RAPAPORT… The Rapaport Group announced the launch of the Rapaport Price List in Rupee. The new list recognizes the increasing importance of India as the fastest-growing consumer market for diamonds. Indian subscribers will also receive the Rupee Price List via email along with their U.S. dollar price list. The Rupee Price List will be a straight conversion of prices from dollars to rupees based on the Reserve Bank of India’s Thursday exchange rate. Subscribers can download it at www.diamonds.net.
Harry Levy was appointed president of the London Diamond Bourse following the sudden death of Freddy Hager in April. Levy will serve until the next bourse elections are held in the spring of 2012. The bourse’s council of management also appointed Menachem E. Prager as vice president, David Joffe as treasurer and Cyril Ruttenberg as executive officer.
The Antwerp Diamond Bourse (Beurs voor Diamanthandel) announced the appointment of Maurice Fischler as its new president following its biennial elections. Fischler, of Fischler Diamonds Company, has served on the board for the past six years. Board members Yves Diamant, Liran Horowitz, Jacques Korn, Kaushik Mehta and Jacques Roth were all reelected to their seats. Avraham Pinchasi was elected to fill the seat of the late ADB president Artur Beller.
The International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA) chose Toronto as the host city for its 2013 Presidents’ Meeting. IDMA’s president, Moti Ganz, cited the benefits of hosting the meeting in a diamond-producing country following the recent IDMA’s presidents’ meeting in Gaborone, Botswana. For more information, go to www.idma.co.
Singapore will host the 36th annual World Diamond Congress in 2014, the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) announced. WFDB president Avi Paz explained that the selection of Singapore is its importance as a gateway to the Asian market, especially Malaysia and Indonesia which are potential growth markets for diamonds and diamond jewelry.
The Palmieri Group, founder and owner of the Gem Certification & Assurance Lab Inc. (GCAL), completed the acquisition of all business and assets related to Gemprint. GCAL has been utilizing Gemprint technology in Botswana, Canada, China, India, Israel and the U.S. to audit and support country-of-origin authenticity of diamonds for many years. In addition, all GCAL graded diamonds are “gemprinted” and stored in the Diamond ID International Database. For more information, visit www.Gemprint.com/news.
James Campbell was appointed president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Rockwell Diamonds. Campbell, currently vice president of new business at Lucara Diamond Corporation, will take over at Rockwell on June 1. He will replace John Bristow, who resigned in December.
Firestone Diamonds has appointed Angus Ogilvie to its board as finance director. Ogilvie previously worked at Stellar Diamonds and also at Debswana.
LJ International Inc. appointed Omar Torres to supervise the company’s design team and to launch his own luxury jewelry line with the ENZO retail chain. Torres, previously creative director for LJ’s Lorenzo jewelry line, founded a jewelry brand under his own name in 1996.
Martin Flyer appointed Victoria Tyndale as the company’s regional manager. She will be responsible for a territory that includes the West Coast, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas.
Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company promoted Carol P. Sanders to senior vice president. Sanders will continue to serve as chief financial officer (CFO) and corporate treasurer.
Humphrey Valenbreder, regional head of ABN AMRO’s International Diamond and Jewelry Group, will receive the North American Business Banker Award at the Indian Diamond and Colorstone Association’s (IDCA) 27th Annual Gala Awards Night on June 4 at JCK Las Vegas. The IDCA will also honor Varda Shine, chief executive officer (CEO) of De Beers Diamond Trading Company (DTC) and Shreyas K. Doshi, chief managing director of Shrenuj & Co. Ltd.
Ronnie L. Cox, the owner of Cox Jewelers in Sweetwater, Texas, was named the 2011 recipient of the American Gem Society’s (AGS) Robert M. Shipley award. Cox was chosen for his expertise and commitment to his community, his personal business practices and for his dedication to the jewelry industry and to AGS.
