FinancialsAug 15, 2025
In Q2 Results, Pandora Talks Tariffs, Q4 Plans The company had a solid second quarter, with sales of non-charm jewelry outpacing sales of pieces in its core collections.
EditorsJun 26, 2009
Kimberley Process meeting no canned affair
It’s a hard week to grab headlines, with the untimely death of the man who will forever be known around the world as the King of Pop dominating nearly every news outlet. (God be with you, Michael Jackson. May you...
It’s a hard week to grab headlines, with the untimely death of the man who will forever be known around the world as the King of Pop dominating nearly every news outlet.
(God be with you, Michael Jackson. May you find peace in the after life.)
Nevertheless, those that follow the diamond industry know that there was a virtual explosion of news this week regarding problems with the diamond industry worldwide, all as Kimberley Process (KP) officials held their sixth inter-sessional meeting June 23-25 in Windhoek, Namibia.
The week started out with a group of human rights organizations calling out the KP for, quite simply, being asleep at the wheel — not effectively attacking the very problems the system was created to address while issues rage in Guinea, Venezuela, Lebanon and Zimbabwe.
The inter-sessional meeting itself turned out to be an interesting one (apparently, it’s been less than interesting in the past — I wouldn’t know, I’ve never attended one), according to this account from my colleague Edhan Golan, an Israeli based journalist for IDEX.
The day after the meeting, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a scathing press release designed to call attention to the situation in Zimbabwe.
You can read our account here, or read the HRW’s entire report.
All of this might seem like a bit much to absorb in just one short week.
It certainly was for me.
But, one thing is clear, so much so that it seems painfully obvious and cliché to state: the diamond industry needs to band together and do all it can do to address these situations.
First and foremost, it is, in the simplest human terms, the right thing to do.
Secondly, the industry definitely cannot afford a public relations storm right now.
I wasn’t the diamond editor here in 2006, when “Blood Diamond” came out, but it is my understanding that the Leo special had little or no impact on diamond jewelry sales in the United States.
But things are different today.
To start with, the economy has people hesitant to spend on non-necessary, luxury items and diamonds certainly fall into that category.
Secondly, I have been reading a lot over the past few months that consumers are becoming increasingly concerned with the genesis of the products they buy.
People want to know how the products they are wearing, driving or consuming impact the world around them, now and for future generations.
I personally think
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
it’s a fantastic change in mindset but it won’t be for diamonds, if the industry doesn’t clean up its act.
Issues that missed most consumers the first time might not slide so easily the second, even if they arose during a week when the world was distracted by something else.
Issues that missed most consumers the first time might not slide so easily the second, even if they arose during a week when the world was distracted by something else.
More on Editors
The Latest
WatchesAug 15, 2025
Audemars Piguet Acquires Majority Stake in ManufacturerIts investment in micromechanics expert Inhotec will preserve skills essential to the watchmaking industry as a whole, said the company.
MajorsAug 15, 2025
Rio Grande Names New Marketing DirectorNicolette Bianchi joins the wholesale provider with more than 15 years of cross-industry experience in marketing and product development.
Brought to you by
Taking the Moment Head On: How Rio Grande Champions the Present & Future of Fine JewelryAs a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.
CollectionsAug 14, 2025
In Midst of ‘Sardine Girl Summer,’ Pippa Small Looks to ‘Flounder Fall’Her new “Ocean” collection was inspired by Myanmar’s traditional articulated fish jewelry, with depictions of flounder, catfish, and more.
Weekly QuizAug 15, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
MajorsAug 14, 2025
Casio America Names New CEOLongtime Casio executive Yusuke Suzuki is the new president and CEO of Casio’s U.S. subsidiary.
SourcingAug 14, 2025
West Coast Orgs to Host Trading Event, Mixer in LAThe full-day sourcing and networking event, slated for Aug. 18, will be followed by the fifth annual Mega Mixer Summer Soirée.
