This week in Diamond Shavings: President Biden’s executive order will affect small businesses. Retail salespeople try to be social influencers. Have department stores become a drag? All below.
U.S., watch jewelry sales up 176% in April.
– How the COVID-19 pandemic may have helped the jewelry industry.
– CNN: Engagement ring sales soar.
– Jewelers in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois feeling it.
– U.S. retail sales role 14% year over year in June.
What President Biden’s recent executive order means for small businesses.
Everyone is freaking about Instagram’s recent announcement.
– Retail salespeople try to be social influencers.
Theo Fennell on his rocky ride and his plans for the future.
Industry mourns Estelle Hedaya, victim of Miami building collapse.
Legendary diamond broker Willie Nagel dies.
Why is De Beers suddenly buying rough at auction?
De Beers raises diamond prices again.
– Antwerp, Belgium, market sees double-digit growth.
– Avi Krawitz: A “rough bubble” is growing.
Abe Sherman troubled by lab-grown pricing.
Natural, lab-grown sectors must learn to coexist.
The Real Deal on the future of the Diamond District.
Pandora puts Baltimore headquarters up for sublease.
Can Alex and Ani stage a comeback?
Watches of Switzerland hopes to conquer U.S. market.
Texas jeweler Shetler acquires Medlars Jewel Masters.
Retail Dive checks the expansion of Tiny Jewel Box.
Watches becoming engagement staple, Refinery29 claims.
Department stores used to be anchors. Now they’re a drag.
After years of expansion, HBC is fractured.
Macy’s needs fireworks in its retailing.
Belk gets new CEO in exec reshuffle.
QVC, HSN owner Qurate gets new CEO.
Brosway Italia enlists former Alex and Ani CEO in U.S. push.
Richemont shakes up management as jewelry division grows.
Profile of Alexandre Arnault, LVMH scion trying to revive Tiffany & Co. (subscription required).
Glossy podcast interviews Ippolita Rostagno.
Unionized retail workers get higher wages, as movement suffers setbacks.
Surat diamond workers demand increase in wages.
Indians offload gold heirlooms as pandemic worsens financial pain.
Tiffany & Co. launches in Vietnam.
The “rebirth” of the French watch industry.
Chinese authorities find jewelry to be “substandard.”
Dominican court grants bail to fugitive Mehul Choksi.
Well before Choksi and Modi, there was Jatin Mehta (subscription required).
– U.K. court order allows Standard Chartered Bank to hunt for Winsome assets.
Reports: Diamond billionaire Dan Gertler embroiled in suspected bribery scheme.
Zimbabwe must probe corruption in its diamond sector, group says.
– Diamonds worth $140 million “vanish.”
Zimbabwe government newspaper doesn’t want KP “conflict diamond” definition changed.
Red Line podcast on the “resurgence of Africa’s conflict diamonds” (audio).
Paul Zimnisky interviews Stanley Mathuram of SCS Global Services (audio).
Lucara recovers 62 ct. pink.
– Closes on financing.
– 2020 sustainability report.
Argyle pink sets record at auction.
Sammy Davis Jr. and Art Smith jewelry auctioned at Bonhams.
Kate Middleton’s favorite diamonds.
What it’s like to wear the new Rolex Submariner reference 124060.
A watch that does everything but open your beer.
Jeweler makes pieces from dead loved one’s teeth.
Metal detectorist helps beachgoers find lost rings.
Does ABC pay for Bachelor/Bachelorette the engagement rings?
From the Blog
Theo Fennell on His Rocky Ride and Plans for the Future
From the Podcast
The Jewelry District, Episode 48: Watches of Switzerland, Alex and Ani, and Marketing Innovations
Have a safe and healthy weekend…
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