first diamond group has developed a new clarity enhancement treatment that it says replaces traditional laser drilling. the company says that its new treatment leaves no surface-reaching drill hole, removes black and dark inclusions permanently, and is guaranteed for life. suitable stones range from .50 cts. in all shapes and colors. cost for the treatment is $150 per carat.

“natural sapphire, natural color,” is the conclusion of the gemological institute of america gem trade laboratory identification report on the 80-plus-ct. transparent pinkish-orange oval mixed cut shown below. dr. eduard gübelin’s personal quality report from 1995 reads: this gem is “probably the finest in the world.”big, beautiful, saturated, naturally colored sapphires are difficult to find.

the gemological institute of america and other industry research institutions have made progress in detecting the bellataire treatment, but gia executives stress that the battle is not over.”eighteen months ago, we never thought we’d be where we are today,” says gia president william e. boyajian. “however, our concerns have not changed.

de beers’ alan campbell says there is “no right or wrong way” for sightholders to respond to de beers’ initiatives. and sightholders are taking a variety of approaches. consider the following: one of the most ambitious attempts at brand-building is from antwerp sightholder the pluczenik group, which last year approached german fashion house escada about entering the diamond market.

you might disagree with sam walton’s mass merchandising approach to retailing, but you’d have to admit that he was extraordinarily successful in building wal-mart into a retail colossus. walton is credited with the business philosophy expressed in the phrase “ready, fire, aim.”walton was a pragmatist, not a perfectionist. he understood that any idea, project, or product has time limitations.

most retail jewelers show little interest in synthetic near-colorless diamonds, since widespread commercial availability still looks to be a few years off. nevertheless, one gemologist has been working to prevent the inevitable retail jeweler’s nightmare: unwittingly buying and selling a synthetic diamond.

a fight is brewing in canada’s northwest territories over a local icon-the polar bear.the government of the northwest territories is suing local cutter sirius diamonds over its polar bear inscriptions, claiming they duplicate official insignia.”we are preventing somebody from using our property,” bob bailey, assistant deputy minister of operations for the northwest territories, told jck.

congressman tony hall (d-ohio) and a group of nongovernmental organizations recently held a second anti-“conflict diamonds” demonstration, this time in front of a tiffany’s in the washington, d.c., metro area in december.the chevy chase, md.

it’s the summer of 1999. the industry is in an uproar about the then-undetectable pegasus process, and fury spills over at the companies behind it-general electric and lazare kaplan. jewelers worry that a television newsmagazine like primetime live will seize on the issue and give the industry a black eye.fast-forward a year and a half.

with the diamond industry pilloried in the press over “conflict diamonds,” the government of botswana wants the world to know that diamonds can also help africa.

can one company make a dent in the most recognized and time-honored tradition in the institution of marriage? according to waldman diamonds complete, the answer is, “absolutely.”actually, the diamond company is looking more to tweak than to drastically change the engagement ring business, by incorporating the traditional into an updated design.

3beams technologies of hillsboro, ore., which recently introduced technology for placing bar codes and logo inscriptions on the table of a diamond, has come out with another option for diamond inscription services. ceo jayant neogi describes 3beams’s new “symbol matrix” inscription as resembling “a scrambled checkerboard.

general electric, developer and owner of the high-pressure, high-temperature (hpht) “pegasus process” that turns brown type iia diamonds into white bellataire diamonds, claims that type iia diamonds contain no nitrogen. but according to research carried out by the gübelin gem lab in lucerne, switzerland, type iia stones do contain nitrogen, albeit in infinitesimal amounts.

the diamond high council (hoge raad voor diamant, hrd), the nonprofit organization at the service of the belgian diamond trade and industry, is jumping into the colored stone certificate business. hrd has been well known in europe since 1976 for its diamond quality grading reports and institute of gemmology.

the hong kong jewellery & watch fair, held sept. 20-24, drew 30,665 registered visitors from 129 countries and regions as well as 1,774 exhibitors from 47 countries and regions. the fair saw a 21% rise in the number of trade visitors from the asia-pacific region, especially from the chinese mainland, taiwan, thailand, korea, india, and indonesia.

