Jewelry in the news: 2,500-Year-Old Jewelry Found in Israel.

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Israeli archaeologists excavating caves near the Dead Sea discovered jewelry, a makeup kit and a small mirror -- 2,500-year-old fashion accessories for women.

Diamonds in the news: Russian miners eager to tap Sierra Leone's diamond fields.

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FREETOWN : Russia's state-run mining company Alrosa has dispatched a team to Sierra Leone in hopes of winning a bid to exploit the west African state's lucrative Kimberlite diamond mining industry, official radio reported.

A decade-long rebel war in the impoverished Atlantic coastal country was largely funded by illegal trade in so-called "blood diamonds".

Diamonds in the news: ANGOLA: New body to monitor diamond-mining sector.

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The Angolan government has set up a new security body to monitor the lucrative but loosely controlled diamond-mining sector.

A newly established security agency, the Corpo de Seguranca de Diamantes (CSD), will monitor the storing, classification and transportation of diamonds.

Gemstones in the news: Gemstone cutter shows off creations.

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SCOTTSDALE - Bernd Munsteiner, the renowned German gemstone cutter, is in Scottsdale this week showcasing his family's latest creations.

Munsteiner, who had been compared to the Antichrist because of his radical approach to stonecutting, more recently has been elevated to comparisons to Picasso.

"What they (the Munsteiner family) do is unlike what anyone does in the gem-cutting world," said French Thompson, owner of the French Designer Jewelry, 7148 E. Main St., which is hosting Munsteiner's visit today through Saturday.

Jewelry in the news: Sisters turn jewelry hobby into Web gold.

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Founded by sisters Susan Hurley of North Andover and Lisa First of League City, Texas, www.forthegirlwhohaseverything.com (also www.lisafirst.com) is in its second year as an online shop for handmade jewelry, including bracelets that consumers can personalize by clicking and dragging charms onto online prototypes in six colors.
''There is nothing else like this on the Web as far as I have researched and seen," said 40-year-old Hurley, who is responsible for the company's sales and marketing, while 42-year-old First assembles the bracelets, necklaces, and earrings from her home in Texas. The sisters share design and shipping duties.

Gemstones in the news: Gemstone Miners Cry Foul Over 30m Euros.

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SMALL-scale gemstone miners have complained over the stiff conditions set by local banks in accessing 30 million Euros released by the European Union (EU) to improve the industry.
Sub-Sahara gemstone exchange Chairman, Phesto Musonda said in an interview in Ndola yesterday that no miner had accessed the funding from the 30 million euros which was released two years ago.

Jewelry in the news: Widow's Diamond Ring Returned To Daughter After 30 Years.

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Shortly after her husband died, Judie Vann gave her prized gold and diamond ring to his best friend in appreciation for the kindness he had shown her family.
On Wednesday, more than 30 years later, the best friend's 90-year-old mother returned the ring to Vann's daughters at a local restaurant. Now they can hardly wait to return it to their mother.

The International Herald Tribune has an interesting article about Jewelry that features Warren Buffet's take on making money in the Jewelry Business.

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"All jewelers turn their inventory very slowly, and that ties up a lot of capital. Once-a-year turnover is par for the course. The reason is that people buy jewelry infrequently, and then they are making both a major and a very individual purchase. Therefore, they want to view a wide selection. Given that turnover is low, a jeweler must obtain a relatively wide profit margin on sales in order to get a mediocre return."

The Seattle Times weighs in on the Gemesis and Apollo Diamonds story: Fake diamonds making a real impression.

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A question has dogged the jewelry industry for decades: If humans could make a perfect diamond in a laboratory — indistinguishable from one mined from the ground — what would it be worth?
This query has gone unanswered since the first synthetic diamond was manufactured in the 1950s. Beautiful stones have been created, but nothing that couldn't be identified as man-made.

Until now.

Diamonds in the news: Venus Williams out of Diamond Games in Antwerp due to injury.

