September may be “back-to-school” month for most, but for me, it means seeing “the Argyle pinks.” This was my 10^th year in a row to get a ringside seat, and let me tell you, it doesn’t get any less exciting as the years go on.

 

The Tender

For 24 years running, the Argyle Diamond Mine has given up a small but incredible handful of Fancy Pink Diamonds. The numbers: Less than 50,000 carats of pink rough is found from 25 million carats mined. Of that 50,000 carats, only 65 stones were considered fancy enough to be considered “special.”

 

So special in fact, that t...Read More

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Ok, I have to admit it’s gratifying to know people are reading my posts. Just because one has an Internet connection and a tendency to rant on about various and sundry things doesn’t mean she automatically deserves readers.

My post about “Email Etiquette,” (prime example of why JCK managing editor Rich Dalglish calls my editorial “the rant,” and Mark Smelzer’s publisher letter “the rave”) was a case of redirected ranting after someone sent a 21-mb attachment that hurtled my email, my Blackberry, my sanity, and the first 45 minutes of my day into frozen-computer hell. ...Read More

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If there’s anyone left in this industry who still thinks that all this talk about sustainability and environmental and social responsibility is a bunch of hooey that will run its course, you might want to log onto this article, from Fortune. Also check out this post from JCK’s own Rob Bates, in which he discusses the “Red Gold” documentary about the proposed Pebble Mine site in Alaska.

 

These issues are here to stay. While the Bingham Canyon mine, discussed in the Fortune article, and the proposed Pebble Mine both contain far m...Read More

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Whether you are a designer or manufacturer trying to get the attention of a trade publication or a retailer trying to get the attention of your local consumer media, here’s a lesson in how to get noticed in a good way—or not—when you send press releases via e-mail.

1) Do not send large file attachments (i.e. more than 1 mb) unsolicited.  The key here is “unsolicited.” It’s fine to send a huge file or attachment if you’ve been asked for it and the editor is expecting it. But if you just send out huge files routinely you risk crashing the recipients' inboxes, and that's not how you want to be noticed.

 

Ours is a visual industry, and it’s important...Read More

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In light of recent bankruptcies and credit issues in the jewelry industry, JCK would like to know your best tip or tips to get your customers—suppliers, manufacturers/designers, and retailers—to pay their bills (and on time, if possible).

 

Thank you for sharing, and please email me at JHeebner@reedbusiness.com or call me at (267) 481-4120 if you’d like to vent offline. Please know that JCK has the right to omit exchanges which may be considered offensive or inappropriate. 


How do you get paid?

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Last night I was lucky enough to share my evening with a room full of amazing women at the WJA's 25th Annual Awards for Excellence Gala at Pier Sixty, even sharing a table with 2006 Hall of Fame inductee Hedda T. Schupak.

“Our annual Awards for Excellence dinner is one of the most highly anticipated social events of the year and typically draws over 600 movers and shakers,” said WJA President Yancy Weinrich, Industry VP, JCK Events. “We are so grateful to all our sponsors and especially to our three “Pillars of Distinction”: Platinum Guild International, Jewelers Mutual Insurance, and David Yurman, who have supported us throughout this anniversary year....Read More

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On Thursday I toured the Israel Diamond Exchange with Yulia Runova, editor, Jewellery Russia; Sigal Shidlovsky, director of the Jewellery Division for the Ministry of Industry, Trade & Labor, Diamonds, Precious Stones & Jewellery Administration; and Sharon Gefen, president, Sharon Gefen Marketing & Communications. 



The four buildings of the Israel Diamond Exchange. 


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It was day 2 in Governador Valadares for the Brazil Gem Show. It started out for me with a tour of the Itatiaia aquamarine mine (including free samples of carving material mostly...). Our host was the owner of the mine, Dilermando Rodrigues de Melo Neto, who took us down into the mine to see the new workings - and take a few quartz crystals that just happened to be lying around.

Back at the show, it was another day of seeing Brazilian gems and afterwards, a fashion show of Brazilian jewelry. Here are a few images from the day for you to enjoy.


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What was the hot “green,” trend at Basel this year? USB flash drive press kits. Here’s a quick run-down on why you should make the switch from the glossy folder and CD to the less flashy, flash drive alternative.

 

Pros

• Cut down on your fees for payment of graphic designers, printers, and paper suppliers.
• Once the drive is uploaded and emptied by clients (or editors), it is reusable, so if you don’t give them all away you can repurpose them for another project.
• A

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At the JCK Show in Las Vegas, I had two opportunities to think about the concept of a “brand promise.” One was during the conference program, where speaker Nan Piper Kochanski discussed the importance of having—and never breaking—a brand promise. The other was in a shoe store in the Grand Canal Shoppes, where I felt a brand promise was broken.

One example Nan discussed about a brand promise was that of the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Hong Kong. She overheard a young woman complaining about the hotel and how she’d never stay there again. Since Nan’s daughter and future son-in-law are both managers at the hotel, she couldn’t resist...Read More

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The first day at the Brazil Gem Show is over and I was not disappointed. We’ve seen everything expected, including tourmalines, beryls, quartzes, garnets, emeralds, and opals.

 

One half-expected surprise, if I can say that, was to see Mozambique tourmalines labeled Paraiba* . I have spoken to a few suppliers here about the nomenclature issue and they are quite torn between willing to follow what has already been accepted by many, and promoting Mozambique as its own important locality. I will offer up a full report on that issue when I get back.

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Here we are in Minas Geraís, in the city of Governador Valadares for the 12^th annual Brazil Gem Show, the largest gem show in all of Latin America. My trip, sponsored by IBGM, Istituto Brasileiro de Gemas E Metais Preciosos (Brazilian Gems & Jewellery Trade Association) started Monday morning, arriving here in G.V. last night at 6 p.m.

 

Included in our welcome package at the GV Center Hotel is a booklet showing the floor plan of the event and listing just over 100 exhibiting suppliers and gem dealers. A small number of names stand out recognized from past JCK Shows and Tucson Gem & Minerals Shows like Manoel Bernardes, Pinkstones, Ben Sabbagh Bros., and Vianna Joias, but there are still over a hundred more unfamiliar names with gems that I am anxious...Read More

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