The Women’s Jewelry Association (WJA) announced 33 nominees for its upcoming “Awards for Excellence” to be awarded at its annual gala on July 25, 2011 at Chelsea Piers in New York. WJA will also recognize Hall of Fame honoree Varda Shine, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Diamond Trading Company (DTC); Matt Stuller of Stuller Inc. with the Ben Kaiser Award and retailer Helzberg Diamonds with the Corporate Award for Excellence. For more information, visit www.womensjewelryassociation.com.
The American Gem Society (AGS) announced its 2011 Circle of Distinction Honorees. Its Lifetime Achievement Award will be given to David and Sybil Yurman of David Yurman. Triple Zero Award recipients are Kathryn Kimmel, vice president and chief marketing officer of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and David L. Rocha, executive director of Jewelers for Children (JFC). The awards will be given at AGS’ 11th Circle of Distinction Dinner on July 26 at the Plaza Hotel in New York.
Gemological Science International (GSI) opened a satellite office in the Diamond Tower in Ramat Gan, Israel. GSI plans to expand the office into a full-fledged laboratory in the near future.
The New York Diamond Dealers Club (DDC) secured an agreement with TransGuardian, a high-security shipping and logistics company specializing in the jewelry and gemstone industry. The agreement enables DDC members to ship diamonds and jewelry at preferred rates. DDC’s plans to implement a new secure online trading platform will include TransGuardian’s organization of a credit risk insurance policy for transactions managed through DDC’s Bonded Trading System.
Signet Jewelers Limited received certification from the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) for meeting the ethical, human rights, social and environmental standards established by the RJC’s Member Certification System. Signet Jewelers’ certification encompasses all of its U.S. and U.K. operations, which total more than 1,800 retail locations. Signet Jewelers joins Cartier as the second of RJC’s founding members to be certified.
RJC also welcomed two new members. The International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA) became the eleventh trade association to join the RJC. IDMA members include 16 diamond-manufacturing associations from around the world. Also joining the RJC is Syndicat Saint Eloi, L’Union du Commerce, de l’Horologerie, Bijouterie, Joaillerie, Orfèvrerie et Accessoires. Founded in Paris in 1979, Syndicat Saint Eloi is an independent professional body that represents the French watch and jewelry traders.
RJC also announced that it is partnering with Social Accountability International (SAI) to collaborate on training, industry outreach and standards harmonization programs to promote responsible business practices in the jewelry supply chain and to provide guidance on establishing systems and procedures for social compliance. The organizations will launch a supplier-training program in India in the second half of 2011.
Tiffany & Co. joined with the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund in a three-year partnership with a $1 millon gift. As part of Tiffany’s commitment, a one-time $250,000 business development grant will be awarded to a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund jewelry designer alumna who best demonstrates an ability to develop designs as an independent entity.
Jewelers of America (JA) is accepting applications for its Affinity Group Support Fund in 2011 to supplement the cost of members’ projects and events. In 2010, JA provided $12,500 in funding to projects that aligned with JA’s mission to deliver benefits to individual members and to the jewelry industry. Executive directors and boards of state and regional partner associations interested in applying should contact David Peters at dpeters-at-jewelers.org.
The Dalumi Group, an Israel-based diamond and jewelry manufacturer opened an office in Mumbai. The company explained that this office will enable them to be closer to the fastest-growing diamond center in the world.
Winona Capital Management invested $13 million with Circa Inc. The funding will allow Circa to expand its operations and open new offices in the U.S. and abroad. Chris Del Gatto, Circa’s chairman, cited the Winona team’s deep understanding of the luxury marketplace.
Kingold Jewelry Inc. made a presentation at the Oppenheimer 5th Annual China Dragon Conference. Bin Liu, chief financial officer (CFO) of the China-based gold jewelry manufacturing firm, gave the presentation.
Veratad Technologies LLC, a provider of identity verification and compliance solutions, and the Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC) will partner with DCIT Corporation to offer Veratad’s IDMatch+PLUS virtual identity verification along with JVC membership to its BusinessMind software solution customers. The software is designed to protect jewelers against losses due to fines for noncompliance, as well as fraud and credit card chargebacks. For more information, visit www.dcit.com and www.veratad.com.