the rosen group, producer of the buyers market of american craft to be held feb. 16-19 at the pennsylvania convention center in philadelphia, will introduce a new premier jewelry pavilion to satisfy the demand for more fine jewelry at the show.the premier jewelry pavilion will feature 60 jewelers whose work includes 18k and 14k gold, platinum, diamonds, and other gemstones.

e.w. parker jewelers in madison, wis., has been in business since 1857. founder edward worthington parker initially built his business around the needs of local railroad workers, ensuring that their pocket watches were timed precisely to meet train schedules. it wasn’t until later in the 19th century that jewelry was incorporated into the product mix.

pricing information for good quality 1-ct. faceted ruby in our “jewel of the month” red jewels story (jck, december 2000, p. 72) should read “$400-$1,500 per carat.” the $100 to $600-per-carat prices quoted are for good quality 1-ct. cabochon-cut ruby.

more clock and watch manufacturers than ever before will be represented at inhorgenta münchen, to be held feb. 23-26. represented among the top brands will be germany’s glashütte original and union. among top swiss brands will be blancpain, breguet, bunz, charriol, chopard and eterna, and porsche.

leslie’s was the subject of a case study in a business-to-business marketing course conducted recently at new york university. according to company president andy ban, the class was presented with background information on the greenwich, conn.

two new machines are available from gold international machinery corp. the goldpro “flexible round” machine produces a spring-like round flexible coil from a thin flat or pre-drawn “profiled” strip. the coils are then saw-cut and finished to produce flexible earrings and bracelets. a “flexible oval” machine is also available. gold international machinery corp., p.o.

germany’s chancellor gerhard schröder will help open ambiente 2001 international frankfurt fair on friday, feb. 16. the opening ceremony will be held in frankfurt opera house.

helping an appreciative customer may be the most satisfying experience in retailing, but dealing with “problem” customers also has its rewards-if you know how to react. respondents to a recent jck retail panel survey told us about some of their most challenging customers. we share their stories here in the hope that readers will benefit from their experiences. the forgetful customer.

jewel of the month? “jewel of the year” may be a better title for chinese freshwater cultured pearls (cfwcp). the last three years have seen a strong pearl market, and chinese freshwaters have led the way.history and romance. natural pearls have adorned men and women for thousands of years. royalty used ropes of natural pearls to decorate their uniforms of wealth and power.

frederick goldman inc. has introduced a new line of jewelry, the “triton titanium” collection. manufactured in the united states, the collection comprises different styles of wedding bands and bracelets. while the metal is better known for its use in space exploration and medical applications, it’s expected to emerge as a leading metal trend in jewelry.

diamond dealers are still buying “conflict” stones from angolan rebel group unita, a new u.n. report says.

this year’s midwest jewelry expo will be held march 17-18 at the alliant energy center in madison, wis. organizers say the new location allows both expansion as well as more quality vendors.the regional show is sponsored by the jewelers associations from wisconsin, illinois, iowa, minnesota, and north dakota. the expo has more than 350 booths.

georgia ruiz torres expresses wonder as she admits something many of her jewelry industry peers probably can relate to: “i never intended to be a jewelry designer. it just happened.”torres, the designer behind the new name og torres, was introduced to the industry by her husband, jewelry designer omar torres.

american chic: 100 years of jewelry design (oct. 1999 catalog), christie’s, new york.becker, vivienne (1988), fabulous fakes: the history of fantasy and fashion jewellery, grafton books, london.cologni, franco and mocchetti, ettore (1992), made by cartier: 150 years of tradition and innovation, abbeville press, new york. magnificent jewels (oct. 1999 catalog), christie’s, new york.

northern nevada has released another beautiful gem, according to michael randall of gem reflections of california, san anselmo, calif. this time, it’s lavender chalcedony. while chalcedonies, particularly agates, are fairly common to nevada, the recently uncovered lavender is a nice new find.

first diamond group has developed a new clarity enhancement treatment that it says replaces traditional laser drilling. the company says that its new treatment leaves no surface-reaching drill hole, removes black and dark inclusions permanently, and is guaranteed for life. suitable stones range from .50 cts. in all shapes and colors. cost for the treatment is $150 per carat.

