Alrosa Heads and Canadian Delegation Meet in Moscow, September 9, 2003
A delegation of Canadian officials met yesterday with Alrosa officials in Moscow to discuss economic development and mining cooperation.

Alrosa Sells 70 Parcels At International Auction, September 9, 2003
Alrosa’s international auction of large diamonds closed last Thursday after bids were made for 70 of the 71 parcels offered to Russian and international bidders during the month long auction, fetching $7.5 million.

Jonathan Kendall Appointed DTC Trade Marketing Manager, September 8, 2003
Jonathan Kendall has been appointed Manager - Trade Marketing within Sales and Marketing. Kendall will be reporting to Stephen Lussier.

Wal-Mart August Sales Up 13.7%, September 7, 2003
Wal-Mart Stores, the world’s biggest retailer and USA’s largest jewelry seller, reports August net sales of $19.533 billion, an increase of 13.7 percent over the $17.182 billion in the similar period last year.

Aber H1 Diamond Sales Fetch $19.2 Million, September 7, 2003
40 percent Diavik stakeholder Aber saw production, and resulting income, leap during the second fiscal quarter compared to the first quarter.

Belgium's Polished Exports Reach $277.6 Million In August, September 4, 2003
Belgium’s exports of polished diamonds totaled $277.6 million in August, a 26.23% increase compared to the same month last year. In carat terms.

Elton John Rings In The Dazzle With Rosy Blue, September 4, 2003
For many, diamonds and jewelry represents glamour, fame, riches and happiness. But for those in the trade.

Tiffany Expands U.K. Operations, September 4, 2003
Luxury jewelry retailers, Tiffany & Co are to open a fourth store in London in spring 2004. “Based on our substantial success in London.

Signet H1 Profit Up 10%, September 3, 2003
U.K. jewelry retail giant, Signet announced today pre-tax profits of £47.8 million for the H1 2003, ending August 2nd.

Tennis Anyone? September 3, 2003
Although it’s not going to appear on court at the U.S. Open, Harry Winston’s new diamond tennis bracelet is already serving up Aces.

Friedman’s Projects 2004 Sales At $675-690 Million, September 3, 2003
U.S. jewelry retailer, Friedman’s Inc. has announced a sales forecast of some $675-$690 million for the fiscal year ending.

Diamond Divas Show What’s Hot, September 3, 2003
The red carpet at the recent MTV Music Awards was more like a celebration of sparklers, than a celebration of music.

HRD Appoints New Marketing & PR Director, September 2, 2003
The Antwerp Diamond High Council (HRD) has appointed Youri Steverlynck as their new Marketing & Public Relations Director.

Israel – Polished Exports Jump 9.2%, September 2, 2003
August saw a 9.2 % increase in exports of polished diamonds from Israel, compared to the same period last year.

How Many Carats Does Your Car Have? September 2, 2003
Is there a limit to where people will place a diamond? Fingers, ears, and necks are apparently becoming somewhat pass?. For those of you for whom money is no object.

Alrosa Under Investigation, September 2, 2003
Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has begun an investigation into Alrosa’s purchase of shares of the state-owned company Arcos Ltd.

1st Korean Jewelry Fair Closes, September 1, 2003
The first Korean International Jewelry and Watch Fair closed yesterday after four days of what has been described as ‘gentle’ activity.

Zale Posts Mixed Fourth Quarter, Fiscal Results, August 28, 2003
Quarterly gains and yearly losses marked US jewelry retailer Zale fourth quarter and fiscal results released today.

SA Gold Mines May Face Legal Suit, August 28, 2003
South African gold mines may be facing legal action as a British legal firm announced its representation of former gold mineworkers who are seeking compensation from mining companies.

EGL USA Announces Indicators For Lab-Grown Diamonds, August 28, 2003
As lab-grown diamond technologies progress, gemological labs are constantly seeking ways to detect such diamonds.

BHP Billiton Posts Fiscal Results, Helped by Ekati Production, August 28, 2003
Diversified miner BHP Billiton reports good fiscal year results, buoyed among other by a 9.9 percent increase in diamond sales and record throughput at the Ekati plant.

Finlay Loses Burdines Lease, August 27, 2003
Federated Department Stores will not renew Finlay’s lease in the Burdines department store due to the planned consolidation of Burdines and Macy's stores in 2004.

IGI Gets ISO 9001 Certification, August 27, 2003
The Los Angeles and Toronto labs of the International Gemological Institute were granted International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2000 certification for operating a quality management system in the scope of independent third party analysis of diamonds, colored gemstones and jewelry articles.

US Consumer Confidence Bounces Back in August, August 27, 2003
The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index, which slipped to 77 in July, rebounded this month and is now at 81.3. The Expectations Index also bounced back to 94.4 from 86.3.

Alexkor Turns A Corner, Will It Turn The Next? August 25, 2003
State-owned diamond miner Alexkor made a complete, and promising, financial turnaround after five years of consecutive losses totaling $26.39 million, reporting a 163 percent surge in headline earnings to $6.08 million for the January to June period compared to $2.37 million during the same period last year.

Blasts Rock Mumbai Financial Area, August 25, 2003
At least two bomb blasts hit Mumbai in the Zaveri Bazaar and near the Gateway of India killing at least 25 people. The Diamond Exchange has not closed, however land and mobile phones lines are not working.

Japan Retail Sales Continue to Suffer, August 25, 2003
Sales at nationwide department stores in Japan fell 2.3 percent in July to Y775.1 billion ($6.59 billion) while supermarket chain store sales in the country fell five percent.

DTC Raises Prices on Some Cheaper Goods, August 17, 2003
The Diamond Trading Company, De Beers' marketing arm, informed clients it will increase prices, mostly in the Mix Gems and Mix Makeable ranges. The goods are cheaper goods, under 3 grainers,
commonly referred to as Indian goods.

Alrosa Considering Raising Money On AIM, August 17, 2003
Russian Miner Alrosa is considering an idea to ‘float a stake’ in one of its subsidiaries on London's Alternative Investment Market as a means to raise money for the development of a north-west Russia diamond deposit.

Surat Diamond Association Protests Boiler Shutdowns, August 14, 2003
The Surat Diamond Association has been protesting wide scale sealing of diamond boiling units following a blast in a boiling plant that killed 40 people earlier this month.

Consumer Spending Rise 6% In July, August 13, 2003
Despite traditionally being a slow month for retail sales, consumer spending soared above analysts’ expectations in July. July retail sales increased 0.8 percent seasonally adjusted from June, and rose 6.0 percent compared to the same period last year.

Gem Dealers Allegedly Involved in Antiaircraft Missile Smuggling, August 13, 2003
FBI and law enforcement authorities descendent on a diamond office in New York in connection with an attempt to smuggle an SA-18 anti-aircraft missile into the United Sates.

Wal-Mart Record Earnings And Sales, August 13, 2003
Wal-Mart Stores posted today record earnings and sales for the quarter. Total sales were $62.6 billion, an increase of 11.3 percent over the comparable period last year.

Anglo American Buoyed by Diamond Sales, August 12, 2003
De Beers parent company, diversified miner Anglo American reported good half year results, aided in large by De Beers’ increased diamond sales.

De Beers Puzzled Over Angola Talks Failure, August 12, 2003
De Beers' producer relations manager, Richard Napier, expressed puzzlement over the break down of talks between De Beers and state-owned diamond company Endiama for the possible return of the miner to Angola.

Taylor Finally Departs, Successor Vows Peace, August 12, 2003
After making his final farewell speech on Sunday, Liberia’s President Taylor has left the country yesterday afternoon.

VP Kuznetsov Leaves Alrosa, August 11, 2003
Alrosa senior vice president German Kuznetsov has resigned his post. Kuznetsov opposed the big trade agreement with De Beers, wanting to supply more rough to local Russian polishers.

AngloGold in Bid for Ashanti Goldfields, August 10, 2003
AngloGold, made a $1.1 billion bid for Ghana-based Ashanti Goldfields. If the bid is accepted, AngloGold will become the world’s biggest gold miner.

Zale Fiscal Revenues Up 0.9%, August 7, 2003
US jewelry retail Zale Corporation total revenues for the fiscal year increased 0.9 percent to $2.212 billion, compared to $2.192 billion for the prior fiscal year. On a comparable store basis, sales increased 0.8 percent for the year.

Whitehall Jewellers H1 Sales Down –5.9%, August 7, 2003
Whitehall Jewellers sales for the second quarter totaled $72.7 million, compared to $76.2 million during the second quarter last year.

