promotions online, in Their own stores
and, In the case of QVC and HSN, with televised events.
Links to the gold landing pages for partners can be
found at MayisGoldMonth.com
For the first time ever, Richline
is is adding weekly emall reports as part of this annual
in initiative. Subscibers will receive gold trend inferviews
from up industry experts as well as weekly reports that
share the latest looks from many of the world's finest
retailers. Subscribers to this list will also be eligible
to win a $1,000 jewellery shopping spree from The participating
retail partner of their choice.
Mark Hanna, Richline’s
chief marketing officer, said, May is Gold Month has
become an event that both our retail partners and gold
shoppers alike look forward to, it's a great opportunity
to show off the latesr trends and is a celebration of
the current resurgence of gold that the jewellery industry
has experienced over the past few years."
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Bonhams
to auction Rare Minerals |
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A number of mineral specimens from
estate sources will be up for sale at Bonhams “Gems, Minerals,
Lapidary Works of Art and Natural History” auction scheduled
to take place on May 20 in Los Angeles.
The
Top lot of the sale is a collection of 27 rhodochrosites,
commonly known as “red gold,” ranging in hue from
a light rosy colour to the rare cherry-red shade. The group
is expected to fetch between $200,000 and $250,000. The rhodochrosites
were mined from the Kaldhari Mangdnese Field in South Africa,
representing a collection gathered over many years from a
region that is no longer producing. |
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The Bonhams sale also
will offer a large group of varied mineral specimens
from the estate of Carey A. Parshall of Stamford, Conn.,
obtained mostly on buying Trips from the 1950s through
The 1980s to Morocco, Mexico, Japan, Brazil, and lndia.
The collection features vanadinite, smithsonite, azurite,
stibnite and zeolite.
It will also include a
228,000- carat ruby crystal in zoisite — making
it the largest ruby crystal to be offered at public
auction - expected to fetch, between $100,000 and $150,000.
Other highlights of the
sale includes an exceptionally rare and large demantoid
garnet, expected to go for between $130,000 and $180,000,
and a life-size obsidian carving of a bald eagle, expected
to garner from $80,000 to $100,000.
Additionally, The auction
will offer a multi- gemstone gold and drusy onyx necklace
known as “The American |ngenuity Necklace,”
designed and fabricated by Jeffrey E. Abpling with an
exbected sale price in the range of $60,000 To $80,000.
ln addition to the fine
minerals, the 431-lot Bonhams auction also includes
mammal, dinosaur and plant fossils; loose and rare faceted
gemstones labidary carvings by German masters,' Jewelry;
amber; be petrified wood; meteorites; gold nuggets;
and rare, natural pearls. |
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IGI
Launches Enhanced Website |
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The lnternational
Gemoiogical lnstitute (IGT) has reieased an updated version
of its wepsite. The lap said the changes were made to
be more user-friendly and visually appealing for visitors.
The site has rotating homepage
banners highlighting new photography, as well as revamped
pages depicting the |nstitute’s range of report
options.
It also provides
a comprehensive overview or lGi's gemmological education,
including course detaiis and supporting illustrations.
The wepsite's certification rerrieval
process has been improved as well to aliow users worldwide
To simply enter their report numbers in the search field
to verify. |
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Banks
Slash Diamond Credit |
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Two
major banks providing financing to the diamond industry
are reducing credit to ciients due to concerns that
rough diamond prices are rising too fast.
AnTwerp Diamond Bank and ABN Amro
Group NV, two of the biggest lenders to the industry,
have reduced the amount to 70 percent of rough diamond
purchases from 100 percent, demanding that buyers of
the stones front up more of their own cash.
"It relates to concerns that
we have about the industry, " Bruno Nelemans, executive
vice president for stategy and communication at Antwerp
Diamond Bank, said. "The bank was not feeling happy
about the pricing of rough diamonds compared to polished
prices and diamond jewellery."
