This week: G7 close to agreeing to Russian diamond ban. The succession drama at LVMH. And did Taylor Swift lose a $12,000 ring at the MTV Video Music Awards? All below.

 

Shana Tovah! Happy and healthy new year to all who celebrate!

 

Deloitte has upbeat holiday forecast

– Bain predicts holiday will be weakest in years

– Online sales plateau

 

American Exchange Group buys Danecraft

 

DGSE owner buys Steven Kretchmer

 

De Beers to spend $20 million promoting natural diamonds this holiday

– India puts pressure on diamond miners (video)

– Edahn Golan: Market is “self-correcting”

 

De Beers stops Lightbox engagement ring test

 

Understanding an ad watchdog’s warning for Agape Diamonds

 

LVMH brand FRED release “blue” collection, with lab-growns

– Is Paris enamored with lab-grown diamonds

 

G7 close to agreeing on Russian diamond ban

 

U.S. Treasury sanctions Russian diamond miner Grib

 

HB Antwerp cofounders split, plan court fight

 

What has been done, one year after Jagersfontein mine dam disaster?

 

De Beers “confident” Venetia miners won’t strike

 

De Beers CEO Al Cook “potential candidate” to head BP

 

Which Arnault will inherit the LVMH empire?

 

Breitling CEO not worried about Rolex-Bucherer deal

– Is it just “business as usual”?

– Sotheby’s opens salon inside Bucherer

 

Jewelry Designer Showcase lawsuit dismissed

 

Kendra Scott jewelry is coming to Target

 

Nordstorm announces new leadership appointments

 

Diamonds International hires chief information officer

 

Nissim Zuaretz wins another term as ISDMA president

 

British jeweler Chris Sellors dies

 

Colorado jeweler Richard Weiss dies

 

Pure Earth honors Iris Van der Veken

 

JCK Industry Fund open for grant applications

 

Diamond mines have contributed over $500,000 to Northwest Territories fire relief

 

Reclusive Jewish French jeweler Andre Chervin’s work on display in New York

 

Inside Lugano Diamonds’ private social club

 

Royal jewels uncovered after a century head to Sotheby’s auction

 

Sofia Richie Grainge fronts David Yurman ads

 

Buccellati taps Talita von Furstenberg for new campaign

 

The story behind the VMAs’ Taylor Swift/*NSYNC friendship bracelet moment

– Did Swift lose her diamond ring at the awards show?

 

TikTokker explains how her Cartier earrings are free

 

New series Everybody Loves Diamonds dramatizes Antwerp diamond heist

 

Thanks for the shout-outs, Lab Grown Diamonds magazine (video), National Jeweler, InStore, and Karen

 

Media Watch

– NPR on De Beers and the diamond market

– The Economist: diamonds “losing their allure” as investment category (subscription)

– The New York Times on the definition of “luxury watch,” the Cartier Baignoire, and Dave Bindra

– Financial Times on brown watches

 

From the Blog

Understanding an Ad Watchdog’s Warning for Agape Diamonds

 

From the Podcast     

The Jewelry District, Episode 104: Rolex and Bucherer, Audemars Piguet, Rob’s New Book

 

Have a great weekend!

 

– Email: rbates – at – jckonline.com.

– Twitter: @robbatesjck

– Connect on LinkedIn

 

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