Russia’s Alrosa seeks to brighten up its fluorescent diamond sales

Russia’s Alrosa is talking to several global jewelery retailers about jointly marketing the miner’s jewelery brand that uses fluorescent diamonds, as it strives to create a new niche for the natural stones.

Diamond miners, which have long excelled at marketing, are seeking new approaches to battle falling demand and competition from diamonds manufactured in laboratories.

“We are completing talks with several major companies in different regions,” Alrosa Chief Executive Sergei Ivanov told Reuters.

Alrosa, which now sells these diamonds mixed with others in “lots”, expects the retailers to start offering its fluorescent stones in a year under the brand “Luminous Diamonds”, which it has recently created, in separate corners of their stores.

The aim is to create a new market for stones with fluorescence, often a blueish glow visible under light, that are still considered by many traders as being of lower quality.

Global demand for all types of diamonds has been hit by a trade war between the United States and China, the world’s two biggest diamond markets. Prices for smaller stones have fallen as deliberate output reductions have yet to remove oversupply. Alrosa and its competitors, chiefly Anglo American’s (AAL.L) De Beers, are betting on a “value over volume” strategy. Alrosa expects to produce 38.5 million carats in 2019 but will sell only 32 million to 33 million carats, stockpiling the rest until better days.

Alrosa does not disclose the names of the retailers it is talking to but says it has no plans to start its own retail business. Product sales will be organized by retailers via their own distribution chains.

“Our aim is to supply fluorescent polished diamonds – cut by Alrosa or its clients – to retailers and provide marketing support, including jewelery design if needed,” Ivanov said.

FLUORESCENT ADOLESCENT
Fluorescence, a bluish glow produced by ultraviolet rays from a lamp or the sun, is a characteristic of 25% to 35% of diamonds, according to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). It is not bad for the precious stone, according to GIA, and it is not a grading factor like the traditional 4Cs — color, clarity, cut and carat weight — used to determine quality.

About half of all diamonds produced globally have some fluorescence, while 3% to 10% have strong fluorescence, Ivanov said.

But such diamonds are more difficult to sell as many traders now consider stones with more fluorescence as lower quality, so they often trade at a 25% to 45% discount, even though they could demand a premium several decades ago, he said.

With global annual rough diamond sales of $15 billion and diamond jewelery demand at $85 billion, any new marketing niche is attractive for the entire supply chain.

Diamond industry players have long been betting on “millennial”, born between the early 1980s and early 2000s, and “generation Z”, born from the mid-1990s to early 2000s, as drivers of growth in jewelery demand as their spending power rises.

Alrosa aims to woo this generation with florescent stones.

Recent research conducted by a consulting company for Alrosa in the United States and China showed millennial liked the stones for their unusual quality in jewelery, Ivanov said.

Alrosa fluorescence diamond daylight and black-light

“We saw that it can become a fashionable product and interesting for these young people,” he said.

The same research also showed positive results among women, so the “Luminous Diamonds” brand sought to appeal to women’s independence and purchasing power, which was rising in the United States, China and India, the CEO added.

“It will be a special line. A diamond which glows in a night club, in a theater or even in the rays of sun,” Ivanov said. “We see this demand in opinion polls and are sure that we will convert it into sales.”

Source: DCLA

Russia’s Alrosa seeks to brighten up its fluorescent diamond sales

Russia’s Alrosa is talking to several global jewelery retailers about jointly marketing the miner’s jewelery brand that uses fluorescent diamonds, as it strives to create a new niche for the natural stones.

Diamond miners, which have long excelled at marketing, are seeking new approaches to battle falling demand and competition from diamonds manufactured in laboratories.

“We are completing talks with several major companies in different regions,” Alrosa Chief Executive Sergei Ivanov told Reuters.

Alrosa, which now sells these diamonds mixed with others in “lots”, expects the retailers to start offering its fluorescent stones in a year under the brand “Luminous Diamonds”, which it has recently created, in separate corners of their stores.

The aim is to create a new market for stones with fluorescence, often a blueish glow visible under light, that are still considered by many traders as being of lower quality.

Global demand for all types of diamonds has been hit by a trade war between the United States and China, the world’s two biggest diamond markets. Prices for smaller stones have fallen as deliberate output reductions have yet to remove oversupply. Alrosa and its competitors, chiefly Anglo American’s (AAL.L) De Beers, are betting on a “value over volume” strategy. Alrosa expects to produce 38.5 million carats in 2019 but will sell only 32 million to 33 million carats, stockpiling the rest until better days.

Alrosa does not disclose the names of the retailers it is talking to but says it has no plans to start its own retail business. Product sales will be organized by retailers via their own distribution chains.

