Market slow. India trade in crisis as price declines continue. 1 ct. RAPI -2.7% in July, 0.50 ct. -4.8%. Summer vacation in Belgium and Israel. American dealers have better salable inventory than Indian manufacturers, as they buy more selectively. US jewelry sector shrank 2.4% to 23,424 companies in 2Q, JBT reports. Concerns about synthetics remain. Mainland China sluggish. Hong Kong improving, with June sales of jewelry, watches, clocks and valuable gifts +64% to $713M. Optimism for Indian jewelry demand as Mumbai IIJS show opens. RJC updates terms to allow member expulsions. Armed robbers reportedly steal about $13M in jewelry from Piaget Paris store.

Legal terms have changed since the Russia crisis, executive director Melanie Grant tells the Rapaport Diamond Podcast.

Savvy retailers are stocking up for the approaching gift season, and the latest issue offers a peek at their shopping lists. We also chat with Feriel Zerouki, the new president of the World Diamond Council (WDC), about her ambitious plans for the trade body.

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