Jacques Voorhees, CEO of Verichannel, and one of the pioneers in online diamond trading, tells Rough&Polished about the search engine for the jewelry industry, their new partnership in China and the China market, and explains what their diamond database has to offer to both the trade and the consumers worldwide.
Valery Budny, CEO of RESTEC JUNWEX, who is also the organizer and inspirer of Russia's largest jewelry trade shows, Junwex, held in St. Petersburg and Moscow in February and March, answers the questions from Rough&Polished trying to find out how he assesses the outcome of these shows and what the current mood of jewelers in Russia is.
Lately, Brazil is more and more seen as a strong competitor in the international jewelry market. Brazilian brands stand out strongly compared with others offering unusual jewelry with sensuous Latin motifs. The quality and unique jewelry design are quite worthy of close attention, while vivid Brazilian gems need an in-depth research. In a relatively short period of time the jewelry industry in Brazil has attained excellent results, recognition and success. At VicenzaOro, we had a chance to talk to Ricardo Vianna, CEO and President of VIANNA, which is a popular Brazilian brand.
The jewelry goods made by SICIS, an Italian company, which made its first appearance at Baselworld 2012, attracted the attention of visitors for an obvious reason. The world-famous house of artistic mosaic, which launched a jewelry line three years ago, is creating jewelry from the traditional Italian micro mosaic combined with precious stones, including diamonds among other things. Rough&Polished met with Maurizio Leo Placuzzi, the founder and President of SICIS, who answered our questions.14.05.2012
Is KP subverting Marange resolutions under U.S. guidance?
The Kimberly Process (KP) chairperson, Gillian Milovanovic of the United States, recently surprised neutrals when she urged Indian diamond dealers to shun Zimbabwe’s Marange diamonds. Her argument was that the gems were still under sanctions for undermining democracy in the southern African country.
10.05.2012
April market report
Wisecrackers say that "statistics is an inaccurate science." As for accuracy I do not have any complaints, but I dare say that statistics is an unhurried science. Quarterly data on production, sales, exports and imports in the first three months of the year - in short, all the figures by which you can analyze the state of the industry - are published only in early May. Therefore, the current April report will be a bit more turned to the past. However, you may give an outlook for the future only based on previous experience.
02.05.2012
Have mining giants lost interest in diamonds?
Diamonds are losing their attractiveness in the eyes of the world's mining giants. Rio Tinto followed the suit of the industry leader, BHP Billiton, and is currently reviewing the rationale of going on with diamond mining operations within an appropriate reappraisal of the situation.
23.04.2012
Baselworld 2012: reload
The 40th – jubilee - annual exhibition of jewelry and watches, Baselworld 2012 completed its work in Switzerland. Should we wait another five years and Baselworld may celebrate its another anniversary, this time 100 years passed since the first Swiss watch fair in Basel, which was held in the eventful year 1917.
16.04.2012
Double threat: natural but used + real but in vitro
The first month of spring is traditionally associated with an ardent desire to put oneself in good shape and take off excess weight. Obviously, the diamond industry is also not alien to anything human. So, with the advent of March, two mining giants, Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton, said they planned to leave the diamond industry to "take off" their diamond business as being the least money making and also a whimsical asset. In addition, the U.S. diamond market in March was hit by news heralding the emergence of new competitors to the orthodox diamond.