Affluent Consumers Regain a Bit of Confidence
from Luxist
Following the luxury surveys lately is getting increasingly confusing, a response perhaps to the uncertainty in the marketplace. The overall consensus seems to be that hopes for better days are alive, they just remain off in the distance a bit. The most recent survey of affluent consumers from Unity Marketing shows results similar to the ones we saw recently in the Bain's "Luxury Goods Worldwide Market" study which is that recovery is coming, it's just not coming too quickly. More    

Thai Designer Crafts $4.2 Million Tiara for His Dog
from Reuters UK
A young Thai jewelry designer has crafted a tiara worth $4.2 million for his pet dog, using precious stones given to him by his mother. Riwin Jirapolsek, who showcased the tiara at a dog show in Bangkok recently, said he wanted to make something special for Kanune, his 15-year-old male Maltese. More    

Online Research: Jewelry Inflation Diminishes
from IDEX
While the jewelry industry deals with weaker pricing, economists around the world are worried about inflationary trends, especially over the long term. All of the government stimuli that have been thrown at the current recession will likely create inflation – perhaps flaming inflation – when the economy eventually recovers. If inflation is coming, according to the economists (remember, though, they are the same people who didn’t see the current recession coming), what does this mean for the jewelry industry? More    

Rio Tinto’s Blue Diamond Tender Receives Enthusiastic Response
from Diamond World
There has been an overwhelming response received for the recent Rio Tinto tender for rare blue diamonds’ collection entitled 'Once in a Blue Moon.' The diamonds have been sourced from the Argyle Diamond Mine in Western Australia and the entire collection includes 16 lots of a range of precious blue and violet diamonds, weighing 287 carats in total. More    

Cavalieri, Peruvian President Meet to Discuss Sustainable Jewelry
from The Israeli Diamond Industry
Peruvian President Alan Garcia Perez hosted CIBJO President Dr. Gaetano Cavalieri for a meeting during which they discussed the development of the fine jewelry sector in the country. The meeting was also attended by Guillermo Scotto, the Gold Committee Chairman of Peru's National Society of Industries. More    

Featured Article:   Zultanite If you are not familiar with this gemstone, zultanite is a change of color diaspore from Turkey. The color change observed is a pink to green. New information reveals that in many experiments with cutting, the color change occurs when cut along any axis, unlike most color change gems. Should you encounter a zultanite for appraisal, be aware that this is a branded gemstone and as such, it should be researched and priced accordingly. The brand has been established by Zultanite Gems, LLC to distinguish their product from what they claim to be stolen material from the mine that occasionally surfaces. More Info

Watch Thieves Hide Behind Flu Masks
from Reuters
Three armed thieves wore the blue surgical masks now ubiquitous in flu-hit Mexico City to hide their faces as they robbed watches from a department store, Mexican media said. Employees and security guards at a branch of the Sanborns department store told the daily Excelsior the thieves were able to slip through the shop Sunday without attracting attention as they blended into a sea of masked shoppers. More    

The Jewel in Sotheby’s Crown
from Spring Fair
Jewelry lovers will be drooling at the sight of a flawless blue 7.03 carat diamond that is the jewel in the crown of Sotheby’s impending Magnificent Jewels Sale, which takes place on May 12 at the Beau-Rivage Hotel in Geneva. Cut from a 26.58 carat rough diamond that was found last year at Petra Diamonds' historic Cullinan diamond mine in South Africa, the stone’s value is estimated at $5.8-8.5 million. More