Google in the news: Google has filed with the SEC to go public!

Jewelry in the News: Tiffany backs environmentalists' push for Earth-friendly jewelry.

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One gold ring, conservationists say, generates 20 tons of mine waste. This year, they passed out Valentine's Day cards reading, ''Don't tarnish your love with dirty gold'' in front of jewelry stores in New York, Boston and Washington.
The campaign caught the attention of Tiffany & Co., which took out a recent ad in the Washington Post that said a proposed mine under the Cabinet Mountains wilderness of Montana is a poor way to fill its jewelry cabinets on Fifth Avenue.
''Given the impact of mining for gold, silver and platinum, they are a company who cared about how they were viewed and what their customers think,'' said Steve D'Esposito, president of Earthworks, the environmental group leading the campaign.
The ad, signed by Tiffany chairman and chief executive Michael J. Kowalski, surprised leaders in the mining industry.
''I was stunned that a person of Mr. Kowalski's stature and obvious business acumen would write a letter like that,'' said Laura Skaer, head of the Northwest Mining Association in Spokane.
The jewelry industry has already started the process of guaranteeing that its raw materials came only from socially and environmentally friendly mining companies, according to Jewelers of America, an industry group.

Diamonds in the news: Otish Announces Exploration Claims in Northern Quebec's Diamond Exploration Region.

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Otish Mountain Diamond Company, Inc. (OTCBB:OMDC), an American diamond exploration company with rights to 75,000 acres of mining claims for diamond exploration activities located in Northern Quebec, Canada, announces today that, with diamond mining and production activities in Canada experiencing dramatic growth, the Company foresees strong economic potential in its 75,000 acres of diamond exploration claims.
Northern Quebec diamond exploration remains at a very early stage, with the potential for the discovery of world class deposits remaining high when compared to producing countries such as South Africa and Botswana. The relatively unexplored nature of large areas of Canada, along with continuing evolution of geological models for North America, ensures that diamond occurrences will continue to be identified. Quebec has recently experienced a significant number of important diamondiferous kimberlites discoveries.

Diamonds in the news: EKATI DIAMOND PRODUCTION FALLS.

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Diamond production at BHP Billiton during the quarter ending March 31st 2004 fell by 40 percent to 1,015,000 million carats from 1,704,000 million carats during the previous quarter ending December 31st 2003. This decrease reflects the completion of processing from a pocket of high grade material from the Koala pit in December 2003, though March 2004 quarter production was in line with the March 2003 quarter.

Diamonds in the news: I'M A £40M DIAMOND THIEF.. & I GOT AWAY WITH IT.

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JOAN Hannington strides into the luxury hotel, takes a good look around and asks: "Anyfing 'ere worf nicking?" No one knows quite how to react until Joan, wearing a trilby, bright-red lipstick and sunglasses starts laughing like a drain.
Not so long ago nobody was laughing, least off all some of London's most exclusive jewellers as she conned them out out of &L&40million of gems over ten years.
And she was never caught.
Joan was so good at what she did that she was known as The Godmother. Now the book she has written about her life is to be turned into the movie Diamond with Gwyneth Paltrow playing Joan.
Joan is set to collect &L&1million from the film rights and jokes that it will be the first "straight" money she has ever earned.
Despite the tell-all book and movie, Joan, 47, is not worried that the boys in blue will be knocking on her door. Sipping on another large vodka and coke, she points out coolly that her story "could all be a pack of lies".

Diamonds in the news: Synthetic diamonds threaten diamond industry. Fakes are not perceivable even under the microscope.

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New synthetic diamonds threaten to flood the diamond industry in Israel and abroad. The fakes, manufactured from carbon, look identical to perfect natural diamonds. Udi Shintal, a diamond supervisor at the Ministry of Industry, says that the synthetic stones are produced and polished in a process similar to that undergone by natural jewels.
Blemishes can be usually deducted by magnifying a diamond 10 times under a microscope. However, when a synthetic diamond was checked in Belgium, no blemishes were found, even after the diamond was magnified 50 times. This would make it very difficult for a regular diamond merchant to detect a problem, said Shintal.