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The significance of missing the tournament is made greater by the fact that any person to win three times in five years is rewarded with a tennis racket studded with 1,700 jewels worth over AUS$1.6million.

Diamonds in the news: Dream diamond sows division.

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Johannesburg - The discovery of a 13.7 carat white diamond in a Ventersdorp mine in North West has rekindled a fight over royalty rights in a divided community on whose land the digging takes place.

The diamond, discovered by Tirisano Diamond Mine on Easter Sunday 2003, has been on display since January 14 in London.

It is part of the sensual Valentine's Day theme at Garrard, one of the UK's most celebrated brands and known for being at the cutting edge of luxury jewellery design.

The diamond has already caused a stir in South Africa as exposure to ultraviolet light causes it to fluoresce bright pink, one of the rarest colours.

Jewelry in the news: The clock is ticking for Classic Jewelry.

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PARK HILLS - Though the store has been open only 17 years, when the doors of Classic Jewelry and Awards close in April more than a century of experience in that business will be moving on.
When Jim and Marilyn Blake opened the store in 1987, they did so without a single piece of jewelry merchandise in stock. All they had was the engraving equipment for the awards side of the business.

The Beeb covers the huge 100m euro Belgian theft of Diamonds in February last year. I bet this story will become a film soon.

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In February last year 100m euros (£65m) worth of diamonds vanished from vaults under the Belgian city of Antwerp during a heist which was straight out of the Hollywood movie Ocean's Eleven.
Detectives believe an Italian gang were responsible but the stones are still missing and may never be found.
Ever since the beginning of the 16th century Antwerp has been the world's diamond-cutting capital.
Over half the world's diamonds are traded in the Belgian city's gem district, a maze of streets close to the train station. Diamond merchants in Antwerp have a combined annual turnover of $23 billion.

Slashdot covers Diamond Age Coming Soon and The Galaxy's Largest Diamond on Valentine's Day.

Diamonds in the news: Bids Wanted For Diamond Studded Jaguar.

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The Orange British Academy Film Awards is hosting an auction of a $115,000 (£60,000) Jaguar, fitted complete with two diamonds in the walnut facia. The Sunexis-cut 1 carat diamonds account for a third of the value of the car.

Diamonds in the news: Diamond jewellery exports grow by 39 per cent.

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If the recent observations of the diamond industry experts and diamond jewellery makers are to be considered, India soon will be a world leader of branded and non-branded diamond jewellery.
What more, the domestic market too is showing a positive growth trend.
Over the last few years, many diamond polishers and cutters from the country's diamond city, Surat, have established their names as makers of branded diamond jewelleries.

Diamonds in the news: ALROSA obtains license for exploring Irkutsk diamond deposits.

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.The Russian diamond producer ALROSA obtained a license for exploring diamond deposits in the Irkutsk region of Russia. Yesterday, the corresponding documents were signed by Natural Resources Minister Pyotr Sadovnik and ALROSA President Vladimir Kalitin, sources in the Natural Resources Ministry told RBC.

Diamonds in the news: Europe's largest diamond field eyes float.

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Russian diamond monopoly Alrosa may seek a London Stock Exchange listing for a subsidiary developing Europe's largest diamond field, business newspaper Vedomosti reports a senior executive as saying.

Jewelry in the news: Jewelry: protecting your investment.

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Consumer Reports used an antique diamond watch to see how large discrepancies in appraisals can be. Donald Palmieri, a Master Gemologist Appraiser, supplied a benchmark appraisal. He valued the watch at $1,550.
His appraisal included a pamphlet with a complete, stone-by-stone description of the watch and photos.
Consumer Reports then had four different appraisers assess the same watch. Two didn't come close to the watch's real value.
The highest priced appraisal was for $3,500, Freeman said. The lowest was for $500. So the range was extremely wide.

The IDI has launched a new website.

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Diamond-il, is the comprehensive source of information about this leading world diamond center. Established by the Israel Diamond Institute, a public interest company charged with promoting the diamond industry, the Portal will assist you with all of your business needs in Israel. Here you'll find background on who's who in the industry, facts and figures, information on news and events, and tips on doing business with Israeli diamantaires.

