Articles and News
Industry News: Robbery Webinar June 24; Consumer Proposal Contest; Diamond Diggers in Peril, More June 18, 2014 (0 comments)
Jewelers Mutual Offers Robbery Webinar
Neenah, WI—Sign up is open for "Robbery: Before, During, and After," a webinar that will focus on how to detect the signals telling you that you may become the victim of a robbery, and what you can do to deter criminals. This webinar will also provide information that is useful in the unfortunate event that you are robbed: lifesaving tips on what to do during the incident and how you can recover afterward.
Two sessions are being offered; jewelers can choose the most convenient one: 9 a.m. EDT, Tuesday, June 24 or 3 p.m. EDT, Thursday, June 26. (Please note the Eastern time zone and adjust accordingly, says Jewelers Mutual.) Click here to sign up.
GIA Now Accepting Scholarship Applications for 2015
Carlsbad, CA--GIA (Gemological Institute of America) is now accepting applications for scholarships for its 2015 Gemology and Jewelry Manufacturing Arts programs, courses, and lab classes. Applications are on the Institute’s website and will be available through October 31.
Scholarships are available for distance education eLearning courses and for classes at the Institute’s campuses in Bangkok, Carlsbad, Hong Kong, London, Mumbai, New York and Taiwan; and at the GIA branch in Dubai. Scholarships are available up to $1,500 for eLearning courses and up to $1,400 for U.S.-based lab classes. The scholarships, sponsored by private donors and the GIA endowment fund, supplement GIA’s wider scope of offerings. Highlights include:
The inaugural Tawfic Farah Memorial Scholarship will award full tuition for an on-campus student in Mumbai to pursue their Graduate Gemologist (GG) diploma, including the required Diamond Grading, Colored Stone Grading and Gem Identification lab classes.
To recognize the many important contributions by Bert Krashes and Eunice Miles to further gemological knowledge during their careers at GIA, full scholarships for the U.S on-campus and eLearning Graduate Gemologist (GG) diploma program have been created in their names.
In Jan. 2014 the Institute awarded scholarships to 151 students in 29 countries. The scholarships, totaling more than $500,000, align with GIA’s goals of providing quality education in gemology and jewelry to the trade and aspiring professionals. For more information, call (760) 603-4131 or email scholarship@gia.edu.
JIC Launches Ultimate Proposal Contest to Promote JA Members and Platinum Jewelry
New York, NY—The Jewelry Information Center, the consumer education arm of Jewelers of America (JA), launched its fifth annual Ultimate Proposal Contest on June 9 online at www.JIC.org. JIC’s annual nationwide search for the best proposal story drives awareness of Jewelers of America retail member stores, and excites consumers about the meaning behind their engagement rings.
This year’s contest, sponsored by Platinum Guild International and Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company, is targeted to those who gave or received a platinum engagement ring. The grand prize of the Ultimate Proposal Contest: Platinum Edition is $5,000 of platinum jewelry from any Jewelers of America retail member. In addition to JIC’s national promotion, email templates and social media materials are available to all JA members so they can promote the contest to their customers.
Consumers will see this banner on JIC's website.
To coincide with the launch of the contest, JIC conducted a satellite television tour on June 11, featuring platinum trends in engagement rings, wedding bands, and wedding day jewelry. The media tour aired on television in at least 30 markets across the country. Jewelry designers featured were: Cliq by Superfit, Gabriel & Co., Gumuchian, Jacqueline Fine Jewelry, Leo Ingwer, LX Antwerp, Mercury Ring, Omi Privé, Orlanda Olsen, Pancis Gems, Rina Limor, and Stuller.
“The Ultimate Proposal Contest, now in its fifth year, generates a lot of media exposure and consumer awareness of Jewelers of America members and the jewelry industry as a whole,” says Amanda Gizzi, Jewelers of America director of PR and special events. “Since the engagement ring is the cornerstone of the engagement story, this contest is a fun way to build excitement and awareness of our Jewelers of America members as the destination for future jewelry purchases.”