With The Mines Comes The Appetite: Canadians Consumers Buy Bigger, August 6, 2003
As Canadian grooms, on average, are older these days and have more means, their lucky brides are getting bigger diamonds. Thanks to a recent De Beers size-matters ad campaign, the trend has been reinforced.

Rio Tinto Diamonds Unveils Business Excellence Model, August 6, 2003
Rio Tinto Diamonds, in association with KPMG, unveiled today its Business Excellence Model (BEM) for the diamond and jewelry industry in India, aimed at helping the Indian diamond manufacturing and retail industry improve international competitiveness through promoting quality, environment, health and safety and socialresponsibility.

Smolensk Kristall To Start Polishing In China, August 6, 2003
Russia’s biggest diamond polisher, Smolensk Kristall, plans to start polishing diamonds in China in a move aimed to reduce production costs, taking advantage of reduced labor costs.

Samuels Jewelers Files for Chapter 11, August 5, 2003
One of America’s biggest jewelry retailers, Samuels Jewelers, has filed a voluntary petition under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the District of Delaware.

DiamondWorks Q2 Net Earnings $4.5 Million, August 5, 2003
DiamondWorks reports second quarter revenues of $23 million and net earnings of $4.5 million, bringing first half net earnings to $11.9 million.

5.4% Increase in Polished Diamond Exports in July, August 4, 2003
Polished diamond exports from Israel are on the rise. In the past month exports rose by 5.4 percent to $581 million from $551 million during July 2002. Since the start of the year net polished diamond exports increased 1.2 percent and totaled $3.226 billion.

Liberia's President Taylor To Step Down, August 3, 2003
Liberia's President Charles Taylor said yesterday that he would step down on August 11 and leave the country. Taylor promised he would hand over power as part of the cease-fire agreement signed June 17.

End Of Tolerance Period In The Kimberley Process 31 July 2003, July 31, 2003
Press release by the Kimberley Process regarding the end of the extension of the tolerance period within which, the list of participants would be confirmed and the list of countries that met the minimum requirements of the certification process.

23 Countries Did Not Make The KPCS List, July 31, 2003
Following the release by the Chair of the Kimberly Process today announcing the names of the states that have met the minimum requirements of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, below is the list of states that have not, to date, met the minimum requirements.

Is The US Retail Industry On The Rebound? July 31, 2003
A recent survey measuring retail executives’ evaluations of monthly sales, customer traffic, the average transaction per customer, employment, inventories and a six-month-ahead sales outlook expectation indicates that the retail industry continues to show signs of improvement .

US President Bush Issues Order To Halt Conflict Diamonds, July 30, 2003
US President George Bush issued an order yesterday to stop the trade in conflict diamonds, in effect signing the US into the Kimberley Process, signing into act the Clean Diamond Trade Act proposed by Congress in December 2001.

JA Show Day Three, July 30, 2003
The third day of what is probably the strongest regional jewelry show in the U.S. was slightly more subdued than the previous two days.

Mumbai Exchange Closed Today, July 30, 2003
The diamond exchange area in Mumbai is closed and buildings are locked down today after the Shiv Sena and BJP parties called for a general strike (bandh) to protest what they called lax security following a bomb explosion on a bus killing several people.

Rio Tinto Australian JV to Look for Diamonds, July 27, 2003
Rio Tinto and Australian minerals exploration company Gravity Capital will join forces to explore for diamonds in northern Australia.

$2.5 billion Syndicated Multi-Currency Revolving Credit Facility, July 25, 2003
De Beers S.A. has successfully arranged a $2.5 billion Syndicated Multi-Currency Revolving Credit Facility. The facility has been arranged by Barclays Capital, Citigroup Global Markets Limited, Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, Royal Bank of Scotland and WestLB on its behalf.

Calls to Turn Israel Into the Leading Polished Center, July 24, 2003
At a meeting with the Israel Diamond Exchange’s Continuing Generation assembly,
Israeli Minister of Industry, Trade and Employment said he and the Israeli government
would do everything that is in their power to maintain and improve Israel’s position
as a global diamond center.

New Scientific Method Reveals Diamond Origins, July 24, 2003
Until now it was considered the sort of Hollywood babble that no one took seriously,
but once again it looks like science is catching up with fiction.

BHPB Diamond Production Jumps Dramatically, July 24, 2003
BHP Billiton reports today that diamond production at its 80 percent-owned Ekati mine
has increased by nearly 19 percent during the year. The company mined 4.34 million
carats during the period compared to 3.65 million carats last year.

Alrosa Not To Renew DB Agreement, Plans JV With Lazare Kaplan, July 23, 2003
Alrosa Vice President Sergey Olin said at an interview Monday that the Russian diamond miner does not plan to renew its five-year, $4 billion sales agreement with De Beers. The agreement came under European Community scrutiny in January.

JVC Hosts Open Meeting At JA Show, July 23, 2003
In a move aimed at emphasizing the need for jewelry retailers and manufacturers to be aware of the policy and compliance topics that have been addressed by JVC in the last year, the Committee’s Executive Director, Cecilia L. Gardner, has opened JVC's next Board of Directors meeting to JA NY Show attendees.

G.L.D.A.'s Tucson Gem & Jewelry Show to Change Location, July 23, 2003
G.L.D.A. announces today the new location of their 27TH Annual Tucson Gem & Jewelry Show in February of 2005. The new location is the Starr Pass Marriott Resort Hotel in Tucson, Arizona.

Rio Tinto Gold Production On the Rise, July 23, 2003
Gold production by diversified miner Rio Tinto rose three percent in the second quarter of its fiscal year.

PPR Increases Stake in Gucci, July 22, 2003
French retailer Pinault Printemps Redoute has bought another one percent in luxury goods maker Gucci Group, increasing its stake to 64.7 percent.

Dozens Killed As Fighting Resumes In Monrovia, July 22, 2003
The fragile cease-fire that brought some hope to Liberia was hit yesterday as dozens of people were killed during heavy shelling yesterday. Civilians have pilled bodies outside the US embassy to protest the lack of American intervention.

Q1 US Jewelry Sales Estimated At $9 Billion, July 21, 2003
The National Jewelry Study estimates sales of jewelry, for women 18+, in the first three months of 2003 to be $ 8.96 billion. According to the body, the number of pieces sold was 49.2 million.

Ecologists Approve Lomonosov Project, July 21, 2003
Environmental bodies examining the Lomonosov diamond project gave their approval to the project. This comes on top of other such approvals given by government and academic bodies.

Clinton to Key Note at HRD Conference, July 21, 2003
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton is slated to speak at the 2nd Antwerp Diamond Conference, which will take place in Antwerp November 3 and 4. The conference, which is being organized by the Antwerp Diamond High Council (HRD), will focus on branding and marketing diamonds and diamond jewelry.

The Hatton Garden Heist, July 17, 2003
Diamond robberies are just not what they used to be. Apparently the days of ‘smash and grab’ are coming to an end, well at least in Europe.

THE BUBBLE SYNDROME - By Daniel Horowitz, July 17, 2003
The recent bankruptcies in India should drive all of us to some amount of reflection. Their abruptness and dimension are typical of the “bubble” syndrome.

De Beers To Resume DRC Prospecting, July 16, 2003
In an interview with the Financial Times, De Beers managing director, Gary Ralfe stated that the diamond mining giant will recommence prospecting operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

JCK and Israel’s Diamond Industry: “Fostering a Fruitful Relationship”, July 16, 2003
JCK Shows Industry Vice President, David Bonaparte, recently held meetings with Israeli diamantaires in an effort to improve relationships between the JCK Shows and Israeli based diamond exhibitors.

Sirius To Double Production, July 16, 2003
Mining conglomerate Rio Tinto is to supply Sirius Diamonds, one of Canada’s largest manufacturing diamond wholesalers with rough from the Diavik Mine.

DTC Sight Harbors No Surprises, July 10, 2003
The DTC’s sixth Sight of the year is seeing more people than usual, as the new
Sightholders are joining the current ones for their first Sight and those who lost
their Sight are still getting an allocation for a transitional period of six months.

Indian Jewelry Exports Expected to Double to $16 Billion, July 10, 2003
While Indian jewelry manufacturers and exporters expect to double current jewelry
exports by 2010, government officials want this to happen by 2007. One way or another,
the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) is already looking for advice on
how to achieve this goal.

