Russia Set to Wind Down Komdragmet

Russia’s State Committee for Precious Metals, Komdragmet, is to be shut down by a decree from Russian President Boris Yeltsin.

            The organization is expected to close by the year’s end. The agency’s involvement in joint venture projects is expected to be taken over by the Ministry of Finance while the organization’s mining concerns will come under the jurisdiction of the ministry of Industry.

 

De Beers Impressed by Thai Production

A delegation from De Beers visited Thailand in September and praised the Thai diamond industry’s production.

The delegation, led by CSO Managing director Gary Ralfe, said it was very pleased with the Thai’s industry’s growth as well as it’s proven ability to shift to a wider range of goods.

President of the Thai Diamond Manufacturers Association Chirakitti Tang said Thailand had been strongly supported by the CSO in its move toward the production of larger diamonds.

Fellow delegate David Keites said that De Beers had increased its budget for promotion in Thailand and in the region.

Ralfe, the chief negotiator in De Beers’ ongoing talks with Russia, also said he was confident that a new agreement with Russia would soon be reached.

 

Greens Halt Action against Canadian Mine

The Canadian government has given the green light for BHP to go ahead with that country’s first commercial diamond mine.

            The mine, located in the country’s Northwest Territories, came under fire from the Toronto based World Wildlife Fund in June when the environmental group filed a request for a judicial review into the environmental study which had been previously undertaken.

            The government has now agreed to develop a protected area strategy in conjunction with indigenous groups and other concerned parties and the environmental group have agreed to put their action on hold.

            The mine is expected to add 44.5 billion to Canada’s gross national product and employ 1,800 people.

 

Nambeb Announce Cutting Planet Plans

Nambeb, the joint venture between the Namibian government and de Beers has announced its intentions of building a diamond cutting and polishing factory in Okanahandja

The factory, which is expected to employ 500 people, is expected to be open for production in early 1998, the company announced in an official statement.

All diamonds to be polished at the plant will be supplied through the CSO>

Since the formation of Nambeb in 1994, the company has planned to cut and polish diamonds locally and earlier this year sent a delegation to the major cutting centers of the world, including Thailand, to study cutting and polishing facilities.

 

Antwerp Sees Increase in CSO Imports

The Diamond High Council in Belgium announced that during the first six months of this year Antwep imported 94.3 million carats of natural rough diamonds. It pointed out, however, that this figure included a number of double-counts.

            Of this total, 63 percent, or 59.6 million carats were rough diamonds of gem or near-gem quality. The remaining37 percent, or 34.7 million carats, were of industrial quality.

            Of gem quality imports, 24 million carats of 59.6 million carats came directly from the CSO. The substantial increase in weight (+ 64 percent) compared to value (+15 percent), the council attributed to the fact that still a big amount of the sight goods are Indian goods.

            In the same press release the organization said the decrease in rough imports from Russia was still noticeable. It announced a sharp fall in rough imports from Zaire-a 32 percent drop in weight. Congo Brazzaville, on the other hand, showed a very strong increase in weight of 150 percent as well as a 219 percent rise by value. This proves, said the council, that Congo has mainly been used as a transit country for Zaire goods.

 

Joint Ventures Blamed for Russian Leads

Gary Ralfe, managing director of De Beers Central Selling Organization expressed his disappointment over the recent leaks of diamonds-valued at $40-50 million per month-onto the market.

            Recently in Bangkok for discussions with the Thai Diamond Manufacturers Association (TDMA), Ralfe pointed out that he was sure that state organizations were not responsible but said that “the leakages are coming through the joint venture parties who operate in Russia.”

 

 

 

Sierra Leone Hit by Diamond Fever

Fortunes seekers are flocking to Sierra Leone to try their luck following news of the discovery of several big diamonds. One recent find was a 550 carat stone.

            Newspapers reported that the influx in miners has left the area in the country’s eastern Kono district looking like a lunar landscape. Houses have collapsed after miners have dug through floors and foundations in search of diamonds.

 

I.Hennig Choose New Managing Director

Chairman of leading diamond brokers I.Hennig & Co, Richard Hambro, has announced the appointment of Dani Shein as new managing director.      

            Shein will replace Chris Dundas who will retire after 35 years of distinguished service with the brokerage firm.

 

US Import/Export at Record Levels

The American Diamond Industry Association (ADIA) reported that US import/export activity in loose polished diamonds reached record levels in the first half of this year.

            Imports of loose polished diamonds reached 5,887,609 carats valued at $2,724,105,783. Total weight increased 10.5 percent while total value was up 8.7 percent.

            The fact that weight increased move than value points to the fact that the trend towards the import of cheaper goods has continued.

            The US exported 913,885 carats of polished diamonds valued at $1,127,733,905. While total weight fell by 19.4 percent over the same period last year, the ADIA reported that exports rose by 6.8 percent and established a record high for the period.

 

Argyle Tender Features 3.66 Carat Stone

Argyle Diamonds presented its annual Pink Diamond Tender in September which included two stones of over three carats.