Brought to you by
Investing in the Next Generation of Bench JewelersThe Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.
TrendsAug 13, 2025
Cristiano Ronaldo Proposes With Gigantic Oval-Cut DiamondModel Georgina Rodríguez received a rock of an engagement ring, with her diamond estimated to be 35 carats, experts say.
SourcingAug 13, 2025
ICA Names 2025 Board of DirectorsThe board elected 9 new directors at its recent ICA Congress in Brazil.
TrendsAug 13, 2025
Colorado Jeweler, Whiskey Maker Collab on Ring GiveawayThree winners will receive a custom ring from Honest Hands Ring Co. inlaid with a piece of history from Denver-based distillery Stranahan’s.
SurveysAug 13, 2025
These Are The 25 Hottest Retailers, Says NRFJD Sports and Wawa were among the fastest-growing retail companies in the U.S. last year.
SourcingAug 13, 2025
Columbia Gem House Launches Winza Sapphires, RubiesThe new inventory, all untreated, features vibrant hues and unique bicolor combinations.
SourcingAug 12, 2025
Gemfields Sells Fabergé for $50MAcquired by a tech investor, the historic brand will continue to focus on jewelry, accessories, and timepieces.
Policies & IssuesAug 12, 2025
Higher Tariff on Chinese Imports Paused for 90 Days, Trump SaysPresident Donald Trump issued an executive order extending the pause on higher tariffs to November as negotiations with China continue.
CollectionsAug 12, 2025
Jacquie Aiche’s New Collection Harnesses the Energy of the ThunderbirdThe “Thunderbird Slab” collection features a thunderbird motif as a symbol of power, protection, and boundless possibility.
ColumnistsAug 12, 2025
Creative Connecting: How to Take a Better HeadshotColumnists Jen Cullen Williams and Duvall O’Steen share tips on how to elevate your professional image.
CrimeAug 11, 2025
Man Convicted of First-Degree Murder in Death of Colorado JewelerPeter Damian Arguello, a jeweler in the Denver suburb of Wheat Ridge, was found dead inside his store in November 2023.
IndependentsAug 11, 2025
Lisa Bridge to Depart Ben Bridge JewelerThe retailer, owned by Berkshire Hathaway, is becoming part of the Berkshire Hathaway Jewelry Group with Helzberg.
Events & AwardsAug 11, 2025
Bethenny Frankel to Give Keynote at CBG’s Experience ShowThe Continental Buying Group’s 2025 Tampa Experience Show is slated for Sept. 8-10.
FinancialsAug 08, 2025
Brilliant Earth’s Q2 Sales Up 3% as Engagement Ring Sales RiseThe company raised its full-year sales guidance while noting it has not yet assessed the potential impact of the latest tariff news.
Events & AwardsAug 08, 2025
GJEPC’s Jewellers for Hope Celebrates 10 Years of FundraisingThe organization has raised more than $1.3 million for charity since its inception.
TrendsAug 08, 2025
Piece of the Week: Rahaminov Diamonds’ Bezel BangleThe brand’s latest iteration of a bezel-set diamond bangle features clean lines and a timeless design for a new modern silhouette.
WatchesAug 07, 2025
Bulova’s New Collection Honors Tony BennettThe first watch in the series commemorates his participation in the Civil Rights movement, marching from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.
Lab-GrownAug 07, 2025
Chatham Releases Catalog for Loose Lab-Grown GemstonesThe catalog contains a complete listing of all the loose gemstones in stock, as well as information about the properties of each stone.
TechnologyAug 07, 2025
Rembrandt Charms Debuts New Website, Bird CharmsThe company added a retailer dashboard to its site and three new birds to its charm collection, the cardinal, blue jay, and hummingbird.
Policies & IssuesAug 06, 2025
Tariff on India to Rise to 50%, Trump Says An additional 25 percent tariff has been added to the previously announced 25 percent.
