Author: Faith Smith

Maitri Lab-Grown Diamond Breaks Records Maitri Lab-Grown Diamonds has unveiled its record breaking 35-carat lab-grown diamond, beating the previous record by a slim margin. The impressive stone is slightly larger than the record-setting 34.59-carat lab-grown diamond graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and announced only a month ago. Maitri, a company with a global footprint including offices in Surat, India, and New York, produced the emerald-cut, Type IIa stone using the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. The process took approximately 1,800 hours, equivalent to 75 days, to grow the diamond. IGI certification The International Gemological Institute (IGI), certified…

April Retail Sales See Uptick A first estimate of retail sales for April 2023 suggests a promising 0.5% increase in sales volumes. This modest growth follows a 1.2% decrease recorded in March 2023. Compared to the preceding three months, sales volumes have risen by 0.8%, marking the highest growth rate since August 2021. This trend offers a glimmer of optimism to UK retailers, who have been grappling with the economic fallout of the pandemic and challenging weather conditions. Non-Food and Online Retailers Rebound April’s increase in sales volumes is primarily driven by non-food stores and online retailers. Non-food stores, which…

Expert Advisory Initiative The Goldsmiths’ Centre in London has announced the introduction of a new industry expert panel aimed at providing advice and support to emerging jewellery and silversmithing businesses. Commencing on 27th June 2023, these monthly ‘Business Diagnostic and Advice’ sessions will be hosted online and are currently open for bookings. Featuring notable industry figures such as jewellery consultant Liz Olver, Lisa Levinson, Head of UK for the Natural Diamond Council, and fine jeweller Ellis Mhairi Cameron, the sessions are designed to help business owners improve their product offerings, brands, and creative ideas through a personalised action plan. Analyse…

Jewellers Anastasia Young and Paul Wells have released a reference guide on curved scoring and folding for sheet metal. The techniques explored enable the creation of three-dimensional forms and have potential applications in jewellery and metalsmithing. Features of the Book The book uses a practical approach with clear photographs explaining each step of the process. It’s intended to help established jewellers, jewellery students, home crafters and advanced amateurs understand how to score and fold metal. In addition to the techniques, the book includes a section with resources such as an analysis of score depth according to the gauge of the…

The Story of the Swan Lake Suite The Swan Lake Suite is a diamond and South Sea pearl necklace with matching earrings. It was made by Garrard, the British Crown Jeweller, for Princess Diana, and Diana reportedly had input into the design process. She wore it at the British National Ballet’s Swan Lake performance on June 3, 1997. The necklace was a gift from Dodi Fayed, an Egyptian film producer and her partner at the time. A pair of matching earrings were also being made for her, and after the event the necklace was given back to Garrad to make…

New Alliance Formed to Strengthen Natural Diamond Industry New York, NY – In an effort to harness increasing consumer demand and sustain the prosperity of the natural diamond industry, the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) has announced a new partnership with the Natural Diamond Council (NDC). This collaboration represents a proactive move in response to shifting market dynamics and a growing need for industry cohesion. Alongside an initial financial investment, the partnership will focus on strategic initiatives to expand the reach and influence of natural diamond values. The WFDB, with its member bourses and individual members, aims to provide…

Programme Overview Pandora, one of the largest mass-market jewellery brands in the world, has rolled out its new rewards scheme, My Pandora, in the UK​. The loyalty programme, is available online and across all of Pandora’s 216 UK stores, and allows members to earn points for every pound spent. My Pandora is free to join, and members instantly start receiving rewards. There are many perks of the scheme and they include early access to sales, the option to pay for products with accrued points, special birthday treats, and access to exclusive product launches. Additionally, the programme is designed to offer…