The event will take place over 12 – 14 October at the new Grand Hyatt in Bogotá, Columbia, and will host delegates from 25 countries to discuss the state of the emerald mining industry and gemmological studies of the gemstone.

Representatives from Afghanistan, Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Pakistan, Russia and Zambia, will be in attendance on behalf of the top eight emerald-producing countries.

Organised by Fedesmeraldas, the Colombian Emerald Federation, the event will host more than 60 guest speakers in seminars to address challenges within the industry. They will cover topics ranging from laboratory testing, consumer education and awareness, corporate social responsibility, traceability, compliance, ethics and sustainability.

Representatives from luxury brands including Van Cleef & Arpels will also be at the event along with associations including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), Dubai Multi-Commodities Center (DMCC).

Gemological Institute of America’s education manager of field gemology Andrew Lucas said the 2015 event was successful in providing delegates with a wealth of knowledge in the emerald sector.

“There was a strong emphasis on the future and a cooperative effort that would benefit the entire emerald industry. The speakers were from source, manufacturing, and consuming countries, representing all levels of the value chain,” he said.

The world’s major trade associations will also be in attendance, including the International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA), World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO), Thai Gem & Jewelry Traders Association (TGJTA), China’s National Gemstone Testing Center (NGTC), Gemstone Association of China (GAC), India’s Gem and Jewellery Export Council (GJEPC), and many more. Leading gemmological laboratories will also be represented.

More reading
Rockefeller emerald sets world auction record
Understanding inclusions: part 3 emerald
The gem detective: green gemstones
New deal improves local emerald supply
 

IJF organiser Expertise Events has invited retailers and suppliers to donate dry rations and other relief for farmers affected by the drought in regional NSW. 

A collection point has been set up for non-perishable food items such as tea, coffee, long life milk, canned food, dried pasta and sauces, bottled water and personal hygiene products. The call is also out for pet food. 

Show organisers Gary Fitz-Roy and Judy Newman said the relief effort commenced at Expertise Events’ Stitches and Craft Show in Newcastle and was “a huge success.”

“So far we have delivered supplies to Muswellbrook and Merriwa, and for the next drop over the Father’s Day weekend, we plan to go even further afield, aiming to make it a happy weekend for farming families,” Fitz-Roy said.

The drop-off zone will be open during the IJF from 9:30am – 6pm on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 August and 9:30am – 3pm on Monday 27 August.

“We hope the industry can join us in helping farmers in need by providing whatever you can,” Fitz-Roy added.

As previously reported, the IJF will open this Saturday at the International Convention Centre, with more than 170 exhibitors showcasing their products.

Indeed, many new brands will be launched including three from Duraflex Group Australia and one in partnership with Nationwide Jewellers.

A number of international exhibitors will also be in attendance for the event, including companies from the US, India, Hong Kong and the UK.

A wide range of seminars, hosted by Expertise Events, is on the cards.

Lab grown versus natural

Saturday at 3:00pm, ALTR Created Diamonds president Amish Shah will join Gem Studies Laboratory owner Bill Sechos for an in-depth discussion about the evolution of synthetic diamond technology with questions open to the audience in Lab Grown Vs Natural – The Diamond Shift.

The panel will discuss the creation of synthetic diamonds and how they can be customised and valued. It is sure to be an informative discussion for those who are looking to add synthetics to their store.

Rent is killing my business!

On Sunday at 8:30am, Phillip Chapman, the chairman of Lease1, will join Joshua Zarb, the general manager of Leading Edge Group Jewellers for a panel tackling the issue of ever-rising rental costs.

The pair will discuss how retailers can look to stay afloat during the ebbs and flows of business while ensuring the cost of premium location and real estate doesn’t drag down their income.

Zarb and Chapman will also share their forecasts of future rental trends and share advice on how to negotiate a better deal with a landlord, or strategise to break or change existing leases.

Branded versus non-branded

Editor of Better Homes and Gardens, Julia Zaetta has 38 years’ experience in publishing and has worked across print, digital, television and radio throughout her career.

In Branded Vs Non-branded – A Consumer View, Zaetta discusses the change and evolution of consumer buying habits, be it the desire for branded items,  ‘unique’ products, or cost-driven purchases.

Zaetta’s insights will offer both suppliers and retailers a glimpse into consumer shifts, emerging habits or buying changes, and will provide sound advice on how to capitalise on them.

Independent Retailers Conference

Also hosting a number of informative on-floor sessions with guest speakers spanning across the three days, the Independent Retailers Conference covers everything from how to recycle precious scrap metals, to gemstone histories:
• Using social media to market your business
Sylvia Huang, Founder of The Social Potatoes. 10:30am, daily.
• Using customer interactions to achieve incremental revenue increases
Nick Miller, vice-president and sales leader of Podium. 11:30am, daily.
• What to do with your scrap metals
Christopher Botha, operations manager, Pallion. 12:30pm, daily.
• Presented by the Gemological Association of Australia
Saturday 25 August, 1:30pm – Tony Smallwood
Sunday 26 August, 1:30pm – detection of synthetic diamonds
Monday 27 August 1:30pm – Kathryn Wyatt

More reading
Buying group news for 2018 International Jewellery Fair
Guide to the 2018 International Jewellery Fair
At the show: new equipment, tools and services
International Jewellery Fair 2018 – Show and Tell
 

Wills announced she would cease the operation of her jewellery business as of January 2019 in a statement made on her Instagram account.

She started the company from home when she was 22, and said it was with a “heavy heart” that she would “end this chapter of the brand”. Since its inception in 2004, the brand has been distributed widely both online and in department stores, with David Jones and The Iconic among the company’s retailers in recent years.

