RAPAPORT... De Beers launched its Diamond Trading Company (DTC) accredited business program, naming four nonsightholders to the project: Livingstones; Premier Diamond Cutting Ltd.; Richold SA; and Shree Ramkrishna Export. Premier did not reapply for the current DTC sightholder contract period and the other firms lost their sightholder status this period.
DTC spokespersons said these companies were fully compliant with De Beers Diamond Best Practice Principles, which means that they have demonstrated a commitment to business, social and environmental best practices. The four companies agreed to participate in the associated Assurance Program, which incorporates independent, third-party verification of their compliance.
The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) announced its 2009 election results for the organization’s board of directors. The new officers will serve three-year terms and be introduced at the AGTA membership meeting on February 8, 2009 in Tucson, Arizona. Elections were held for president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and three director positions.
The following officers were elected: president, Benjamin Hackman, Intercolor USA; vice president, Kambiz Sabouri, Gem 2000 Inc.; secretary, John Bachman, John M. Bachman Inc.; treasurer, Sampat Poddar, Byrex Gems Inc.; directors, Ruben Bindra, B & B Fine Gems; Ron Ringsrud, Ronald Ringsrud Co.; and Ambrish Sethi, Manak Jewels Inc.
The American Gem Society (AGS) announced that members purchasing AGS’s Diamond Quality™ Certificate (DQC) no longer need to order it up front. Now if they would like to supplement their Diamond Quality™ Document (DQD) with a DQC, all they need to do is call. Additional laser inscriptions still must be ordered up front. The certificate, which was introduced in April 2007, allows jewelers to sign and personally guarantee a diamond’s quality. For more information on the Diamond Quality Certificate, contact AGS Laboratories at 702.233.6120.
HRD Antwerp NV launched its Lab Link service in Dubai, describing the venture as a component of its global expansion. The move follows the introduction of Lab Link in the Israel, Hong Kong and Mumbai markets in the past year. Lab Link will allow members of the Dubai diamond sector direct access to the HRD Antwerp Diamond Lab, the commercial arm of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC). HRD signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Transguard, signaling possible cooperation in Dubai on marketing initiatives, education and training in the region.
Antiquorum, the watch auctioneer, appointed Robert Maron chairman. In addition to assuming leadership of the team currently in place at Antiquorum, Maron will bring his staff from Robert Maron, Inc. with him. A watch dealer since 1982, Maron was one of the first to sell luxury watches online.
Sears Holdings Corporation appointed Michelle Pearlman president of jewelry and senior vice president. Pearlman joins Sears from Ann Taylor Stores Corporation, where she served as executive vice president for ATC Direct, leading its internet sales division, which includes AnnTaylor.com and AnnTaylorLOFT.com.
Vishal Mehta, who runs Rosy Blue South Africa, will now lead the operation with Amish Mehta. Their new management team will also include Anish Parikh, Asaf Magazanic, Aditya Sha and Steve Putterman. Rosy Blue has been working toward establishing Israel as the company’s distribution hub for fancy shaped, polished diamonds.
The Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies (IDI) appointed Alissa Goren as its deputy managing director and chief marketing officer (CMO). She will be responsible for implementing IDI’s marketing strategy.
ALROSA vice president Sergey Oulin was awarded an Order of Honor by special decree of the president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko. Oulin was presented the award on September 2, 2008 for “his considerable personal contribution to developing international trade and economic relations in the diamond industry,” according to a statement issued by his office. He was appointed vice president of ALROSA in December 2007 and is responsible for the company’s diamond sorting, valuation, selling, buying and purchasing divisions and for developing beneficial relations with the company’s partners. Oulin is also president of the Diamond Chamber of Russia, a member of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB).
The Harry Oppenheimer Israel Diamond Museum launched a new exhibition of rare and ancient jewelry excavated at various archeological sites in Israel. The exhibition, titled “Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver,” takes its name from a verse in the Book of Proverbs, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver,” and alludes to a time when golden balls used in intricate jewelry designs were known as apples, according to the Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies (IDI). The exhibition was opened to the public on September 12 and includes more than 100 pieces of ancient jewelry lent to the museum by the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Hecht Museum in Haifa.
The National Association of Jewelry Appraisers (NAJA) invited gemological students to apply for an ACE© It Appraisal Conference Scholarship, which covers the fees for the 31st Annual ACE It Winter Educational Conference on February 2 to 3, 2009 in Tucson, Arizona. Gemological Institute of America (GIA), Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain (FGA), Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Australia (FGAA), Fellowship of the German Gemmological Association (FGG) and Fellowship Canadian Gemmological Association (FCGmA) students are eligible. Applications can be obtained at NAJA’s website, www.NAJAappraisers.com, and emailed to naja.appraisers@netzero.com or faxed to 718.997.9057. The deadline for submission is November 1, 2008 and the final selection will be announced December 1, 2008.
Diamonds Direct opened a new 6,000-square-foot showroom outside the Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh, North Carolina. Diamonds Direct offers customers a lifetime upgrade policy, free jewelry maintenance and cleaning, a free appraisal for insurance purposes and 18-month financing. Customers are granted a money-back guarantee and 90-day price protection.
Dharmanandan Diamonds is offering online marketing services to expand its consumer base. Customers can now select and purchase diamonds online via a secure portal at www.dharmanandan.com.
Article from the Rapaport Magazine - October 2008. To subscribe click here.