Basel World Cancels Zurich Extension,July 10, 2003
Organizers of the Basel World jewelry and watch show have decided to cancel the split
in the fair and next year the “Hall of Universe” will be in Basel. MCH Swiss
Exhibition Ltd. intends to create the extra exhibition floor space required for the
"Hall of Universe" close to the existing exhibition center in Basel.

First Rio Tinto Sight of Diavik Goods Held This Week in Antwerp, July 9, 2003
The first goods from the Diavik mine offered by Rio Tinto were sold this week in Antwerp to a select group of diamantaires constituting it’s first such ‘Sight’. The goods offered are similar to the gems from the Ekati mine, and were reportedly strongly priced.

Namco Debt Bigger Than First Estimated, July 9, 2003
Court documents reveal that the Namco Group owes much more than first believed. To date it was estimated that the Namibian miner owes about $50 million to a consortium of banks. However, according to the documents the Group possibly owes as much as $80 million.

Belgium’s Polished Exports Up 17.5% in Value, July 8, 2003
Exports of polished diamonds from Belgium last month were up 17.51 percent in value to
$550,484,194 but rose by nearly 50 percent in weight.

DDMI Supplying First Diavik Goods, July 8, 2003
Rio Tinto’s Diavik Diamond Mines Inc. (DDMI) is supplying an allocation of rough diamonds to the four manufacturing facilities in Yellowknife that have received approval from the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Alrosa to Hold Large Diamond Auction, July 6, 2003
The Russian diamond monopoly Alrosa plans to hold an auction next month, offering large diamonds of 10.8 carat an up. The auction will be the first such auction open to non-Russians.

NGO Calls on Bush to Place African Resources on Top of Agenda, July 6, 2003
On the eve of his five-country visit to Africa, Global Witness is calling on President Bush to place the misappropriation of Africa's natural resources at the top of his agenda.

BHPB Sight Offers Much More Goods, July 3, 2003
BHP Billiton’s Sight, held this week in Antwerp, offered a much larger allocation, estimated at 30% - 40% more goods than at the previous Sight held last month.

Polished Exports from Israel Up 6.3%, July 3, 2003
Net polished diamond exports from Israel in June totaled $323 million, compared to $304 million during June 2002, a 6.3 percent increase. Total exports from the country from January stands at $2.6 billion, same as during the same period last year.

Gucci Quarterly Earnings Collapse, July 2, 2003
Gucci Group quarterly earnings dived 97 percent as the outbreak of SARS and a strong Euro negatively affected sales. The company posted a net income of €1.2 million ($1.39 million), down from €35.5 million in the first quarter of the previous financial year.

DTC Reveals Ombudsman – Attorney Dermot Gleeson, July 1, 2003
De Beers’ marketing arm, the DTC, has appointed Dermot Gleeson SC as its Ombudsman to Sightholders, applicants and brokers. The DTC made the announcement last night (Monday).

Gucci Buys Out Singapore and Malaysia JV Partners, July 1, 2003
Gucci Group has acquired the remaining 35 percent stake in Gucci Singapore and Gucci (Malaysia) held by its joint venture partner F J Benjamin Holdings.

Lecture Demonstrates How to Detect HPHT Treated Diamonds, June 29, 2003
At an open lecture about how to identify HPHT treated diamonds, Antoinette Matlins-Bonanno demonstrated a number of simple methods to detect treated diamonds.

DICAN Canada’s Government Diamond Valuator, June 29, 2003
Diamonds International Canada (DICAN) has been awarded a three-year contract as the Canadian Government Diamond Valuator (CGDV) on behalf of the Canadian Federal Government in Ottawa.

US Retail Industry Is Rebounding According to Retail Executives, June 26, 2003
According to a new survey, the retail industry is rebounding. According to the latest National Retail Federation and Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi Executive Opinion Survey, the Retail Sector Performance Index for June rose to normal levels for the first time since September 2002.

US Retail Industry Is Rebounding According to Retail Executives, June 26, 2003
According to a new survey, the retail industry is rebounding. According to the latest National
Retail Federation and Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi Executive Opinion Survey, the Retail Sector
Performance Index for June rose to normal levels for the first time since September 2002.

WFDB Presidents Meeting To Discuss Post SoC Trade, June 26, 2003
Heads of the 23 diamond exchanges members of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) will meet Sunday in Sun City, South Africa for their biennial Presidents' Meeting.

Final Decision Expected Today on Namco Subsidiaries, June 25, 2003
Namco creditors will decide today on the fate of the two remaining Namco subsidiaries - Namco
Namibia and Island Diamonds. If they choose to accept the bid they may recover only one percent
of the money owed them.

Record High Indian Gem and Jewelry Exports are Expected, June 23, 2003
Gem and jewelry exports from India are predicted to be more than $10 billion during fiscal 2003-04, a 10 percent growth over last year’s $9.1 billion in diamond and jewelry exports.

HK Fair Closes, Exhibitors Happy, June 23, 2003
The Hong Kong Jewellery & Watch Fair closed yesterday and while fears of Sars have caused the cancellation of a number of local trade shows, this one seems to indicate that Hong Kong had turned the corner.

Israeli Investors Group Propose Venezuelan Diamond Center, June 23, 2003
A group of Israeli investors have approached Venezuelan heavy industry holding company CVG with a proposal to develop a diamond center. The group is backed by the Venezuelan-Israeli Chamber of Finance and supported by the Israeli Ambassador to Venezuela, Arie Tenne.

Sierra Leone President to Place Tighter Diamond Controls, June 22, 2003
In a speech to parliament on Friday, Sierra Leone President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah declared tighter government controls on diamond mining in the country.

De Beers comforted by Mining Titles Bill Constructive Consultation Process, June 22, 2003
De Beers is comforted by the process that led to the passing by the National Assembly yesterday of the Mining Titles Registration Amendment Bill.

Israeli Consulate in Mumbai to Close, June 19, 2003
In a move that will possibly hurt the Israeli diamond industry, the Israeli Foreign Ministry has decided to close its consulate in Mumbai, India. According to sources in the Ministry, the decision was made against expert advice.

De Beers LV To Open Japan Store in September, June 18, 2003
De Beers LV, the De Beers retail joint venture with LVMH, is planning to open a store within a Tokyo department store in September.

Liberian Cease Fire Signed, President Taylor to Step Down, June 18, 2003
As news of the cease-fire spread through the country, thousands of people in the war torn Liberia celebrated in the streets and markets.

US Consumer Price Stable Index Down 0.2%, June 18, 2003
The US Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers decreased 0.2 percent in May, before seasonal adjustments, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reports. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI was unchanged in May, following a 0.3 percent decline in April.

Namco Gives Up Hope For Resurrection, June 17, 2003
Namibian Minerals Corporation (Namco) says that as a result of its inability to fund its working capital requirements since last November, there is no prospect of Namco and its subsidiaries resuming operations as a going concern. Liquidators are progressing the sale of the group's companies and assets.

World’s Rarest Gems Go On Display, June 17, 2003
Some of the world’s rarest and most extraordinary diamonds will go on display this summer at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Washington.

Etruscan Finds Unusual Diamond,June 16, 2003
A rare and potentially unique 13.7-carat diamond is causing a stir in South Africa. Exposure to ultraviolet ("UV") light causes the diamond to turn vibrant fluorescent pink, an unusual characteristic in a diamond.

US May Retail Sales Positive, June 16, 2003
Total May retail sales of non-general merchandise such as autos, gasoline stations and restaurants were up 5.1 percent compared to May of last year. However, total adjusted retail sales rose 0.1.

Gary Ralfe Welcomes SA Interest Rate Reduction, June 15, 2003
De Beers Managing Director, Gary Ralfe, says the company “applauds” the decision of the South African Reserve Bank to reduce the interest rate. The interest rate was cut 1.5 percent to 12 percent effective Friday.

NO DROPPED SIGHTHOLDERS “REINSTATED"!, June 12, 2003
Persistent market rumors to the effect that some dropped sightholders have been quietly reinstated are patently untrue.

First KP Review Mission In The Central African Republic, June 12, 2003
The Kimberley Process is holding its first official review mission in the Central African Republic to establish whether the country’s new regime is meeting standards set by the Process to battle trade in conflict diamonds.

HRD Voices Disapproval Over De Beers Sightholder Shake Up, June 12, 2003 HRD Managing Director Peter Meeus has expressed some criticism over the changes in De Beers Sightholders list during a speech last night at the Antwerp Diamond High Council Awards for 2003 ceremony.


BHP Expanding Canadian Diamond Exploration, June 11, 2003
BHP Billiton, the world’s largest mining company, is expanding its diamond efforts in Canada, investing $5.21 million in the Aviat Joint Venture in Canada's Northwest Territories Melville Peninsula.