Wills claimed loss of revenue was not the cause for the company’s forthcoming closure and stressed: “Yes, we are profitable and yes, we are considered successful, but walking away is what I need to do to be creative again with integrity, passion and energy”.

The press release stated that Wills would focus her time on Samantha Wills Foundation to “support young entrepreneurs, as much about the ins and outs of start-up business as well as being brave enough to make decisions with integrity, truth of heart, kindness and authenticity.”

Wills started creating her handcrafted pieces in her kitchen and the jewellery was sold at Bondi markets. Eventually, the collection gained worldwide recognition and was featured in fashion columns of influential newspapers, including the New York Times.

The Samantha Wills website and Facebook page don’t accommodate comments or customer reviews of her jewellery. However, a review available on productreview.com gave a one star rating and complained that they received a poor product and were not given a refund upon request.

“When the necklace arrived, it didn’t sit properly and bunched up near the pendant; it also didn’t look as nice in real life. I applied for a refund and they said they would credit my account,” the user stated.

“I returned the necklace and received an email that they had given me a credit to their Brand Exclusive website. I didn’t want a credit and contacted customer service to be told that a credit to my account meant to my Brands Exclusive account. I am so annoyed I will never shop with them again.”

While Wills’ statement stressed that the company was not closing due to financial factors, when Jeweller contacted the company for further information, no response was received.

More reading
Australian Samantha Wills talks life as a jewellery designer, Luxury watch brands welcome Apple Watch, Christie’s accused of selling stolen diamond
Michael Hill closes remaining Emma & Roe stores
Diva jewellery chain in liquidation?
Michael Hill to close Emma & Roe stores
 

Nationwide Jewellers has partnered with the diamond manufacturer that announced it is the “first diamond brand to offer a Nationwide Standard & Transparent Price List” promising its customers transparency and value.

Diamond Solitaires has also launched a new mobile phone application that both retailers and consumers can use to verify and track a diamond from the mine to the bricks-and-mortar, as well as keeping an up-to-date valuation of the diamond.

Nationwide Jewellers managing director Colin Pocklington said the new app would benefit the buying group’s members who would be able to access a digital certificate of authenticity and inscriptions, which would also be available to consumers for valuation.

“The application is intended for consumer use so that consumers can purchase a diamond, and in a year or five years down the track, they can see how much their diamond is worth. At any moment they can see how their diamond has increased in value. The app is updated every month,” he said.

Pocklington said he hoped the software would give customers a “sense of confidence” in purchasing diamonds in the future.

All solitaires are checked on 123 parameters including brilliance, fire, scintillation, overtones, fluorescence and lustre. A diamond must pass each of the parameters to be included in the collection. According to Divine Solitaires, the average international laboratory checks diamonds against an average of 40 parameters. The additional 83 are used to ensure only the highest quality of gemstones are included.

“Consumers know their diamond will be different to any other diamond given how it is measured on the 123 parameters and they can keep a record of its value, which will also give them confidence if they choose to trade it in for another diamond some time down the track,” Pocklington said.

“The list of parameters covers the most major factors in terms of appearance and quality of the diamond. They aren’t usually covered in diamond certificates and it will make a difference to the diamonds they stock.”

Nationwide Jewellers will have the stockist kit with marketing material, catalogues, and application information, along with a large range of the diamonds on display this weekend at the IJF.

“We already have four members who have started stocking Divine Solitaires and we expect others will join them very soon,” Pocklington said.

SNEAK PREVIEW OF CONSUMER-BASED APP

WATCH VIDEO

More reading
TW Steel watches extends motorsport deal
Lili Diamonds paves way for patented fancy cuts
Buying Groups news for 2018 International Jewellery Fair
Why buying groups are still important
 

The licensing partnership with diamond cutter Mike Botha will consist of eight patented diamond shapes: the Sirius Star 80 Round, Sirius Star 100 Round, Sirius Star Cushion, Sirius Star Cushion 100, Sirius Star Square, Sirius Star Octagon, Sirius Star 88 Round and Sirius Star Oval.

Upon signing the agreement, Botha said: “This is a tremendous milestone for the Sirius Star brand as Dharmanandan has the depth of expertise and global reach to carry the brand in adequate inventory in all the sizes and clarity necessary for successful distribution.”

The cuts are marketed to offer “additional light performance compared to a round brilliant cut and address the retailer’s issue of shrinking profit margins.”

The Sirius Star 80 is said to feature greater scintillation and increased light return, improved brilliance and higher visual appeal than various other round cuts. Its 80 inclined facets include an eight-pointed star pattern in the pavilion with 100 per cent light return while the Sirius Star 100 features a 10-pointed version.

DDPL director Sandip Patel said the range would offer retailers a point of differentiation in the market and would provide their customers a product of both “visual beauty and light performance.”

“This exceptional line-up for proprietary shapes gives us an opportunity to transform how we scale our business in the Special Cut segment, allowing us to reach more people around the world faster, while also enhancing the experience we offer to our customers,” he said.

Botha counts almost 50 years in the diamond industry. His career that began in South Africa has taken him to Russia and Canada where he worked across certification programs, consultancy and education with leading diamantaires.

The collection, which is now available to Australian and New Zealand retailers, is named after the Sirius Star, the brightest star in the sky. It will be the latest addition to Dharmanandan Diamonds’ manufacturing of over half a million carats a year.

WATCH VIDEO

More reading
Lili Diamonds paves way for patented fancy cuts
Sams Group takes on Samsung smartwatches in new deal
Duraflex secures TW Steel distribution
Diamond definition amended to include synthetics