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Rough prices have risen strongly in the first quarter of this
year as producers such as De Beers have identified robust
demand for polished stones. "Speculation hurts us as
much as anyone," said
Rough diamond prices rose in 2012 on the
back of a continuing U.S. economic recovery and demand in
China. “They've pushed up prices to unreasonable levels,"
Nelemans said. “The manufacturing and Trading indusTry
is less profitable Than it used to be and we feel it is affecting
The quality of our lending, The quality of our assets and
the quolity of our balance sheet.
"ABN Amro said it reduced the ratio
of its loans to better spread The risk between the bank and
diamantaires to try to entice new lenders to the industry.
“Clients should have more skin in the game Themselves,"
sald Erik Jens, CEO of The InTernational Diamonds and Jewelry
Group at ABN Amro. “We want to balance the risk and
reward for all stakeholders in The industry.”
ABN Amro say that while they've slighily
reduced the size of their total loan book to The industry,
That wasn't the objective of their new terms. Antwerp Diamond
Bank have reduced the ratio of funding for individual transations
while their total loan book has remained about the same size,
according to reports.
“The stronger companies that have
responded to these changes will survive,” Jens said.
“lf margins are eroding there will be companies that
won’t able to step up to these standards, and some companies
will indeed go bust. Others will leave business.” |
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Rio
Tinto Rough Tender a Success |
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Rio
Tinto has reported on the success of its first rough
diamond tender of 2014, describing “strong result
amidst unprecedenled parlicipation and a record number
of successful bidders."
Antwerp-based tender comprised
124 lots of rough diamonds from Rio Tinto's Argyle mine
in Austrolia, The Diavik mine in Canada and ils Zimbabwean
mines at Murowa. The lots included while and fancy coloured
rough diamonds, wilh companies successful in Their bids
for The siones.
Patirick Coppens, general manager
for the sale of Rio Tinto diamond products, said: “We
were delighted wilh The bidding, lhe global nature of
the successful bidders and the final result. It speaks
to the strong demand for our diverse diamond portfiolio."
Along The lots was on exceplional
70ct white diamond from lhe Diavik mine, said to be
the most valuable diamond in total dollors. The mining
company also reported “unprecedenied bidding"
for its fancy coloured rough diamonds from these mines,
with yellow, champagne, cognac pink purple diamonds
sold to diamond specialists from around the world.
Israeli diamond manufacturer
L & N Diamonds. a signaficant winner at the tender
said: "It was great to see the tender in both Antwerp
and the highway competitive Israel diamond industry.
Whlist we were delighted with our diamonds the ultimate
beneficiary will be the consumer when these diamonds
will be transformed into beautiful jewellery for the
major consumer markets around the world."
Rio Tinto's nest tender, known as an invitation sale.
will feature a varietuy of rough diamonds from the Diavik
mine, it will be held in Antwerp in May.
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UN
Experts Report Smuggling |
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Rough
diamond from Ivory oriirirmis from ivory Coast assumed
to illegally flow into the global market, despite the
embargo introduced in 2005. Rough supplier are carried
out under the auspices of senior military officials.
Several European media reports
that the above statement was made by UN experts charged
with checking and veification of effectiveness of the
embargo.
According to experts, diamonds
mined in northern part of ivory Coast are exported to
the neighbouring countries through a dealers network.
Diamond purchases are paid exclusive by cash, and the
money is supposed directed to purchase weapons. UN experts
say that rough diamonds are partially "exported"
directly through the airport in Abidijan, where police
and customs officers are bribed.
'UN experts pubiished their findings at the time when
Ivory Coast was preparing to join the Kimberiey Process
Certiticaition Schemes, what would enable the Atrican
country to resume rough diamonds exports. According
to the data by Europeon Union, annuai diamond production
in ivory Coast ranges from 50000 to 300,000 carats.
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Zimbabwe
to Reduce Diamond Miners |
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The Zimbabwe government has formally informed diamond componies
in Marange that only one or two of them wili be left to mine
in the area. state-owned media reports.
There are seven diamond miners currently
operating in Marange: Anjin Investments Mining Company, Gye
Nyame, Jinan, Kusena Mirange Resources and Mbada diamonds.
