We have all seen the troubling news about the recent upsurge in COVID-19 cases in certain parts of the United States. Please wear masks, socially distance, wash your hands, and stay healthy and safe. Business is important, but your health is far more so. All of us at JCK wish everyone the best during these perpetually troubling times.
This week in Diamond Shavings: China to surpass United States as the world’s largest retail market. Reporter helps a jewelry manufacturer get goods back from Neiman Marcus. And a Tanzanian miner becomes an overnight millionaire with a gem find. All below.
Edahn Golan: How COVID-19 has affected jewelry sales.
– Independent jewelers doing well since reopening.
The Curve Unflattens
– Only half of jewelers require masks in stores.
– Mall owner says masks should be mandatory.
– Etsy vendors sell $133 million in masks.
– Walmart closes several stores for deep cleaning.
– Apple re-closing stores where COVID-19 is spiking.
New York City retailers welcome back shoppers, but challenges loom.
– How NYC stores plan to reopen.
– GIA New York laboratory to reopen on June 29.
Swiss, France starting to allow events.
– Hong Kong shows canceled.
Surat diamond industry works out COVID protocol.
– Some call for voluntary one-week closure.
– Three more diamond factories get COVID-19 closure notices.
– Alrosa closes mine after new COVID-19 cases.
In-store visits at half of last year’s levels.
– Target CEO says pandemic will permanently change retail.
Signet’s new chief digital officer on its online plans.
Amazon sets up counterfeit crimes unit.
– Amazon, Valentino team up for joint lawsuit against counterfeiters.
– Kodak Black says Walmart is selling knockoff chains.
Sotheby’s says online sales “are here to stay.”
– No buyer for 3 ct. blue diamond at Sotheby’s.
– New York Times: Rich people are still stress-shopping diamond bracelets.
– Rare Paul Newman Daytona sells for $500,000 in online auction.
Ariel Adams: Why Rolex retailers should be advertising online.
Watches of Switzerland still thinking big.
Swiss watch sales to United States plunge 80% in April and May
– May exports “paralyzed.”
Breitling says Chinese watch sales are still booming.
China to overtake the United States as the world’s biggest retail market.
Fed official: Don’t bet on a quick recovery.
– Americans are rushing to start businesses, stoking optimism.
Swarovski cuts 600 jobs, Macy’s slashes 3,900.
– Should Amazon buy Macy’s?
Neiman Marcus to face competing bankruptcy plan.
– CNBC reporter helps jewelry company owner in dispute with Neiman Marcus.
More Kmart, Sears stores to close.
How Target is doing the right thing by investing in employees.
Goldman Sachs predicts $2,000 gold within a year.
Lightbox is offering higher-carat product.
– What’s next for lab-growns?
Bloomberg: The great “diamond glut.”
Petra Diamonds puts itself up for sale.
Dominion says court has approved sale.
– Announces plan to reopen Ekati.
Surat diamantaires coping with rising defaults.
Indian traders and jewelers panic as top “angadia” vanishes.
Lucara CEO confident she can navigate challenges (video).
Colin Shah elected chairman of the GJEPC.
Pandora appoints new supply chain officer.
“How to hire people who don’t look like you.”
– RetailWire discussion.
New Jersey teen raises funds for Black Lives Matter with handmade jewelry.
– Black Lives Matter inspires jewelry design.
Baltimore jeweler designs “badge of honor” for frontline workers.
Harnessing the “Robin Hood” impulse.
Morgan Stanley drops Pebble Mine shares.
World agencies step in as pandemic hurts artisanal miners.
– COVID-19 is underscoring the vulnerable lives of Kenya’s gem miners.
– Newspaper errs in calling artisanal gold “conflict gold.”
Diamonds found “stunningly close to the Earth’s core.”
Minnesota jeweler warns of fake jewelry scam.
Jewelry manufacturer adopts car manufacturing techniques for black gold.
Audemars Piguet opens watch museum.
Patek Philippe opens new production facility
Buccellati’s new campaign is a love letter to Rome.
Mikimoto opens new Vegas store.
Oldest store in New Jersey still going after 70 years.
Tanzanian miner becomes millionaire overnight after finding gemstones.
How a piece of jewelry shed light on a long-lost young girl.
– Lessons from the Holocaust and how they apply to COVID-19.
Women finds old engagement ring on dish mat.
Visitor finds 2.2 carater at Crater of Diamonds State Park.
Does Mariah Carey collect engagement rings?
How she’s managing: Andrea Fohrman.
Media Watch
Sydney Morning Herald writer feels “judged” after buying cubic zirconia ring.
From the Blog
How a Piece of Jewelry Shed Light on a Long-Lost Young Girl
From the Podcast
The Jewelry District, Episode 21: Guest David Kellie
Have a safe and healthy weekend.
– Email: rbates – at – jckonline.com.
– Twitter: @robbatesjck
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