to protect jewelers from claims of discrimination, sexual harassment, and wrongful termination, jewelers mutual insurance company, neenah, wis., has formed a partnership with shand morahan & co. to offer employment practices liability insurance (epli).

the hong kong international jewellery show will take place march 5-8. approximately 900 exhibitors are expected.a number of group pavilions will be returning, including those from israel, italy, japan, taiwan, korea, thailand, and the united states. in addition, the international colored gemstone association will have its own pavilion.

we may have a new congress and a new president, but there are a number of leftover legislative issues affecting jewelers and other owners of small businesses. several are tax policies in need of reform, such as estate taxes, leasehold depreciations, and internet sales taxes.

in an about-face from its decision of four years ago, the federal trade commission has amended its guides for the jewelry industry to require that every link of the diamond chain disclose laser-drilling in diamonds as well as treatments that “have a significant effect on a diamond’s value”-including the bellataire color-enhancing treatment.

in a week, here’s how the average world wide web user spends his or her online time:6number of internet sessions per week5number of unique sites visited34number of minutes spent per site3number of hours spent weekly on the internet1number of minutes spent viewing each page source: nielsen/netratings, milpitas, ca

georgia ruiz torres expresses wonder as she admits something many of her jewelry industry peers probably can relate to: “i never intended to be a jewelry designer. it just happened.”torres, the designer behind the new name og torres, was introduced to the industry by her husband, jewelry designer omar torres.

want to make your voice heard in washington, d.c., on an issue or proposed legislation? follow these tips. information, please. if you’re concerned about proposed legislation, contact the local office of your senator or representative. (check the phone book.

gemological appraisal lab has published a four-color brochure that illustrates its diamond lab report and micro appraisal card, colored stone report, and other gem identification services.for a free copy or additional information, contact gemological appraisal lab, 54 w. 47th st., 2nd floor, office #1, new york, ny 10036; (212) 382-2888, fax (212) 382-3772.

Influences on design Rise of the cocktail party More women earning and buying for themselves A new appreciation of machines and mechanical elements Streamlined fashions-padded shoulders, wide lapels, straight skirts Materials A new emphasis on polished gold, the result of restrictions on platinum Fewer precious stones, more semiprecious, synthetics, and paste Palladium-used occasionally in place…

de beers is primed to set yet another sales record this year. analysts predict that the company will end the year 2000 with sales of $5.5 billion, topping 1999’s number of $5.24 billion and reaching the company’s goal for the year, which was to equal 1999’s sales results.observers credited the healthy u.s. economy and the generally optimistic market sentiment for the strong results.

the california jewelers association has inaugurated a special cja associate member for supporting partners and has issued a call for manufacturers and other firms providing support to retailers to participate.cja implemented the program to strengthen the alliance between its retail members and others in the jewelry industry.

when de beers talks, sightholders listen. and when de beers officials directed sightholders to become better marketers, they were heard-loud and clear.a few months later, virtually every sightholder jck contacted had marketing plans ready or in the works. some have hired public relation firms or advertising agencies, or set up full-fledged marketing departments.

retro jewelry specialist camilla dietz bergeron offers the following guidelines for making ’40s jewelry work with fashions of the ’90s: wear retro necklaces with a white t-shirt, nice jacket, and no other jewelry. wear double clips separately-at odd angles, on the neckline, at the waist. avoid replacing clips with posts; most earrings from this era are too heavy to be worn with posts.

kurt s. adler inc. is offering a free catalog and supplement showcasing its easter world 2001 collection. the catalog includes a wide range of home décor for easter and the spring season. kurt s. adler inc., 1107 broadway, new york, ny 10010; (800) 243-9627 or (212) 924-0900, fax (212) 807-0575 or (212) 675-6672.

if the 2000 summer olympics gave you a hankering to go down under, here’s your chance. pack your boomerang and head to the 2001 international colored gemstone association congress in sydney, australia. the 2001 ica congress will be held april 29 through may 3 at star city, located on the shores of sydney harbour, site of the opera house and harbour bridge landmarks.