The Herald newspaper quoted mines minister Walter Chidhakwa
as saying that he had met the diamond miners and intormed
them that the changes were imminent. “V\/e have invited
the mining companies to discuss policy direction and to deal
with the issue of consolidating financial and human resource
issues,” said Chidakwa “We also discussed policy
direction issues and the issue of equipment.
“We are currently waiting for
the Chinese (Anjin) to come because they said their chaiman
has to come from China and we are rneeting in the second week
of May”
The miners were accused of failiing
to properly account for revenue reolised trom their operations.
They also come under fire recentiy tor not honouring their
obligations to the Marange-Zimunya Community Share Ownership
Trust.
The Herald reports that the remaining
one ot two firms would operate as joint ventures with the
government, However, it was not clear which two companies
would remain. |
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The Zimbabwe government wholly
owns Marange Resources through the Zimbabwe Mining Development
Corporation and Speculation was high that it would likely
survive the chop.
A parlismentary committee last
year reported that tens of millions of dollars of revenue
due to the government never arrived. The committee said
the government received just $41 million in revenue
in 2012.
Zimbabwe is expected to mine
16.9$ million carats of diamonds this year, according
to Mines Ministry estimates. Last year, the country
produced 8 million carats, generating $685 million in
sales.
NGOs, such as Partnership Africa
Canada, have accused the ruling Zanu PF party of looting
about $2 billion from Marange, party to finance the
country's military. The party denies the claims, saying
the European Union's decision last September to lift
sanctions on diamond exports showed that operations
were above board.
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Payment
Slow for Diamonds |
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Zimbabwe has waited one month to recent paymenf for diamonds
sold in Dubai in March reportedly causing problems for diamond
firms operations, and leading to some calls for Zimbabwe to
conduct auctions in Zimbabwe.
Zimbdbwe held its first Tender of
380,626.24 carats of The Dubai Diamond Exchange Centre March
24, with sales of $29.3 million. But The facilitator of The
sale, Global Diamond Tenders, problems Tronsferring The money
To Zimbabwe, According to state~owned newspaper The Herald
with proof of cash Tronsfer only being received April 24.
Mines and Mining Development Minister \/\/alter Chidhokwa
confirmed the delay saying; “They were supposed to have
Transferred them before Easter; maybe due To inefficiency
on the part of the facilitator hence the delay, "the
nespaper reported. |
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Marange Resources acting chief executive
Mark Mabhudhu said, "It has taken long for the
payment to come through. We do not know the logistical
problems the facilitator had, but he has just sent proof
of transfer on April 24. "Mabhudhu said the facillator
did not explain the reason for the delays.
Sources said diamond mining
firms that sent their consigments to Dubai were now
facing operational challenges with most of them struggling
to settle debts and pay salaries as a result of the
delay, "This delay has had a negative effect on
companies because they were expecting payment should
come after a few days like what happened with the Antwerp
(Belgium) tenders, but this one took a month."
Zimbdbwe held a tender in Antwerp
in December 2013 and one in Februbary this year, earning
$79.8 million from 1,237,734 carats sold. |
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Christie's
Geneva Magnificent Jewels |
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Christie's announces The sale of The Blue,
the largest flawless vivid blue didmond in The world. Weighing
13.22 carats, This sensational stone will lead Christie's
auction of Magnificent Jewels To be held in Geneva on 14 May
2014 at The Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues, Just six months
earlier, ChrisTie’s Geneva sold The Orange, The largest
fancy vivid orange diamond in The world for US$355 million,
a world record for an orange diamond and a world auction record
price per carat for any diamond at US$2.11 million. The Blue
is estimated to fetch US$21,000,000 — 25,000,000 and
is the leading gem of The 250 lot strong sale which is estimated
to fetch a toal in the region of US$80 million.
The sale will feature many important coloured
and colourless diamonds such as the Ocean Dream, at 5.50 carats
The largest fancy vivid blue— green diamond in The world
to come to auction. with an estimate of US$7,500 .00 —9,500
.000. The combination of its size, natural origin, hue, and
saturated colour makes it an extremely unusual occurrence.
