Kim Pelletier has been appointed to the newly created role of senior vice president of sales for Jacmel Jewelry’s luxury division and will oversee the Michael Aram and Stephen Dweck brands.

Michelle Graff

Belgian authorities reported Friday that they recently seized a shipment of rough stones that potentially are conflict diamonds from the Central African Republic.

Michelle Graff

Johannesburg--Rebel violence in the Central African Republic has prompted the Kimberley Process (KP) to temporarily suspend the nation, meaning that the industry needs to avoid trading in rough diamonds from the country until further notice. According to a letter dated May 23 from KP Chair Welile Nhlepo to members of the process, the temporary suspension comes as a result of a vote by KP members.The suspension will remain in effect until the KP’s Working Group on Monitoring, and other working bodies, can review the situation in the Central African Republic at the upcoming intersessional meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, the letter states. The intersessional is scheduled for June 4 to 7. Reports about a possible KP embargo on diamonds from the Central African Republic first began surfacing in May after rebels seized control of the country from former President François Bozizé. The Central African Republic is located directly north of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, bordering the Congo and Cameroon on the west, and Sudan and South Sudan on the east.Rebels seized the government in March and reports indicate they are using the sales of diamonds to finance their activities. Alluvial diamond mining is one of the country’s main sources of revenue.On Tuesday, World Diamond Council President Eli Izhakoff expressed his support for the suspension of the Central African Republic. “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,” he said. “I call 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.”

Michelle Graff

There is evidence that conflict diamonds from the Central African Republic are reaching international markets, despite the fact that trade in rough from that country was banned by the Kimberley Process more than a year ago.  

Michelle Graff

Those born in the fourth month of the year get to celebrate with what is arguably the most coveted stone of all--the diamond.

Brecken Branstrator

The Cartier and GIA chairman emeritus joins the brand while also retaining his position as senior international director of business development at Circa.

Michelle Graff

In her latest diary entry, Jacqueline Stone examines the thorny issue of consignment from all sides.

Jacqueline Stone

The Women’s Jewelry Association announced that it has launched a service for experts to critique the CVs or resumes of industry members searching for a new job.

Brecken Branstrator

She aims, however, to retain her position as general counsel with the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, an organization she has been with for 18 1/2 years.

Michelle Graff

Likeable Local’s Mike Farrell says that in order to find the answer, jewelers first need to ask themselves two other questions.

Michelle Graff

From a people-pleaser’s memoir to an Ocean’s Eleven-like heist, here are three books that came out this month that might be of interest to those in the jewelry industry. 

Michelle Graff

The jewelry brand is holding a retail-centric sweepstakes in the U.S. giving fans the chance to see the Endless ambassador’s Las Vegas show.

Michelle Graff

The Dallas-based jewelry wholesaler and retailer is joining with Southwest Diamond Cutters to establish a state-of-the-art diamond cutting facility to serve retail and wholesale clients nationwide.

Brecken Branstrator

Here are the top five stories published on NationalJeweler.com for the week of March 27 to April 2, according to Google Analytics.

Michelle Graff

The lab’s Tom Moses and Wuyi Wang reached this conclusion after being granted permission to visit a diamond-growing factory in China.

Michelle Graff

The rectangular-cut, 14.62-carat stone will be the largest and finest fancy vivid blue diamond ever offered at auction when it goes up for sale at Christie’s Geneva next month.

Brecken Branstrator

This week included coverage of one jewelry brand’s racy advertising campaign and the release of a new “smart” bracelet in the market.

Brecken Branstrator

The watch company saw sales increase in the fourth quarter and fiscal year but is tempering its growth forecast for the year ahead.

Michelle Graff

Presented by Likeable Local, the online learning session is scheduled for April 7 at 1 p.m. Eastern time.

Michelle Graff

According to a recent report from Karus Chains, the Casio G-Shock and the Rolex Submariner share the No. 1 spot on the list of 50 most-Googled watch brands in 2014 and 2015.

Brecken Branstrator

Mining company Alrosa has dubbed the 83.59-carat diamond it recently recovered from the Jubilee kimberlite pipe “Mothers of Russia.”

Brecken Branstrator

The company has tapped the visual retail veteran as its director of business development, to be based at its corporate office in Lewisville, Texas.

Michelle Graff

Long before they encircled the necks of goth girls in the 1990s or were popularized by a princess in the late 1800s, chokers were donned by women in ancient civilizations to protect their throats.

Michelle Graff

Wolleman recently headed the search process to replace outgoing JBT President and CEO Dione Kenyon.

Michelle Graff

PlatinumJewelry.com features jewelry styles and trends, as well as stories and guides, for shoppers looking to buy platinum jewelry.

Michelle Graff