not everyone is enthusiastic about internet transactions. cecilia gardner, executive director of the jewelers vigilance committee in new york, calls online auctions the “least reliable means of selling jewelry.” approximately 25% of all jvc complaints concern internet auction sites. most complaints are from consumers and are about product misrepresentation.

kurt s. adler inc. is offering a free catalog and supplement showcasing its easter world 2001 collection. the catalog includes a wide range of home décor for easter and the spring season. kurt s. adler inc., 1107 broadway, new york, ny 10010; (800) 243-9627 or (212) 924-0900, fax (212) 807-0575 or (212) 675-6672.

the rise and fall of e-commerce business-to-consumer (b2c) sites has been swift and brutal. these sites were born of the belief that “if you build it, they will come.” but in less than two years, the lottery-like riches that b2c business models initially earned for venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, and technophiles has been reduced to fool’s gold.

nongovernmental organizations plan a “consumer awareness” campaign on conflict diamonds, increasing the chance that jewelers will face protests over the issue.the campaign likely will include actions at local malls as well as demonstrations like the one that recently took place at a washington d.c.-area tiffany’s. (see related story on page 29.

23.22 disclosure of treatments to gemstones. it is unfair or deceptive to fail to disclose that a gemstone has been treated if:(a) the treatment is not permanent. the seller should disclose that the gemstone has been treated and that the treatment is or may not be permanent;(b) the treatment creates special care requirements for the gemstone.

the society of north american goldsmiths (snag), an organization for jewelers, designers, and metalsmiths, will hold its 2001 conference, “material considerations,” in richmond, va., feb. 28-march 3, 2001, at the omni richmond hotel in historic shockoe slip.

“people don’t plan to fail, they fail to plan.” i don’t know who originally authored this axiom or whether it just magically appeared on a legion of coffee mugs, but february seems like a good time to talk about planning. the holidays are over and most retailers have finished taking inventory.

spring fashion trends are leaning more toward flashdance deconstruction than duchess-of-york tailoring. the affluent luxury looks of fall and winter are still strong, but with an irreverence that encourages women to push limits, experiment with new ideas, and embrace the uncertainty of the millennium into which we so recently teetered.

here are four web sites to help you deal with stress: www.stressfree.com includes a directory of health and stress care professionals, an online “stress audit,” and an opportunity to “ask the psychologist.” www.stressrelease.com offers techniques, booklets, and workshops that ease stress. www.mindtools.com/smpage.html details symptoms of stress and ways of dealing with stressful situations.

the north carolina jewelers association will sponsor a trip to the jck show in las vegas. the show will take place june 1-5, 2001, with the conference program beginning may 30. for information, call ncja at (919) 832-0477.

two new items from the easter world collection are available from kurt s. adler. “snorems” are a pair of sleeping plush, animated bunnies. each 6-in.-long bunny is packaged in an attractive gift box and carries a suggested retail price of $10. kandy’s kottontails is a group of decorative plates, bowls, candleholders, and other accessories featuring easter bunny and egg designs. kurt s. adler inc.

the largest faceted hiddenite, n.c., emerald, the 18.88-ct. pear-shape “carolina queen,” was pulled from auction when it failed to meet its owners’ expectations. the auction was held dec. 8, 2000, at antiquorum in new york. the bidding, which struggled to reach $470,000, fell short of the selling price of the smaller 7.84-ct.

two new items from the easter world collection are available from kurt s. adler. “snorems” are a pair of sleeping plush, animated bunnies. each 6-in.-long bunny is packaged in an attractive gift box and carries a suggested retail price of $10. kandy’s kottontails is a group of decorative plates, bowls, candleholders, and other accessories featuring easter bunny and egg designs. kurt s. adler inc.

what will the new president do for small businesses? that’s no idle question. the number of small businesses in america has grown almost 50% since 1992, according to the small business administration. and the wall street journal notes that “one quarter of u.s. households are starting a business, own a business, or are investing in someone else’s business.

