This week in Diamond Shavings: Rumors about a Patek Philippe sale. New concerns about Macy’s. And the grossest jewelry product ever. All below.

 

The jewelry industry shrank again in 2018.

 

Four new questions for the lab-grown diamond market.

– Jewelry ethics “don’t start and finish with diamonds.”

– De Beers hit by second-half slump.

– Alrosa affected by closures.

– Paul Zimnisky: Don’t give up on the diamond business yet.

 

Is Patek Philippe up for sale?

– Is Rolex in the mix?

 

Prices for hot Rolexes are falling, says secondhand dealer.

– Why doesn’t anybody talk about watch investment value?

 

Quotes and takeaways on the future of retail.

– Chinese retail growth leapfrogs America’s.

– The real problem with retail: bad ownership.

 

New concerns about Macy’s.

 

Gift retailer Things Remembered to file for bankruptcy.

 

Samuels Jewelers consignor asks for inventory protection.

 

Midwest jewelers battle in court over social media review.

 

Rebecca Foerster to head Alrosa’s U.S. office.

 

Steven Kaiser elected Jewelers’ Security Alliance chair.

 

Canadian Jewellers Association appoints new managing director.

 

Christopher Designs appoints two new sales VPs.

 

Regina Ciarleglio joins Jewelers of America as director of membership.

 

New director takes over Debswana.

 

Italian jewelry designer Pippo Perez dies.

 

Albert Robinson: How will artificial industry affect the diamond business?

 

Erik Jens talks about new models to finance the industry.

 

IDEX and Delgatto fund announce financing initiative.

 

Indian diamond industry wants turnover tax instead of income tax.

 

New program aids artisanal tourmaline miners.

 

Russia’s Alrosa and China’s Anjin dig for diamonds in Zimbabwe.

 

Lev Leviev gets stake in emerald mine restored.

 

Philly jeweler accused of fencing gets a mixed verdict.

 

Irish man says he swallowed diamond because he fell into a trance.

 

Danish “jewelry law” ends up not taking migrants’ possessions.

 

Kids try to make sense of Shakespeare sonnet in jewelry ad.

 

Robbins Brothers wants couple to scout for proposal locations.

 

The “bonkers anti-Apple Watch.”

 

New ring is produced in your digestive tract, and then plucked, well, you’ll see.

 

Peggy Jo Donahue looks back.

 

Media Watch

– Fashionista on Tiffany’s recent transparency announcement.

– Business Insider says millennials are turning the diamond business “upside down.”

– Dear Abby grapples with question about getting a ring without getting a proposal.

 

From the Blog  

Four New Questions for the Lab-Grown Diamond Market

 

Have a great weekend!

 

 

– Email: rbates – at – jckonline.com.

– Twitter: @robbatesjck

– Connect on LinkedIn

 

(Image: Getty Images)

Follow JCK on Instagram: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Twitter: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Facebook: @jckmagazine