SA Government Delays Sale of Alexkor Stake, June 10, 2003
The deadline on the announcement of the winning bidder of a 51 percent stake in the South African mine Alexkor passed Friday, and no news was released on the fate of the bid.

11 NYC Jewelers Arrested in Connection with Money Laundering, June 9, 2003
Last Wednesday law enforcement teams descended on the heart of the jewelry district on NYC’s 47th street arresting 11 people allegedly involved in a drug-money laundering scheme.

Belgium Polished Imports, Exports Up in First 5 Months of ‘03, June 8, 2003
Belgium’s year to date imports and exports of polished diamonds were on the rise in volume and value during the first five months of the year. However, in May alone while imports and exports declined in weight, they increased in terms of value.

UN Security Council Ends Sierra Leone Diamond Ban, June 8, 2003
The UN Security Council decided on Friday to not renew the ban on precious gems imposed on Sierra Leone in 2000. The Ban was renewed once in 2002 and expired June 4.

Ashton Closes $4 Million Offering,June 8, 2003
Ashton Mining has closed a private placement, issuing a total of 2,635,000 units at a price of $1.50 each for gross proceeds of $3,952,500.

Sight 5 Overshadowed by New Sightholder List, June 5, 2003
At the Diamond Trading Company (DTC) Sight this week, the new Sightholder list overshadowed everything and the H2 Intention To Offer (ITO) was almost brushed aside.

International Court Indicts President Taylor, June 4, 2003
A UN-backed court has indicted Liberian President Charles Taylor on war crimes charges.

Aber Turns A Profit As Diavik Starts To Roll, June 4, 2003
Aber Diamonds, 40 percent owner of Canadian Diavik mine, reports quarterly net earnings of US$5.63 million compared with a loss of $1.1 million during the same period last year.

Aber Turns A Profit As Diavik Starts To Roll, June 4, 2003
Aber Diamonds, 40 percent owner of Canadian Diavik mine, reports quarterly net earnings of US$5.63 million compared with a loss of $1.1 million during the same period last year.

Vegas Comes To A Close, June 4, 2003
The last day of the Vegas Show came to a close with a general consensus of opinion that it has been a 'good' show. Not great, but then again, none of the exhibitors stated that they really could complain about traffic and strength of orders.

LVMH Appoints Jacques Levy As CEO of Sephora Europe, June 3, 2003
LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton has appointed Jacques Levy as Chief Executive Officer of Sephora Europe, effective September 2003.

De Beers Appoints Ombudsman, June 3, 2003
As part of the implementation of Supplier of Choice (SoC), De Beers has appointed an ombudsman to settle any possible disputes between itself and Sightholders.

Bel-Oro and Pace Announce Alliance, June 2, 2003
Jewelry importer and distributor Bel-Oro of New York, and gem stone jewelry producer Pace of Las Angeles, have announced at JCK Las Vegas their plans to merge.

G8 Called to Battle Conflict Diamonds, International Terrorism, June 1, 2003
Global Witness is calling on counties attending the Group of 8 (G8) Summit, to combat the financing of international terrorism by taking “concrete steps to prevent al Qaeda and other terrorist entities from using diamonds to finance their activities”.

Day Two of JCK Las Vegas – Busy, June 1, 2003
The second day of the JCK Show was as busy as expected. Heavy foot traffic, booths are busy, but many exhibitors are noting that concrete orders are slow. Finally there seems to be a move towards stock replenishment on the retail side, with independent retailers buying in noticeable quantities.

Scotland Yard Makes Public Appeal and Offers Reward for Stolen Jewelry, June 1, 2003
Detectives for the New Scotland Yard Flying Squad are appealing for help from the jewelry trade for any information on the jewelry stolen from Graffs Jewellery Salon, announcing a reward of up to £150,000.

Finlay posts Decreased Quarterly Loss, May 29, 2003
Finlay Enterprises, a US retailer of fine jewelry, reports today a net loss of $1.5 million during its first quarter, compared to a $17.2 million loss during the first quarter of last year.

First Names of New Sightholders Trickle into the Market, May 29, 2003
As the round of announcements by the DTC are being made on who received a Sight, the first names are trickling into the markets. Most eyes are toward India, the dominant and growing center.

Diarough Interested in Debswana Manufacturing Arm, May 28, 2003
Indian diamond company Diarough is in talks with Debswana to purchase its loss-making manufacturing company Teemane. Diarough is interested in the whole operation.

Gucci Pays Shareholders 1.34 Billion Euros, May 28, 2003
The Gucci Group is to pay shareholders 1.34 billion euros ($1.58 billion), because it does not need the money. The group is not planning any major acquisitions in the foreseeable future.

Whitehall Jewellers Posts Quarterly Loss, May 28, 2003
Whitehall Jewellers reports today a $2.7 million net loss for the first quarter ended April 30, 2003. The retailer posted a $0.4 million net income during the same period a year ago.

Bram Fischler Re-Elected to Antwerp Exchange Board, May 27, 2003
Abraham ‘Bram’ Fischler was re-elected last week as President of the board of the Antwerp Diamond Bourse.

BHPB Sight Sees Reduced Prices, May 27, 2003
Prices of goods at BHP Billiton’s sight, held this week in Antwerp, are reported to have been adjusted to current market prices, which some noted was not the case in the past two months.

LVMH to Pay 0.80 Euro Dividend Per Share, May 27, 2003
LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton reveled today that at its annual shareholders' Meeting held on May 15, 2003, approval was given for the payment of a net dividend for fiscal 2002 of 0.80 Euro per share, an increase of 6.7 percent compared to last year.

Antwerp Dealers Head East, May 25, 2003
In what can be viewed as a symbolic move, IDH Diamonds, an Antwerp based rough dealer, had opened a sales office in Surat, India. The company, the only triple Sightholders, is the first Antwerp rooted dealers that are committing themselves in the very heart of the Indian manufacturing industry.

Online Retail Sales Up 25.9% In Q1, May 25, 2003
Retail sales over the Internet in the US saw a 25.9 percent increase during the past quarter, compared to the same quarter a year ago rising to $11.9 billion, the Commerce Department said on Friday.

Canadian Diamond Industry Meets to Discuss Future, May 22, 2003
Federal and northern government officials, together with representatives of the diamond companies operating in the northern territory met in Canada for two days to discuss the region’s diamond industry.

BHP Billiton Settles with Former CEO, May 22, 2003
BHP Billiton has reached an agreement with former CEO, Brian Gilbertson on the terms of termination of his employment with the Group. Gilbertson left BHP Billiton January 5, two and a half years before the end of his contract.

SoC Applicants to be Notified Next Thursday, May 21, 2003
The DTC plans to notify Supplier of Choice applicants who will become a Sightholder and who won’t. As the notice date approaches, many are wondering who will join the short list of Sightholders, and who will loose their Sight.

Anglo American Offers €1 Billion Bond, May 21, 2003
De Beers parent company American Plc has offered a €1-billion five-year bond for sale yesterday. The bond is the first issue from Anglo-American's newly established $2-billion Euro medium-term note program.

Northern Empire and Stornoway to Merge, May 21, 2003
Northern Empire Minerals and Stornoway Ventures agreed to combine their businesses to form a diamond exploration company with the largest diamond property portfolio of any publicly traded diamond company in Canada.

The Art of Branding, May 20, 2003
Retailers are doing it, dealers are doing it, manufacturers are doing it, even miners are getting in on the act – the branding act this is. Now, more than ever, companies are convinced of the necessity for a strong brand.

Ascorp Fate Still Unknown, May 20, 2003
The talk of Ascorp losing its monopoly status in Angola is resurfacing in the last few days, however the situation is still unclear.

Fleming Acquires Stake in Severalmaz, May 19, 2003
British family funds management company Fleming Family & Partners (FF&P) plans to acquire 43 percent of Severalmaz diamond mining company and invest $325 million in expanding its operations.

WTO Give Kimberley Final Approval, May 19, 2003
After agreeing in February that member countries of the Kimberley Process would be allowed to ban rough originating from non-member countries, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) now gave final approval to the waiver.

De Beers Scores Injury-Free Record, May 18, 2003
The De Beers Geological Services Division together with the RSA Exploration and Africa Office based in Kimberley and at Centurion has completed three years without a single lost time injury - a new record in De Beers operations.

25 U.S. Diamond Dealers Suspected Of Money Laundering, May 15, 2003
At the request of the FBI, 25 U.S. based diamond dealers have been served with search warrents following suspicions of their involvement in money laundering activities.