Diamonds in the news: Brazilian Indians massacre diamond miners.

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MORE than 40 bodies of illegal miners killed at close range by spears, arrows and clubs have been removed from an Indian reservation in northern Brazil.

Indigenous warriors of the Cinta Larga (Wide Belt) tribe have carried out the attacks in order to defend their 6.7 million-acre reservation from illegal prospectors mining diamonds. The tribal lands are believed to have some of the largest diamond deposits in Brazil.

Diamonds in the news: De Beers in Botswana JV

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Beers, 45 percent held by Anglo American, on Thursday announced it had established a joint venture with African Diamonds plc to explore for diamond bearing deposits, or kimberlites, in Botswana.
The joint venture is 51 percent held by De Beers and 49 percent by African Diamonds.
De Beers' interest will climb to 70 percent once a bankable feasibility study, funded by De Beers, has been completed. De Beers and African Diamonds will each contribute certain license areas to the joint venture exploration programme.

Jewelry in the News: After jewelry is lost, connections are found.

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Losing a diamond pendant and topaz ring taught Elaine Jordan that the world really is a small place and that there are honest people in it.
The woman who found Jordan's jewelry turned out be the daughter of a former co-worker. The two women discovered they had a mutual friend. And all three have connections to the jewelry industry.
The story began on March 4, when Jordan, of Lexington, who owns The Gold Peddler, picked up her jewelry along with some items for her customers from Greg Wells, who makes and repairs jewelry in Eastland Shopping Center.

Diamonds in the News: Diamond Discoveries Files 10-K Report.

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Diamond Discoveries International Corp (OTCBB:DMDD) is an US exploration company with executive offices in Vancouver, B.C. Through its wholly owned subsidiary Diamond Discoveries (Canada) Inc., it controls certain mineral permits in the Torngat Mountains Peninsula, north-eastern Quebec. The Company is focused on exploring for diamonds. The Company has located more than 50 kimberlite dykes and several kimberlite pipes. This summer, they plan on actively sampling the targeted areas for diamonds both by bulk sampling and core drilling.

Jewelry in the news: Amazon.com launches jewelry store.

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Amazon.com Inc. of Seattle has launched a jewelry store on its Web site as the e-tailer continues to expand its offerings. The company said the Jewelry store took orders from more than 100,000 customers during the beta test.

Diamonds in the news: Diamond giant mum on Repulse exploration.

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The company that owns the Ekati diamond mine in the Northwest Territories is keeping quiet about its plans for exploration near Repulse Bay this summer.
BHP Billiton has been exploring in the area near Repulse Bay since 1989.

Diamonds in the news: De Beers in new diamond exploration venture.

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JOHANNESBURG: South African mining giant De Beers finalised yesterday a joint venture with African Diamonds to explore and develop new diamond mines in Botswana, the companies announced.

Jewelry in the News: Basinger's jewelry fetches $140,000 for PAWS at auction.

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A collection of Basinger's baubles, sold in an auction sponsored by Christie's in New York, fetched about $140,000 for PAWS, said Pat Derby, founder of the rescue organization.
Basinger, who won an Academy Award for her role in the movie "L.A. Confidential," is a longtime friend of the organization that houses abandoned and retired animals from circuses and other parts of the entertainment industry. PAWS residents include lions, tigers, bobcats, bears, primates and wolves.

Google Seen Announcing IPO Plan Within Days

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The announcement is related to a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rule that says a private company must make public more information about its business once its passes a certain size in terms of assets and number of shareholders, the Journal said.

Google, which has enough assets and shareholders to trigger the rule, is expected to make those disclosures as early as next week, the Journal said.

Jewelry in the news: Imelda Marcos' jewelry to be auctioned.

