Diamonds in the news: Aber Diamond Corporation - Appointment to the Board.

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TORONTO, June 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - The Board of Directors of Aber Diamond Corporation is pleased to announce the appointment of M. Laurent E. Mommeja as a director of the Company. M. Mommeja is the General Manager, Europe of Hermes International SA with responsibility for European and Middle Eastern Distribution. He has been employed by Hermes for the last 23 years of which 14 years were spent in the USA where his last assignment was President and CEO of Hermes Paris Inc., the US subsidiary of Hermes International.

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Diamonds in the news: Magazine featuring diamond hoax hits stands.

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A national magazine featuring a hoax corroborated by a former Hardin County resident is on newsstands.
The June issue of Smithsonian spotlights the Great Diamond Hoax of 1872 in an eight-page spread. The 5,000-word article details how Philip Arnold, the architect of a diamond fraud, bilked some of the richest men in America at the time out of a fortune.
During the four months of the fraud and the eventual fallout, the event generated coverage by The New York Times and The Times of London, as well as nearly every major news-paper along the West Coast.
Arnold, a Mexican War veteran from Elizabethtown, and his cousin, John Slack, initiated a diamond craze along the Wyoming-Colorado border after they reported finding a diamond mine and supplied as proof a bag filled with diamonds, rubies and other precious stones. Eventually, word spread to some of the richest men in the country that the two "prospectors" had found diamonds. With venture capital the investors provided, Arnold and Slack secretly set off to Europe, where they purchased even more cheap stones to salt their "find."

Jewelry Design in the news: From media director to jewelry designer.

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all began with cigar boxes. Two years ago, after receiving a trendy purse made from a cigar box, Eileen Sanchez-Medina decided she could make her own and do a better job of it.
Armed with a healthy interest in improving the product, the Coral Gables resident started experimenting with different materials and last May decided to make a career of it. Stepping up production and adding new styles, Sanchez-Medina started selling her cigar-box purses by word of mouth to women she knew from church and her children's school. The new designer then made the leap to retail when a spa in South Miami and a retail shop in Little Havana started carrying her handbags.

Diamonds in the news: ABER PRODUCTION UP IN Q1 2005.

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Aber Diamond Corporation's net earnings for the quarter ending April 30, 2004 totaled US$2.8 million compared to net earnings of US$5.2 million in the first quarter of the preceding year, which was prior to the commencement of commercial production at the Diavik Mine. The first quarter earnings represent a decrease of US$0.4 million from the fourth quarter results of US$3.2 million, a decrease attributed to higher income tax expenses (US$8.9 million compared to US$2.3 million in the preceding year and US$1.2 million in the preceding quarter), tax expenses, the rough diamond sales cycle, selling, general and administrative expenses, and mud-rich material surrounding the A154 South pipe.
During the quarter ended April 30, 2004, Aber generated US$37.7 million in cash from operations, compared to US$22.8 million in the previous quarter. Included in cash from operations is US$16.1 million generated by Harry Winston for the month of April.

Diamonds in the news: Otish Mountain Diamond to Receive Ground Sampling Results.

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NEW YORK, June 8, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Otish Mountain Diamond Company, Inc. (OTCBB:OMDC), a diamond exploration company conducting exploration activities in the Otish Mountains region of northern Quebec, announced today that it anticipates ground sampling results from the Company's Lac Leran JV project in the coming weeks.
Before the winter season, ground samples were gathered from the Company's Lac Leran JV project. These samples are currently being analyzed for indicator minerals content. The Company believes these sample results coupled with its two geological reports, will support the Company's decision to initiate a detailed ground sample exploration program in late August.

Diamonds in the news: All that glitters: Diamond certification slowly picking up in India.

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New Delhi: Diamonds are a woman's best friend, they say. But how does one ensure that they are original and not cultured?

As gem and jewellery certification is not very common in India, there is no way to guarentee originality, those in the industry say, adding "one just has to depend on the family jeweller's word."

Diamonds in the news: Tahera receives federal approval of its Jericho Diamond Project.

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Tahera Corporation announces that the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada has approved the Company's Jericho Diamond Project. This federal approval of the Jericho Diamond Project follows approval of the Project by the Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB) in February 2004. The NIRB will issue a project certificate for the Jericho Diamond Project in the coming weeks.

Jewelry in the news: Finlay Enterprises and Finlay Fine Jewelry Announce Expiration of Tender Offers.

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Finlay Fine Jewelry Corporation ("Finlay Jewelry"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Finlay Enterprises, announced today that its offer to purchase for cash any and all of Finlay Jewelry's $150 million outstanding principal amount of its 8-3/8% Senior Notes due 2008 (the "Notes") expired at 12:00 midnight, New York City Time, on June 4, 2004, and has not been extended.

Diamonds in the news: Diamond giant starts exploring in Kivalliq.

