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Industry News: Pearls For The First Lady; DMIA To Discuss Warranty Protocol, More May 29, 2013 (0 comments)
DCA Member Presents First Lady With Custom Pearl Necklace
Nashville, TN—Diamond Council of America (DCA) congratulates member Gem Shoping Network for its honor of designing and presenting First Lady Michelle Obama with a custom-created pearl necklace May 15 in Washington, DC. The necklace is shown at left on a model.
The triple strand, hand-strung 10 mm white pearl necklace included a unique interlocking “USA” clasp made of 14k gold, designed by an in-house designer at the Gem Shopping Network. The necklace was designed for presentation at the 101st First Lady’s Luncheon, which paid tribute to Michelle Obama’s dedication and work with military families, and her program to encourage healthy eating and exercise.
“The necklace clasp was designed to be symbolic of Michelle Obama’s “Joining Forces” initiative dedicated to caring for our U.S. servicemen and women and their families, said P.J. Lynch, CEO of Gem Shopping Netowrk. He worked with Claude Markarian, vice president of the firm’s gemological and jewelry division, to create a white pearl and black agate necklace for each of the 1800 attendees, in coordination with this year’s “black and white” themed luncheon.
Gem Shopping Network is an active member of DCA’s educational and distnce training programs. Its on-air, support, and phone consultants have taken the accredited courses and been certified by the DCA.
“Gem Shopping Network successfully combines entertainment and diamond education to a braod audience, and shares our principles of honest, integrity, and education,” said DCA president and CEO Terry Chandler.
DMIA to Present the Diamond Source Warranty Protocol to Retail Public at JCK Show
New York, NY--Ronnie VanderLinden, president of the Diamond Manufacturers & Importers Associations of America (DMIA) will participate in the panel "Protect Your Bottom Line with the Diamond Source Warranty Protocol" June 1 at the JCK Las Vegas show. The panel will serve as an introduction of the Protocol to the downstream market and retail jewelers in particular. It will be held from 10:00 -11:15 a.m. at the Mandelay Bay Convention Center.
The panel will be moderated by Robert Bates, senior editor of JCK magazine. Other participants are Cecilia Gardner, president and CEO of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC), David A. Bouffard, vice president of communications for Sterling Inc., and Dave Bonaparte, president and CEO, Jewelers of America (JA).
There is a perceived interest in the downstream market, and in particular among human rights groups, governments and end-consumers, to assure that the players in the precious metals, gemstones and jewelry industries create greater transparency and accountability about their supply chains, says VanderLinden. "I am looking forward our interaction with the retailers' public on this important topic."
The Diamond Source Warranty Protocol is the new, voluntary approach to inventory management to help individual businesses work with their suppliers for a higher level of assurance in ethical diamond sourcing. It was jointly developed by DMIA, JVC and JA. For more information, see the JVC booth, #L004, at the JCK Show.
WDC Supports Decision To Oust CAR From Kimberley Process
Tel Aviv, Israel—Eli Izhakoff, president of the World Diamond Council, announces the Council’s unreserved support for the decision to suspend temporarily the Central African Republic (CAR) from the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. The decision was issued May 23 by Ambassador Welile Nhlapo, chair of the Kimberley Process,
"This is a tough but appropriate measure that will defend both the integrity of the diamond pipeline and, also, ultimately the well-being of the people of the Central African Republic," Izhakoff said. "It is a procedure which has shown itself to be effective in the past.” He called on all members of the industry to be vigilant and take all necessary measures to ensure that, until further notice from the KP, no rough diamonds from the CAR are handled and or traded.
The decision and the situation in the CAR will be reviewed by the KP Working Group on Monitoring, in consultation with other working bodies, at the KP's Intersessional Meeting, June 4-7 in Kimberley, South Africa.
NYSJA Golf Outing Will Support Jewelers for Children
New York, NY—The New York State Jewelers Association (NYSJA) will hold its fourth annual Golf Outing on Monday, September 30, 2013, at the Willow Ridge Country Club in Harrison, New York. A portion of the proceeds from this event will be donated to Jewelers for Children (JFC), the industry charity.
The outing will start with a sumptuous brunch, a barbeque lunch will be served on the course, followed by a cocktail hour on the terrace overlooking the vista of the golf course. An auction will be held with valuable prizes, including sports memorabilia. Then, the annual "Favorite Awards" will be presented during the event's closing dinner.
"We welcome any opportunity to help children in need with the kind of support that Jewelers for Children provides," says Michael Wilson, NYSJA president and vice president of Wilson & Son Jewelers in Scarsdale and Mount Kisco, New York. "The more companies that attend our golf outing, fund sponsorships, or donate to the auction, the larger the donation NYSJA can make to Jewelers for Children."
Since its inception, JFC has donated more than $40 million to programs benefiting children whose lives have been affected by illness, abuse, or neglect through its charity partners St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and the National CASA Association. JFC also provides support to the Make-A-Wish Foundation International and the Santa-America Fund.
"The nationwide success of Jewelers for Children is due to the continuing generosity of jewelry trade organizations such as the NYSJA, as well as from various jewelry and watch manufacturing companies, jewelry retail stores, individual jewelry professionals, and jewelry consumers," says JFC chairman Peter Engel of Fred Meyer Jewelry. "We are grateful for all that New York state jewelers are doing to support our cause."
The Golf Outing already has secured some fabulous prizes, including a BMW automobile, sponsored by Ray Catena BMW of Westchester, New York, as a "Hole in One Prize."
Sponsorships and tickets are now available online via the NYSJA website. For additional information on tickets, sponsorships, or auction donations, please contact Barbara Keefe, NYSJA executive director, (212) 290-1555, bkeeferose@aol.com.
Gem Veteran Pini Pinchasi Offers Second Edition of Gemstone Buyers Guide in Las Vegas
New York, NY—Veteran gem wholesaler Pini Pinchasi is debuting the second edition of his Gemstone Buyers Guide during the JCK Las Vegas Show. It will be in the AGTA section at the Harpaz Gem & Tamir, booth #828.
First published in 2000, the Gemstone Buyers Guide gives jewelers, designers, retailers, and private consumers essential information about the most popular color gemstones used in jewelry today. From agate to zircon, this handy pocket reference guide highlights gem properties, colors, sources, enhancement, care, lore, and more. Size and weight charts, birthstone and anniversary gem lists, cuts, and a color alternative index are also included.
“Since the release of the first Guide in 2000, many things have changed in the market, prompting a second edition in 2013, including information about new gem treatments, (composite ruby) new mining deposits around the globe, and the use of lesser-known gems that have become more popular in jewelry design today,” says Pinchasi. “During my 47 years in the trade, I’ve come to realize that many jewelers and consumers interested in gemstones have limited knowledge about the great diversity that exists in color, variety and price. Inspired by my customers, I compiled this updated guide to give them confidence to trade in color stones.”
Actively promoting education and best practices in the gem industry throughout his career, Pinchasi is a founding member of the International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA), past board director of American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) and World Diamond Exchange, and past president of IPSDE.
Regularly $18, the book is being offered as a show special for $15, with 10% donated to children’s charities. A complimentary copy will be given with purchase during the show.
JCK Events Expands Domestic Footprint in Tucson
Norwalk, CT—JCK Events will enter the Tucson gem show market in 2014 with a new partnership with the International Gem & Jewelry Show, owners of the Gem and Lapidary Dealers Association show. The newly renamed JCK Tucson show will be held at the JW Marriot Starr Pass Resort from February 3-8, 2014. The show will feature finished jewelry as well as loose gems.