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Jewelry once owned by former first lady Imelda Marcos is to be auctioned overseas, the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) said Tuesday.
At least two international auction houses have expressed interest in selling off the trinkets recovered by the PCGG, chairperson Haydee Yorac said Tuesday.
Asked at a forum organized by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines for a valuation of the jewelry, Yorac said "around 10 million US dollars."
"We are looking at auctioning the jewelry in either Hong Kong, London or New York," Yorac added.
She denied media reports that much of the jewelry now held in the vault of the Philippines' central bank was in fact fake. "The jewelry has been independently valued and found to be genuine," she said.

Diamonds in the news: Angola deports diamond dealers

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Lisbon - Angola has deported some 60 000 illegal immigrants since launching a major crackdown on clandestine diamond prospecting by foreigners in December, Portugal's Lusa news agency reported on Tuesday.
Most of the 50 000 illegal immigrants were detained by Angolan security forces in the diamond-rich northeastern provinces of North Lunda and South Lunda, a military official told daily newspaper "Jornal de Angola".
The overwhelming majority of the immigrants detained came from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) which borders the two provinces, the paper said.
Among the illegal immigrants found to be involved in clandestine diamond mining in the former Portuguese colony were 876 soldiers from the DRC, it added.

Diamonds in the news: Globes [online] - Polished diamond exports up 13% in March 2004.

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Net polished diamond exports (excluding returns) totaled $538 million in March 2004, 13% more than the $477 million exported in March 2003. Net polished diamond exports totaled $1.72 billion in January-March 2004, 14% more than the $1.51 billion exported in the corresponding period last year.
Net rough diamond totaled $230 million in March 2004, 48% more than the $156 million exported in March 2003. Rough diamond imports in January-March rose by 51%, despite riding prices and trading during 2003.
Rough diamond imports totaled $415 million in March, 41% more than the $294 million imported in March 2003.
Net polished diamond imports totaled $310 million in March 2004, 6% more than the $292 million imported in March 2003.
Supervisor of diamonds at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor Udi Sheintal said demand from the US, Western and Eastern Europe, and the Far East was responsible for the 14% increase in net polished diamond exports since the beginning of the year.

Diamonds in the news: Forbes.com: SouthernEra mulls separate platinum, diamond firms.

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Reuters) - SouthernEra Resources Ltd. is considering splitting its platinum from its diamond interests into two separately listed companies, the Toronto and London-listed mining company said Tuesday.

SouthernEra's key asset is a 73.1 percent stake in Messina Ltd., a South African producer of platinum.

Its chief diamond asset is the marginal Klipspringer mine, also in South Africa. SouthernEra temporarily shut down diamond production at the site in December, blaming a stronger rand for making the operation unprofitable.

It plans to restart mining when the rand depreciates. The firm also has diamond interests in Angola and other parts of Africa, and Canada and Australia.

Diamonds in the news: Growing Demand Brings Diamond Exporters To Home Turf

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NEW DELHI: Exporters of cut-and-polished diamonds are now setting their sights on the fast-growing domestic diamond jewellery market with over 30 branded diamond players expected to enter the market in the next couple of years. The process is being driven by factors like the demand shifting in favour of diamond-studded jewellery and shrinking profit margins in the exports business.

Jewelry in the news: A Marriage of Creativity and Glamour: H. Stern to Launch Jewelry Collection with Diane Von Furstenberg.

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The Diane von Furstenberg by H. Stern Collection will be previewed to the press in June 2004, and available for the consumer at the H. Stern Flagship on Fifth Avenue in New York City the following October. H. Stern will support the collection with an advertising campaign beginning with October fashion and lifestyle magazines. International launches of the collection will follow.

Jewelry in the news: Judith Ripka Named Official Jewelry Designer for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios.

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As the Official Jewelry Designer, Judith Ripka will collaborate with the fashion designers courting this season's catwalk, by providing 18k gold and diamond jewelry for use in their shows. Additionally, Judith Ripka will co- host an exclusive on-site reception, with In Touch Weekly (Official Entertainment Magazine) at Smashbox Studios Tuesday night starting at 10:00 pm. With prominent exposure both on and off the runway, including extensive onsite signage, event advertising and an elegant Judith Ripka area for VIP guests to view the new collection, Judith Ripka will dazzle fashion- mavens with her latest jewelry designs. Distinct and versatile, with designs created with boldly colored gemstones and brilliant diamonds (always signature characteristics), Judith Ripka creates classic jewelry designs relevant for a new generation.

