From a new industrial park on the sandy dunes of Ashkelon, an hour’s drive from Ramat-Gan, Israel, comes a new, state-of-the –art diamond polishing machine created by the brothers Rony and Itzhak Hendler.
Rony is experienced in computer technology and Itzhak in the field of electronics and automation. The Handlers established Y R H Electronics in 1987 and first upgraded existing polishing equipment for manufacturers in Belgium, Israel and Thailand. Recently they have developed the Corridor machine to polish the crown and pavilion facets of a round diamond during the fashioning process, for stones from one point to 20 carats, without any modification of the apparatus, according to a company press release.
After a short training period, Rony says one worker can efficiently supervise 12 Corridor machines, each unit polishing approximately 20 stones daily. With a simple change in parameters the machine can stress excellent cut of high yield in finishing stones.
Y R H’s machines are being used at leading firms like Bronner, Kaszirer, Borenstein and Fischler in Antwerp, Siam Stars in Bangkok, Ruis Diamond in Russia and Lorenzi and
L I D Leviev Diamonds in Istael.
Antique Indian jewelry on display in Hong Kong
C P Ching Fine Oriental Art of Hong Kong showcased a unique collection of antique Indian jewelry dating from the 19th century.
The exhibition, which was held in May, featured jewelry crafted from 22K yellow gold, with several pieces set with colored gemstones. Other pieces displayed fine traditional techniques including filigree, granulation, embossing, enamellings and the technique of mounting irregularly cut stones on thin sheets of gold.
India’s rich artistic and cultural heritage was reflected in many pieces in which craftsmen had incorporated ethnic shapes and symbols. Items of jewelry bearing these symbols are often worn as amulets to protect the individual from spirits, misfortune and illness and are customarily presented as gifts at important occasions.
China closes its biggest gold mine
The largest state-owned gold mine in northern China’s Shanxi province, in danger of caving in due to illegal prospecting, has been forced to stop production, according to the China Commercial Daily.
The Yixingzhai gold mine in Fanchi County, which has a production capacity of 25kgs (55 Ibs) a day, was closed on March 1, the newspaper said. Daily losses were estimated at 100,000 yuan ($11,900).
A hundred illegal prospectors encroached on the mine, resulting in cracks in the walls, some as wide as 10 cm (3.9 inches). The ground sank by 29 cm. (11.4 inches), the report said.
Gold is officially a state monopoly in China. But the gap between the state purchasing price and a higher black-market price, fuelled by strong demand for gold jewelry, has led to widespread illegal mining and processing of gold.
Winners tabbed for diamond design awards
The final judging of the 1996 Diamonds-International Awards took place at De Beers’ offices in London on March 14. Thirty winning designs were chosen by the panel of judges, and these will now be made into finished jewelry for photography and the Awards presentation in January, 1996.
Italy led the pack with nine winners, with Japan and Canada tied for a distant second place with three winners apiece. Other winners from the region included one each from Taiwan and Korea. Thailand had no winners, although two entries made it through the preliminary judging into the final round.
This year’s design contest boasted a record total of entries.
Dubai Fair records sales of $6.5 million
Written for Gulf News Business by a staff reporter in Dubai
The third Dubai Gold Jewelry, Gems and Watches Exhibition ’95, held at the Forte Grand Hotel from March 14-17, recorded a total of $6.5 million in sales. An impressive array of gold, gems and jewelry worth $300 million was displayed during the four-day exhibition by 120 exhibitors.
“Most of the participants have appointed agents and received a considerable number of orders. Results this year were a great improvement over last year,” said Clinton Mitchell of Advexh International, the show’s organizer.
Mustafa Baig of Advexh said members of the Indian delegation sold out most of their exhibits. Shahank Kulkarni, head of the Indian pavilion added that the group’s participation would be even bigger next year.
“The Thai businessmen were also very happy with the results and they have already confirmed their participation next year,” said Baig.
A rare black pearl from Cook Island generated a lot of interest from buyers from Dubai, Jeddah, Bombay and Italy, said Tanya Savage, manger of June’s Boutique.
“I feel confident that black pearls will now be marketed in Dubai because of their quality and exclusiveness. Black pearls could only be found in Cook Inlands and Tahiti,” said Savage.
June Boutique displayed natural as well as cultured pearls at the show.
“Although initially the people here found the pearls expensive, the rare and unique quality of the product justifies the cost,” she said.
Supak Montientong from Chiang Mai, Thailand, whose company P Collection displayed finely crafted silver jewelry, vases and decorative pieces, said it was her company’s first participation in Dubai. She is exploring the market to gather information on local demand.
“Now we know that local taste is for big decorative pieces for the home, We will be ready for them next time,” she said.
Strong demand for gold in second half of 1994
The World Gold Council reported a healthy recovery in gold demand in the second half of 1994, with a 10 percent rise over the same period in 1993, in both developing and developed markets. After a low first half showing, the increased buying in the latter half buoyed total demand to 2,443 tons, a one percent drop from the 1993 figure.
India (415 tons) and the United States (283 tons) continue to be the largest single country markets, followed by Japan (228 tons), China (224 tons) and Saudi Arabia (174 tons).
