RAPAPORT... Isabella Rossellini is the face for the new “Made in Italy” ad campaign by the Italian Trade Commission (ICE), promoting Italian jewelry, fashion, interior design and automotive goods. The campaign launched in the U.S. in February. Ads are slated to appear in Harper’s Bazaar, Town & Country, Esquire, W, Architectural Digest, Fashion Wire Daily and on local television in New York, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Dallas and Miami. Radio stations 1010 WINS in New York and KFI in Los Angeles will also air the ads. As an ambassador for Italian style, Rossellini appears with the taglines “Let yourself be charmed by an Italian” and “Made in Italy, the definition of elegance.” The U.S. became one of the largest markets for luxury goods when Italy began exporting there in the 1950s, ICE stated.
A. Jaffe Jewelry reported the launch of a new advertising campaign, retail training program and customer service approach. Executive vice president Jim Grohn hired Kate Peterson, the president of Performance Concepts, as an independent consultant and the firm Kinney + Kinsella to create a new brand image for the company. Later in the year, LGI Network will work to improve the jeweler’s forecasting and production processes. A. Jaffe will also offer an updated range of bridal and fashion jewelry.
BRAND sense author Martin Lindstrom and Blink author Malcolm Gladwell will be keynote speakers at the American Gem Society’s (AGS) International Conclave 2008, scheduled from April 9 to 12 at the Sheraton Seattle.
Lindstrom, a columnist for Advertising Age and the author of four books on branding, will speak about his unique take on Return on Investment (ROI)—specifically, how to build, maintain and strengthen a brand’s market share.
Gladwell, twice named one of Time magazine’s “Most Influential People,” is slated for a presentation called “The Tipping Point,” based on the philosophy of his debut bestselling book of the same name. For more information or to register, contact Wendy Stevenson at conclave08@ags.org or 866.805.6500, ext. 1018.
The Board of Allied Gold appointed Richard Lewis Johnson, chief executive officer (CEO) of the company, as the new managing director. He is also currently serving as director of Karnataka Gold Mining NL and Manzilake Pty Ltd. He previously served as director of several companies, including Emperor Mines Limited, DRDGOLD Limited, Anvil Mining NL and Tolukuma Gold Mine Png.
The Russian government forwarded its nominations for representation on the 15-member ALROSA board, which will hold elections later this year. The list included Alexei Kudrin, Russia’s deputy prime minister and finance minister, who currently serves as chairman of ALROSA, and Sergei Samoilov, presidential aide, according to Interfax. The nominations came on the same day presidential candidate Dmitry Medvedev stated that fewer government officials should serve on the boards of state-controlled companies, Interfax reported.
The Canadian Jewellers Association (CJA) pledged $10,000 to the new Education Fund set up by the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) in cooperation with the United Nations. The fund was created in November 2007 to promote projects in which the jewelry industry serves as a facilitator for sustainable economic and social development.
The Diamond Development Initiative (DDI) announced the appointment of Dorothée Gizenga as the organization’s first executive director. Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Gizenga is a Canadian who has worked extensively with community organizations in Canada and Africa. Most recently, she worked with Partnership Africa Canada (PAC), an international non-governmental organization (NGO). There she implemented projects related to the Kimberley Process and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region of Africa. She also took part in the creation and development of DDI. Gizenga holds degrees in chemistry and economics and speaks English, French, Portuguese and Russian. DDI is a nonprofit charitable organization that brings NGOs, governments and the private sector together to help diamonds become an engine for African development and address the poverty of artisanal diamond diggers.
Software company eDiamondselect hired David Norman to lead its sales and marketing effort. Mr. Norman previously held executive positions at several large U.S. jewelry chains, independent guild stores and an e-commerce site. Most recently, he worked as an industry consultant.
Gem Diamonds appointed Alistair Croll as managing director of its recently acquired Kimberley Diamond Company. Croll began his career at De Beers, where he held a number of positions, including operational, project, technical and senior management roles at several of De Beers’ alluvial, open-cut and underground operations. Gem’s first tender of diamonds from Kimberly Diamond Company’s Ellendale mine yielded $14 million from 63,500 carats.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) appointed Marie-Josée Trépanier as managing director of southern Africa. Trépanier is responsible for on-site project management, in-country guidance for new facilities and support functions for South Africa, Botswana and future projects. She will also oversee various business development projects. As chief executive officer (CEO) for Polygon in Dubai, Trépanier expanded the company’s presence in Dubai, Mumbai, Hong Kong and China and coordinated all operations in the Middle East, Asia and North America.