“We are thrilled to partner with Jewelers of America on the Ultimate Proposal Contest: Platinum Edition,” says Jenny Luker, Platinum Guild International senior vice president. “Platinum brides are passionate and proud of their platinum engagement rings. They undoubtedly have incredible proposal stories to share.”
The ontest entry period opened June 9 at 12pm EDT and runs through July 7, 2014, at 12pm EDT, on www.JIC.org. From July 7 through August 14 at 12pm EDT, consumers will be able to vote for their favorite entry. The 10 entries that receive the most votes will be finalists and move onto the final judging round. The Grand Prize winner will be announced on August 21, 2014.
WJA To Honor Batson, Bonaparte, and the Richline Group
New York, NY—Ruth Batson, executive director and CEO of the American Gem Society, will receive the Women’s Jewelry Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the group’s annual awards dinner, slated for July 28 in New York.
David J. Bonaparte, president and CEO of Jewelers of America, will receive the organization’s Ben Kaiser Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to a man in the industry that has been instrumental in advancing the role of women.
The Richline Group, a division of Berkshire Hathaway, will receive the Corporate Award for its support of WJA’s mission of helping women in the industry advance professionally.
Former De Beers Exec: Addressing Artisanal Diggers’ Plight Is A Moral And Business Imperative
Antwerp, Belgium--In a keynote address to the Antwerp World Diamond Congress today, Rory More O'Ferrall, former De Beers director of external affairs, and honorary vice chairman of the Diamond Development Initiative, said that addressing the plight of artisanal diamond diggers is an urgent moral and business imperative.
While conflict diamonds have gotten attention in the industry, more than 1.5 million artisanal diamond diggers in Africa and South America work in arduous and highly dangerous conditions. They and their families—up to 10 million people in total—barely survive on less than two dollars a day and their communities are exploited, abused, and trapped in abject poverty. An estimated 16% of the world's rough diamonds—and 12% of its gold—come from this informal sector of mining, he said.
Speaking to an audience of the world's foremost diamond manufacturers, dealers, brokers and bankers, More O'Ferrall said that artisanal miners "are just as much members of this industry as are your employees and colleagues in your factory, your office, your workshop or your retail store. They are just as much members of the industry as we are—you and me—they are our people. But for them nothing much has changed and they don't have a choice."
He warned, "issues of human rights and social degradation are all too clearly present in the digging fields of Africa. They increasingly attract media and public attention and pose a real threat to the reputation of the industry and the integrity of our product.”
He also spoke about the Diamond Development Initiative, which confronts the political, social, and economic challenges facing the informal mining sector; bringing governments, industry and civil society together to create sustainable development for diggers and their communities.
More O'Ferrall called for action, saying this isn’t just an issue of morality and doing the right thing, it’s also a business-driven imperative to protect margins, differentiate the product and create value in all parts of the diamond business. He urged those in the audience to support DDI’s work, identifying successful DDI projects in the Congo, Sierra Leone, and elsewhere that have proven artisanal mining can be carried out responsibly and safely, with respect for human rights and providing a livelihood for millions of people living in poverty.
For a full transcript of More O’Ferrall’s speech, click here. For more information on artisanal diggers and DDI, click here.
“Made In Italy” To Be Focus of Arezzo GOLD/ITALY Show
Arezzo, Italy—The second edition of GOLD/ITALY will be held October 25-27, and will feature gold, jewelry and bijoux from 250 Italian exhibitors.
The show will be held in Arezzo Fiere e Congressi and it is the largest showcase of Italian creativity, craftsmanship and design in the region, which is steeped in manufacturing tradition and represents a close link between fashion and jewelry.
The world of fashion made its debut at GOLD/ITALY in 2013 with designer Ermanno Scervino and an exclusive fashion show of his collections. This year, 50 models will take turns on the catwalk presenting the trendiest jewelry and accessories of exhibiting companies.
200 top international buyers from the United Arab Emirates (especially Dubai), Saudi Arabia, United States, Hong Kong, China, Korea, Russia, Kazakhstan, Europe, Canada, and other countries are expected to attend.
For information, log onto www.goldinitaly.it or contact Gloria Bastieri, (+39) 0575 936261 or email gloria.bastieri@arezzofiere.it