Diamonds in the news: Aber Diamond Corporation completes purchase of majority interest in Harry Winston Inc.

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TORONTO and NEW YORK, April 2 /CNW/ - Aber Diamond Corporation ("Aber" or
the "Company") (TSX-ABZ, Nasdaq-ABER), the premier publicly traded diamond
company, Harry Winston Inc. ("Harry Winston"), one of the world's leading
luxury jewellery and watch retailers, and Fenway Partners, Inc., a
New York-based private investment firm, today announced that Aber has acquired
a 51% controlling interest in Harry Winston.
"This investment in Harry Winston is the next step in realizing our
objective of building value in a diamond business that exploits synergies
between the two bookends of the diamond pipeline, mining and retailing" said
Mr. Robert Gannicott, CEO of Aber. "These are the two segments of the industry
with the most attractive returns of a scale interesting to a public company.
We believe that our strength and knowledge as a diamond producer will enhance
Harry Winston's access to the appropriate polished diamonds to support growth
in its business."
"This is a great day in the 70 year history of Harry Winston", said
Mr. Ronald Winston, Chairman of Harry Winston Inc.

Diamonds in the news: Speaking for stones.

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"One side of jewelry concentrates attention to an attractive part of the body," said Gurhan. "Another side - it covers something up."

So a necklace might cascade down, pointing to a cleft between the breasts; earrings might be tiered, showing off the line of the neck instead of the ear lobes. Gurhan believes in creating his jewelry for real people, real women. He has a bucolic outlook on his art.

"I'm not like a painter, but a shoemaker," he said. "First, it should be comfortable to wear, emotionally and physically. Then you can look at the aesthetic."

Gurhan is smitten with gems and perceives a magical quality in them. It comes out in his enthusiasm.

Jewelry in the news: CIBJO UNDERGOES CHANGES.

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At the recent World Jewellery Confederation 2004 held in Bangkok, Thailand, where some 150 members of the jewelry, precious metals and gemstones industries from 26 countries discussed High Pressure-High Temperature (HPHT) diamond treatments, synthetic diamonds, corundum and pearl treatments, the Kimberley Process and Best Practice Principles over a period of three days, Gaetano Cavalieri was elected as President for a third term.

Diamonds in the news: Miners, conservationists, even jewelers at odds over mining

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Those necklaces, rings and watches in the jewelry case may be a lot more expensive than many people think, conservationists contend.
Jewelry also carries the cost of environmental damage from mining for their gold, silver and other precious metals, according to a new public relations campaign that is putting pressure on jewelry retailers to reject minerals from big polluters.
The campaign has already prompted the president of Tiffany & Co. to shift his attention from the jewelry cases on Fifth Avenue to the Cabinet Mountains wilderness area of Montana.
Tiffany recently purchased a large advertisement in The Washington Post to demand the federal government reject a proposed mine in the Montana wilderness and reform the 132-year-old law that encourages hardrock mining over conservation in the West.

Diamonds in the news: GIA Buys Land for Expansion of Carlsbad, Calif., Facility.

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Apr. 8--CARLSBAD, Calif. - Officials with the Gemological Institute of America, a worldwide powerhouse in the jewelry business, said Wednesday that they are adding room for expansion and hundreds of new employees.
The institute recently purchased almost 11 acres adjacent to its 18-acre campus from the Carltas Co. for $5.4 million, said Gary Hill, director of community development at the institute. Founded in 1931 in Los Angeles, the institute moved its world headquarters to Armada Drive in Carlsbad in 1997.
Hill said the most immediate need for the land will be an expanded parking lot to handle all the new employees expected in the next several years.

Diamonds in the news: Red-carpet jewelry glitters at Albert's.

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SCHERERVILLE: Store clerk models $2.5 million diamond-studded Oscar gown