“Our aim is to supply fluorescent polished diamonds – cut by Alrosa or its clients – to retailers and provide marketing support, including jewelery design if needed,” Ivanov said.

FLUORESCENT ADOLESCENT
Fluorescence, a bluish glow produced by ultraviolet rays from a lamp or the sun, is a characteristic of 25% to 35% of diamonds, according to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). It is not bad for the precious stone, according to GIA, and it is not a grading factor like the traditional 4Cs — color, clarity, cut and carat weight — used to determine quality.

About half of all diamonds produced globally have some fluorescence, while 3% to 10% have strong fluorescence, Ivanov said.

But such diamonds are more difficult to sell as many traders now consider stones with more fluorescence as lower quality, so they often trade at a 25% to 45% discount, even though they could demand a premium several decades ago, he said.

With global annual rough diamond sales of $15 billion and diamond jewelery demand at $85 billion, any new marketing niche is attractive for the entire supply chain.

Diamond industry players have long been betting on “millennial”, born between the early 1980s and early 2000s, and “generation Z”, born from the mid-1990s to early 2000s, as drivers of growth in jewelery demand as their spending power rises.

Alrosa aims to woo this generation with florescent stones.

Recent research conducted by a consulting company for Alrosa in the United States and China showed millennial liked the stones for their unusual quality in jewelery, Ivanov said.

Alrosa fluorescence diamond daylight and black-light

“We saw that it can become a fashionable product and interesting for these young people,” he said.

The same research also showed positive results among women, so the “Luminous Diamonds” brand sought to appeal to women’s independence and purchasing power, which was rising in the United States, China and India, the CEO added.

“It will be a special line. A diamond which glows in a night club, in a theater or even in the rays of sun,” Ivanov said. “We see this demand in opinion polls and are sure that we will convert it into sales.”

Source: DCLA

$1.2M for Van Cleef Ring Target At Bonhams

Bonhams will spotlight a 2.17 carat Van Cleef & Arpels blue diamond ring at its upcoming sale, estimating it will fetch $800,000 to $1.2 million USD.

The emerald cut, fancy intense blue, VVS2 clarity diamond is accented by round brilliant cut diamonds. The piece, from a private collection, will lead the September 26 New York Jewels auction.

Other pieces from the Van Cleef collection include an oval shaped, 21.56 carat Burmese sapphire ring flanked by diamonds, valued at $250,000 to $350,000. An emerald cut, 6.09 carat, fancy vivid yellow diamond ring, surrounded by white diamonds, is estimated at $140,000 to $180,000.

The sale will also feature a round brilliant cut, 11.11 carat, E color, VS2 clarity diamond, which is expected to go under the hammer for $250,000 to $450,000. A 24.64 carat, fancy yellow diamond ring, centered between two white diamonds, is valued at $270,000 to $370,000, while a cushion shaped, modified brilliant cut, fancy deep pink diamond ring weighing 2.42 carats carries an estimate of $200,000 to $300,000.

Several Art Deco pieces, including two items from the estate of German silent-film actor Joseph Schildkraut, will also be up for auction.

Bonhams will hold an exhibition tour of the pieces in Los Angeles, Hong Kong and New York prior to the sale.

Source: DCLA

$1.2M for Van Cleef Ring Target At Bonhams

Bonhams will spotlight a 2.17 carat Van Cleef & Arpels blue diamond ring at its upcoming sale, estimating it will fetch $800,000 to $1.2 million USD.

The emerald cut, fancy intense blue, VVS2 clarity diamond is accented by round brilliant cut diamonds. The piece, from a private collection, will lead the September 26 New York Jewels auction.

Other pieces from the Van Cleef collection include an oval shaped, 21.56 carat Burmese sapphire ring flanked by diamonds, valued at $250,000 to $350,000. An emerald cut, 6.09 carat, fancy vivid yellow diamond ring, surrounded by white diamonds, is estimated at $140,000 to $180,000.

The sale will also feature a round brilliant cut, 11.11 carat, E color, VS2 clarity diamond, which is expected to go under the hammer for $250,000 to $450,000. A 24.64 carat, fancy yellow diamond ring, centered between two white diamonds, is valued at $270,000 to $370,000, while a cushion shaped, modified brilliant cut, fancy deep pink diamond ring weighing 2.42 carats carries an estimate of $200,000 to $300,000.

Several Art Deco pieces, including two items from the estate of German silent-film actor Joseph Schildkraut, will also be up for auction.

Bonhams will hold an exhibition tour of the pieces in Los Angeles, Hong Kong and New York prior to the sale.

Source: DCLA

In Madhya Pradesh, labourer digs up 2 diamonds in one week

A labourer in Bundelkhand region turned second time lucky when he got another diamond within a week in a piece of land he took on lease from the district administration in Panna district. The value of the diamond is estimated at about Rs 20 lakh, a mineral resources department official said.