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IQALUIT - The world's largest diamond mining company is entering the race to find diamonds in Nunavut's Kivalliq region.

Jewelry in the news: Ethnic Jewelry Museum Tells Tribes' Stories.

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When walking between the galleries and the small museums of Samchong-dong, downtown Seoul, you may see a beautifully tarnished building covered with sunset-colored copper. If you associated it with an old jewelry box, you are right. The building cherishes jewelry ornaments from around the world with interesting stories to tell, though they are not as expensive or luxurious as Cartier or Tiffany diamond rings.

Diamonds in the news: Gold and Diamond Park ties up with Umm Al Moumineen Association in Ajman exclusive promotion.

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Gold and Diamond Park (GDP) has entered into an agreement with Umm Almoumineen Association in Ajman, offering the members a unique opportunity to avail of attractive discounts while shopping at UAE's exclusive jewellery manufacturing and retailing outlet.

Diamonds in the news: Leading diamond executives from New York to visit Dubai.

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A delegation of leading diamond executives from New York is scheduled to visit the Dubai Metals and Commodities Centre (DMCC) in mid June further emphasising the growing significance of the Emirate as an international hub for the diamond trade.

Diamonds in the news: Jovella jewelry fair next month in Tel Aviv.

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100 exhibitors will participate in the Jovella 2004 International Trade Fair for Jewelry, Watches, and Fashion Accessories to be held in Tel Aviv next month. The Stier Group and the Israel Jewelry Manufacturers Association (IJMA) are organizing the trade fair.

Diamonds in the news: Liberia: Bryant Pleads for End to Timber And Diamond Ban.

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Gyude Bryant, the Chairman of Liberia's transitional government has pleaded to the UN Security Council to lift an embargo on diamond and timber exports to help the struggling company rebuild its shattered economy after 14 years of civil war.
Bryant, who was appointed last October to lead the country to fresh elections in 2005, addressed the Security Council in New York on Thursday as the body prepared to review the sanctions, imposed during the rule of former president Charles Taylor.

Jewelry in the news: American Idol Judge Paula Abdul Sets Hot Jewelry Trend.

Excerpt: Millions aspiring to chase their dreams - and also snag the hottest jewelry trends - can now be inspired by the encouraging words and trendy style of American Idol's Paula Abdul without facing the curt criticisms of Simon Cowell. SAM'S CLUB announced it has teamed up with Paula Abdul to sell to consumers nationwide her 'Innergy' jewelry line, which Abdul has given as gifts this season to American Idol semi-finalists and winner Fantasia Barrino.

Diamonds in the news: ANTWERP DIAMOND CONFERENCE TO DEVELOP STRATEGY TO DIFFERENTIATE NATURALS FROM SYNTHETICS.

Excerpt: The 3rd Antwerp Diamond Conference, to take place in Antwerp on November 15 and 16, 2004, will concentrate specifically on consumer confidence in natural diamonds, following the introduction of gem-quality synthetics into the market. The conference is being designed as a hallmark event for the entire international diamond sector where a unified position regarding synthetics can be discussed. The first Antwerp Diamond Conference was held in 2002 and focused on the entire diamond pipeline. The second conference, which took place in 2003, concentrated specially on the subjects of marketing and branding diamonds.

Diamonds in the news: Diamond-Mine-Approved.

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YELLOWKNIFE (CP) - The federal government granted the final permit needed for the construction of Canada's third diamond mine Tuesday with a water license from Indian Affairs and Northern Development Minister Andy Stewart.
Development of the $490-million Snap Lake mine, to be built by South African gemstone giant De Beers Inc., is expected to proceed this summer with underground development and bulk sample testing.
Full construction of the mine should begin next summer after supplies are trucked in over the winter ice road.
"The successful conclusion of this process will send a reassuring message to the De Beers board who have been watching the process in Canada very closely," said Richard Molyneux, president of De Beers Canada.

Diamonds in the news: Diamond work progressing swiftly.

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With the mining of kimberlite continuing, Shore Gold is moving forward with its plan to explore more of its claims at Fort a la Corne.
An aerial geophysical survey done recently found seven new targets, over and above the seven the company already had discovered.
One of the new targets, according to Shore Gold, is of a significant size and one previously known target was found to be larger than was first thought.
A consulting geophysicist from Australia will complete a detailed interpretation of the survey, expected to be finished by the end of this month. Exploration drilling of the new targets should start before the end of July.

Diamonds in the news: Freewest embarks on diamond drilling program in northwest.

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Freewest Resources Canada Inc. through mining company Teck Cominco Ltd. will embark on its first phase diamond drilling program on its 100-per-cent owned Lizar Property.

The 79.8-square-kilometre property is located 60 kilometres northeast of White River in northwestern Ontario, and has 493 claims. Approximately 90 kilometres east of Teck Cominco’s Hemlo operations, the Lizar property contains gold occurrences with both historic showings and recent discoveries.