The Light Pink square-cut diamond of 76.51 carats set as necklace
centre piece by Leviev, estimate: US$7,000,000-10,000,000,
is another rare coloured diamond in The sale. A pear-shaped
D-coloured Flawless diamond of 75.97 carats, estimated at
US$13,500,000 — 15,500,000 will be in The large offering
of perfect diamonds. |
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The cushion-shaped alexandrite 21.41 carats
is accompdnied by report of the Swiss Gemmological lnstitute
stating That the alexandrite is of Russian origin with no
indications of treatment and a distinct colour-change from
green to purple and on appendix letter indicating That "a
natural alexandrite from Russia of This size and quality is
and exceptional and thus can be considered very exceptional
Treasure of nature (Estimated US$500,000 — 700,000)
Considered as The greatest contempory jeweller,
Joel Arthur Rosenthal, JAR is synonymous of exceptional craftsmanship.
Passion for perfecttionism are team freely used in a world
that revolves around exaggereated sensation, but these two
words seem to perfectly sum up the extraordinary creativity
and drive of this unique creator, JAR jewels are extremely
and whenever They come up for auction They acctract the interest
of The world's most demanding collectors. The spring sale
in Geneva will offer an elegant three rectangular-cut diamond
ring, estimated at US$330,000 — 460,000 wiih proceeds
to benefit "Ospendale Pediairico Bambino Gesu' in Rome
and the Pediairio department of The Ospedale Sao Paolo’
in Milan. |
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G.L.D.A.
Las Vegas Gem & Jewelry Trade Show |
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G.L.D.A
- Gem & Jewelry Show - Las Vegas Z014 is a leading event
in the USA. This event will start on 26 May 2014 all and it
will end on 29 May 2014. G.L.D.A - Gem & Jewellery Show
- Las Vegas 2014 will take place at Mirage Events Center in
Las \/egas Nevada. This important trade event is being organical
by G.L.D.A.
G.L.D.A. - Gem &
Jewelry Show-Las Vegas 2014 is one of the most important events
related to the gems. jewellery and head sector. The event presents
the participating exhibitors with a great chance to not only
interact with prospective buyers hut also engage in high level
networking sessions and forge valuable deals and propositions.
Hundreds of dealers and buyers are expected to converge at the
event venue in order to further their business interests. The
event rides upon the success of the previous year editions and
is expected to be a major success.
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The G.L.D.A. Shows are unique in the industry
with at least 50% of their exhibitors being direct source
loose gemstone companies and the remaining exhibitors being
the highest quality finished goods manufacturers,suppliers
mountings and equipment companies.
The 15th Annual GLDA Las Vegas Gem &
Jewelry trade show will be held in the 90,000 square foot
$120 million dollar Mirage Events Center. The Mirage Events
as Center. The Mirage Casino-Hotel is located on the in Las
Vegas across from the Convention & Expo Center.
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Thousands ot dealers in every imaginable
gemstone. one-of-a- jewellery creations. estate jewellery.
accessories. and products for everyone from the rock-hound
to the amateur jeweller. can be found a the G.L.D.A. Show.
Deep discount and the infinite variety attract the public
to the dealers from :corner of the world: China, Indonesia.
South Africa. West Australia. Poland, Russia, Canada. the
American Southwest and more.
G.L.D.A - Gem & Jewelry Show- Las Vegas
2014 will be presenting an exhibitor profile with hundredes
of dealers, suppliers and manufacturers. The exhibitor profile
will include professionals from direct source loose gemstone
companies. manufacturers. whole- salers. suppliers of gemstones
and jewellery products. amateur jewellers. manufacturers of
jewellery and gemstone cutting and designing equipments. Some
of the gemstone varieties found in the exhibition are diamond.
pearl. ruby, sapphire, gold, antique jewellery, silver, emerald.
opal and platinum. Some other product exhibits at the event
are estate jewellery, accessories, tools used in jewellery
making, jade and opals. et|uipment used in the cutting of
gems apart from semi precious stones. branded clocks and watches.
packaging and display materials. cut and uncut gemstones and
branded costume jewellery.
