Articles and News
Brand and Industry News: Greg Davis To GN Diamond; AGS Opens LA Take-In Window; More August 20, 2014 (0 comments)
Greg Davis Joins GN Diamonds
Philadelphia, PA—Greg Davis has joined GN Diamonds as an account executive. To contact him, call (248) 760-7987 or email greg@gndiamond.com.
AGS Labs Adds Los Angeles Take-In Window
Las Vegas, NV—The American Gem Society Laboratories will open a take-in window in Los Angeles. The new service will begin August 29 in the Brinks offices at 550 South Hill Street, Room 805. AGS Laboratories will offer free shipping and insurance for LA take-in window clients through October 31.
“It’s a natural move for AGS Laboratories to open a window in Los Angeles,” says Ruth Batson, RJ, CEO of the American Gem Society and AGS Laboratories. “With the shortest turnaround time of any of the major laboratories, along with the name recognition of the American Gem Society, and grading reports that provide consistency and accuracy based on science, our laboratory services are in high demand. We are very excited about this opportunity and look forward to serving members of the jewelry industry in Los Angeles.” Batson says the lab offers turnaround time on grading results in five to seven business days.
Separately, on August 28 at 1:30pm, the Diamond Club West Coast (DCWC) will feature Peter Yantzer, CG, Executive Director of the AGS Laboratories, and Ash Shah, CGA, director of membership at the American Gem Society, at its monthly lunch. The two will give a presentation on AGS Laboratories and answer questions from members of DCWC. For information on the window or the meeting, call AGS Laboratories, (800) 250-2600 or Brinks, (213) 627-4409.
De Beers Gets Set To Enter Secondhand Diamond Market
New York, NY--If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.
As the street becomes an increasingly important source of diamond supply, De Beers is looking for a way to get a piece of that pie. The diamond miner has launched a pilot program in conjunction with four of its (yet-to-be-named) Forevermark retailers to evaluate and often buy stones that come in off the street to these retailers.
Through its newly established International Institute of Diamond Valuation in New York, retailers can either evaluate a customer-brought stone on their own and tap De Beers for a market price quote, or they can send the stone to IIDV for De Beers to evaluate it in its lab, including a test to see if it's synthetic. De Beers will then return the stone to the jeweler or buy it and reimburse the jeweler a markup plus the cost of the stone.
The pilot is set to begin in September and continue through the beginning of 2015. For more information, click here, here, and here.
IDE Says 325 Companies to Exhibit At International Diamond Week
Ramat Gan, Israel—The organizing committee of International Diamond Week (IDW) last week released the list of 325 companies exhibiting at IDW, September 1-4 on the IDE trading floor.
"We expect to be breaking a record with the number of buyers and traders present on the floor," Israel Diamond Exchange president Shmuel Schnitzer said. "We also are encouraged by the continuous rise in registration of buyers from all over the world for the event and are therefore confident that the summer edition of the International Diamond Week will be a success for all who attend.”
Joining the Israeli companies will be delegations from the Diamond Dealers Club of New York (DDC) and the Antwerp Diamond Bourse. The show will also feature an exclusive polished diamond auction by the Rapaport Group.
The registration page for the International Diamond Week in Israel can be found here. Although committee members are working on the show, the Israel Diamond Exchange is closed for vacation until August 24.
Expert to Discuss Ancient Astrological Gems and Talismans
Bangkok, Thailand—Richard S. Brown, a leading expert in planetary gemology, will discuss ancient astrological gems and talismans during GIA’s (Gemological Institute of America) next Gemstone Gathering in Bangkok on Aug. 27.
Ratna-para-vidya. or planetary gemology, is an ancient Vedic belief system and practice based on the relationship between nine categories of gems and nine planets recognized as most important in Vedic astrology. Brown will discuss planetary gemology, based on the "Navaratna" or “Nine Gems” philosophy of Vedic birthstones.
Brown, a GIA graduate and founder of Astral Gemstone Talismans and the Planetary Gemologists Association, has more than 30 years’ experience studying gems in relation to astrology. While living at a north Indian monastery, he encountered Sanskrit translations that related fine gems and astrology, and has spent the years since studying the topic. Brown is the author of 13 books and more than 240 articles and has appeared in numerous television segments in Thailand.
The event will be held August 27 at 6:00 p.m. in the “Crowne Room 1-3” on the 21st floor of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Lumpini Park, Bangkok. The event is free but seating is limited. Please RSVP to pkosolsu@gia.edu. For more information, visit www.giathai.net/news.php.
New Gem Gets US Trademark
Dubai—Milenyum Mining Limited (MML) annouces the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted two trademarks to their company for the gemstone csarite. US Serial Number 86162962 was issued on July 22, 2014, for CSARITE® and US Serial Number 86162943 was issued on August 5, 2014 for CSARITE RARE.NATURAL.EXQUISITE®.
Polished Csarite.
MML says the gem is ethically sourced and responsibly mined at its sole known source deep in the mountains of the Anatolia region of Turkey, and the trademark will allow greater consumer recognition for the stone and help distinguish it from synthetics and simulants. MML has stepped up its efforts to combat theft and illegal mining by working closely with Turkish ministeries and army to monitor illegal activity and take immediate legal action when necessary.
“As this lovely gemstone grows in popularity, it’s especially important that the quality and purity of natural CSARITE® is protected,” says Murat Akgun, president of Milenyum Mining Limited. “With the granting of the name and slogan trademarks, our already transparent supply chain instills even greater confidence for our buyers”. He urges consumers interested in purchasing the gem, and especially those traveling to Turkey, to only buy from MML’s authorized retailers and distributors, which can be found on the web site www.csarite.info.