On December 20 the Pan-Indian Gems and Jewels trading Federation (GJF) organized all across India simultaneous meetings of jewelers protesting against coming into force since January 1 of legislation on obligatory approbation of gold jewels.
According to the new law, since January the marking becomes obligatory in 35000 shops of four megacities.
In opinion of GJF the government failed to create an adequate infrastructure for this purpose. GJF basically supports introduction of approbation, but protests against obligatory licensing of shops.
With the rising to power in Thailand of the new government, jewelers of the country declared their intention to lobby the cancellation of the value added tax (VAT) on raw materials used in trade.
“The Association considers necessary to undertake efforts to convince the new government to cancel the existing VAT on import of primary materials in view allow the development of free trade in Thai market in such raw materials as jewels and diamonds”, - declared Vichai Assarasakorn, the President of the Thai Gem and Jewelry Traders Association.
He explained, that taking into account the deficiency in raw materials in Thailand and dependence on regularity of import, about one million of Thai jewelers and craftsmen are now under the threat of loss of their source of living.
Assarasakorn added, that Thai jewellers are under the pressure of growing competition with Chinese and Indian manufacturers, the fact that is especially comes out in the markets of such countries as the USA and Japan. The cancellation of the VAT will allow to raise competitiveness of jewels from Thailand.
Gems and jewels are among basic goods of the Thai export. Only in 2007 is expected a 30% year on year growth of export, up to 4.8 billion US dollars.
The annual world exhibition of watches and the jewellery in Basel (Baselworld) this year will add of lustre and luxury in the pavilions. Showrooms will be more spacious and decorated in a new fashion.
The pavilion Hall of Impressions in building 3 has been expanded (8500 sq.m. added) and decorated anew, as well as the pavilion Hall of Feelings in the same building.
“The Exhibition Baselworld is a well-known one with participation of more than 95% of the Swiss watch industry hour branch of Switzerland”, - Sylvie Ritter, Director of the Exhibition, declared. “Besides the watch products, jewellery gets more and more popularity within the Exhibition... Thus, our desire to present all spheres of the international jewellery industry comes closer to trough”.
American rich and famous people flaunt in garnish made from tanzanite. Selma Hayek, Elli MacPherson and Tery Hatcher wear it. Also the Indian will be able soon to buy jewellery with tanzanite if traders will succeed in its promotion to the internal market.
The Tanzanite Foundation and the Jaipur jewellery show have decided to join forces for popularization of tanzanite fairs in the nearest two years, and to start the cooperation with leading Indian brands in jewellery.
Tanzanite is a rare gem found in bottom of the Mount Kilimanjaro, which became already a desired item in the American market where it sold at 2-3.5 thousand dollars for carat.
Sara Kort from the Tanzanite Foundation states, that in cooperation with the Jaipur Show they expect to create the demand on tanzanite in the Indian market, especially because the bulk of it is being grinded and is polished in Jaipur.
Hollywood stars Tery Hatcher and Ashton Kutcher are the new ambassadors of brand of the Swiss manufacturer of lux watches Baume & Mercier. Both of them are going to appear in a 2008 advertising campaign Baume & Mercier and I.
In the last three years such Hollywood celebrities as Meg Ryan, Kiefer Sutherland, Kim Basinger and Gary Sinise passed on the baton to each other in the proceeding campaign.
As it was before, the new campaign is aimed to support the good initiative. All fees due to actors and photographers will be directed to charity. The stars together with watchmakers decided to hand over the money for cancer fighting, popularization of education and the help to unfortunate women.
The campaign with Hatcher starts on January 1st, and with Kutcher – on April 1st.
Renaissance Diamonds Inc. and Gemesis have declared about a perfect debut of their synthetic brilliants at Hollywood Breakthrough Awards on December 9, 2007 both on the carpet path, and on the stage.
The female nominees appeared at the rewarding ceremony were shining with Renaissance jewellery, with Gemesis fantasy style yellow cultured diamonds. Among them were - Kim Kardashian and Elizabeth Mitchell from the serial "To survive".
Within the expansion of the joint project the Lev Leviev group of companies and H.Stern Jewelry and Precious Stones Ltd plan opening of two new shops in Moscow. According to Globes Online, one of the shops will be in GUM (the central Moscow department store), and the second, to opened in a month, in the International Sheremetyevo Airport.
In September 2005 the companies signed a contract on establishing of a joint venture for distribution of jewels, brilliants and watches in territory of Russia and the countries of CIS. In 2006 within the joint project a first shop was open in the trade center Crocus City Mol in Moscow.
In January LVMH starts a line of jewels with Blason diamonds.
The singer Farell Williams, in cooperation with Camile Micheli, acts as the collection designer. The collection contains diamonds in setting from white and yellow gold at the price from 2000 up to 600000 dollars.
The singer began the cooperation with the luxury brand in 2004 by release of a collection of solar glasses. He became famous due to his songs written for Madonna and Britney Spears.
