30/06/2009 IGI opens India’s first satellite lab in Kerela
The International Gemological Institute (IGI) has established its first satellite gemmological laboratory in Thrissur, Kerala, India to tap the South India market and provide gemmological services to jewellery manufacturers in the region.

29/06/2009 CAC opens gem testing laboratory in HK
Chinese Arts & Crafts (CAC), a department store offering a full spectrum of Chinese-made products in Hong Kong, has established a gem testing laboratory to boost consumer confidence, particularly on natural jadeite jewellery.

29/06/2009 IDE re-elects Avi Paz, votes in a new board
At its biennial elections for the president, board and committee, which took place on June 24, 2009, the members of the Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE) unanimously re-elected the current president Avi Paz, to serve a third and final term at the Exchange. The membership voted in a new board too.

25/06/2009 India sees signs of recovery in gold, diamond imports
While many of the key players in the gem and jewllery industry remain cautious in purchasing given the global economic slowdown, there are some signs of improvement in the imports of gold bars and rough diamonds in India, reported The Financial Express.

25/06/2009 Brides, grooms trim wedding budget in recession
Almost half of the respondents in the Jewelry Consumer Opinion Council’s June Bridal Study conducted from June 10 to 15 said that the overall wedding budget would be about the same as scheduled, while 28 percent revealed that it would be lowered due to the economic recession.

24/06/2009 WFDB Summit to foster ties with Asian members
The World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) is scheduled to hold the 2009 WFDB Asia Summit Meeting on June 29 to engage its affiliated bourses in the Asia-Pacific region - Bangkok, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Singapore, Shanghai and Tokyo - more intensively in the activities of the WFDB.

23/06/2009 Hong Kong Fair introduces new pavilion
The four-day June Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair closed on Sunday with over 1,000 exhibitors from 33 countries and regions taking part. The show covered about 40,000 square metres of exhibition space after the HKCEC completed the expansion project. Nine group pavilions, namely Antwerp, China, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Korea, Singapore, Thailand and the United States, showcased the best of the countries’ offerings.

23/06/2009 Upcoming September HK Fair to be the largest ever
As many expect to see the first signs of global economic recovery in the fourth quarter this year, all eyes will be on the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair, one of the largest jewellery trade fairs in the world.

19/06/2009 UBM to hold new B2C fair in Macau
To tap the rapidly growing China consumer market, UBM plans to bring worldwide jewellery suppliers directly to high-spending end consumers by introducing a new B2C jewellery fair in Macau.

18/06/2009 HK jeweller focuses on niche products
While it is vital to keep pace with the fickle world of fashion by producing what’s trendy and hot in jewellery, a company should not lose sight of the products for which it is known, believes Ricky Lam, managing director of Elegance Jewellery Intl Ltd (EJI).

17/06/2009 Fred Meyer Jewelers joins RJC
Fine jewellery retailer Fred Meyer Jewelers has joined the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), an international trade organisation representing over 100 member companies across all sectors of the diamond and gold supply chain.

16/06/2009 June Hong Kong Fair to go on as scheduled
Despite a spread of Human Swine Influenza (Influenza A H1N1) across the world, the June Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair will be held as scheduled, organiser UBM Asia Ltd said in a press release issued yesterday.

12/06/2009 Spaceship carrying diamond to launch into space
A diamond from the Northwest Territories of Canada will launch into space when Canadian space agency astronaut, Julie Payette, flies aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour on Mission STS-127, scheduled for lift-off on June 13.

12/06/2009 SSEF appoints new director as Prof Hanni retires
Well known gemmologist and mineralogist Dr Henry A Hanni, head of SSEF – the Swiss Gemmological Institute – will retire from his position when Dr Michael S Krzemnicki takes over on June 1 this year.

11/06/2009 Forevermark introduces diamond grading report
Forevermark, a diamond brand from the De Beers Group, has introduced its Forevermark diamond grading report to further complement its promise of quality and integrity.

11/06/2009 JCK sees resilient demand for silver products, rare gems
In a marketplace where buyers have tight purse strings because of the lacklustre economy, there remain certain goods that enjoy strong sales. At the JCK Las Vegas in June, exhibitors observed that among such products were those in the lower price range, rare gemstones, and jewellery with new, interesting designs.

10/06/2009 Israeli official pledges support for diamond sector
A top Israeli bureau official vowed to support fully the local diamond industry in this difficult period.

09/06/2009 Chengdu jewellery market sees signs of recovery
The deadly earthquake on May 12, 2008 caused tremendous loss of life and property in the province of Sichuan.

08/06/2009 International Gem Tower to be completed in 2011
The first construction phase of the International Gem Tower will be completed by the yearend, while the entire project is expected to be finished in 2011, New York City’s Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced at a major press conference fronting the construction site at 50 West 47th Street on May 19.

05/06/2009 Rio Tinto to offer best pink diamonds this autumn
The 25th annual Rio Tinto Argyle Pink Diamond Tender, to be held in Mumbai, Perth and Hong Kong this autumn, will feature 43 of the world’s rarest and best pink diamonds from the Argyle Diamond Mine in Western Australia, including four outstanding heart-shaped gems, said the company.