An attempt has been made to import diamonds, containing over 5,900 carats of diamonds and valued at over $9,900,000 into the United States.
The shipment was accompanied by a (fake) Kimberley Process certificate allegedly from the Precious Minerals Marketing Company in Ghana.
Africa
Attempt Made to Import $10,000,000 Worth of Diamonds Using Fake Kimberley Process Certificate
Americas
Barack Obama Certifies World Trade Organization Waiver for Kimberley Process
In a statement to the United States Congress, President Barack Obama has certified that the applicable waiver, within the meaning of the Clean Diamond Trade Act, granted by the World Trade Organization has been in effect since January 1, 2003, and will remain in effect through December 31, 2012.
The Clean Diamond Trade Act (Public Law [...]
Industry News
Russian Finance Minister Approves Changes in Format of Diamond Price Calculations
In connection with the coming into force of the national Russian standard on the technical requirements and classification of diamonds on 1 January 2009,
Alexei Kudrin, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Government and Minister of Finance, has approved changes in the format of the calculation of prices of diamonds, which was approved by the Finance Ministry [...]
Best Practice Principles
First Reported Here: New Responsible Jewellery Council Draft Code of Practices Includes Laboratory Diamond Producers
The third version of the consultation draft of the Responsible Jewellery Council’s (RJC) Code of Practices, updated from July 2009, has updated the list of sectors to which the Code applies to include laboratory grown diamond producers.
The wording in the Code of Practices has been modified from ‘Gold and/or Diamond Miner’ to ‘Gold and/or Diamond [...]
Europe
First Reported Here: EC Commissioner: ‘Effectiveness of Internal Controls in KP Participant Countries Is Key Challenge to Scheme’s Effectiveness’
The European Commission sees the effectiveness of internal controls in KP participant countries as the key challenge to KP effectiveness, says Mrs Ferrero-Waldner the European Commission’s Commissioner for its Neighbourhood Policy.
The KP has undertaken actions to strengthen internal controls and to disseminate best practice, but implementation capacity remains a concern, especially in fragile countries, she [...]
Africa
First Reported Here: Algeria Announces Tender To Explore For Diamonds in South of Country
Algeria’s Natural Resources Agency has issued a national and international call for bidding for the execution of aero-geophysical surveys concerning 4 blocks to determine primary sources of diamonds in the south of the country.
Blocks cover a total of some 15 square kilometers.
The deadline of submitting a bid is November 2 2009.
Industry News
First Reported Here: Russian Diamond Production Increases In Terms of Carats and Value in First Half of 2009
Russian diamond production in the first half of 2009, at nearly 18.5 million carats worth just over $1.2 billion, increased in terms of both carats and value from the first half of 2008, when production neared 17.6 million carats worth nearly $1.2 billion. The average value per carat increased from $67.83 per carat in the [...]
Industry News
Lottery Ticket Sparkles Like a Diamond for Some Israeli Diamantaires
A group of nearly 40 members of the Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE), headed by Avi Paz, President of the IDE and of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses, won a prize of over $30,000 on the local lottery yesterday, reports the Israeli ‘Calcalist’.
According to the paper, there is a long tradition among bourse members of [...]
Africa
First Reported Here: Botswana Mineral Revenues Down by a Third ; Diamond Production Tops 32.5 Million Carats
During the 2008 – 2009 financial year, mineral revenues (including royalties, dividends, annual lease charges and sundries) collected by Botswana were about a third lower than the country’s revenues during the previous financial year. The decrease in revenue is attributed to poorer diamond sales due to the global economic situation.
Dividends from diamonds accounted for over [...]
De Beers
First Reported Here: Several Kimberlite Bodies Discovered in India; Details Not Made Public
Private companies such as De Beers and Rio Tinto have discovered several kimberlite bodies in India, the details of which have not been made public, Dr. S. Ravi, a Senior Indian Geologist and the Convener for India’s International Geoscience Programme (IGCP) project told the first meeting of the national working group on ‘diamonds, xenoliths and [...]
Africa
Sierra Leone Diamond Exports in First Half of 2009: $70 Million
The value of diamond exports from Sierra Leone in the first half of 2009 stand at around $70 million, having fallen by nearly half from the same period of 2008. The decline is attributed to a lower volume of diamonds exported as well as falling world prices for diamonds.
The value of the country’s exports is [...]
Americas
Everlon Diamond Knot Jewelry Launched at JR Dunn
On September 1, 2009 www.jrdunn.com launched the De Beers “Everlon Knot” jewelry that features designs based on a Hercules knot, with two metal loops held together by a diamond.The Hercules knot is the strongest of all knots and an ancient symbol of strength.
The De Beers campaign signifies that only love is stronger than a diamond [...]
