http://www.diamondhouse.be/blog/Diamondhouse BLOG 5/12/2009 2:39:00http://www.diamondhouse.be/blog/comments.asp?id=159 Grammy award-winning artist and American Idol judge Paula Abdul presents Forever Your Girl, an HSN exclusive collection of jewelry, handbags, and accessories that captures her spirit and fashion sense. Each season, Paula designs and distributes jewelry for the aspiring singers on American Idol as a keepsake of their experience. Beginning this month, her fans will be able to buy similar items on HSN. Paula Abdul''s extraordinary music career is exemplified by worldwide album sales exceeding 30 million records, two #1 Albums, six #1 Singles, a Grammy Award, seven MTV Awards, two Emmy Awards, two People''s Choice Awards, and Kids Choice Awards. The singer-dancer-choreographer''s other plans include her first album of new material in over a decade and a new reality TV special for MTV called Rah! Paula Abdul''s Cheerleading Bowl.Paula Abdul''s extraordinary music career is exemplified by worldwide album sales exceeding 30 million records, two #1 Albums, six #1 Singles, a Grammy Award, seven MTV Awards, two Emmy Awards, two People''s Choice Awards, and Kids Choice Awards. Now that she has left American Idol US as the brilliant judge she will dedicate more time designing her precious jewels. 5/09/2009 14:48:00http://www.diamondhouse.be/blog/comments.asp?id=158Tennis star Serena Williams is launching a new line of jewelry, accessories and clothing in cooperation with HSN (Home Shopping Network). The line will be called Signature Statement and will launch on April 30, 2009. "I always want to make a statement, both on and off the court," Williams said. "One of my dreams has always been to share gorgeous gifts of fashion and luxury with the world. Off the court, my passion is fashion. Signature Statement is my own line of accessories and fashion, complete from jewelry to dresses." The collection will retail from $29.95 to $100 and includes a fashion-forward range of jewelry, handbags and knits. Williams described the accessories as "feminine, classic, statement pieces." Williams joins the ranks of Iman and Paula Abdul, who have developed accessories lines with the $3 billion HSN, which, like its competitor, QVC, is focused on supplying viewers with fresh talent and bold-faced names. "The world has always known Serena to be number one on the tennis court, and now they''ll rediscover her as a fashion icon because she brings the same dedication and expertise to her collection as she does to the court," said Joy Mangano, HSN president of Ingenious Designs, a wholly owned subsidiary that operates the firm''s celebrity division. 5/09/2009 14:44:00http://www.diamondhouse.be/blog/comments.asp?id=157The holiday season is coming up so we give you some great tips for who and when you can buy the proper jewelry. Or cash ;-) Jewelry Friends can buy each other jewelry. Family members can buy each other jewelry. But you need to be really, really careful before you buy jewelry for your significant other. Fun, trendy jewelry is one thing, but I''m talking "fine" jewelry: gemstones, precious metals. Diamonds. Do not get your new girlfriend diamonds. Any gift of jewelry is seen as a sign of serious commitment. It''s an investment. Not just in the gift, but in the future: you don''t want that girl to flush your three months'' salary down the toilet if things don''t end well. Cash Cash is a perfectly acceptable gift if you''re giving a bar mitzvah gift or graduation present. Provided that you''re at least ten years older than the person you''re giving the cash to. Getting cash from one''s own peers feels wrong. And just a little dirty. If you''re at a loss, get one of the aforementioned gift certificates, or even a pre-paid bank card that can be used wherever major credit cards are accepted. Just stay away from cash—or checks—unless it''s less a gift and more a payment for services rendered. source: jewelry blog5/09/2009 12:26:00http://www.diamondhouse.be/blog/comments.asp?id=156 A rare, 5-carat pink diamond will be sold in Hong Kong this December by Christie''s. Experts predict that the jewel may reach near world record prices, thanks mainly to the enthusiasm of top Asian jewelry collectors. Set in a "cushion-cut" ring by famed jewellers Graff Diamonds, the diamond is predicted to bring in between $5 - $7 when it goes on auction later this year. It is very feasible the stone breaks the current world auction record for a pink diamond. In 1994, a 19.66-carat diamond sold in Geneva for $7.4 million. Despite is smaller size, the 5-carat pink diamond is highly praised for its “vivid pink” color and near perfect clarity, and is expected to sell at a similar price. In fact, the jewel is considered one of the best colored diamonds to appear in recent years: "There are pink diamonds and then there are pink diamonds," exclaimed Francois Curiel, the international head of Christie''s jewelry department. "It is extremely rare for a stone of such top quality to appear on the market with top notes in color, cut, clarity and carat weight. This 5-carat vivid pink gem combines the best of all criteria," he added. Despite it not being flawless, the South African-mined diamond’s blemishes could be removed through minor re-polishing according to experts from Christie’s. Last May, Christie''s sold a 101.27-carat diamond in Hong Kong for $6.2 million. According to Kate Malin, a spokeswoman for Christie’s in Asia: "Asian collectors rank among our most important group of buyers ... Hong Kong is firmly alongside New York and Geneva as a top center for the best jewels." What makes this colored diamond stand apart from