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Industry News: Gold Prices To Increase; GEM Award Nominees Named; De Beers To Empower Women; More September 20, 2017 (0 comments)
Video: Gold Prices Heading North Again
New York, NY—Jeff Christian, managing director for the CPM Group metals consultancy and a longtime neutral voice in the gold market, has suddenly turned bullish. In this video on Kitco.com, he explains why he thinks gold is set for a rise again and just how high it will go. At press time, gold was trading at $1,312; Christian bullishly expects it to top $1,700, possibly more, in the next few years.)
Click here or on the image below to watch.
JA Announces 2018 GEM Awards Nominees
New York, NY – Jewelers of America (JA) has announced the GEM Award category nominees in the areas of Jewelry Design, Media Excellence and, new for 2018, Retail Innovation. The GEM Awards honors individuals and brands whose work raises the visibility and status of fine jewelry and watches. The winners in each of these categories will be announced live during the 16th Annual GEM Awards, set for Friday, January 19, 2018, at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.
The GEM Award for Jewelry Design nominees are: Coomi Bhasin, Coomi; Irene Neuwirth, Irene Neuwirth Jewelry; and Nikos Koulis, Nikos Koulis Jewels.
The GEM Award for Media Excellence nominees are: Benjamin Clymer, founder and CEO of watch publication HODINKEE; Marion Fasel, founder and editorial director of online magazine TheAdventurine.com; and Michelle Graff, editor-in-chief of National Jeweler.
The GEM Award for Retail Innovation nominees are ByGoldGirl, New York, NY; Govberg Jewelers, Bala Cynwyd, PA; and Moda Operandi, New York, NY.
The 2018 GEM Awards will also honor Sally Morrison with the prestigious GEM Award for Lifetime Achievement, and actress Debra Messing will receive the GEM Award for Jewelry Style. To support the honorees, find tickets, sponsorship and advertising opportunities, visit www.jewelers.org/gemawards.
De Beers Group Partners With UN To Empower Women Globally
London, UK—De Beers Group on Wednesday announced a three-year partnership with UN Women to accelerate the advancement of women across its organization, in its diamond-producing countries, and in its marketing. (See more about De Beers’ fall marketing and emphasis on self-purchasing women here.) UN Women is the United Nations’ program dedicated to gender equality and women’s empowerment worldwide.
As a UN Women partner, De Beers has committed to achieving parity in the appointment of women and men into senior leadership roles, investing in women micro-entrepreneurs and STEM students in its diamond-producing countries, and ensuring all De Beers brands’ marketing is a positive force for supporting gender equality. Working alongside UN Women, governments and communities in Botswana, Canada, Namibia, and South Africa, De Beers will invest US $3 million to advance the prospects of women and girls.
In the three African nations, programs will focus on accelerating the growth of women-owned micro-enterprises, helping women increase their income and create sustainable jobs for themselves and their communities. Models will be specifically tailored for each country, teaching both business and life skills to support women micro-entrepreneurs.
In Canada, De Beers and UN Women will work with the University of Waterloo, among others, to provide STEM-field study scholarships and mentoring to young women and girls from underprivileged communities.
Both sets of programs are in final planning stages and due to launch in the coming months.
Internally, De Beers also will accelerate the advancement of women by more than doubling the rate at which they are appointed to senior leadership roles with the goal of achieving parity with men by 2020. The commitment to create change in the appointment of senior leaders is coupled with efforts to attract and develop women at earlier stages in their careers wherever De Beers operates across the diamond value chain.
In its marketing, as previously announced, the Forevermark brand will emphasize female self-purchase and influence in the diamond-buying process. De Beers Diamond Jewellers also will use its marketing as a cultural influence to serve as a positive force for gender equality. Overall, the company will work with UN Women to support its marketing teams in shaping creative campaigns that reflect the diverse roles women have in society.
Finally, in recognition of De Beers’ commitment to women’s equality, De Beers Group CEO Bruce Cleaver was named a UN Women HeForShe Thematic Champion, one of eight global business CEOs committed to achieving gender equality in their organizations.
NCDIA, AIGS Announce Cooperative Venture
Bangkok, Thailand—The Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences (AIGS) will cooperate with the Natural Color Diamond Association (NCDIA) in launching NCDIA Asia, which will be located at the Jewelry Trade Center in Bangkok. AIGS will be the natural colored diamond hub in Asia, serving as a base for expanding activities for current NCDIA members, attracting new members, as well as broadening and strengthening the appreciation and understanding of natural colored diamonds to consumers in the region.
In a statement, NCDIA president Alan Bronstein said, “NCDIA is pleased to announce that we are expanding our outreach through affiliation with the AIGS to form NCDIA Asia. Through this collaboration, AIGS will be our hub in Asia for expanding our education and relationships with wholesalers, retailers and consumers.”
AIGS president Barbara Wheat, who will head up NCDIA Asia, is the former executive vice president of NCDIA. “AIGS looks forward to providing support for NCDIA in promoting natural colored diamonds in Asia, where consumers are already showing keen interest throughout the region. NCDIA’s educational efforts are in line with AIGS’s plans for increasing our work with natural colored diamonds,” she said.
NCDIA members will be receiving information on how NCDIA Asia will support them in the region, as well as keeping them informed about industry events. For further information on NCDIA Asia or AIGS contact Barbara Wheat at barbara@aigsthailand.com.