if blues are the traditional conservatives of the sapphire family, the unabashedly exuberant fancy colors are undoubtedly the rambunctious liberals. and, among jewelry designers this year, there’s a noticeable move toward the left. pinks and yellows are the hands-down favorites, offering a precious alternative to meet fashion’s demand for these pretty hues.

the world’s smallest and most portable moissanite tester is now available from austron. the pocket-mate m is easy to use, reliable, and accurate. it operates using a single aa-size battery (either alkaline or nicad). as an added bonus, the unit is shipped with a ni-cad battery and charger. the tester also comes with a limited lifetime warranty. austron corp.

basel 2001 will be held in the halls of messe basel in switzerland march 22-29. the 2,400 watch and jewelry exhibitors, representing 41 countries, expect about 85,000 trade visitors from around the world. the process of improving the appearance of the display halls, begun with basel 2000, continues this year.

a lawsuit brought by antwerp diamond cutting firm rosy blue, manufacturer of the lion cut, against antwerp-based diamwag, creator of the “spirit of flanders” cut, has been dismissed, according to pascal eggermont, lead attorney for rosy blue. (see “chase to the cut,” jck may 2000, p. 126, and “lion’s share to be decided,” jck october 2000, p. 64.

vm manufacturing inc. offers a one-quart capacity wax injector-the “minijector” model vm 1011-with all the features of a full-sized unit. according to the company, it is ideal for use in small shops and features a thermostat, safety release valve, and easy-to-read thermometer, which is located on the front above the nozzle. the pot, cover, and base are made of machined aluminum.

the cost of health care federal taxes on business income locating qualified employees unreasonable government regulations social security taxes source: national federation of independent business

kiss, bow, or shake hands? say “thank you” by e-mail or postal service? the answers to these and other questions about business protocol will be addressed at the women’s jewelry association’s bi-annual breakfast.

although holiday 2000 had some bright spots-mainly at upscale, independent jewelers-most jewelers told jck the season’s sales were disappointing. many have merchandise left and don’t plan to do much buying in the first half of 2001. but, while holiday sales were down, most jewelers say sales weren’t dismal, and they remain optimistic about 2001.

feel anxious? overwhelmed by too many obligations at work and home? been yelling at your spouse, kids, or co-workers lately for no good reason? if so, you’re probably stressed, and you’re not alone. a gallup organization survey finds that almost one in five adults say stress affects their concentration at work, all or some of the time.

jewelers of america (ja) announces the return of the popular ja masters in motion bench jeweler education program to tucson, ariz., in conjunction with rio grande’s catalog in motion. ja masters in motion will be held feb. 2-4.now in its third year, ja masters in motion features hands-on demonstrations by ja certified master bench jewelers.

one of the jewelry industry’s most vibrant personalities, stanley schechter, chairman of honora industries, died suddenly in bangkok on dec. 7, while on a business trip. his passing came as a shock to both family and friends because he had no history of serious illness.

sure, there’s always the option of chasing and suing companies that specialize in knockoffs. but, as any designer can attest, that can be a maddening, costly, and often futile process. so, when seidengang designer carol seiden saw a local celebrity wearing knockoffs on a television news program, she saw an opportunity to strengthen the seidengang brand.

according to a report in the london times, de beers plans to enter the retail arena to sell its own “brand.”the times said the new retail branch will not be fully owned by de beers, and its board will not be controlled by de beers representatives.de beers spokesman andrew lamont said the report was “speculation,” but he declined to confirm or deny its accuracy.

eyris blue pearls of christchurch, new zealand, has developed what it believes is the first color-grading system for cultured abalone mabé pearl. eyris’s managing director roger beattie noticed that he could group the mabés first by their dominant color-green or blue-then divide each group into two subgroups of predominant highlighting colors.

jck web manager and seasoned ebay seller maria miriam gave us the skinny on what to do and what not to do at online auctions: always include photos of the item you’re offering. describe items in detail and be honest. clearly state sales terms, including sales tax, and what type of payments you accept-personal checks, money orders, paypal, etc.

elizabeth florence, formerly the media liaison for the jewelry information center (jic), has been promoted to the newly created position of jic director.florence will be responsible for the strategic planning and implementation of all publicity for jic.