the rest? "In the fascinating realm of natural color diamonds, those of a distinct pink hue are among the rarest and most sought after," Christie''s maintained. source: David Berkovits16/08/2009 11:31:00http://www.diamondhouse.be/blog/comments.asp?id=155 LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton recorded revenue of €7.8 billion in the first half of 2009, a slight increase over 2008 despite the crisis. Watches and jewelry sales fell however 17 percent to €346 million. Jewelry sales by LVMH bounced back in the second quarter. In the first quarter, the Watches & Jewelry business unit had revenues of €154 million, a 27 percent year-over-year decline. However, in the second quarter a revival in sales was noted. Sales totaled €192 million, a much smaller 6.8 percent decline. LVMH blamed retailer destocking for the decline in sales in the business unit, with half year profit from recurring operations at just €20 million. According to the company, the watches and jewelry brands have focused on “strengthening their iconic lines” and maintaining cost management. The De Beers jewelry joint venture, as well as a number of other jewelry operations, “concentrated on improving the productivity of their networks and their boutiques,” LVMH noted. The Fashion & Leather Goods division is the only one that posted a rise in revenue - an 8 percent increase to €2.99 billion. For the entire group, revenues reached €7.8 billion and profit from recurring operations totaled €1.36 billion. Group share of net profit is €687 million, a 23 percent year-over-year decline. In its outlook, the company said LVMH will continue to gain market share in the second half of the year with a number of planned product launches. (source:Edahn Golan idexonline)1/08/2009 22:27:00http://www.diamondhouse.be/blog/comments.asp?id=154 RAPAPORT... Ross Simons jewelers is carrying a new line of jewelry from supermodel Christie Brinkley, and the retailer''s vice president of marketing discusses how the collection has been received so far. Jovella 2009 may have had fewer exhibitors, but those in attendance remain confident in the future of Israel''s jewelry industry. Source: diamonds.net20/07/2009 17:25:00http://www.diamondhouse.be/blog/comments.asp?id=153 RAPAPORT... The International Diamond Board (IDB) was established over the weekend to improve the public relations efforts of and the generic marketing campaign for the diamond industry. “The overarching mission of the IDB is to create and sustain strong consumer demand for diamonds worldwide through effective category marketing,” according to a statement distributed on behalf of IDB by Rio Tinto Diamonds and BHP Billiton. IDB, which will be incorporated in the U.K., is the result of deliberations by an industry working group initiated at the 2008 St. Petersburg Forum. The group’s steering committee consisted of representatives from the major diamond mining companies — De Beers, ALROSA, Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton and Harry Winston. A wider range of industry representatives is said to have attended the meeting on Thursday that formalized the launch of IDB. The group explained that participants in the working group adopted a broad charter to examine the potential role of the organization and to determine how best it could be structured. It is currently in the process of recruiting a “high-caliber” chief executive officer (CEO) to lead the organization. “Over the next 12 months the IDB will focus on building the organization and initiating its first category public relations and communication program,” according to the statement. Among IDB''s immediate tasks that are “critical” to its success is the securing of support from all parts of the diamond value chain, it added. Source: diamondsnet.net/ By Avi Krawitz20/07/2009 17:22:00http://www.diamondhouse.be/blog/comments.asp?id=152 The U.S. Department of the Treasury has designated Kassim Tajideen and Abd Al Menhem Qubaysi, two Africa-based supporters of Hezbollah, as terrorists providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism. The U.S. has announced the freezing of any assets these Lebanese traders may have under U.S. jurisdiction and is prohibiting Americans from engaging in any transactions with them. Tajideen is an important financial contributor to Hezbollah who operates a network of businesses in Lebanon and Africa. He has contributed tens of millions of dollars to the terrorist organization and has sent it funds through his brother, a Hezbollah commander in Lebanon. In addition, Tajideen and his brothers run cover companies for Hezbollah in Africa. Go for full article to: Idexonline.com by Chaim Even-Zohar30/05/2009 13:00:00http://www.diamondhouse.be/blog/comments.asp?id=151 (May 13, ''09, 3:12 Edahn Golan) The fancy vivid blue, internally flawless, 7.03 carat diamond was auctioned at Sotheby’s was sold Tuesday for $9,488,754, or $1,349,752 per carat - a record per carat price for an auctioned diamond. The exceptionally rare cushion-shaped diamond was cut from a 26.58 carat rough discovered in 2008 at Petra’s Cullinan mine in South Africa. The diamond was the centerpiece item at Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels auction in Geneva Tuesday evening. According to Petra’s CEO Johan Dippenaar, the price reflects how incredibly rare and collectable such a diamond is to the connoisseur. “The renowned Cullinan mine continues to captivate the world with spectacular diamonds, building on its legacy as the source of some of the world’s most famous gems.” (May 13, ''09 Edahn Golan idexonline.com)16/05/2009 17:58:00http://www.diamondhouse.be/blog/comments.asp?id=150