Zale Posts 32% Leap In Quarterly EPS, But Losses Continue, May 15, 2003
Even with quarterly net earnings of $9.4 million and total revenues of $449.4 million, Zale executives are cautious. While US economy in the past few months seemed shaky, Zale CEO Mary Forte feels they’re strategy served them well.

Italy, Israel Look To Strengthen Diamond Ties, May 15, 2003
In an effort to further co-operation between the Italian jewelry industry and Israel’s diamond industry, Italy’s Ambassador to Israel, Ambassador Jiulioterzi and the Economic and Commercial Attache, Alessandro Cattaneo recently visited the Israel Diamond Exchange.

25 U.S. Diamond Dealers Suspected Of Money Laundering, May 15, 2003
At the request of the FBI, 25 U.S. based diamond dealers have been served with search warrents following suspicions of their involvement in money laundering activities.

Zale Posts 32% Leap In Quarterly EPS, But Losses Continue, May 15, 2003
Even with quarterly net earnings of $9.4 million and total revenues of $449.4 million, Zale executives are cautious. While US economy in the past few months seemed shaky, Zale CEO Mary Forte feels they’re strategy served them well.

Italy, Israel Look To Strengthen Diamond Ties, May 15, 2003
In an effort to further co-operation between the Italian jewelry industry and Israel’s diamond industry, Italy’s Ambassador to Israel, Ambassador Jiulioterzi and the Economic and Commercial Attache, Alessandro Cattaneo recently visited the Israel Diamond Exchange.

Nothing Like Word of Mouth For Gen Xers, May 15, 2003
“Customers expectations are through the roof,” booms Shane Decker to jewelry retailers during his presentation at the American Gem Society Conclave in Austin, Texas. When a customer walks into a jewelry shop, more than in any other retail outlet, they are looking to buy something.

US Retail Sales Down 0.1%, May 14, 2003
After a 2.3 percent increase in March, US retail sales decreased by 0.1 percent in April. Discounting car sales, retail sales were down 0.9 percent.

Alrosa, De Beers and EC To Meet in June, May 14, 2003
Alrosa, De Beers and the European Commission have scheduled a meeting for June to discuss the Commission’s "Statement of Objections" to the diamond trading agreement signed between miners in December 2001.

Alrosa May Issue More Eurobonds, May 14, 2003
Following the successful issue of Eurobonds last month, Russian miner Alrosa is considering another round. The company is considering the issuance of $300 million in Eurobonds.

JCK Vegas Attendee Required to Present health certificate, May 13, 2003
All visitors and exhibitors to the JCK Las Vegas show coming from those global areas under the current SARS “Travel Advisory” will be required to present a clean bill of health before registration.

International Jury Selects Jewelry Design Winner, May 13, 2003
The Antwerp Diamond High Council Awards for 2003 are reaching their exciting culmination. An international jury assessed the 50 finalists from among the 900 diamond jewelry designs submitted.

Tahera Quarterly Results Down, May 13, 2003
Tahera’s quarterly results were published yesterday, without much fanfare. The company posted a net loss to the tune of $529,000, compared with $558,000 ($0.002 per common share) during the same period in 2002 representing a 5% decline year-over-year.

Alrosa Quarterly Sales $394 Million, May 12, 2003
Russian diamond miner Alrosa sold $394 million worth of diamonds in the first quarter of its fiscal year, reports The Moscow Times, a 43 percent increase over the first quarter of last year.

Nadco, SearchGold Sign Diamond Marketing Agreement,May 12, 2003
Natural Diamond Corporation (Nadco) and SearchGold have signed a diamond marketing agreement for the production at the SearchGold’s Mandala mine in Guinea.

Ralfe Warns of High Rand Exchange Rate, Royalties Bill, May 12, 2003
Gary Ralfe, Managing Director of De Beers, warns that at a high rand exchange rate “we are crying about the ability of our marginal mines to continue operating!”.

Cullinan Centenary Krugerrand Minted 600 Meters Underground, May 11, 2003
A South African Mint Company 2003 special 1-oz proof Krugerrand has been minted 645 meters underground at De Beers' Premier Mine to mark the centenary of the mine and the village of Cullinan near Pretoria.

Alrosa Eurobonds Issue a Success, May 11, 2003
Alrosa’s five-year Eurobonds, issued late April, are carrying an annual coupon rate of 8.1258%. The bonds are to be redeemed May 6, 2008.

Belgium's Polished Exports Up 15% In April, May 8, 2003
Belgium exported $538 million of polished diamonds in April, up 14.74% compared to $469 million exported in the same month last year. In carat terms, the country recorded a 5.68% increase, exporting 730,618 carats compared to 691,366 in April 2002.

U.S. Removes Sanctions Against UNITA, May 8, 2003
U.S. President George Bush has lifted all sanctions against Angola's former rebel group, UNITA. The lifting of sanctions, imposed by former U.S. President Bill Clinton between 1993 and 1998, now enables UNITA to conduct business with U.S. financial organizations.

WFDB President Welcomes Kimberley Deadline, May 8, 2003
Shmuel Schnitzer, the president of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB), has welcomed the decision to set a deadline of June 30 / July 31, by which countries will have to complete implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.

A New Jewel In Monte Carlo, May 8, 2003
Famous for their outstanding diamonds, once again, the Steinmetz Diamond Group, in association with the DTC, is to unveil a breathtaking diamond collection.

Tent for Hong Kong Exhibitors at Vegas, May 8, 2003
After being reassured by JCK Show management just two weeks ago that they will not be barred from exhibiting at the Show, Hong Kong exhibitors have now been told that they will be moved to a tent outside of the main Show Hall.

UN Security Council To Extend Liberia Sanctions, May 6, 2003
The UN Security Council announced its intention to renew today the sanctions against Liberia adding a ban on timber exports on top of existing arms and diamond embargoes.

Hong Kong Jeweler Issues Profit Warning, May 5, 2003
Tse Sui Luen Jewellery (International) Ltd, one of Hong Kong's most resilient jewelry manufacturers, issued a profit warning today, citing the dramatic fall in visitors to the territory since the SARS epidemic hit in mid-March.

Polished Exports from Israel Down 1%, May 5, 2003
January to April net exports of polished diamonds from Israel was down one percent, compared to last year, while polished imports into the country during the period were up 58 percent.

KP Meeting - Periodical Missions, New Participation Groups, May 4, 2003
At the recent Kimberley Process Plenary meeting in Johannesburg, the much-debated topic of periodical missions was the cause of disagreement between the NGOs present and industry and governmental representatives at the meeting.

Whitehall Jewellers Settles Overtime Suit, May 4, 2003
Whitehall Jewellers, a leading US jewelry manufacturer and retailer of fine jewelry, has reached a preliminary agreement over a class action lawsuit alleging managers in California were not exempt from the payment of overtime wages based on California law.

Alrosa Issues Eurobonds, May 1, 2003
Russian diamond monopoly Alrosa has issued Eurobonds to the tune of $500 million. The company originally planed a $300 million issue during the second quarter of 2002.

Alrosa Issues Eurobonds, May 1, 2003
Russian diamond monopoly Alrosa has issued Eurobonds to the tune of $500 million. The company originally planed a $300 million issue during the second quarter of 2002.

Kimberley Process Plenary Meeting Closes, May 1, 2003
The Kimberley Process plenary meeting in Johannesburg closed last night, declaring that countries that had not implemented the Kimberley Process of diamond certification by July 31 would find themselves “marginalized and isolated”.

DTC Sight Subdued, May 1, 2003
DTC’s last Sight, ending tomorrow is estimated at $480 – 500 million. The price hike that was a cause of some commotion found Sightholders with mixed feelings.

Rio Tinto Reports Quarterly Results, April 29, 2003
Miner Rio Tinto reports in its quarterly results that diamonds production during the first quarter of the year totaled 7.156 million carats, a 28 percent fall compared to the last quarter, but a 16 percent increase compared to the first quarter last year.

Israel's Diamond Industry Gears Up for JCK Show, April 29, 2003
Israeli diamantaires are already gearing up for the JCK Las Vegas Show, scheduled to take place May 30 to June 3.

Industry Leaders Welcome Clean Diamond Trade Act, April 28, 2003
In a joint statement released today, Eli Izhakoff, chairman of the World Diamond Council (WDC), and Matthew Runci, executive director of WDC and president / CEO of Jewelers of America (JA), noted that President Bush’s signing of the Clean Diamond Trade Act is a major milestone in the campaign to eliminate conflict diamonds from the global supply chain.

