Polishing strategy delivers at Lucapa!

Lucapa Diamond Company Limited announces the successful outcome of the Company’s first cutting & polishing partnership, marking a milestone for Lucapa’s move along the diamond value chain. The 36 carat rough diamond from the Mothae kimberlite mine in Lesotho was manufactured into six polished D-colour diamonds under a cutting & polishing partnership with a leading international diamantaire.

The two largest polished diamonds produced from the 36 carat Mothae stone were both graded as D-colour and Flawless by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), including the exceptional 8.88 carat Pear diamond pictured below. The market value of the polished diamonds represents a significant increase over the rough stone.

A positive gold performance in 2020

Outlook 2020: Global economic trends and their impact on gold, the report made public by the World Gold Council (WGC), is the market development organisation for the gold industry. Their purpose is to stimulate and sustain demand for gold, provide industry leadership, and be the global authority on the gold market.

Gold outlook 2020 says Risk appetite amid high uncertainty! “We expect that the interplay between market risk and economic growth will drive gold demand in 2020. In particular, we focus our attention on: 1: financial uncertainty and lower interest rates, 2: weakening in global economic growth & 3: gold price volatility. We also explore the performance of gold implied by our innovative Gold Valuation Framework across various hypothetical macroeconomic scenarios!” WGC said in report.

Yet the outlook is: ‘generally positive implied performance for 2020!’ Gold rallied by 4% in December 2019, increasing by an additional 6% by 7 January 2020. While we believe that there are various reasons for this move, tensions in the Middle East linked to the US-Iran confrontation ultimately pushed the gold price to an almost seven-year high in early January.

Subsequent comments by President Trump aimed to ease concerns, pushing the price down to the US$1,560/oz-US$1,550/oz level as of 10 January 2020. Yet, gold still remains still 2.6% higher relative to the end of 2019.4

We expect that investor positioning related to this specific event will likely influence gold’s performance in the near term. But over the medium term, broader financial and geopolitical uncertainty and developments in monetary policy will play a more important role.

For example, using Qaurum, we analysed the performance of gold as implied by four different hypothetical macro-economic scenarios provided by Oxford Economics. These included, 1: a global deceleration (their base-case scenario), 2: a US-led recession, 3: a more pronounced slowdown in China & 4: an economic improvement in emerging markets.

The result of the analysis suggests that, in general, gold may see a positive performance in 2020. While some of the scenarios – with the exception of an economic upturn in emerging markets – could result in lower consumer demand, its dampening effect on price performance will likely be offset by potentially robust investment demand on the back of deteriorating credit conditions and stable to lower interest rates.

It is important to note, however, that this is not a comprehensive list of possible scenarios. Instead, they reflect key investor concerns as per Oxford Economics’ Global Risk Survey. Therefore, hypothetically, improving market sentiment – for example, a reduction on perceptions of risk, a lower likelihood of further rate cuts by the Fed or other major central banks, or tighter monetary policy through means other than rate cuts – could put downward pressure on gold’s price performance relative to the scenarios currently available.

Vo Vintage, unique and rare pieces

The exclusive vintage watch and Jewellery event

from 18th to 20th January at Vicenzaoro January!

Vo Vintage is an exclusive event on the Italian and international trade show scene with legendary creations and extremely rare examples of watch and jewellery history together with the sector’s most authoritative players. Italian Exhibition Group (IEG) is launching Vo Vintage entirely dedicated to the collector’s segment with some of the most sought-after, unique and rare pieces from the world of vintage timepieces and jewellery.

During Vicenzaoro January 2020, at the Vicenza Exhibition Centre, Vo Vintage, from Saturday 18th to Monday 20th January, will be running alongside the original trade show format with a programme further enlivened by the most esteemed and well-known experts on the international scene.

Government proclaims mandatory hallmarking

The Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution held a press conference regarding mandatory hallmarking of Gold jewelry & artefacts in India for which notification will be issued by the Department of Consumer Affairs providing a period of one year for implementation i.e. till January, 2021.

Addressing the media, Shri Paswan said that the purpose of making hallmarking mandatory for Gold Jewelry and Artefacts is to ensure that consumers are not cheated while buying gold ornaments and get the purity as marked on the ornaments, they are better informed about the purity of Gold which will now be in only 3 caratage i.e. 14, 18 and 22 and corruption is removed.

TAGS' rough diamond tender in Dubai

TAGS' upcoming rough diamond tender in Dubai! Trans Atlantic Gem Sales (TAGS) is announces their upcoming rough diamond tender taking place from the 22nd to the 27th of January 2020 in the state-of-the-art facility at the Dubai Diamond Exchange, Almas Tower in Dubai.

Two regular productions from South Africa and Angola will be presented. The rough is of high quality and high colour and contains a significant number of large single stones and exceptional specials.

Angolan diamond sector generated US$1.2bn

Angolan diamond sector generated USD 1.2 billion in 2019, representing 10 percent increase from additional USD 34.7million revenue compared to 2018, said the CEO of Diamond Firm Endiama. Taking stock of the activity carried out by the company,  Ganga Júnior, said that in 2019, the sector sold 9.1 million carats at an average price of USD 138.58/carat in industry production.

As for 2018, Ganga Júnior put the sales at USD 148.65/carat), adding that there was a decrease of 7 percent in the average price. The total carats recovered in 2019 (Industrial and Semi-industrial) was of 9.1 million, as result of production by 12 mining companies.

CIBJO-IEG seminar on SMEs challenges

CIBJO-IEG seminar at VicenzaOro January show to focus on the challenges

faced by SMEs in meeting social responsibility and sustainability requirements

With responsible sourcing policies, verifiable supply chain integrity and social and environmental sustainability fast becoming requirements for companies operating in the jewellery sector, small and medium-sized enterprises are feeling increasingly pressured. The cost of conducting due diligence can be restrictive, and often is a source of anxiety, particularly in Italy, where all but a handful of companies are SMEs and family owned.

Visio.Next: the future of jewellery

Creativity, innovation and sustainability: challenges and opportunities for Made in Italy Jewellery on Friday, January 17th, 2020 at Palladio Theatre.

The panel that will be inaugurating the upcoming January edition of Vicenzaoro 2020, created from a project that follows strategic lines defined by the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) to support evolution and development in the gold and jewellery industry, is an exceptional one.

Antoine Preziuso looks on January 17, 2020

Antoine Preziuso begins the year (and decade!) in style at VincenzaOro, the season’s first – and Europe’s largest – jewellery and watchmaking event.

The dedicated Vo Vintage space provides the perfect setting for Antoine Preziuso’s creations along with those of other fellow AHCI members (Horological Academy of Independent Creators). The show will be held from 17 to 22 January 2020 in Vicenza, Italy. A must-attend event to discover the latest collections and new trends for the year.

IIJS Signature 2020 features Special Design Pavilion

Featuring the works of hand-picked women-

Entrepreneurs & budding jewellery designers!  

IIJS Signature, India's first trade show of the calendar year is regarded as the nerve centre of jewellery design and technology – attracting domestic and international buyers alike. The 13th edition of IIJS Signature 2020 will be held from February 13th-16th at Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai.