MOSCOW – The government of Russia's Yakutia region, which has a stake in diamond producer Alrosa, has proposed the company sell rough diamonds worth $0.5-billion to $1-billion to the precious metals and gems repository Gokhran in 2020, Interfax news agency reported.Diamond miners are battling falling demand, as well as competition from diamonds manufactured in laboratories. Alrosa is the...Read More
RAPAPORT... Luk Fook plans to scale back its Hong Kong store network and expand in mainland China and Macau as it becomes the latest jeweler to rethink how its spreads resources across the region.The retailer expects a "single-digit" decrease in the number of rental leases it renews in Hong Kong in the current financial year ending March 31, and a "double-digit" drop the following year, it sa...Read More
RAPAPORT... The Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC) has presented Gemological Institute of America (GIA) CEO Susan Jacques with the Stanley Schechter Award.The accolade, which was established in 2002, recognizes industry leaders who have raised the jewelry community's reputation through their dedication, ethics and integrity, JVC said last week."Susan is a true industry treasure who deeply emb...Read More
RAPAPORT... The US jewelry industry contracted in 2019 as the number of businesses closing shop continued to exceed new entrants.The sector shrank 3.3% to 24,565 companies active in the fourth quarter, compared with 25,400 a year earlier, according to data the Jewelers Board of Trade (JBT) released Thursday. While 900 businesses left the industry during the year, only 228 joined.However, the...Read More
(IDEX Online) - HRD Antwerp has hired Ellen Joncheere as its new CEO. The appointment is effective immediately. Interim CEO Michel Janssens will be retiring next summer. Joncheere was formerly general manager at Fremach, a plastic automotive components supplier. She has also worked in the environmental services sector. HRD Antwerp said in a release that the new CEO plans to help the orga...Read More
RAPAPORT... US retail sales increased 4.1% during the recent holiday season amid steady consumer confidence, the National Retail Federation (NRF) said.Total sales for the November-to-December period were $730.2 billion, according to the NRF, which bases its numbers on figures from the US Census Bureau. That total came in at the higher end of the NRF's forecast of $727.9 billion to $730.7...Read More
RAPAPORT... Alrosa has begun drilling at its Mir mine to test whether reopening the deposit is economically viable.This phase, which it will carry out through 2021, will help define the mine's dimensions and the quality and grade of its remaining diamonds, Alrosa noted last week. It will also test how safe the site is.Alrosa will spend RUB 2 billion ($32.5 million) to complete the first phase...Read More
RAPAPORT... Luk Fook plans to scale back its Hong Kong store network and expand in mainland China and Macau, as events in the region have influenced consumer spending.The retailer expects a "single-digit" decrease in the number of rental leases it renews in Hong Kong in the current financial year ending March 31, and a "double-digit" drop the following year, it said Thursday. That comes after...Read More
RAPAPORT... US retail sales increased 4.1% during the recent holiday season amid steady consumer confidence, the National Retail Federation (NRF) said.Total sales for the November-to-December period were $730.2 billion, according to the NRF, which bases its numbers on figures from the US Census Bureau. That total came in at the higher end of the NRF's forecast of $727.9 billion to $730.7...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited has acquired Enzo Jewelry Inc. The retailer, which specializes in colored gemstones, has 60 points of sale in Mainland China.Adrian Cheng, executive director of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, said Enzo will continue its niche position as a natural coloured gem specialist, which will complement the group's multi-brand strategy. Founded...Read More
RAPAPORT... Bonhams has hired Eleonora D'Ottavi in its latest effort to build up its global jewelry business.D'Ottavi will join the auction house as head of jewelry for Italy, responsible for providing valuation services and sourcing gems that Bonhams will sell at its New York, London and Hong Kong auctions."Eleonora brings the ideal combination of international experience and proven com...Read More
(IDEX Online) - There are rumors that De Beers could be considering changes to its Sightholder system. According to Bloomberg, De Beers has hinted that it could reduce the number of Sightholders to help strengthen business for the companies that survive the shake up. Bloomberg said that De Beers' clients have been told to expect an update on possible contract changes at this week's...Read More
RAPAPORT... The Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC) has presented Gemological Institute of America (GIA) CEO Susan Jacques with the Stanley Schechter Award.The accolade, which was established in 2002, recognizes industry leaders who have raised the jewelry community's reputation through their dedication, ethics and integrity, JVC said last week."Susan is a true industry treasure who deeply emb...Read More
RAPAPORT... The US jewelry industry contracted in 2019 as the number of businesses closing shop continued to exceed new entrants.The sector shrank 3.3% to 24,565 companies active in the fourth quarter, compared with 25,400 a year earlier, according to data the Jewelers Board of Trade (JBT) released Thursday. While 900 businesses left the industry during the year, only 228 joined.However, the...Read More
RAPAPORT... Bonhams has hired Eleonora D'Ottavi in its latest effort to build up its global jewelry business.D'Ottavi will join the auction house as head of jewelry for Italy, responsible for providing valuation services and sourcing gems that Bonhams will sell at its New York, London and Hong Kong auctions."Eleonora brings the ideal combination of international experience and proven com...Read More
Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Wonie Bio will attend the 2020 iteration of the Investing in African Mining Indaba, which takes place in Cape Town from February 3 to 6.Bio was elected as the fifth President of Sierra Leone in May 2018 and is popularly referred to as the “Father of Democracy” because of his contribution towards the restoration of democracy and attainment of peace in...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Rio Tinto has announced its Q4 and full-year figures for 2019 with production at both the Argyle and Diavik mines down 8 percent over 2018. The miner said these results were due to lower recovered grade at Argyle, which was partially offset by stronger mining and processing rates. At Diavik, the drop was due to lower ore availability and grade from the underground operations....Read More
RAPAPORT... Richemont's jewelry sales increased 9% in the third fiscal quarter as strong growth in Europe, the US and China offset weakness in Hong Kong.Jewelry proceeds from Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Buccellati rose to EUR 2.16 billion ($2.40 billion) in the three months ending December 31, Richemont reported last week. The results were the first to include Buccellati following Ric...Read More
RAPAPORT... Rio Tinto expects a decline in diamond production in 2020 as it reduces output at its Argyle mine in Australia, which is set to close in the fourth quarter.The company will produce between 12 million and 14 million carats for the year, compared with 17 million carats in 2019, it said last week. The miner also expects to retrieve lower grades at its Diavik mine in Canada, further i...Read More
RAPAPORT... The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has suspended its diamond-sealing service after fraudsters tampered with packets and replaced stones with treated ones. A small number of packages were "compromised" after leaving the GIA with their seals closed, the organization said in a statement Friday. The "third parties" swapped the original goods with natural diamonds that had undergone...Read More