vm manufacturing inc. offers a one-quart capacity wax injector-the “minijector” model vm 1011-with all the features of a full-sized unit. according to the company, it is ideal for use in small shops and features a thermostat, safety release valve, and easy-to-read thermometer, which is located on the front above the nozzle. the pot, cover, and base are made of machined aluminum.

jewelers of america (ja) has relocated its new york city headquarters. ja’s new address is 52 vanderbilt ave., 19th floor, new york, ny 10017; (646) 658-0246, fax (646) 658-0256. ja will keep its toll free number at (800) 223-0673.

kiss, bow, or shake hands? say “thank you” by e-mail or postal service? the answers to these and other questions about business protocol will be addressed at the women’s jewelry association’s bi-annual breakfast.

stanley kubrick’s 1969 science fiction film, 2001: a space odyssey, was about mankind’s journey through the unknown in search of knowledge. it’s not unlike the voyage we take every year in search of economic indicators that will tell us what we can expect in the next 12 months.

last year’s international jewellery london, which took place sept. 3-6, attracted more exhibitors and visitors than in previous years, prompting organizers to call it bigger and better than ever before.ijl 2000 was 17% bigger than the 1999 show and had a 9.2% increase in stand space sold.

a fight is brewing in canada’s northwest territories over a local icon-the polar bear.the government of the northwest territories is suing local cutter sirius diamonds over its polar bear inscriptions, claiming they duplicate official insignia.”we are preventing somebody from using our property,” bob bailey, assistant deputy minister of operations for the northwest territories, told jck.

internet auction sites such as ebay can be a cost-effective way for retailers to sell off old inventory or unload items that aren’t moving. but bargaining in the online bazaar requires a time investment of at least several hours a week, even if you’re listing just a few items. to make the venture worthwhile, busy jewelers must find the best auction sites and use them effectively.

mpg repair is offering a nationwide repair service for tools and equipment from any manufacturer in the jewelry industry. all work is guaranteed. the company also sells new and used equipment. mpg repair, 407 south fifth st., livingston, mt 59047; (877) 262-2185 or (406) 222-2196.

classic black velvet boxes in various shapes, sizes, patterns, and interiors are available from jewel case. many styles may be ordered with or without metal trim. jewel case, 300 niantic ave., providence, ri 02907; (800) 441-4447 or (401) 943-1400.

at the 112th meeting of the boston jewelers club, fredric j. hammerle of the stern metals group was elected the 50th president of the 150-member jewelry organization. matthew a. runci of jewelers of america was elected vice president, and robert w. paul, former president of the jewelers board of trade, was elected secretary-treasurer.

these days, keeping up with all the changes at de beers can be enough to make you dizzy. recently, the company announced yet another shift: retailoring its sight boxes so it can be more specific about its sightholders’ requests.several categories of sight boxes have been eliminated and replaced with narrower categories.

on november 15, 2000, colibri purchased the trademark as well as certain assets of foster metals, a men’s jewelry company based in attleboro, mass. colibri anticipates that the assets purchased will add breadth and capability to its men’s jewelry line. the purchase price was not disclosed.

taymar plastics, a manufacturer of molded and fabricated displays for printed literature, products, and other point-of-sale information, has expanded its web site at www.taymar.com. the site includes a comprehensive selection of products and other information.

according to data from jewelers of america, the 15 oldest independent jewelers in america are:bixler’seaston, pa.established: 1785wise jewelersmount vernon, ohioestablished: 1826merkley kendricklouisville, ky.established: 1832broomberg & co., inc.birmingham, ala.established: 1836randolph jewelersplacerville, calif.established: 1852hale’s jewelersgreenville, s.c.

classic black velvet boxes in various shapes, sizes, patterns, and interiors are available from jewel case. many styles may be ordered with or without metal trim. jewel case, 300 niantic ave., providence, ri 02907; (800) 441-4447 or (401) 943-1400.

jewelers of america (ja) announces the return of the popular ja masters in motion bench jeweler education program to tucson, ariz., in conjunction with rio grande’s catalog in motion. ja masters in motion will be held feb. 2-4.now in its third year, ja masters in motion features hands-on demonstrations by ja certified master bench jewelers.

european gemological laboratory researchers gregory sherman and branko deljanin of egl usa presented lectures in london at the gemmological association of great britain, and in scotland at the university of edinburgh and the british geological survey.

