Articles and News
INDUSTRY NEWS: PGI CALLS FOR INNOVATION ENTRIES; KP NUMBERS FOR MISSING DIAMONDS RELEASED, MORE February 27, 2013 (0 comments)
Call For Entries: Fourth Annual Platinum Innovation Awards
New York, NY—Platinum Guild International (PGI-USA), in conjunction with JCK Las Vegas, announces a call for entries for the fourth annual JCK 2013 Platinum Innovation Awards to be presented at JCK Las Vegas, May 31 through June 3 at Mandalay Bay. Last year's Best in Show Winner, by Vatche Designs, is pictured left.
The deadline to submit design images is April 10, 2013 and final product submissions are due April 25, 2013. Exhibitors from JCK, as well as the LUXURY, Elite Enclave, and AGTA Shows are welcome to submit designs. The competition acknowledges innovation and skill in platinum design in both bridal and fashion jewelry, and will designate awards in the following categories:
- Platinum Engagement Ring
- Entry Platinum Engagement Ring (semi-mounts under $2500 retail)
- Platinum Wedding Band
- Platinum Men’s Jewelry
- Entry Platinum Fashion Jewelry (under $3500 retail)
- Platinum Red Carpet Jewelry
- Platinum and Colored Gemstone Jewelry
The call to entry coincides with the relaunch of PGI’s trade-facing website www.platinumguild.com. The revamped site offers a more enticing new look and user-friendly navigation. On the site, visitors can browse platinum news and press, marketing materials and sales support. To enter the Platinum Innovation Awards, click here.
Entrants may submit one product per category and will instantly become “nominees” into this year’s competition. All nominees will be featured on PGI-USA’s press website if they submit photos, and on the consumer website, www.preciousplatinum.com, as they await the chance to win the Platinum Innovation Awards’ prize package.
Two awards will be granted in each category; one Editor’s Choice and one Buyer’s Choice Award. One special Best in Show Award will be given as a culmination from all votes. Judging will begin May 7 at an exclusive Editor Preview Event in New York City. Editor’s choices will not be revealed until after the buyers have voted at the shows.
EU Releases KP Cert Numbers for Diamonds Stolen in Heist
New York, NY—The European Union has released the Kimberley Process certificate numbers for the parcels of rough diamonds that were stolen by gunmen from the hold of a Swiss-bound aircraft at Brussels International Airport on February 18.
The EU and the World Diamond Council are urging members of the trade who may be offered diamonds carrying these associated KP certificate numbers to immediately contact the authorities in their countries, and report the possibility of stolen merchandise in their jurisdiction.
The following Kimberley Process certificate numbers are associated with parcels of rough diamonds stolen in the heist: EU00503581, EU00503640, EU00503673, EU00503589, EU00503644, EU00503674, EU00503613, EU00503649, EU00503676, EU00503619, EU00503650, EU00503678, EU00503620, EU00503654, EU00503683, EU00503623, EU00503657, EU00503684, EU00503626, EU00503669, EU00503685, EU00503634, EU00503670, EU00503687, EU00503637, EU00503671, and EU00503673.
Almost $170K Raised for Homeless Man Who Returned a Diamond Ring
Kansas City, MO--Billy Ray Harris was a homeless man living on the street when Sarah Darling opened her change purse and emptied her coins into his cup. Unfortunately, she forgot that she'd taken her engagement ring off earlier in the day and put it into her coin purse for safekeeping. Into the cup it went with the coins.
Harris may be homeless, but the grandson of a reverend was raised to be an honest man. When Darling returned the next day, hoping against hope, she told him she may have left something valuable in his cup.
"A ring?" he asked--then returned it to her. She gave him all the cash she and her husband had in their wallets, but that moment changed Harris's life by more than a few dollars. A friend of Darling's contacted KCTV-5 in Kansas City, which ran the story early this month. It was picked up by the Associated Press and NPR, and went viral around the world.
Darling's husband, Bill Krejci, launched a Give Forward page to help Harris get back on his feet. At press time, more than $169,000 had been collected, and Krejci reports that Harris has both legal and financial counsel for the funds, and a "solid plan" for it with a "solid way" to make it happen. He's also off the street, living with a musician friend.
GIA Interactive Diamond App Now Available for Android
Carlsbad, CA--Owners of Android phones and tablets like the Kindle Fire and Samsung Galaxy can now benefit from GIA’s (Gemological Institute of America) free interactive diamond app for consumers and retailers, available in both English and Simplified Chinese. The app engages consumers with interactive features, video content and information on the GIA-created 4Cs (color, clarity, cut and carat weight) of diamond quality.
Users can explore diamond color across the GIA D-to-Z color scale, see typical inclusions on the GIA clarity scale, and how cut can make a significant difference in the look of a diamond. The app also explains the GIA Diamond Grading Report for diamond quality.
The app provides direct access to GIA Report Check, a secure online database of GIA grading reports, and a new social feature in “My Diamond Wish List,” where users can email, tweet, or share on Facebook the diamonds they’ve saved in their personal wish list. The free 4Cs app for Android is downloadable in English and Simplified Chinese. It also is available for iPhone and iPad.
A retailer version, designed for use at point of sale, is downloadable for free from GIA’s retailer support site www.retailer.gia.edu. GIA’s award-winning peer-reviewed quarterly Gems & Gemology is also available on the iPad.
More Than $1 Billion in Diamonds on Sale in Israel Next Month
Ramat Gan, Israel—More than 150 Israeli diamond firms have signed up for the first-ever US/International Diamond Week, March 17-20, on the trading floor of the Israel Diamond Exchange. On sale will be a wide range of polished diamonds worth more than $1 billion, says IDE president Yair Sahar.
Two more special sales have been announced: I Hennig and Fusion Alternatives, who are holding a joint event, and the Rapaport Company, they will hold two auctions of polished goods in addition to their other tenders. The dates of the Hennig-Fusion Alternatives polished auction coincide with the US/International Diamond Week, while the Rapaport auction is earlier in March.
Buyers at the Diamond Week will be offered four free hotel nights at the Leonardo Hotel, located opposite the Ramat Gan diamond exchange complex. Hotel accommodation is being provided courtesy of the Israel Diamond Institute (IDI). Click here to register for the event.
Registration Opens for CIBJO Congress 2013 in Tel Aviv
Milan, Italy—Registration is now open for the 2013 annual congress of CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation. A dedicated 2013 CIBJO Congress website has been launched for participants to register directly and reserve hotel rooms at preferential rates.
The 2013 CIBJO Congress will take place in Tel Aviv, Israel, May 7-9, with pre-congress meetings beginning May 5. It will be hosted by the Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies and will take place at the Dan Panorama Convention Centre.
The 2013 CIBJO Congress will gather members of national jewelry and gemstone associations from more than 40 countries and representatives of many of the industry's most important commercial bodies.