This week: Cartier plans U.S. expansion. Indian dealers at odds with the banks. And a high school kid causes chaos with diamond tester. All below.

 

Consumers keep spending, despite “mild” recession threat: NRF

– CNN: Don’t expect big jewelry discounts

– Why even a down Christmas could be an industry win

 

U.S. watch, jewelry sales growth in April hits two-year low

 

Jewelers cleaning up, helping out after Hurricane Ian hits

 

Interview with Helzberg CEO Brad Hampton

 

Lab-grown diamonds now 10% of U.S. engagement ring market

– Edahn Golan’s presentation

– The rise of synthetics in bridal

 

Kay says lab-created earrings “may include natural diamonds”

 

Lab-grown producer Adamas One seeks $23 million IPO

 

Big pink is now second most valuable diamond ever auctioned

 

De Beers sees steady demand in eighth sales cycle

– Petra Diamonds resumes paying dividends

 

European Union won’t include diamonds in sanctions package

– Haaretz on Russia’s “dirty diamonds” (subscription required)

– FT: Indian jewelers “staying clear” of Russian diamonds

– Ukraine skeptical of Belarus bid to become KP chair

 

How Jagersfontein diamond mine could have avoided the dam wall collapse

– Police search for missing residents

– Free State backpedals

– Lack of coordination between government departments could hamper progress

– Jagersfontein was “an avoidable catastrophe”

 

Summary of IPIS report on Angola diamond mine leak

 

Indian diamond companies tussle with banks

 

Diamond Standard CEO says diamonds are “untapped…resource” (video)

 

Cartier CEO plans U.S. store expansion

 

Breitling CEO wants to make private equity deals

 

Ulysse Nardin boss vows not to be “mainstream”

 

Wempe fetes U.S. president, Ruediger Albers

 

Profile of Yianni Melas, “modern-day Indiana Jones of gems”

 

Diamond millionaire hopes to rock Lesotho vote

 

Pandora expands communications, sustainability departments

 

Former Atlas Jewellery CEO M.M. Ramachandran dies at 80

 

The Clear Cut plans to grow using TikTok

 

British online jewelry retailer Chloe Polo launching subscription service

 

Poshmark acquired by “South Korea’s Google” for $1.2 billion

 

Lugano Diamonds opens up in Washington, D.C.

 

Shane Co. pays customers to watch Disney movies

 

J.C. Penney using online quizzes to build loyalty

 

De Beers’ first gender-neutral jewelry collection

 

Darius is Bergdorf’s first collection created by a transgender jewelry designer

 

The “strange case of the pope’s blessed diamond”

 

How to “greenwash like a pro”

 

Two-tone watches “leave the past behind”

 

Collectors warm up to obscure presentation watches

 

Best of Betty White’s jewelry sold at auction

 

Did Cartier secure Blackpink’s Jisoo by doubling Dior’s offer?

 

TikToker creates jewelry from bacteria

 

Science creates diamonds out of bottle plastic

 

Poker player denies ruby ring was used to cheat

 

Pennsylvania man finds pearl in clam meal

 

High school kid tests diamonds, sparks chaos

 

Media Watch

The Guardian on lab-grown diamonds

 

From the Blog

Kay Says Lab-Created Earrings “May Include Natural Diamonds”

Interview With Helzberg CEO Brad Hampton

 

From the Podcast   

The Jewelry District, Episode 79: Antwerp Diamond Conference, Visiting Cartier, The JA Show

 

Have a nice weekend!

 

– Email: rbates – at – jckonline.com.

– Twitter: @robbatesjck

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