New Diamond Mine For Angola, April 28, 2003
Angola's Minister of geology and mines Manuel Africano has inaugurated a new diamond mine in the country's northeastern Lunda Norte Province.

Full Presidential Statement On Conflict Diamond Bill, April 27, 2003
Following is the full statement by U.S. President George W. Bush on the "Clean Diamond Trade Act" - H.R. 1584:

No Fear Of SARS For JCK Management, April 27, 2003
JCK Show management has announced that at present there are no plans to ban exhibitors or visitors from the Far East from attending the Show. The fear of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) which has currently claimed some 280 victims, had a devastating effect on the Basel Show, held earlier in the month.

Conflict Diamond Bill Receives Presidential Nod, April 27, 2003
U.S. President George Bush added the Presidential signature on Friday to the Clean Diamond Trade Act. The Bill, which has now officially been signed into law, enables the United States to formally implement the Kimberley Process certification scheme.

SARS Spells Slowdown in Hong Kong, April 24, 2003
The fear of SARS is keeping residents of Hong Kong out of public places with the hopes of avoiding the risk of getting infected by the disease. People are avoiding as much as possible public transportation, markets and shopping centers.

DTC To Raise Prices at Next Sight, April 24, 2003
The DTC has notified its Sightholders that during the coming Sight it will raise the prices of goods, most notably on the 2+ carat. In a message sent to Sightholders the exact increase amount was not noted, but it is already understood that the price hike will not be the same for all boxes.

BHPB Sight Smaller Then Usual, April 24, 2003
BHP Billiton’s sight this week in Antwerp was smaller then usual, by up to 20 percent in value. Most notable was the small amount of eight grainers.

New CAR Government Suspends Mining Permits, April 21, 2003
The government of General Francois Bozize decided to suspend all mining permits in the country until they can make sure miners have paid their taxes. Diamonds, gold and uranium are mined in the African country.

NGO Publishes al Qaeda Report, April 20, 2003
Global Witness published a 50 page report on how al Qaeda devised and carried out a ten-year strategic move into what the NGO called “the unregulated diamond trade”.

UN Welcomes Kimberley Process, April 20, 2003
The UN General Assembly welcomed this week the implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. In a statement the organization stated “In support of international efforts to break the link between the illegal trade of rough diamonds and its fuelling of armed conflict.

BHP Billiton Global Bond Issue Expanded to $850 Million, April 15, 2003
Diversified miner BHP Billiton announced today that they have expanded from $750 million to $850 million its 10 year Global Bond due to strong demand.

Speech by De Beers' Rory More O'Ferrall at the CSIS, April 14, 2003
Speech by De Beers Director of Public Affairs, Rory More O'Ferrall, at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington DC, given April 10, 2003 titled The Kimberley Process To Curb Conflict Diamonds - Early Achievements, Congressional Action, Next Steps.

China Watch & Jewellery Delayed to June, April 14, 2003
The organizers of the China Watch Jewellery & Gift Fair 2003, the Shenzhen Watch & Clock Association, have decided to delay the opening the show from later this month to June 25 due to the war in Iraq.

Alrosa to Invest $85 Million In Two Angolan Projects, April 11, 2003
Alrosa plans to go beyond the Russian borders and invest in a diamond development project and an energy project in Angola. According to initial reports, the company plans to invest $85 million in the two projects during the coming year.

Indian Diamond and Jewelry Exports Up 20% in Fiscal 2003, April 10, 2003
India’s cut and polished diamond exports jumped 19.06 percent to $7.11 billion during fiscal year 2003, compared to $5.97 billion the year before.

Aber Posts Modest Net Loss For Fiscal 2002, April 10, 2003
Canadian miner Aber, part owner of Diavik diamond mine, reported a net loss of $6 million for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2003. Last year Aber ended the year with a $81 million profit after the sale of its Snap Lake property for $147.7 million.

US House of Representatives Approves Kimberly Process, April 9, 2003
The US House of Representatives approved a bill yesterday that will allow implementation of the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme. The House voted 419 to two in support of the legislation.

LVMH Reports Drop in First Quarter Sales, April 9, 2003
Luxury goods maker LVMH reports this morning a 5.2 percent drop in first-quarter sales to €2.8 billion. The company says it is still targeting "tangible growth of operating profit" for this year.

Kimberley Process Chair to Lift CAR Suspension, April 8, 2003
Kimberley Process chairman Abbey Chikane is suggesting to lift the temporary suspension imposed on the Central African Republic. The suspension was set after General Francois Bozize coup.

Kimberley Process Chair to Lift CAR Suspension, April 8, 2003
Kimberley Process chairman Abbey Chikane is suggesting to lift the temporary suspension imposed
on the Central African Republic. The suspension was set after General Francois Bozize coup.

Speech by Gary Ralfe to The Commonwealth Business Council's Africa Investment Forum, April 8, 2003
"De Beers: An Ethically Accountable And Socially Responsible Nepad Supporter" a speech by Mr Gary
Ralfe, MD of De Beers, Tuesday April 8, 2003, to the Commonwealth Business Council's Africa
Investment Forum, Johannesburg.

Gareth Penny Addresses Basel World, April 7, 2003
At a seminar for key members of the trade, directors and managers from the Diamond Trading Company (DTC) today outline the key benefits that the DTC’s Supplier of Choice holds for the diamond jewelry trade.

Antwerp To Host Diamond Marketing And Branding Conference, April 7, 2003
The HRD is going to host the 2003 Antwerp Diamond Conference focussing on “Marketing and branding in the diamond industry” on November 3 – 4, planning to bring together decision makers, analysts, professionals and opinion makers.

Canadia Diamond Brand Announced, April 7, 2003
Tri-Star has announced its diamond brand Canadia. The marketing campaign is part of an increasing trend in the diamond industry of branding diamonds with the aim of adding to its value and marketability.

Basel World: Some Happy, Some Not At All, April 6, 2003
Some called the weekend at Zurich a graveyard, others said it was waste of time, but as heavy visitor traffic continued in Basel, especially among the watch exhibitors, the main story of the show was the Zurich fiasco.

Bonas Leaves Backes & Strauss, April 6, 2003
DTC broker Benjamin Bonas, a major shareholder in Backes & Strauss, decided to pull out of the veteran company.

Basel Show: lawsuits, disappointment, free time, and no visitors at Zurich, April 4, 2003
Many exhibitors at the Zurich part of the Basel show are planning to fold up and leave as early
as Sunday night, after Swiss health authorities have closed down the Hong Kong booths until
Sunday for fear of SARS.

AGS Conclave - Cowboys and Cuts, April 4, 2003
The 2nd day of the AGS Conclave in Texas featured a standing room only presentation by the
renowned Gabi Tolkowsky on fancy cut research. The AGS is at the forefront in the research and
development in diamond cuts.

De Beers Expresses Full Support for Black Economic Empowerment, April 3, 2003
De Beers has expressed today its full support black economic empowerment. The South African diamond miner says it recognizes the need for transformation and for the economic empowerment of historically disadvantaged persons in the South African mining industry.

Anger and Disappointment as Swiss Authorities Place Lock Down, April 3, 2003
After lengthy negotiations at the Basel show, Swiss authorities have offered to medically exam exhibitors from China, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore in the next few days for SARS before allowing them to open their booths in Zurich.

AGS Conclave Opens In Texas, April 3, 2003
The 2003 American Gem Society Conclave, ‘Blazing The Trail to Excellence’ opened today in Austin, Texas. Some 500 US jewelry retailers have gathered in the state capitol for four days of seminars, speeches, debates and disclosure.

Swiss Authorities Ban Hong Kong Travelers, April 2, 2003
Swiss authorities are banning the entry of travelers arriving on flights from Hong Kong for fear
of the deadly disease Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.

Aber Makes First Diavik Sale, April 2, 2003
Canadian Aber Diamond today announced the sale of its first parcel of diamonds from the Diavik
Diamond Mine. Aber sold 42,619 carats of diamonds for a total of $4,100,692, an average price of
$96.22 per carat for the run-of- mine parcel.

March Polished Exports From Israel Up 25.1%, April 2, 2003
Net polished diamond exports from Israel in March totaled $477 million, a 25.1 percent increase
over March 2002. Year to date net exports of polished totaled $1,502 million, a 12.2 percent rise
over the $1,338 million worth exported during the comparable period lest year.