            The 47 carat collection of 47 rare fancy colored diamonds featured the largest pink diamond, a 3.66 carat fancy intense pink cushion cut diamond, ever tendered by the company.

            Argyle’s Polished Sales Manager David Fardon also expected the second largest gem in the collection, a 3.06 carat fancy intense purplish pink emerald cut diamond, to be highly sought after by international diamond dealers.

            “We’re very excited to be able to include these two three carat plus pink diamonds in this year’s Pink Diamond Tender,” he said. “As fancy colored diamond connoisseurs appreciate, pink diamonds above three carats in weight are extremely rare and difficult to locate on the international market.”

            Argyle Diamond is renowned as the world’s premier source of pink diamonds, yet these rare intensely colored gems form less than 0.1 percent of the company’s annual output of 35 million carats.

            “In the 11 year history of Argyle’s Pink Diamond tenders, we have only offered six pink diamonds in the three carat plus category,” Fardon said.

A Snowflake That Will Last Forever (JewelSiam October – November 1996 P 60)

            While most children in the modern town of Monza, Italy, were catching snowflakes in their months, young Emanuela Tersch was trying desperately to snare one of nature’s unique beauties to examine its crystal pattern.

            For Tersch, winner of De Beers annual Diamond International Award for 1966, memories of winter and snow, and her childlike sense of curiosity, were the main influences which helped her to win what she calls the “Oscars” of jewelry design awards.

“It was Christmas time when I had to come up with a design. I remember when I was a little girl I would always catch snowflakes to study their crystal patterns. But each time I tried it they would melt in my hand so fast. When I thought of the design, I wanted to create a snowflake that would last forever. I think diamonds and snow have similar qualities, with crystallization and the way they react to sunshine. Now I have created a snowflake that is permanent,” Tersch said.

            Tersch and Lea Puglisi, part of the Calderoni Gioielli designing group for the Italian jewelry company, came to Bangkok for the first time in August to bring sample of their jewelry creations to Thailand as part of Designer’s Week, as organized by the Jewellery Network Company. The two designers were at the Calderoni jewelry shop located in the Sogo department store in part to promote their brand of customized, handmade jewelry.

            Part of the Italian jewelry designers’ challenge of coming to Thailand for the occasion was integrating jewelry creations in an unfamiliar fashion world.

            “Jewelry is part of fashion. For me, I have to feel a sensation about people-how they dress, and how they feel about fashion-that was part of challenge in coming to Thailand,” Thais prefer to wear bigger jewelry designs, according to Tersch. Thais also appreciate the craftsmanship of Italian designs based on a shared level of quality and skill between the two countries, she said. “Thailand is part of the growing Asian market for jewelry that appreciates handmade jewelry. The people here are really quite interested in what we are doing. Even people who could not visit the shop were calling to speak with us. I feel it has been a very positive experience for us. We hope to come back,” said Tersch.

            Well known Thai celebrities modeled Calderoni jewelry creations, including Miss Thailand 1985, Sawinee Patchimsawasdi, and one of the kingdom’s top models Cara Pholasith, as part of a fashion show and reception at Bangkok’s Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel to kickoff Designer’s Week. Although this event gave Thais an opportunity to view many Calderoni jewelry designs, the award-winning “Snowflakes” was not part of the show.

            Tersch said that when moving down the catwalk, “Snowflakes” moves with the model’s body motions, giving the piece a magical and glittering display of light. This reaction to light and movement is part of the design’s inherent qualities, with 52 carats worth of diamonds positioned at different angles to enhance the gemstones’ brilliant qualities.

Part of “Snowflakes” success as a necklace is based on Tersch’s emphasis on details in her jewelry designs. “An attention to details is what sells a piece. This is a quality people look for when buying jewelry and is an aspect of jewelry designing that I like very much,” Tersch said.

            A large portion of Calderoni jewelry known for its classical designs, is handmade using a variety of colored stones, Puglisi said. “Semi-precious stones are very fashionable now. These gemstones have many colors, allowing a customized piece to match exactly with a particular dress for example. Trends change with different kind of color, materials, shapes and sizes. One of the biggest challenges as a designer is to create something that will endure through time and changes in fashion. Traditional designs from Calderoni offer people something simple-something more than just a piece of entertainment for the eye’” she said.

            Both designers came to Calderoni early in their careers with different backgrounds: Tersch’s education focused on design in Italy, whereas most of Puglisi’s studies included gemology and design with her education completed in the United States.

            “Both of us love colored stones. Quite often a customer will provide us with certain stones let us create a piece around the stones. Part of what I like in working with semi-precious stones, like tourmaline and amethyst, is working with color,” Pugkisi said.

            Calderoni was founded in 1840 and is part of Italy’s long standing tradition in gold jewelry designing and manufacturing. The Milan based factory produces high-end jewelry which maintains very stringent quality standards with regards to materials and craftsmanship.

            Tersch helped Calderoni clinch its fourth De Beers international jewelry design award in the past 36 years. Part of her goal with each jewelry design is to give something of herself. With “Snowflakes” she has given the world a sample of her designing skills and an everlasting symbol of winters in northern Italy.