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The
Artist's Touch
by Amber Michelle |
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"It was a classic
case of necessity breeds ingenuity,” says Ron Rizzo, creative
director, Pleve, which is both the name of the new diamond-setting
technique that he invented and the company that sells the jewellery
made using this method. Rizzo began developing the new setting
shortly after the U.S. was hit with the Great Recession.
Rizzo looked at his inventory of loose
diamonds and wanted to use what he already had because he didn’t
want to buy any new stones. “I spilled the diamonds on
to the table and I had rounds in different sizes and I had all
kinds of different shapes and I couldn't calibrate them. Then
I patted a few stones down and I thought. ‘Wouldn’t
it be great if l could use them in a random pattern‘.
Following through on his idea, and after
a lot of trial and error, Rizzo developed a high-tech, clear
ceramic in which he could set the diamonds. In terms of construction,
Pleve is similar to a mosaic. “I started by pouring the
diamonds into the ceramic, then I flattened them so that there
were no gaps between the stones. The challenge is to lay in
the stones with no gaps. They need to be girdle to girdle. The
ceramic acts as a bond,” explains Rizzo. "When you
look at the finished piece. it is like looking at a painting."
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Made in New York
The pieces are all handmade by artisans in
New York City. "There is no metal in the setting. Pleve
breaks all the rules of building jewellery, from diamond sorting
to setting says Rizzo, "The key is mixed shapes and sizes.
We have artisans who build a piece of Pleve. We have art students
, illustrators, and a graduate gemmologist from the gemmologist
from Institute of America. There needs to be creativity. I teach
the artists how to diamonds and they look at and shape tor the
piece that they are working on."
The
process starts with an assortment of stones and a layout for
the pattern. One of the benefits of this technique is that it
doesn’t require a particular shape or size of diamond,
so a broader range of stones can be used. Rizzo notes that there
is a very mathematical formula for creating a piece of Pleve
jewellery. He likens the technique to playing with a Rubik’s
Cube — it’s challenging to the mind to put a piece
together. “We have a palette of stones and a pattern that
we use and then we build the individual piece for that pattern.
We have certain anchor stones so that we can replicate the pattern;
there is a formula with repetitive stone weights. The New York
City workshop currently is comprised of four Pleve artists and
three jewellers who work using traditional jewellery-making
techniques. The traditional jewellers will add a diamond frame
around a piece or put on ring shanks. earring backs or other
findings. |
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Patent
Once Rizzo had the formula for the ceramic perfected.
he started working on the U. S. patent process.It was around
that same time that he was introduced to the Antwerp- based
diamond sightholder the Pluc/enik Group. The company is interested
in developing new ideas and bringing new brands to market.
Pluczenik Group was interested in Pleve. so they partnered
with Rizzo and invested in a worldwide patent for the technique.
Since that time. the Pluczcnik Group has been instrumental
in latinching Pleve. which was introduced at Baselworld in
2011. The collection is currently being sold by a number of
independent retailers and in select Saks Fifth Avenue stores.
“When we met Ron, Pleve was essentially
at a seed level,” comments Gadi Cohen. general manager
and chief operating officer of Pleve and Pluczenik USA. “We
immediately recognized Ron’s unique artistic approach
to setting diamonds in jewellery. We believed that if we joined
forces we could turn Pleve into the most innovative diamond
jewellery concept that the industry has seen in a long time.”
The name Pleve came about when Rizzo was doing
research to find a name for what he was doing. "We weren't
naming a technique, " he says "I was researching
names and I came across the French enameling technique ‘champleve"
l liked the sound of Pleve. I googled it and it didn’t
exist as a word. so I trademarked it. l also liked the Way
Pleve looked on paper. We created our own font for the name."
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A
finished piece of Pleve intriguing. with a texture and patta
that is not generally seen in diamotj jewellery. Because Pleve
is a surfaé design, the pieces tend to be biggéi
“Because the pieces are bigger, it allows the design to
breathe," concludes Rizzo. "That is whenl appreciate
what Pleve is about. The technique brings out the magic and
allows the vision to come alive." |
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