Take Note

• Dominion Diamond Corporation elected seven nominees to its board of directors during a special vote held at the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting in Yellowknife, Canada on July 19. The list of directors includes: Graham Clow, chairman of the board of Roscoe Postle Associates Inc.; Robert Gannicott, the CEO and chairman of the board of Dominion Diamond; Noel Harwerth, former chief operating officer of Citibank International PLC; Daniel Jarvis, vice chair and chief financial officer of Concert Properties Ltd.; Tom Kenny, chairman of the board of RTL Westcan Group of Companies; Manuel Lino Silva de Sousa-Oliveira, corporate finance director and director of De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd. and Chuck Strahl, director of Canada’s Manning Centre for Building Democracy and chair of the Security Intelligence Review Committee of Parliament.

• Frederick Goldman Inc. appointed Michele Dowling Johnson as its new chief marketing officer. Prior to joining Frederick Goldman, Dowling Johnson held various senior level positions in marketing, strategy and brand management at L’Oreal and Revlon as well as King and Balducci’s Food Markets.

• HRD Antwerp will launch its Synthetic Diamond Certificate service effective September 2, 2013. In its release, HRD Antwerp explained that the certificate will be issued if a diamond is found to be synthetic after testing. In accordance with the International Diamond Council (IDC) rules, the certificate looks different than the standard certificate and states “Synthetic Diamond Certificate” on the cover. Each synthetic diamond is laser inscribed synthetic and the presence of the laser inscription is noted on the certificate, with a statement that the diamond has been lab grown.

• The Diamond Council of America (DCA) was re-accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), continuing the status that it has held since 1984. The company noted that it created a new membership category, added courses to the curriculum and moved to online delivery since its last review.

• Joseph M. Menzie was given a “Lifetime Achievement” award by the International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA) at the organization’s biennial congress in Changsha, China in May. Menzie, who began his career at his grandfather’s company, Charles F. Winson, received the recognition for making significant contributions toward developing the global gemstone industry. Menzie served for 16 years on ICA’s board of directors, including as vice president and two terms as president from 2003 to 2007. During his tenure, ICA expanded its reach into emerging consumer markets such as Russia and Korea, launched initiatives in China in 2003 and spearheaded social responsibility initiatives in South America and Africa.

• CIBJO is currently preparing a corporate social responsibility (CSR) educational program for the jewelry sector in conjunction with Fiera di Vicenza. CIBJO president Gaetano Cavalieri announced the proposed program at a meeting of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in Geneva. The proposed CIBJO-Fiera di Vicenza program will be presented at UN headquarters in the fall and will be offered worldwide to promote the industry’s involvement in sustainable development.

• Element Six plans to open its consolidated synthetic diamond research and development facility at the Global Innovation Center (GIC) at Harwell, near Oxford in the U.K. The facility is expected to employ more than 100 scientists and technologists. The complex will develop a pipeline of innovative synthetic diamond and related supermaterial products for Element Six’s customers in industries from oil and gas drilling to precision machining and electronics.

• BVC Group Logistics entered into a strategic partnership with Brinks India to provide what the company described as “seamless service” throughout India and internationally for the gems and jewelry sector. BVC Group, a diamond and jewelry supply chain management company, will handle pan-India diamond and jewelry exports and imports for Brinks India. BVC stated that it now handles more than 45 percent of the international trade of gems and jewelry in India.

• Hari Krishna Exports celebrated its 21st anniversary on July 2, 2013. Started in 1992, the company now employs more than 5,000 people.

• Gitanjali Gems Ltd. of Mumbai, India received approval from the Office of The Trade Marks Registry on the trademark “GITANJALI (1909000).” Gitanjali Gems filed for the trademark on January 14, 2010 and it has been in use since August 21, 1986. The trademark comes under Class 16, which covers paper goods, stationery, artists’ materials and office supplies, among other categories. 

• The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued the following trademark terms:

• “Preferred Jewelers International” to Continental Buying Group Inc. of Florida on June 25 with registration number 4357384. Preferred Jewelers International consists of the stylized word “Preferred,” a seven-point star adjacent the top left of the “d” in “Preferred” and the block-letter wording “JEWELERS INTERNATIONAL” below the word “Preferred.” The trademark primarily relates to promoting the interests and businesses of vendors of quality diamonds and diamond jewelry.
• “Vanilla Diamonds” to diamond and jewelry manufacturer Le Vian Corporation on June 25 with registration number 4361484. The trademark applies to all types of fine jewelry, diamonds and watches.
• “The Juliet Cut Diamond” to JCB Creations Inc. of New York on July 2 with registration number 4361740. The description of the trademark does not claim color as a feature, but consists of “The Juliet Cut” stylized wording over the word “DIAMOND.” The trademark applies to cut diamonds.
• “The Original Push Gift” to the Merit Diamond Corporation of Florida on July 2 with registration number 4362527. It applies to jewelry, usually intended for a new mother.
• “Ten Table Diamond” on July 9 to diamond brand Hearts On Fire Company LLC of Boston with registration number 4363086. The trademark Ten Table Diamond refers to diamond jewelry, jewelry and precious gemstones.
• “The Fifth C Is For Conflict Free” on July 9 to Market Street Diamonds Inc. of Washington D.C., with registration number 4365487. The trademark refers to diamond jewelry.
• “Diamond Inside” to Shrenuj USA on July 16 with the registration number 4369260. The trademark applies to jewelry containing diamonds, namely maternity jewelry and jewelry for expectant mothers.

• The Birmingham Assay Office in the U.K. created a new one-day training course titled “Understanding Watches” to provide an in-depth understanding of the technical aspects and benefits of different types of watches. The course will be held on September 18, October 23 and November 12. The course fee is $295 (GBP 195) plus VAT with a maximum of six delegates per course. It provides six hours of continuing professional development (CPD) activity.

• The Diamond Development Initiative (DDI) announced that jewelry designer Todd Reed has again donated at the Millennium Star level. Todd Reed launched his company in 1992 and designs fine jewelry using raw, uncut diamonds and recycled metals.

• Applications are being accepted to the sixth annual Centurion Emerging Design Competition now through September 13, 2013. Sponsored again by Stuller, it is open to any jewelry designer who has never before exhibited at a U.S. fine jewelry trade show. The competition is open to all designers, regardless of experience, formal training or background in jewelry design, but entrants must show lines or one-of-a-kind designs that are suitable for a luxury jewelry store environment and be capable of both exhibiting at a trade show and fulfilling any wholesale orders received at the show. Two winners will receive a showcase and exhibit space at the Centurion Scottsdale show in Arizona, slated for February 1 to 5, 2014.
   For more information and to access the entry form, go to: http://www.h2consult.com/Centurion_2014_Emerging_Designers_Form.pdf.

Article from the Rapaport Magazine - August 2013. To subscribe click here.