Diamonds in the news: Tahera a step closer to Canada's next diamond mine.

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British Columbia (Reuters) - Production at what is expected to be Canada's third diamond mine is on track to kick off late next year or early in 2006, project owner, Tahera Corp. , said.

The small exploration firm cleared a major hurdle Friday in the development of its Jericho diamond project in Nunavut when the territory in Canada's north said it was happy with findings of a study into the environmental impact of a mine.

Diamonds in the news: Armenia Diamond Production Rises 31% in 2003.

Diamonds in the news: Diamond explorer Paramount to float.

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Diamond hunter Maureen Muggeridge is chairing a new exploration company Paramount Mining Corp Ltd which will float this week after closing a $3.5 million capital raising oversubscribed.
Ms Muggeridge, who led the field sampling team that discovered the famous Argyle diamond deposits in Western Australia, said there was potential in Australia for more major discoveries.
The company expects to float on the Australian Stock Exchange on Friday ahead of a two-year $2 million exploration program to develop its WA diamond prospects.

Diamonds in the news: Govt, barons reach pact over diamond park .

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SURAT : The proposed gems and jewellery park at Ichhapore is finally all set to take off with a breakthrough in talks between the Surat diamond industry and the Gujarat government.

Diamonds in the news: Leviev obtains 36 Namibian diamond mining concessions

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Sakawe Mining Corporation (Samicor), a subsidiary of the Lev Leviev group of companies, has obtained 36 mining concessions from the Namibian government. The concessions are potentially worth $180 million.
The deal strengthens Leviev's challenge to De Beers Diamond Trading Company (De Beers), which controls over 40% of the world's diamond mines. Leviev's control of Namibia's diamonds adds to his exclusive rights in other African countries obtained in recent years.

Diamonds in the news: Rockwell Closes Deal With GMD on Royce Diamond Claims and Completes $3.0 Million Financing.

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The Royce Claims host one of the most focused diamond exploration targets in Canada's premier diamond province. Two principal diamond indicator mineral trains have been identified by prior exploration on the property; the Wheeler Lake and Bessonette trains are defined by G-10 garnets, ilmenites and chromites that are chemically compatible with the diamond stability field. The heads of these trains have not been drill tested for their compelling diamond potential. The Royce targets are further defined by airborne geophysical results. Rockwell plans to initiate detailed ground geophysics in February 2004 to refine specific drill targets for testing.

Jewelry in the news: Men Needn't Fear Jewelry Shopping.

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Some men circle the brightly lit cases nervously, their eyes darting from bauble to gem.

Others go right to the salesclerks, asking for suggestions, then buy the first thing they see.

"I've had some men come in and just tell me, `You pick something,' " said Christi Albright, store manager at Van Adams, a jewelry store in Snellville, Ga. "All that such customers provide is a spending limit."

Jewelry shopping can intimidate even the strongest of men.

Jewelry in the news: Valentine's sells jewelry.

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The annual day of hearts and flowers ranks as the second-biggest moneymaking holiday on the industry's calendar. And, each year, it continues to grow.
"There is a trend towards more women buying jewelry for friends and daughters on holidays," said Holly Wesche, owner of Wesche Jewelers in Melbourne. "And I would say that we see a slight rise in engagement-ring purchases before Valentine's Day. It's a natural fit."

Diamonds in the news: Citrix Connects Diavik Diamond Mines Employees Across the Remote Canadian Arctic

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When diamonds were discovered in the Canadian Arctic in 1991, many considered the area to be nearly inaccessible. But today the Northwest Territories is the site of one of the most extensive mineral rushes in North American history. DDMI's primary asset is a majority interest in the Diavik Diamond Mine, a large tract of land that hosts the Western Hemisphere's second diamond mine, over 300 kilometers northeast of Diavik's headquarters in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Because DDMI's operations are often spread across great distances, secure, easy and instant access to information is key to the success of its mobile workforce. DDMI is using MetaFrame Presentation Server to deliver information, processing capabilities and high-use business applications to a variety of contractors and engineers via satellite link, regardless of their location. With anywhere, anytime access to critical information, DDMI is able to improve productivity and communication across great distances.

