Russian diamond mining company Alrosa has begun operations at its Udachny mine, and said it expects it to become one of the largest underground diamond mines in Russia and worldwide, eventually providing more than 5 million carats of diamonds per year.
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Advanced Chemical will hold its 4th annual John Venditti Memorial Scholarship Golf Tournament on Sept. 20, proceeds of which benefit the American Heart Association and academic atheltes.
Videos of popular keynote addresses and featured sessions from the American Gem Society’s Conclave conferences are now available to the industry for free with Conclave On Demand.

At CIBJO’s recent Sustainable Pearls Forum, President Gaetano Cavalieri emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to achieve sustainability in the cultured pearl sector, one that focuses on economic, environmental and social responsibility.
Russian diamond miner Alrosa saw revenue increase more than 40 percent in the first quarter, although net profit fell slightly year-over-year.
Lisa Bissell has been named president and CEO of lab-grown diamond company Gemesis Inc., effective immediately.
After receiving shopper feedback that the previous policy was confusing, Target announced Monday that it will begin offering free standard shipping on nearly all orders over $50.
As it struggles to compete with fast-growing rivals, Coach Inc. will close a number of full-line stores next year and revamp the brand’s outlet business, the company said during its recent analyst and investor day.
Sterling Jewelers Inc. has announced a new hire as well as the promotions of two existing employees.
Everybody loves a mystery, and there is something particularly tantalizing about one that will never quite get solved.
Chopard confirmed that Marc Hruschka, who has served as president and CEO of Chopard USA Ltd. since 2006, has left the company but did not provide further information on its search for a successor or who will be leading the U.S. business in the meantime.
July 2, a week from today, will mark the midway point of 2014. There will be exactly 183 days behind us and 182 more to go.

Be discreet about vacation plans. Don’t let mail pile up at the store. These are just two of the vacation safety tips provided by David Sexton, vice president of loss prevention consulting at Jewelers Mutual.

Gemological Institute of America President and CEO Susan Jacques will moderate a panel on how to be successful in today’s market at the GIA’s upcoming career fair, scheduled for July 28 in New York.
Lab-grown diamond company Scio Diamond Technology Corp. has another new CEO at the helm following the recent termination of Michael McMahon.

National Jeweler’s Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff is among the nominees for the Women’s Jewelry Association’s 2014 Awards for Excellence, which will be presented with a twist this year.
The Texas Jewelers Association is partnering with the Israel Diamond Institute to bring a new diamond-buying opportunity to jewelers in the United States.

The proposed $150 million sale of Hearts on Fire to Chinese retailer and manufacturer Chow Tai Fook underscores what many believe is the future of retail: It will be all about the brands.
In 2012, Christie’s Rahul Kadakia cracked open a case of extraordinary jewels that once belonged to Huguette M. Clark that were, as the story goes, kept in a bank vault untouched since the 1940s.
The heads of four of the jewelry and diamond industry’s leading international representative organizations have established a joint consultative committee called “The Presidents Forum.”
Like the world’s stock markets, precious metals have entered a quiet period, with no huge price fluctuations anticipated and gold, silver and platinum expected to finish the year in line with analysts’ predictions.

Bridal jewelry designer Phyllis Bergman has published her first book, Married Fifty Years and Still Dating--A Guide to a Platinum Relationship.
This past Sunday, the Gemological Institute of America began accepting applications for its 2015 gemology and jewelry manufacturing arts programs, courses and lab classes.

Robbins Brothers is teaming up with Paparazzi Proposals, a company that specializes in planning and surreptitiously photographing proposals, to offer its customers the chance to plan and document the act of popping the question from start to finish.
July will mark Katharina Flohr’s final month as the managing and creative director of Fabergé.












