!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> The Diamond Fanatic: June 2008

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Global meet on 'blood diamonds' concludes

A global meet with participants from 34 nations concluded after three days of deliberations on how to check the trade in illegally mined diamonds.It was the first inter-sessional conclave of the Kimberley Process Certificate Scheme (KPCS), of which India became the chair in January this year.

The global conference aims at eliminating conflict or 'blood' diamonds.Some of the key participating nations were Australia, the US, the UAE, Canada, Congo, Israel, Liberia, Namibia, South Africa, Russia, China, Britain, Romania, Brazil and Tanzania.

At the outset of the KPCS meet, India observed that the guns might have fallen silent over 'blood diamonds' but the situation remained fragile and it was necessary to ensure that diamonds sold by rebel groups, who mine them illegally, were not allowed to enter the global market.'Our vigil is not over. And we must continue to be alert and active,' Commerce Secretary G.K. Pillai told the annual conference.'The guns are becoming increasingly silent, but we must be alive to the fact that several fragile situations exist,' he told the delegates from 34 out of 74 countries that are members of the Kimberly Process.Under the initiative of the United Nations, KPCS seeks to ensure that only those diamonds that are sold by legitimate entities - as opposed to rebel groups - enter the global market.

Friday, June 20, 2008

Vietnam a promising market for diamonds


Vietnam proves to be a promising land for diamond trade deals with a demand for diamond jewellery of up to $300mil a year.


Vietnam does not have diamond mines, which means it has to feed its demand by imports. That explains why domestic diamond prices are always directly proportional to the world’s prices.

Currently, diamonds mostly come from Africa, Canada, Australia and Russia. Africa alone provides 60% of the total output.

Like gold, the price of diamonds has been increasing continuously as the diamond demand rises by 5% per annum, while the supply rises by 1% per annum only.

According to the Vietnam Gold Business Association, the demand for diamonds to serve the jewellery industry is very big, worth $300mil or more. Meanwhile China, a large market with the biggest increase in diamond consumption in the world, imported only $900mil worth of diamonds in 2007.

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Thursday, June 19, 2008

Do you fancy being a Jewellery Designer?


Have you got 5 days to spare?
Do you fancy yourself as a jewellery designer?

I just found this "gem" of a story, pardon the pun!

HRD Antwerp NV, which provides grading, gemological, educational, technological and research services to the international diamond and jewelry industries, has set up a new training program: the five day Contemporary Diamond Jewellery Design Course.

With this program, HRD Antwerp aims to educate designers in transferring creative ideas to practical concepts on paper. The trainees will be instructed in the fundamentals of diamonds in modern jewelry design and the aesthetics of the presentation on paper.

Lecturers are Laurent-Max De Cock, Associate Professor at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp and jewelry designer and Ms. Veerle Van Wilder, Associate Professor at St.Lucas in Antwerp and jewelry designer.

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Thursday, June 05, 2008

London Jewellery Week

Coutts London Jewellery Week is the first event of its kind. It is a celebration of the creative excellence within the UK capital's jewellery industry, and will provide a showcase for British jewellery design to both the UK and International markets.

The event is being held from 11th to 15th June 2008, and includes a variety of exhibitions, seminars, workshops, catwalk shows and open houses. Events will take place throughout the city, but will be focused within the traditional jewellery centre from Hatton Garden to Knightsbridge and Bond Street to Green Street.

This is a great opportunity to see work by some of the city's most exciting up and coming jewellery designers, as well as gain an insight into what goes on behind the scenes at some of the more well established jewellery houses. The event includes educational seminars covering a wide range of topics from gemology to the stories behind famous diamonds and jewels.

There will be plenty of opportunities to relax, admire and purchase the jewellery on display, with many exhibitions holding cocktail events and offering special promotions during the week.

The London Eye is being dressed up as a giant diamond ring for the occasion, which should be quite spectactular to see by night.

Patrons of the event include Laurence Graff, Sir Terence Conran, Theo Fennell, Ben de Lisi, Philip Treacy, Nicholas & Micheal Wainwright of Boodles, Jemma Kidd and Lulu Guiness.


For further information, see the London Jewellery Week Website.

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Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Oxfam Celebrates Diamond Anniversary

To celebrate its diamond anniversary, Oxfam is calling for diamond and jewellery donations, as well as more 'diamond' volunteers to join the organisation.

60 years have passed since Oxfam opened its first charity shop in 1948. The well known charity now boasts a network of 730 shops, staffed by more than 20,000 volunteers. It has raised more than £500 million during that time.

The Oxfam shop founder, Joe Mitty, was an incredible entrepreneur, and it was his plan to ask the public for diamonds to celebrate the milestone anniversary.

Joe Mitty also recognised that the charity's real 'diamonds' were the volunteers, so an annual event was launched, known as 'Volunteer Week', which this year is being held 1st - 7th June. This is a great opportunity to raise awareness about the great work done by the volunteers, and call for more volunteers to donate their time and energy to the cause.

Model and Oxfam supporter Yasmin Le Bon said: “This is a great opportunity to donate your unwanted jewellery and make a real difference to so many lives.”

Watch a video starring the late Joe Mitty, telling the story of how it all started.

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