The lessee, Kishor Kushwaha, a resident of Sarkoha village got the diamond of 5.69 carat in a field in the area in Panna district. He deposited it with the mineral resources department office on Saturday, said Panna diamond office authority Anupam Singh.

Panna district, 413 km north east of Bhopal in Bundelkhand region, has the only diamond producing mine in the country, which is under operation, as per the department officials.

Panna diamond office authority Anupam Singh said, “The diamond that the lessee has found may get him about Rs 20 lakh on its auction. Earlier, the same person got a diamond of 4.4 carat about a week back, which was, however, of better quality and was valued about at Rs 20 to Rs 25 lakh. The lessee was assisted by three others in his work.”

The labourer got the piece of land on lease on March 1, 2019 and the lease period will expire on December 31, 2019. “It rarely happens when a person gets another diamond twice within a week or so,” he said.

Talking to the media Kishor said, “I am extremely happy that Mother Earth blessed me with this gift of diamonds. I make both ends meet by doing labour work. I will share whatever money I get with my partners Ajay Singh, Mahadev Kushwaha, Purshotam Lal and Vimal who also put in hard labour.”

He said he wanted to spend the money on education of his children.

Source: DCLA

In Madhya Pradesh, labourer digs up 2 diamonds in one week

A labourer in Bundelkhand region turned second time lucky when he got another diamond within a week in a piece of land he took on lease from the district administration in Panna district. The value of the diamond is estimated at about Rs 20 lakh, a mineral resources department official said.

The lessee, Kishor Kushwaha, a resident of Sarkoha village got the diamond of 5.69 carat in a field in the area in Panna district. He deposited it with the mineral resources department office on Saturday, said Panna diamond office authority Anupam Singh.

Panna district, 413 km north east of Bhopal in Bundelkhand region, has the only diamond producing mine in the country, which is under operation, as per the department officials.

Panna diamond office authority Anupam Singh said, “The diamond that the lessee has found may get him about Rs 20 lakh on its auction. Earlier, the same person got a diamond of 4.4 carat about a week back, which was, however, of better quality and was valued about at Rs 20 to Rs 25 lakh. The lessee was assisted by three others in his work.”

The labourer got the piece of land on lease on March 1, 2019 and the lease period will expire on December 31, 2019. “It rarely happens when a person gets another diamond twice within a week or so,” he said.

Talking to the media Kishor said, “I am extremely happy that Mother Earth blessed me with this gift of diamonds. I make both ends meet by doing labour work. I will share whatever money I get with my partners Ajay Singh, Mahadev Kushwaha, Purshotam Lal and Vimal who also put in hard labour.”

He said he wanted to spend the money on education of his children.

Source: DCLA

Lagos Unveils Second Set Of Apple Watch Jewelry Bracelets

Almost a year after the successful launch of its first fine jewelry bracelets for the Apple Watch, the Lagos jewelry brand introduced the second generation of its Smart Caviar collection, designed specifically for the smart watch.

Known for its signature Caviar beaded designs, Lagos offers a set of luxury bracelets that transitions the sporty look of the Apple Watch to a piece of fine jewelry, the company said in a statement. The newest models are available in stainless steel, a two-tone version in stainless steel and 18K yellow gold, and stainless steel with jewelry-grade, scratch-resistant black ceramic.

The Lagos Smart Caviar fine jewelry bracelets are not approved, endorsed or affiliated with Apple, Inc. They are created as a design solution to craft a more elegant and stylish fine jewelry alternative for the popular Apple Watch.

According to Lagos, these bracelets are versatile enough for daily wear and for any occasion. They are designed to slip easily in and out of the Apple Watch face. They come with a sizing tool and extra links for a proper fit.

“I love exploring different materials to bring beautiful and functional solutions to our customers,” said Steven Lagos, founder and creative director of the Philadelphia-based fine jewelry brand. “With Smart Caviar, women can benefit from the functionality of the Apple Watch without sacrificing their personal style.”

Steven Lagos adds that Smart Caviar is designed to be layered with other Lagos jewels.

The new collection of Smart Caviar watch bracelets can be purchased at Lagos.com, the Lagos flagship boutique in Philadelphia, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom and independent jewelers throughout the country. Bloomingdale’s for now has exclusive access to the black ceramic model. Nordstrom and Lagos.com are selling the stainless steel and two-tone versions. All of the stainless steel styles will be available November 1.

These new styles join the sterling silver designs, including models that combine sterling silver with yellow gold and diamonds, introduced September, 2018, in an exclusive promotion with Bloomingdale’s. They sold much faster than expected during the two-month run. The company has since made them widely available.

Source: DCLA