Articles and News

New York, NY—Rapaport TradeWire recently reported the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) asked member bourses to be aware of possible conflict diamonds from Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) following a letter from Kimberley Process (KP) chairman Mathieu Yamba. The ongoing unrest there is of concern, but Yamba also cited U.N. reports that rough diamonds were being mined in Cote d’Ivoire and exported to neighboring countries where, despite the diamond ban, those goods would then be processed with KP certificates.

Rapaport TradeWire also reported a number of London, U.K.-based jewelers were just licensed to offer Fairtrade and Fairmined gold products. Included are Garrard, CRED, Fifi Bijoux, Ingle & Rhode, and Harriet Kelsall of the U.K., among others, while Fair Trade Jewellery Company (FTJCo) of Toronto was one of the first authorized in North America for Fairtrade gold. Collections and individual pieces will be hallmarked with the FAIRTRADE Mark and Fairmined Mark, a stamp of assurance that miners are getting a better deal on their metal.

Separately, Rapaport announces its upcoming Hong Kong diamond auction. Preview is March 2-3, 2011 at the Diamond Federation of Hong Kong, Suite 5B, Hong Kong Diamond Exchange Building, 8-10 Duddell St., Central, Hong Kong.  Auction is March 4, 6, and 7 at 2/F Exclusive Showroom Diamonds, Room S211, Hong Kong International Jewellery Show, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center.