News
Indian jewellers promote natural diamonds amid competition from lab-grown stones
Falling prices for lab-grown diamonds and their resulting rise in market share are transforming India’s diamond jewellery market and prompting jewellers to take proactive measures.
Yesterday
Ethiopia opens first gold refinery to serve region
Ethiopia has inaugurated its first gold refinery, a $50 million joint venture that the government hopes will establish the country as a regional hub for precious metals processing, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced over the weekend, according to Reuters...
Yesterday
Anglo American bets R11.2B on South African mining's future
Anglo American has reaffirmed South Africa's potential as a premier mining investment destination, even as the company commits R11.2 billion ($677 million) to an ultra-high dense media separation iron-ore project at Sishen in the Northern...
Yesterday
Nornickel forecasts $4 billion in precious metals revenue for 2026 - report
A senior Nornickel representative noted that the company expects to generate $4 billion in revenue from precious metals sales this year.
Yesterday
Russia to build first permanent REM magnet plant
In 2028, Russia is set to start the construction of its first plant for manufacturing permanent magnets from rare-earth metals (REM) in the city of Glazov, to be commissioned in 2029 with an initial capacity of 500 tonnes per year, said Andrey...
Yesterday
Grant: We want to promote not only our own brand, but the brand of St. Petersburg as well
09 august 2021
Grant is a St. Petersburg-based jewellery company founded in 1999 as a small private workshop for the manufacture of diamond gold jewellery. According to the State Inspectorate of Assay supervision, since 2007, the company’s production has been one of the top ten among the diamond jewellery manufacturers’ production figures in the Northwest. Grant maintains partnerships with individual entrepreneurs and trading houses in Russia and Belarus and has its sales office in Kazakhstan. The company takes part in the major industry exhibitions in Russia where its jewellery pieces are often awarded diplomas. Stanislav Mazurchik, Grant’s Director-General, answered the Rough&Polished’s questions.
Platinum is appraised as a metal of the future by Gen Z because of the novelty it exudes
02 august 2021
Srinivasan, a science graduate from Madras University, started a jewellery manufacturing venture in 1984 with just 10 employees. Today, the Group from Southern India is one of the largest jewellery manufacturing conglomerates employing more than 6000 personnel. ‘EMERALD’, a name synonymous with quality and enchanting designs with 36 years in precious jewellery manufacturing, is known for its quality consciousness, uniqueness of design and quality workmanship. Srinivasan, ably assisted by a team of highly qualified engineers and professionals, aims to take EMERALD to greater heights in the coming years. In an exclusive interview with Rough&Polished, Srinivasan expresses his insights on the need for focusing on the 'design aspect' to grow in the future when changing tastes of the young consumers will rule the
Silver and diamonds - the "daily bread" of jeweler
26 july 2021
GRINGOR is a St. Petersburg-based modern jewellery manufacturing company established in 2002. It successfully develops and implements the innovations, many of which resonate with the Russians and the people abroad. In 2012, GRINGOR was awarded the honorary title of the “Official Supplier of the Russian Imperial House”, and the company’s president, Alexander Gorynya, was awarded the diploma “In recognition of Outstanding Services in Preserving and Developing the Traditions of the Russian Orthodox Church Jewellery Art and in Honour of the Special Esteem”. Alexander Gorynya, the founder of the GRINGOR company, told Rough&Polished what his company has achieved for two decades and what contribution it makes to the development of the Russian jewellery industry.
Willie Nagel, a gentleman, who would have the strength and stamina to deal with business leaders and politicians, passes away
20 july 2021
By Alex Popov
Willie Nagel passed away on July 14th. Friday he was buried in Israel. I was flying from New York with a stopover in London when it happened. Being unable to be there and express my feelings to Adam and Toni, I would like to remember him here.
Our last meeting was a year before COVID cut off the travel schedules. His modest apartment in St John Wood was squeaky clean, and Willie was presiding over the tea in his wheelchair. He was 93 years old then, but his mind was as clear as 20 years before when we first met.
It always amazed me how this small gentleman, and I cannot characterize Willie other than a gentleman, would have the strength and stamina to deal with business leaders and politicians. He made sure they listen to him, take his advice, and implement his ideas. But, at the same time, he would always find room for ordinary people like myself who would come to seek his guidance.
I learned a lot from Willie and will always be grateful for that.
In April 2016 Yaakov Almor published an excellent interview with Willie Nagel in the World Diamond Magazine. With Yaakov’s permission, I would like to repeat it here.
May his memory be blessed.