DPS Launches Mother’s Day Program, April 1, 2003
With a campaign that says, “This Mother’s Day, watch her revert to baby talk”, the US diamond and jewelry industry is gearing up for the coming Mother’s Day, celebrated this coming May 11.

Anglo American Launches JV To Promote Black Empowerment, April 1, 2003
Mining giant Anglo American and Khula Enterprise Finance has launched a 40 million rand ($5.08 million) fund to promote black economic empowerment in South Africa's junior mining sector.

Leviev and LLD Receive Outstanding Exporter Award, March 31, 2003
The Israeli Diamond Exchange awarded Lev Leviev the Outstanding Exporter Award for 2002. Leviev’s LLD exported $514 million worth of diamonds last year. This is the first year that the IDE awards the honor.

Alrosa Plans to boost Production in Coming Years, March 27, 2003
Russia’s diamond monopoly Alrosa plans to boost its production to $1.8-1.9 billion annually in the next couple of years, from about $1.4 billion last year.

Gucci Net Profit Falls 27%, Doing Better Than Forecasted, March 27, 2003
Luxury goods maker Gucci today posted a less-than-expected fall in net profits for 2002, with a 27 percent decrease over last year, saying that it remains cautious about the near-term, due to a weak economy and the war in Iraq.

Signet Group profits Beat Expectations, March 27, 2003
British jewelry retailer, Signet Group Plc published better-than-expected annual profits yesterday, achieving record level pre-tax group profits of £199.7 million ($314.97 million), a 9 percent increase over last year.

US Consumer Confidence Continues to Drop, March 25, 2003
The US Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index fell again in March and now stands at 62.5 points. The index nose-dived in February to 64.8 points, a record low.

Alrosa Net Profits $240 Million, March 25, 2003
The Russian miner Alrosa posted $240 million in net profits last year, down almost 30 percent from $340 million profits in 2001, company president Vladimir Kalitin reported today.

Oscar’s Diamond Anniversary, March 25, 2003
On Sunday, Hollywood’s great and beautiful gathered in force in Los Angeles to celebrate the 75th diamond anniversary of the Academy Awards - in other words, it was Oscar night. Celebrities “razzle-dazzled” ‘em in diamond looks from diamond cuff bracelets to long dangly diamond earrings.

Tawana Begun Drilling in South African Project, March 24, 2003
Armed with the knowledge supplied by BHP Billiton's Falcon gravity technology, Tawana Resources begun drilling in the Daniel project area, near De Beers' large Finsch operation in South Africa.

Finlay Fourth Quarter and Annual Results, March 23, 2003
US jeweler Finlay Enterprises reports a net income for the fourth quarter ended February 1, of $27.9 million. For the fiscal year net income totaled $23.8 million.

South African Mining Tax Proposed, March 23, 2003
The South African Government unveiled Thursday a new tax as part of the new Mineral and Petroleum Royalty Bill. The new tax will cost miners up to eight percent of gross sales.

Basel Show Goes On, March 23, 2003
Despite the military campaign waged against Iraq, the Basel World Watch and Jewellery Show will be haled as scheduled April 3-10 in Basel and Zurich.

BHP Sight – Prices Up, Harming Profits, March 20, 2003
The BHP-Billiton sight held this week in Antwerp, proved difficult for its buyers. A four to five percent increase in prices resulted in dealers seeing their profitability squeezed. According to one dealer, his allocation proved “virtually unprofitable”, while another said that once he sat with buyers, the pressure on prices was strong.

De Beers Released its Annual Report, To Increase Capital Expenditure, March 20, 2003
De Beers decided on a $150 million capital expenditure this year, mostly to be invested in its South African operations.

Diamond Retail Sales Up Despite Declining US Economy, March 20, 2003
US retail sales of diamond jewelry increased by five percent in 2002 despite a softening economy. According to the Diamond Information Center (DIC), the US diamond jewelry market is now valued at $27.4 billion ($26.1 billion in 2001), accounting for well over half the value of diamond jewelry sales throughout the world.

Global Witness Says KP Faces First Real Test In CAR, March 19, 2003
In the wake of the coup in the Central African Republic this week Global Witness called on the Chair of the Kimberley Process to temporarily suspend the country’s participation in the Kimberley Process.

First Shanghai Diamond Jewellery Fair To Open Friday, March 18, 2003
In an attempt to strengthen the Shanghai Diamond industry, and possibly China’s only diamond Exchange, the city is to host its first international diamond exhibition this weekend.

Dwyka Diamonds Recommence Indian Exploration, March 18, 2003
Dwyka Diamonds reported yesterday that following good results from drill testing and assessment of the kimberlite pipes it’s recommencing exploration within the southern portions of the Dwyka / BHP Billiton Indian Alliance area.

De Beers and Endiama Extend Moratorium, March 17, 2003
The State Diamond Mining Company of Angola (Endiama) and De Beers have agreed to extend the Moratorium that expired on 12 March 2003, probably till the end of April.

S&P Raises Alrosa’s Rating, March 17, 2003
Standard & Poor's has raised today Alrosa’s long-term credit rating from B- to B with a ‘Stable’ outlook. The financial ratings and indexing company raised Alrosa’s rating thanks to a recent government decision to grant the company a five-year quota.

Rebels Take Control of Bangui, March 16, 2003
Rebels, led by General Francois Bozize, have captured Bangui, the capital city of the Central African Republic. Parfait Mbaye, a spokesman for the rebels read a statement on the state-owned radio written by Bozize saying they control the city.

New UN Panel on DRC exploitation on its Way, March 16, 2003
An expert panel investigating the illegal exploitation of natural resources and other forms of wealth in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has gathered at UN headquarters in New York for consultations.

BHP Eyes Botswana As New Diamond Target, March 16, 2003
The worlds biggest miner, BHP-Billiton, announced Friday it’s interested in expanding it’s diamond operations, and is already considering Botswana as the next destination.

Request for a Class Action Suit Filed Against Diamond Controller, March 13, 2003
A request to file a 22 million NIS ($4.6 million) class action suit against the Israeli diamond controller, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Industry and Trade was brought to the Tel Aviv County court on Monday.

Request for a Class Action Suit Filed Against Diamond Controller, March 13, 2003
A request to file a 22 million NIS ($4.6 million) class action suit against the Israeli diamond controller, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Industry and Trade was brought to the Tel Aviv County court on Monday.

De Beers, Angola to Extend Talks, March 12, 2003
The moratorium regarding the talks between the De Beers Group and the Angolan Government will
probably be further extended until the end of April.

ABN Amro Considers Greater Involvement In Diamond Industry, March 12, 2003
ABN Amro wants to take a bigger part in the diamond industry, and is now considering financing
diamond mining in South Africa. The Antwerp based bank is the main creditor of the diamond
industry.

China Now World's Second Largest Diamond Polisher, March 11, 2003
China has emerged as the world's second largest diamond polisher after India, attributing the fast growth to China's rapid and steady economic growth, stable social environment and the tax cuts announced last June.

Friedman's Named In Law Suit, March 11, 2003
Four former employees of Friedman's Jewelers filed a federal lawsuit on March 6, claiming the
US's third-largest jewelry chain used racist policies to deny black people employment and
promotions.

Lazare Kaplan to Market Tahera’s Jericho Diamonds, March 10, 2003
Miner Tahera Corporation has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Lazare Kaplan to enter into a
comprehensive Off-Take and Investment Agreement for Tahera's Jericho Diamond Project.

Patriot Act Compliance Expected By The Summer, March 10, 2003
By this summer, every member of the jewelry industry whether manufacturer, gem dealer or retailer
will be required to comply with new Federal anti- money-laundering laws set forth in the USA
Patriot Act passed in October 2001.

Are Diamonds Saddam's New Best Friends? March 10, 2003
According to the UK's Sunday Times, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein recently sent a personal
jeweler to Thailand on a secret mission to buy millions of dollars worth of diamonds.

Sirius Polar Bear Dispute Settled, March 9, 2003
Sirius Diamonds, which has a cutting factory in Yellowknife, NWT, has ended its year long struggle with the NWT government over Sirius' use of a four-legged polar bear logo on its diamonds.

Diamond Giants Form Corporation To Market Canadia Diamonds, March 9, 2003
Diamond veteran firms, Beny Sofer & Sons, Rosy Blue and Backes & Strauss have formed Tri-Star Worldwide. The new company will distribute Canadia arctic-mined diamonds in Europe, the Far East and North America.