GIA also opened a new laboratory in Johannesburg, South Africa, that will accept any size diamond, colored stone or pearl from GIA clients in the region. For any service other than the Diamond Dossier report, items can be delivered to the lab and GIA will send them to one of its other laboratories. Leslie Milner, director of the GIA Laboratory in Johannesburg, will lead the team of diamond graders. GIA began its work in Johannesburg in August 2007, when the company announced that it would absorb the laboratory operations of the Jewelry Council of South Africa.
Gold Star Jewellery named Michael Lerche president and chief operating officer (COO) of their U.S. division. The 30-year industry veteran worked his way up from the position of sorter to executive vice president of the Star Diamond Group. After joining the group’s board, Lerche formed Gold Star Jewellery in 2004.
The Israel Diamond Institute (IDI) unveiled the League of Honor Award at the Third International Rough Diamond Conference in Tel Aviv to honor heads of state who promote cooperation between nations and the Israeli diamond industry. The award was presented to Samuel Sam-Somana, the vice president of Sierra Leone, Ponatshego Kedikilwe, the Botswana minister of minerals, energy and water resources, Erkki Nghimtina, the Namibia minister of mines and energy and Eugene Shannon, the Liberia minister of lands, mines and energy.
The International Gemological Institute (IGI) opened its 12th laboratory — and its fourth in India — in New Delhi. Until the launch of this 3,000-square-foot lab, IGI had been serving New Delhi with its mobile lab. The day after the launch event, which was attended by 160 jewelers, more than 300 gemstones and articles of jewelry had been submitted.
The Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC) appointed Darin Kath, chief executive officer (CEO) of Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company, to its board of directors at JVC’s annual luncheon meeting. Kath also serves on the board of directors of the American Gem Society, the Jewelers Board of Trade, the American Association of Insurance Services (AAIS), the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) and the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce. At the meeting, JVC also honored Ron Harder, the recently retired CEO of Jewelers Mutual, with the JVC’s Stanley Schechter Award for service to the industry.
The Natural Color Diamond Association (NCDIA) and marketing research firm Nielsen have partnered to launch a demographics program called MarketScope. The program will provide members the opportunity to contact new customers culled from Nielsen data, NCDIA announced at the Centurion Jewelry Show in Tucson. Retail members can use the program to target probable buyers within miles or blocks of their stores. Suppliers and manufacturers will be able to identify retailers that are most likely to sell natural color diamond products, based on consumer demand demographics.
Vaaldiam Resources announced Frances Kwong as its new chief financial officer (CFO), replacing Robert Yeoman, who retired. Kwong left his position as controller, and David Shimoda was appointed the new controller.
The Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) accepted Vaaldiam’s intention to purchase approximately 5 percent of its own stock over the next 12 months. In a company release, Vaaldiam stated that it believes the shares represent an attractive investment for the firm. With two alluvial diamond mines in Brazil, Vaaldiam is South America’s largest diamond producer.
The World Gemological Institute (WGI) named Barak Green vice president of strategy and development for the United States. Green previously worked for the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), where he was a member of the team that developed GIA’s new diamond cut grading system. He provided presentations and educational seminars to members of the trade at industry events around the world, in addition to helping to create educational materials in various formats.
Green stated that WGI is beginning a new phase of expansion, and that he plans to meet with as many retailers as possible in the coming months, both through public presentations and private meetings.
The Federation of Belgian Diamond Bourses is seeking information on ten large diamonds stolen February 7. The stones range in size from 2.75 carats to 5.02 carats. Anyone who comes across the diamonds or who can provide information is urged to contact the Federation of Belgian Diamond Bourses at fdbd@skynet.be.
Harry Rodman, an icon in the jewelry and diamond business, passed away on February 24 at the age of 99. Rodman built Rodman and Yaruss Gold Refiners, one of the most successful gold refining companies in New York, over a 50-year period. He retired after selling his business in 1986. At that time, he formed Aurora Gems, Inc. with his protegée and future stepson Alan Bronstein. Together they went on to create the Aurora Collection and the Aurora Butterfly of Peace.
Article from the Rapaport Magazine - March 2008. To subscribe click here.