Diamonds in the news: MOTI GANZ ELECTED PRESIDENT OF IDMA.

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Moti Ganz, 43, has been unanimously elected as the President of the Israel Diamond Manufacturers Association, following recent elections.
Ganz, a second-generation diamantaire, began his work in the sector in 1982 as an independent exporter, and today manages the DTC sightholding company Moti Ganz, which has won the prestigious Outstanding Exporter Award

Jewelry in the news: ALMAZHOLDING TO BUILD JEWELRY FACTORY IN KALININGRAD

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Russia's second largest diamond polisher by capacity, Almazholding Management, is to build a US$1.5 million gold and diamond jewelry factory in Kaliningrad, with construction due to begin in the near future.
Privately owned Almazholding, which began polishing diamonds in 1999, currently has a small jewelry division with 30 employees that makes exclusive gold and diamond products largely for export, while the new factory will employ about 400 people.

Diamonds in the news: Diamond cut grades topic of Centurion breakfast

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The Gemological Institute of America introduced some of its key findings on cut grade research at a breakfast seminar during the recent Centurion jewelry show held Feb. 1-5 at the Westin La Paloma Resort in Tucson, Ariz. GIA intends to incorporate expanded cut information on all its grading reports and Diamond Dossiers for all standard round D to Z color diamonds, possibly as early as later this year.
In a move certain to arouse controversy, GIA has definitively stated that a range of proportions can produce a top cut grade, rather than having only one single set of proportions be considered the benchmark.

Diamonds in the news: Dismay over diamond mining code

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The Central African Republic's new mining code lacks transparency and allows for undue government interference in the sector, experts have said.
The new code was passed on Wednesday after extensive consultations with officials from the World Bank, IMF, and African Development Bank who visited Bangui last month.

Diamonds in the news: GOKHRAN PLANS THREE DIAMOND AUCTIONS IN 2004

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The Gokhran, Russia's state depository for precious metals and gemstones, plans to hold three auctions for rough diamonds weighing 10.8 carats or more this year, with the first taking place late March or early April.
Last year, the Gokhran held three auctions in 2003, selling 60 percent of the 405 lots on offer at the first auction, over 90 percent of 531 lots at the second, and 62 percent of 295 lots at the last auction of the year in October 2003.

Diamonds in the news: NUNAVUT BOARD APPROVES EIS FOR JERICHO DIAMOND PROJECT

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The Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB) has recommended the approval of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Tahera Corporation/s Jericho Diamond Project in Nunavut.

Diamonds in the news: Women ringing diamond changes.

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THERE'S little doubt diamonds are a girl's best friend, but it's a long 60-year wait after the wedding for that diamond anniversary gift . . . or is it?

A revised list of wedding anniversary gifts is set to challenge the "traditional" list and in the 21st century, making it to 10 years of wedded bliss is all that's needed to secure that diamond.
"According to statistics, almost 50 per cent of couples who marry today will be divorced in seven years," said relationships expert Allan Pease. "So making it to 10 years really is quite an achievement."

Jewelry in the news: WestportNow Consumer Correspondent, Fran, has Jewelry in her latest column, Memo to Husbands and Boy Friends: Buy Jewelry.

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This one is strictly for the men.
If she tells you she really doesn't want anything for Valentine's Day this year ... assures you "Honey, you really don't have to get me anything" ... or agrees with you that it's a silly, made-up holiday that exists only for school kids and commercial purposes, and that you should feel perfectly free to ignore Feb. 14... Take it from me. She's lying.
So for the very wise men (you too, Y's Men) who are going to be looking for that perfect diamond heart necklace this weekend - you can't go wrong sticking with tradition