Diamond industry's reaction to KP impasse
19 july 2021
The Kimberley Process Civil Society Coalition (CSC) recently said that it is planning to approach the United Nations (UN) over the impasse on the redefinition of conflict diamonds and the principles of responsible sourcing. The CSC representative Shamiso Mtisi said it is time the UN directly intervenes in this important matter and prescribes to the KP what to do. He said in approaching the UN, they will draw its attention to hotspot areas where diamond mining companies, state actors and private security and trading states are allegedly violating human rights for profit. Mtisi claimed that despite efforts by Russia (together with Botswana on the principles) to put the redefinition of conflict diamonds and the principles of responsible sourcing on the agenda of their recent meeting, there was resistance with participants invoking procedural concerns to block the discussions. He alleged that this was making the KP guilty by inaction, since without an update to the definition, and promoting responsible sourcing standards, the KP continues to falsely certify diamonds affected by widespread or systematic violence as conflict-free. Rough&Polished's Mathew Nyaungwa contacted some players in the diamond industry to get their comments on this gridlock. Below is his question and the responses he received from Botswana Diamonds' managing director James Campbell, De Beers' spokesperson David Johnson; and independent industry analyst Paul Zimnisky:
Natural and LGDs are two segments of the industry that will have to learn to coexist together
12 july 2021
Having now completed half a decade in the diamond jewelry exporting and wholesaling industry, Anmol Bhansali received formal training on Diamonds from GIA in addition to a lengthy training in jewelry wholesaling from the factories at Goldiam. He has joined Goldiam to spearhead the lab-grown diamond ventures (both in jewelry wholesaling and LG diamond growing) as well as E-commerce initiatives of the company, with a focus on profitable, margin-oriented businesses that favor the shareholders and investor community of the company. He has graduated with a Bachelors of Science, in Economics, Finance and Management from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Here, in an exclusive interview with Rough&Polished, Anmol Bhansali talks about his dream project, and his aim to focus and grow in the LGD sector going forward.
L'ÉCOLE Van Cleef & Arpels: our mission is to share the jewelry culture with as many people as possible
05 july 2021
France has gradually begun to lift quarantine restrictions on places of cultural recreation, including museums starting from May 19, 2021. The world-renowned L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts (L'ECOLE des Arts Joailliers) Van Cleef & Arpels was one of the first to open its doors after another long lockdown, announcing the extension of the exhibition Jean Vendome, Artist Jeweler until 28 July 2021. Initially, the exhibition was scheduled for the end of 2020, but as L'ÉCOLE opened its doors to admirers of the legendary jeweler's craftsmanship on October 8, 2020, another wave of COVID-19 spread across France. All establishments were closed. Now residents of France can visit an exhibition of one of the main jewelers of the twentieth century for free, having previously registered on the School's website. In addition, L'ÉCOLE offers a wide range of jewelery courses that were only available online during the pandemic. Rough&Polished spoke with Marie Vallanet-Delhom, President of Van Cleef & Arpels’s L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, about how the school weathered the coronavirus crisis, about the courses on offer, and of course about the Jean Vendome exhibition.
“I think LGDs will never be a threat to natural diamonds,” asserts Suresh Hathiramani, Managing Director, Facets Singapore
28 june 2021
A diamantaire and industry expert with a deep knowledge of the gem & jewellery industry, Suresh Hathiramani is also a GIA trained diamond grader, researcher and writer about all things related to diamonds. His work experience stretches over 45 years and covers three countries in Asia. Besides being an ardent proponent of diamonds as a store of emotional and financial value, Suresh is an environmentalist and nature photographer as well. Here, in an interview with Rough&Polished, Suresh Hathiramani talks about his journey and his passion for diamonds and what excites him most about the future of the industry.
MIUZ Diamonds - diamonds with a century of history
21 june 2021
Moscow Jewellery Factory (MIUZ) has always been famous for its craftsmen winning prizes and obtaining the diplomas of “the best enterprise in the jewellery trade”. One of the oldest factories in Russia has two interesting news: about its recent 100th anniversary and about its complete rebranding and renaming the company, the brand of which is now called “MIUZ Diamonds”. The factory’s marketing director Irina Vasinskaya told Rough&Polished about this.
Lab-grown diamonds and jewellery are the future, says Liu
14 june 2021
As the founder of the Diamond Little Star® brand, Liu Jiangjiang is actively involved in various business activities. He founded the Lab Grown Diamond Research Centre and the Lab Grown Diamond Club in China. At the same time, he is also the General Counsel of the X Diamond® brand of the Singapore Investment Group. Liu Jiangjiang has obtained the “PRC’s Professional Qualification Certificate for Jade Jewellery Quality Inspector”, which is the highest-level qualification certificate in the field of gemology in China. Natural diamonds come from the earth, and lab grown diamonds (LGDs) are the result of the developments in science and technology. At present, the human society has entered the stage of highly developed science and technology, and people study the balance between nature and the technology. The harmonious coexistence and joint development of the natural diamonds representing nature, and lab grown diamonds representing the technology, is the first problem the people dealing with both categories should resolve. In his exclusive interview with Rough&Polished, Liu Jiangjiang expresses his plans for the future with confidence.