Trivalence Mining Quarterly Losses, March 9, 2003
Trivalence Mining reported a net loss of $1,656,958 for the quarter ending December 31, 2002 compared to a net loss of $1,357,984 for the same period in 2001. For the six months, the company posted a net loss of $3,433,804.

Whitehall Jewellers Fourth Quarter Net Income Drops, March 6, 2003
Fine jewelry retailer Whitehall Jewellers’ net income for the fourth fiscal quarter ending
January 31, dropped to $15.1 million compared to $15.8 million the same period last year.

LVMH Operating Profit Up, Jewelry Sales Problematic, March 6, 2003
In what the luxury group calls an “Excellent year”, LVMH achieved a 29 increase in operating
profits in 2002, beating analysts expectations of 24 percent and reversing a 20 percent drop in
2001.

IsDMA President Uri Schwartz Seeks IDI Chairmanship, March 5, 2003
Uri Schwartz, President of the Israel Diamond Manufacturers Association (IsDMA) has tendered his
resignation.

Diamond Theft at Hong Kong Jewellery Fair, March 5, 2003
$2.1 million worth of diamonds were stolen from two booths at the Hong Kong Jewellery Fair during
the opening day. The police have a number of suspects but didn't make any arrests yet.

Alrosa Receives 5 Year Quota, March 4, 2003
After many delays, Russia's rough diamond monopolist Alrosa has got a five-year quota for gem
exports. The company was eager to receive this so it could secure cheaper long-term credits
abroad.

Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair Exceeds Expectations, March 4, 2003
Trading volumes at the 31st Bangkok Gems and Jewelry Fair exceeded expectations reaching 17
billion baht, on track for achieving the targeted 12 percent growth to 100 billion baht in
overall jewelry exports this year.

Israeli Polished Imports On The Rise, March 4, 2003
Israeli net polished exports in February stood at $505 million, compared to $390 million during
February of last year, a 29.5 percent increase. Total net polished exports during the first two
months of the year was $1,025 million, a 7.1 percent increase over the $957 million exports
during the comparable period last year.

A Giant Diamond Recovered in Yakutia, March 3, 2003
A 232.9-carat diamond was mined in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) in the Polar Circle. The diamond was discovered at an ore processing plant. The rare diamond’s color is tobacco and has an irregular octahedron shape.

De Beers Plans To Return To Angola In March, March 3, 2003
De Beers and Angolan state diamond miner Endiama decided to extended negotiations until March 12 with the hopes of reaching an agreement, after a moratorium expired on February 28.

Shenzen Show Closes With Mixed Feelings, March 3, 2003
Wednesday saw the kick-off of China’s Shenzen show. While exhibitors are happy with the number of visitors at the show, they report few are placing orders, preferring to comparison shop at the moment and making appointments to speak to potential suppliers at the upcoming Hong Kong Fair.

Anglo American's Profits Rise, March 3, 2003
Strong sales of diamonds and gold helped mining giant Anglo American increase their headline earnings for 2002 by 5 percent to $1.76 billion in 2002.

India to Reduce Import Tax on Polished Diamonds to 5%, March 2, 2003
The Indian diamond industry has welcomed the reduction in import duty on cut and polished diamonds from 15 percent to 5 percent. The reduction is part of this year's budget and is due to come into effect at the start of the financial year, April 2003.

Shtyrov and Kalitin in London to meet with De Beers, February 27, 2003
Vyacheslav Shtyrov, President of the Republic of Yakutia and former head of Alrosa together with Alrosa chief Vladimir Kalitin are in London for three days for a round of talks with De Beers.

Traveling Through A Penny-Driven Roughland, February 27, 2003
Wow… Extra-terrestrial travelers, making a short visit to Mother Earth, will probably think that DTC sightholders are the happiest people on the globe. After picking up a sight of $650 million, they came home to see that they easily could sell off some of their boxes at premiums between 10%-15% - and more.

WTO Waives Free Trade Rules for Kimberley Process, February 27, 2003
The World Trade Organization (WTO) decided yesterday that member countries of the Kimberley Process would be allowed to ban rough originating from non-member countries.

Is Ascorp Losing Its Grip On Angola? February 26, 2003
Ascorp might have lost its exclusive marketing rights in Angola. According to sources in the country, at a recent sales meeting between Ascorp and a local miner, Ascorp informed the miners that it would be their last sale.

Indian Imports and Exports of Rough in January, February 25, 2003
India imported 15,790,000 carats of rough in January worth $587,710,000, an average $37.2 per carat. During the period the polishing center exported 2,830,000 carts of polished worth $651,780,000.

Belgian Senate Commission On DRC Finds No Wrong Doing, February 25, 2003
A year and a half after it started its work, the Belgian Senate commission on the exploitation of natural resources in DRC has found illegal acts were committed by the people and companies investigated.

Consumer Confidence Down Again, February 25, 2003
The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index, an American monthly gauge of US consumers’ confidence in the US economy, has declined in February by 14.8 points to 64.0. The last time the Consumer Confidence Index was lower was in October of 1993.

Four Arrested in Connection with the Antwerp Diamond Robbery, February 25, 2003
The Belgium public prosecutors office has confirmed to IDEX Online that four people were arrested in connection with the Antwerp diamond rubbery last week.

25 Diamond Miners Suffocate in Congo, February 24, 2003
Twenty-five miners died of suffocation in Mbuji-Mayi, Congo when security forces sealed them in a
mineshaft according to the Kinshasa-based African Association for the Defence of Human Rights.

Botswana Dismisses CKGR Mining Reports, February 24, 2003
The government of Botswana has denied that diamond exploration is planned in the Central Kalahari
Game Reserve.

BHP-Billiton Profits Fall In Second Half Of 2002, February 24, 2003
International miner BHP-Billiton reported Monday pre tax earnings of $2,451 million for the six
months ending December 31, 2002, attributable profits of $931 million and earnings per share of
$0.15.

De Beers and Alrosa to Meet with EC Over Trade Agreement, February 23, 2003
Diamond giants De Beers and Alrosa may meet with the European Union Commission in April to discuss their five-year agreement, which the EU has voiced objections to last January.

EC notifies Kimberley Process Chair of Full implementation, February 20, 2003
The European Commission’s External Relations Directorate has notified Kimberley Process Chairman Abby Chikane that the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme has been fully implemented in the European Union as of last Saturday, February 15.

Biggest Mining Companies Support Scorecard, February 20, 2003
South Africa's biggest mining companies have welcomed the mining charter scorecard which will quantify what steps mining companies must take to meet the target of passing of local mine assets into black hands.

DTC Sight Sees Volume Increase, February 20, 2003
The DTC Sight, taking place this week, is keeping the same price levels as during the last Sight. It also seems that the markets expectation for a big Sight in terms of volume have proven true, as initial reports place it at over $600 million.

De Beers welcomes publication of Mining Industry Charter and Scorecard, February 19, 2003
De Beers welcomes the release by Minister Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, of the Broad-based Socio-economic Empowerment Charter and Scorecard for the South African mining industry.

Zale Posts Quarterly Loss Due to Writedown, February 19, 2003
US jewelry retailer Zale Corp. reported a $46 million loss in the second quarter ending January 31 compared with a profit of $95 million a year earlier due to a charge related to Piercing Pagoda.

Belgian Commission to Release Report on DRC Exploitation Today, February 19, 2003
Before the release of a senatorial commission's report on the illegal exploitation of natural resources, including diamonds, from the DRC a group of Belgium NGO's have already been criticizing.

Mayor of Ramat Gan Invites Antwerp Diamantaires To Relocate, February 18, 2003
Tzvi Bar, the mayor of Ramat Gan, Israel, invited Jewish Antwerp rough dealers to move to Israel and join the Israel Diamond Exchange in the city. The mayor was reacting to a recent ruling by a Belgium court.

Alrosa’s Tuimaada Diamond’s sales, February 18, 2003
Tuimaada Diamond’s sales in 2002 are expected to have dropped to $18 million, down from $60.7 million in 2001, and $52.7 million in 2000.

Antwerp Diamond Exchange Break In, February 17, 2003
A break-in to the basement safes of the Diamond Center building in Antwerp took place over the weekend. According to preliminary reports, the break-in was discovered early this morning as people arrived to work.

UK Opens Government Diamond Office, February 16, 2003
This past Thursday, the UK Government Diamond Office began issuing Kimberley Process export certificates making the process fully operational in the European Community, says Joe Butler, Deputy Head of the new office. Trade with non-KP countries is no longer permitted.

ER Doctor To Propose With Fabrikant Ring, February 16, 2003
When Dr. Carter pops the question