Israel: retaining an edge in tough times
by Albert Robinson Vice President-International Business The New Jeweller Group

How does a diamond center which has no natural resources and an almost negligible manufacturing capacity manage to not only survive, but retain its position as a leading hub? The answer appears to be: find a highly specific niche and develop it. Needless to say, there is a more to it than that. It's also a question of constantly searching out new sources and finding manufacturing facilities that have both relatively low costs as well as highly skilled and reliable employees. Many diamantaires in the Israel Diamond Exchange like to attribute it to what they describe as "Jewish brains", a sort of shorthand for the fact that Jews, after being persecuted and having to move every generation or two for 2,000 years, developed an ability to trade Read more »

Albert Robinson
Vice President-International Business

Mark Buntz Joins GIA as SVP and Chief Marketing Officer

GIA (Gemological Institute of America) has appointed Mark Buntz as senior vice president and chief marketing officer to lead all global marketing efforts and drive the future of the GIA brand. Buntz will support the expansion of GIA's education, laboratory services – including the

DAVID KELLIE TO SUCCEED JEAN-MARC LIEBERHERR AS CEO OF THE DIAMOND PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION

The Diamond Producers Association (DPA) recently announced that Jean-Marc Lieberherr has decided to step down from his role as CEO at the end of his current contract period on December

Is It Panic Or Jumping On The Profit Bandwagon?

It may be a sense of panic or simply jumping on the bandwagon because the margins are excellent, but reports that none other than Signet Jewelers will be selling factory-made diamonds (FMDs) at its Kay and Jared brands is rather distressing. It's understandable that businesses want to make as much

MORE WOMEN THAN EVER BUYING THEIR OWN ENGAGEMENT RINGS, AND SPENDING MORE ON THEM THAN MEN

The latest diamond industry research published recently by De Beers Group reveals that the share of US women buying their own engagement ring doubled from seven per cent to 14 per cent within a five year period, and when women buy their own diamond engagement ring they spend on average