“forties jewelry is big, but it’s very wearable, and it works well with a lot of clothes today-especially tailored clothes on tall women,” says camilla dietz bergeron, a manhattan-based dealer who specializes in retro jewelry.”you don’t have to do contortions to figure out a way to put it on, and, obviously, jewelry that people can wear is easier to sell,” bergeron says.

if the 2000 summer olympics gave you a hankering to go down under, here’s your chance. pack your boomerang and head to the 2001 international colored gemstone association congress in sydney, australia. the 2001 ica congress will be held april 29 through may 3 at star city, located on the shores of sydney harbour, site of the opera house and harbour bridge landmarks.

the winners of the 18th annual agta spectrum awards for natural colored gemstone design and 6th annual pgi platinum honors competitions will be on display at the agta tucson gemfair from jan. 31 through feb. 5, at the tucson convention center. out of 326 entries, 31 spectrum awards (including honorable mentions and manufacturing honors) were given, along with 15 platinum honors.

diavik, the planned second mine in canada’s northwest territories, is almost certain to begin production in the first half of 2003.the mine just received final approval from local water authorities to begin construction, meaning all government regulatory hurdles have been cleared. tom hoefer, the mine’s manager of public affairs, says the mine now just has to sell its plans to shareholders.

bench jewelers frequently need to make precise cuts in gold and platinum sheet metal, but a regular wire saw blade just won’t do the job. according to tom weishaar, jar certified master bench jeweler and shop manager of underwoods in fayetteville, ark., wire blades bend and bow as they cut through metal. the lines they cut just don’t have the precision that is sometimes required.

the gemological institute of america opened a new exhibit, “giant gemstones and colossal crystals,” in december in the museum gallery at the institute’s world headquarters in carlsbad, calif.among the extraordinary pieces on display is one of the world’s largest single amethyst crystals. on loan to gia from hussain rezayee, this doubly terminated crystal weighs 164 lbs.

a buyer looking for artful design in jewelry attends the american craft council (acc) show, of course. those searching out international flavor attend either basel or vicenza, or one of the large u.s. shows.starting this year, however, buyers will have an opportunity to combine the two concepts and view the finest in international jewelry art at one small exhibition.

jewellery arabia 2000, the ninth show in the series of exhibitions for the middle east’s gold, jewelry, clock, and watch market, closed its doors on nov. 11, 2000, after attracting a record number of buyers from throughout the arab world.

frederick goldman inc. has introduced a new line of jewelry, the “triton titanium” collection. manufactured in the united states, the collection comprises different styles of wedding bands and bracelets. while the metal is better known for its use in space exploration and medical applications, it’s expected to emerge as a leading metal trend in jewelry.

the 1st china international gold exhibition (china world gold expo 2001) will be held june 19-21 at beijing international convention center in beijing, china. the show is jointly organized by the china gold society and the china council for the promotion of international trade (ccpit) beijing sub-council.

last fall’s hong kong watch & clock fair, held sept. 6-10 in the hong kong convention and exhibition centre, attracted 15,595 buyers from around the world, according to the hong kong trade development council, the fair organizer. the fair featured 774 exhibitors from 13 countries and regions.buyers from outside hong kong totaled 5,671 from 4,214 companies, an increase of 1.

swiss luxury watchmaker roger dubuis offers what he calls “the ultimate luxury accessory”: three new high-end watch collections for women and men. as with all his collections, the new series are limited editions of 28 each.each watch is handmade and numbered, encased in 18k rose or white gold, and adorned with hand-painted mother-of-pearl and jeweled dials.

the “opera one” timepiece by girard-perregaux, one of the flagship luxury brands of the swiss watch industry, has been awarded the “special jury prize” in the annual swiss watch of the year competition, sponsored by the swiss magazines montres passion, uhren welt, and l’hebdo.