This week:  Mark Cuban sees the lack of differentiation in lab-grown brands. What will happen to Russian gold? And there’s apparently big demand for diamonds made from ranch dressing—but not from people. All below.

 

Tarnished Alrosa

– Deciphering the Russian diamond question

– Tiffany says it won’t source Russian diamonds

– Some Indians don’t want Russian goods blocked

– Indian dealers say ban will help organized crime

– Industry critics admonish India

– Belgium prime minister claims it never blocked diamond sanctions

– United Kingdom sanctions Alrosa

– How much will Alrosa be damaged?

– Alrosa has association with “group making nuclear weapons”

– Did Alrosa finance Russian submarine?

– Ian Smillie: Russian ban is just a “feel-good” exercise

– Diamond industry so far “untouched”

– The Guardian: Jewelry industry “silent” over Russian diamonds

– Russian diamonds are worse than conflict diamonds. They’re “World War diamonds”

– Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is befuddling the Kimberley Process

– Will Zimbabwe diamonds benefit?

– Can Russia sell its huge gold pile?

– Senators look to lock down Russia’s gold reserves

– G7 to crack down on Russia’s ability to sell gold (subscription required)

– Retailers weigh in to InStore

– Amazon is not sanctioning Russian sellers

 

How Madeleine Albright turned pins into a “diplomatic tool”

 

Diamond Foundry sues U.S. over Chinese tariffs

 

Two-thirds of Tiffany staff departed in year after acquisition

 

Tiffany calls Cartier trade secrets suit “bizarre”

 

Richemont sells its 20% stake in Swiss watchmaker Greubel Forsey

 

Christie’s selling 228 ct. “rock”

 

Auction house Bonhams announces second acquisition in a week

 

This rare colored diamond could sell for $6 million at Christie’s ‎

 

Chinese retailer Chow Sang Sang enters lab-grown space

 

Why Mark Cuban wouldn’t finance a lab-grown company

 

Movie theater chain AMC invests in gold, silver miner

 

Swarovski opening new flagship on 5th Avenue

 

Will Signet hold the line on diamond prices?

– Yahoo Finance talks with Signet CEO Gina Drosos

– Signet is “ready for a slowdown”

– Signet’s stock struggling due to “macroeconomic challenges”

 

Get Diamonds gets new executive director

 

Gem Awards honor jewelry legends, industry talent

 

Rihanna plays coy when asked about diamond “engagement” ring

 

92 Street Y accepting applications for artist residency

 

The new trend: “grandmillennial jewelry”

 

L.A. police chief warns against wearing jewelry in public

 

Bride-to-be shows off engagement ring and everyone says something brutal

 

One out of three respondents think diamonds made from dead people is “creepy”

 

Ranch dressing diamond ring sells for $12,000

 

Thanks for the shout-out, InStore!

 

Media Watch

 The New York Times on turning new jewelry into old, the new Oscar Massin brand, Kenyan designer Ami Doshi Shah, and the jewelry from Cleopatra

Syracuse University profiles Marla Aaron

 

From the Blog

Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Has Befuddled the Kimberley Process

 

From the Podcast   

The Jewelry District, Episode 65: Diamonds and the Russian Invasion of Ukraine

 

 

Have a great weekend.

 

– Email: rbates – at – jckonline.com.

– Twitter: @robbatesjck

– Connect on LinkedIn

 

 (Photo: Getty Images)  

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