This week: Trying to understand Rolex’s plan for Bucherer. Do people still like to go shopping? Why the cluster ring became known as the #ShutUpRing. All below.
Signet sees hope for holiday after tough quarter
– Company has a good idea of when you’re getting engaged
– Earnings call transcript
– Pam Danziger: How “services” strategy gives Signet a competitive advantage (with quote by moi)
How Rolex’s purchase of Bucherer will shake up watch industry
– Why Watches of Switzerland should be worried
– Rolex retailers in Europe, U.S. should worry too
– What happens now
– Questions about impact on market
– “The acquisition makes perfect sense”
– What makes Bucherer special
– Good analysis from founder of Chrono24
Privately held companies outperform other watch brands
Hodinkee cuts one-fifth of jobs
GIA lays off 151 at Southern California headquarters
JFC executive director David Rocha to retire
Greenland Ruby mine suspends production
Diamond prices are falling in one key segment of market
– Rapaport: Prices continue to drop
– De Beers’ rough sales decline again
– The “measured” language of De Beers’ rough sales
India urges rough dealers to be cautious
Choron Group invests in new Ekati owner
India asks U.S. to allow release of frozen Russian funds
– The New York Times on Russian diamond sanctions
– Two plans for sidelining Russian diamonds (video)
– Alrosa starts developing new diamond mine
India wants to include lab-grown diamonds in free trade talks
WD gives up legal fights amid new tech pivot
The long history of stabilizing lab-grown diamond prices
– China’s Lilang Diamond claims they’ve now actually stabilized
How do retailers deal with lower lab-grown prices?
Are lab-growns catching on in United Arab Emirates?
Why the jewelry business hasn’t plateaued
Vox: “Going shopping” is dead
The Atlantic: Brick-and-mortar retail lives!
Brilliant Earth opens showrooms in three luxury malls
– Sign of malls’ health?
CEOs backing down from pledges to be more egalitarian
The RealReal and the challenges of the resale business
– How new CEO plans to revive it
Jewelry brand Aurate’s partnerships with wholesale retailers
Swarovski’s “retail transformation”
– Company plans new lab-grown line
– Appoints legal and compliance officer
Borsheims promotes four vets on executive team
Charles Stanley joins Day’s Jewelers board
Richard Mille still involved in companies he founded (subscription)
Diamond dealers charged with illegal transactions
Christie’s cancels future Heidi Horten jewelry sale
Union plans strike at De Beers’ Venetia mine
The struggles of gem miners in Mozambique
California cracking down on greenwashing
FTC continues to target false “Made in USA” advertising
Adamas One receives NASDAQ delisting notice
Bulgari family heirs in “bitter feud” (subscription)
Surat architect-engineer creates diamond portrait of Prime Minister Modi for birthday
Wallace Chan exhibit in London will feature one of the world’s largest black diamonds
7-year-old girl finds 2.95 ct. diamond at state park
Diamonds Do Good awards five Canadian scholarships
The disappearance of freshwater pearl mussels from Scottish rivers
Jason Terry accused of stiffing celeb jeweler over $25,000 diamond Rolex
Britney Spears replaces wedding ring with a huge piece of cheap bling
Pamela Andrerson likes to buy herself jewelry (especially when she’s a paid spokesperson)
Royal Mint uses recycled gold for jewelry
Why some call the cluster ring the “shut up ring” (jeez, people)
Media Watch
– Financial Times on Disney watch collectors, AI-designed watches, luxury brands and cultural conservation, Coco Chanel jewelry, and the watchmaking skills gap
– The New York Times on Georges and Jacques Lenfant, jewelry based on toys, bee jewelry, John Hardy’s new designs, escalator jewelry, jewelers using precious wire, the new Paris jewelry fair
From the Blog
The Long History of Stabilizing Lab-Grown Diamond Prices
From the Podcast
The Jewelry District, Episode 103: Guest Lorraine West
Have a great weekend!
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