Wheat Ridge, Colorado police took a 50-year-old man into custody Wednesday following a two-month search.
GIA, Forevermark eye Surat for new labs
De Beers diamond brand Forevermark and the Gemological Institute of America soon might be diamond-grading neighbors in India.
New York--De Beers diamond brand Forevermark and the Gemological Institute of America soon might be diamond-grading neighbors in India.
At a presentation during the recent Las Vegas jewelry shows, London-based Forevermark CEO Stephen Lussier revealed that the brand, which currently grades diamonds at a single facility in Antwerp, was building a second Forevermark grading facility in Surat, a major diamond cutting and polishing center in India.
Also in Las Vegas, the Gemological Institute of America announced that its board of governors directed GIA management to examine opening a grading facility in Surat. This comes in addition to the Carlsbad, Calif.-based lab’s plans to hire more graders and expand facilities in Bangkok, Hong Kong and Mumbai in an attempt to keep up with sharply increasing demand.
The board said there are three reasons for the exceptionally high demand: many banks requesting grading reports to substantiate loans; concerns about undisclosed synthetics making effective screening more important, particularly for smaller goods; and an increase in consumer demand in developing markets for smaller stones with GIA grading reports.
The GIA admittedly has not been able to keep up with the rising demand for its grading services and gets 25 percent more stones than it can process every day. In early May, the lab announced it was replacing “turnaround time” on its reports with “return date.”
Turnaround time did not take holidays or weekends into account and didn’t state the exact date a stone would be ready for pickup or shipped.
Return date does both, and is meant to give clients a clearer picture of when to expect their stones back. The return dates also are classified by weight ranges, which expedites the grading of larger stones by giving them priority.
RELATED CONTENT: GIA now giving ‘return date’ for stones
Lussier’s statement came as part of a speech called “Nurturing the Diamond Dream,” given in a special presentation from De Beers executives at JCK Las Vegas. His speech was preceded by a presentation from De Beers Group CEO Philippe Mellier.
During his talk, Lussier also revealed the results of a recent poll De Beers did of 18,500 U.S. women between the ages of 18 and 75, noting that “America’s going to be the place that makes the world diamond market tick.”
Among the survey’s findings:
--Today’s brides are older and, therefore, more affluent.
--Spending on diamond engagement rings is up 40
--Online sales accounted for 18 percent of diamond jewelry pieces purchased in 2013, up from 14 percent in 2011. However, a total of 34 percent of women went online to at least do research before purchasing.
--Couples today remain engaged for five times longer than they did in the 1980s.
The Latest
PGI partnered with four new and seven returning designers for its annual platinum capsule collection.
Nicolosi, president and CEO of The Kingswood Company, previously sat on WJA’s board from 2011 to 2018.
Meet Ben Claus—grand prize winner of For the Love of Jewelers 2023 Fall Design Challenge.
Karina Brez’s race-ready piece is a sophisticated nod to the horse-rider relationship.
The men are allegedly responsible for stealing millions in jewelry and other valuables in 43 burglaries in 25 towns across Massachusetts.
“Horizon” invites individuals to explore the limitless possibilities that lie ahead, said the brand.
With Ho Brothers, you can unlock your brand's true potential and offer customers the personalized jewelry experiences they desire.
The jeweler credits its recent “Be Love” campaign and ongoing brand revamp for its 17 percent jump in sales.
The co-founder of Lewis Jewelers was also the longtime mayor of the city of Moore.
Elvis Presley gifted this circa 1967 gold and diamond watch to Dodie Marshall, his co-star in “Easy Come, Easy Go.”
Concerns about rising prices, politics, and global conflicts continue to dampen consumer outlook.
May’s birthstone is beloved for its rich green hue and its versatility.
Jacqui Larsson joins Opsydia with nearly two decades of experience in the industry.
Last month in Dallas, David Walton pushed another jeweler, David Ettinger, who later died.
The “Tiffany Céleste” collection reimagines designer Jean Schlumberger’s interpretations of the universe.
The brand also created a 100-carat lab-grown diamond necklace in honor of its centennial.
Tim Schlick has been promoted from his previous position as COO.
It’s the second year for the event, slated to take place in October in Toronto.
Supplier Spotlight Sponsored by GIA
Sales will be paused while the relocation takes place over the next few months.
“SIS x MISA Denim and Diamonds” is a collaboration between the designer and celebrity stylist Misa Hylton.
The retailer is moving to a newly designed space in the same shopping center.
Gifts that are unique and thoughtful are top of mind this year, according to the annual survey.
The necklace is featured in the brand’s “Rebel Heart” campaign starring Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo.
The two organizations will host a joint event, “Converge,” in September 2025.