Diamond Empowerment Fund Announces $500,000 in Grants

The Diamond Empowerment Fund (DEF) announced its approval of up to $500,000 in grants, to be allocated to existing beneficiaries.

The approval of the grants, which were funded by sponsors of last month’s highly successful Diamonds Do Good Awards gala in Las Vegas, will help serve students and young entrepreneurs from diamond mining countries or where the diamond industry does significant global business.

Existing beneficiaries include Botswana’s Top Achievers program, the Graca Machel Trust, and the India-based Veerayatan. The funds will also support the graduates of DEF’s mobile school in the Democratic Republic of Congo (pictured, top).

The Diamond Empowerment Fund Scholarships, which are being introduced this year, will be awarded to youth from either diamond mining countries or countries playing a central role in the diamond industry and may be used for higher education, leadership development, entrepreneurship, or vocational training. The stipulation for recipients is that they return to their communities to build economic growth, sustainability, and the development of strong social structures upon graduation from their respective programs.

For more information, visit diamondsdogood.com.

Rembrandt Charms Debuts New Website

Rembrandt Charms has announced the debut of its newly developed, interactive website. With high-resolution product images and streamlined navigation for desktop, tablet, and smartphones, its goal is to provide an easier, more customized experience for the retail jeweler and their customers.

The new site, created using WordPress, features an online wish list, which may be emailed, printed, or shared via social media. It also boasts custom programs: the Bracelet Creator, Engraving Creator, and PhotoArt Creator, the latter of which will debut later this year. These programs allow visitors to the site to add engraving or custom photos to their charms and select the placement of those charms on a bracelet.

“Despite designing a consumer-friendly website and increasing our national consumer advertising, Rembrandt Charms remains dedicated to supporting the retail jeweler and will not sell direct to consumers,” said Rembrandt vice president Eric Lux in a press release. “There are many new features now and for later this year that will benefit our retail jewelers, including online ordering and a retailer dashboard. However, if our retail jewelers prefer to email, fax, or call in orders rather than going through our website, our unparalleled customer service team remains available to assist them during regular business hours.”

To see the new site, visit rembrandtcharms.com.

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