The greatest positive change in performance was found in Asia. Demand in Hong Kong jumped 30 percent over 1993, while Thailand’s consumption was up 29 percent. Indonesia and South Korea grew 21 percent and 18 percent respectively.
The greatest slump occurred in Turkey, down 49 percent, and Saudi Arabia, down 13 percent.
Japanese market bolsters Israel diamond exports
In the first two months of 1995, Israeli exports of cut diamonds reached $728 million, a jump of 24 percent over the same period in 1994.
A striking 66 percent increase in gross exports to a surprisingly strong Japanese market during the first two months of the year, or $158 million compared to $95 million for the some period last year, combined with rising imports by the United States, is putting the glitter back into the diamond trade, according to an Israel Diamond Institute press release.
Moshe Schnitzer, chairman of the IDI, attributed the escalation of sales to Japan to buyers making direct purchases from manufacturers at the source, as well as the recent entry of Japanese clients for cut material in the Israeli marketplace.
Gross diamond exports to the United States remained high, reaching $363 million in the Jan-Feb period. At the same time, Hong Kong exceeded the pace of its 1994 trade, with a rise of 10 percent to $136 million in imports during the same two-month period this year.
US sapphire imports rise steeply
United States gemstone imports rose five percent in 1994 to US$522 million. The biggest increase came in imports of sapphire, which rose a surprising 27 percent to US$101 million.
The most important sapphire supplier was, of course, Thailand. Imports from Thailand increased 15 percent in 1994 to US$62.7 million. Imports of sapphire from Switzerland jumped 55 percent to US$12.2 million, after falling sharply in 1993. Sapphire imports from Sri Lanka also increased dramatically, rising 70 percent to US$7.7 million. By carats, imports from Sri Lanka increased 74 percent to 341,064, probably indication the growing demand for white sapphire.
After a big surge in ruby imports in 1993 due to sales of ruby from the new Mong Hsu deposit, ruby imports continued to increase another five percent in 1994 to US$96.2 million. Ruby imports from Thailand, the most important supplier, were up 16 percent to US$ 56.0 million. Imports from Switzerland were down 11 percent to US$13.9 million and imports from Hong Kong were up eight percent to US$ 6.7 million.
Emeralds are by far the largest United States gemstone import by value. Emerald imports dropped 7 percent in 1994 to US$ 228.1 million. Most of that decrease came in imports from Colombia, the leading supplier, which were down 25 percent to UW$89.3 million. Emerald imports from India increased 22 percent to US$33.1 million and imports from Switzerland increased 16 percent to US$28.0 million. However, imports from Israel were down nine percent to US$25 million.
Imports of gemstones other than ruby, emerald and sapphire rose 17 percent in 1994 to US$96.3 million. The most important supplier was Thailand. Imports of other gemstones from Thailand increased 21 percent to US$21.4 million. Imports from the second-largest supplier, Hong Kong, increased 20 percent to $18.9 million. Imports from Germany increased 9 percent to US15.3 million and imports from Brazil increased seven percent to US$7.9 million.—ICA Gembureau.
1994 Japan gem imports up 12 percent
The gem market in Japan seems to be improving at last. The value of Japan’s imports of polished colored gemstones increased 12 percent to US$516 million. In 1994, according to figures from the Jewelry Trade Center.
When calculated in yen, the value of Japan's imports of colored gemstones increased 5 percent in 1994 to ¥52.887 billion, as the yen increased significantly in strength against the dollar during 1994.
Japan’s total imports of colored gemstones, jewelry and diamonds showed gradual improvement during 1994, with most of the growth occurring in the last half of the year. Imports in September 1994 hit the highest monthly level since September 1990.
The biggest growth came in imports of polished gemstones other than ruby, emerald, and sapphire. Imports of gemstones in this category increased 20 percent in 1994 to US$176 billion. When calculated in yen, imports in this category increased 11 percent to ¥18.011 billion.
Japan imported US$340 million in ruby, sapphire and emerald in 1994, an 8 percent increase from 1993. Imports in this category were steady when calculated in yen at ¥34.879 billion.
Japan’s most important supplier in the ruby, sapphire, and emerald category is Thailand. Japan imported US$150 million from Thailand in this category in 1994, a two percent increase over 1993.
The second largest supplier in the ruby, sapphire, and emerald category in 1994 was Colombia. Japan imported US$108 million in this category from Colombia, presumably emerald. This was a six percent increase compared to 1993. The third largest supplier in this category was Hong Kong, with imports of US$26 million, a 67 percent increase.
The fourth largest supplier in this category was Sri Lanka, with imports of US$24 million, an increase of one percent.
In the category of other colored gemstones, the most important supplier was Hong Kong with imports of US$53 million, a 17 percent increase.
The second most important supplier of Japan’s imports in this category was Australia, with 1994 imports of US$42 million, a 26 percent increase. Third was Thailand, with imports of US$18 million, a 30 percent increase, and fourth was Brazil, with imports of US$16 million, an increase of 23 percent.
In carats, imports of gemstones other than ruby, emerald, and sapphire increased one percent to nearly 1.15 billion carats.—ICA Gembureau