The property attracted Teck Cominco who optioned the property from Freewest in 2002 and has since conducted a property wide airborne geophysical survey, geophysical mapping and ground electromagnetic surveys (UTEM) to further refine the airborne geophysical anomalies. The airborne survey targeted a number of cluster anomalies. In particular, three priority zones in the northern part of the property will be tested by the initial phase of diamond drilling. These anomalies represent targets for volcanic-hosted massive sulphide deposits or magmatic copper-nickel and sulphide deposits.

Jewelry in the news: Jewelry helps raise funds for library.

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MENDHAM - An elegant 14-karat gold, sapphire and diamond bracelet donated by JoEllen Jewelers of Mendham is the centerpiece of a fund-raising effort to benefit the Mendham Borough Library at 10 Hilltop Road.

Diamonds in the news: Diamond mine strike enters day three.

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The strike by 700 workers at the Helman Diamond Mine near Swartruggens in the North-West has entered its third day. Workers are calling for the reinstatement of a dismissed shop steward who was at the forefront of wage negotiations.

Jewelry in the news: Diamond bracelet given to church.

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A rector could not believe his church's luck when he found a diamond-studded bracelet in its collection box.
Canon Christopher Samuels was alerted to the valuable donation when the woman who dropped it off rang him up.
Canon Samuels, of the St Mary without-the-Walls Church in Handbridge, Chester, said it is the most unusual donation the church has had.
Now the bracelet - thought to be worth at least £1,000 - is to be auctioned to raise money for church funds.

Gemstones in the news: World's Two Largest Sapphires Come Together in the Emerald City.

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Diamonds in the news: Diamond hub on Bypass.

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The government has taken up an ambitious joint-venture project to set up a diamond-cutting and jewellery complex, on the lines of Mumbai’s Jhaveri Bazaar, on the EM Bypass.
The first of its kind in eastern India, the Rs 100-crore project will come up in collaboration with a group of Bengali diamond-cutters and setters based in Mumbai, Gujarat and Dubai.

Diamonds in the news: MNCs set to enter diamond mining in MP.

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Diamond mining in Madhya Pradesh is likely to gain momentum with the entry of multinationals.
ACC Rio Tinto of Australia, De Beers of South Africa, BHP Minerals of Canada and the National Mineral Development Corporation are set to start survey and exploration of diamond mines in the Panna, Chhattarpur, Tikamgarh, Sagar, Angor and Majhgawan areas of the state.
ACC Rio Tinto has been issued four reconnaissance permits for 10,000 sq km area in the Panna Damoh and Chhatarpur districts.
"De Beers has been issued order of concurrence, and the reconnaissance permit is likely to be issued soon for survey of kimberlite pipes (a rock that sources diamond) in the Rewa district," RK Sharma, director, Geography and Mines, said.

Jewelry Design in the news: Jewelry designer mixes high-tech, goldsmith skills.

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All Sean Ryan really wanted was to become an artist.

But his first job, on the surface, seemed far from artistic.

"I started out repairing clocks and watches in high school," he said. The part-time job eventually would lead Ryan to a 23-year career in jewelry design.

"You have to learn the mechanics of repair and manufacturing," he said. The skills would be essential to later creating rings, pendants and jeweled eggs.

Diamonds in the news: Lesotho mine sells diamonds in Antwerp.

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Maseru - Lets'eng Diamond Mine in northern Lesotho sold diamonds worth $3,3-million in Antwerp, Belgium, this month, the company said on Monday.

Last year the mine sold diamonds for $5,6-million in the same market.

Before re-starting production in April 2003, the Lets'eng Diamond Mine remained abandoned after De Beers ceased operations there in 1982.

"De Beers left the mine in 1982 after diamond markets worldwide experienced a dramatic depression. In 1995 the government of Lesotho announced its intention to re-open the Lets'eng mine. In 1998 we reached an agreement with government to open the mine after going through a tedious process of tendering," said Paki Kolobe, director of Lets'eng Diamonds Pty (Ltd).

"We got the mining lease in 1999 and started building infrastructure in 2000. We started very slowly due to the depressed economic climate in Lesotho because of the political riots of 1998."

Kolobe said the 2002 general elections encouraged investors to put money into the mine.

Diamonds in the news: Star Diamond gets approval to set up Joint Venture.

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The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) is believed to have cleared the proposal of Netherlands-based Star Diamond group to set up a joint venture in India to undertake diamond business.

Diamonds in the news: De Beers gets OK for its first Canada diamond mine. (Warning, there is an annoying audio ad on the linked to page.)

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Reuters) - Diamond giant De Beers said Tuesday it had crossed the last regulatory hurdle in its quest to build its first diamond mine in Canada.

The world's No. 1 diamond producer has received a water license from the Canadian government, the last permit it needed to start construction work at its Snap Lake project, which is located just south of the treeline in the remote Northwest Territories.