(PRESS RELEASE) CARLSBAD, CA – GIA (Gemological Institute of America) announced that Alrosa is piloting in the Institute’s M2M program.
“The M2M program is a way to share with the consumer the story of our diamonds,” said Sergey Ivanov, CEO of ALROSA. “The creation of tracing systems is an important step in confirming diamond provenance, which will have benefits for industry participants, retailers and ultimately retail consumers. Alrosa is examining different tracing solutions available on the market to provide consumers with supreme confidence and knowledge.”
Consumers are exhibiting greater interest in the origin of the diamonds they purchase. The M2M program allows the retailer, and ultimately the consumer, to trace the journey of a diamond, adding to its story at each point along the value chain. The M2M program allows for the individual characteristics of a polished stone, and its unique journey, to be shared with consumers using a mobile application, together with traditional diamond grading reports.
“We are very pleased to welcome Alrosa to the M2M program,” said Tom Moses, GIA executive vice president and chief laboratory and research officer. “Dozens of retailers and several manufacturers are signed up, and we continue to engage other diamond producers as part of the initiative.”
M2M is a digital platform that brings together GIA’s unique ability to scientifically match rough diamonds to the resulting polished gems with information from each step in the value chain that tells the compelling story of a diamond’s journey. Having completed an earlier pilot phase of the program, GIA has processed thousands of rough diamonds ranging from one carat up to more than 100 carats.
Family Legacy, New Chapter: How Wilkerson Turns 89 Years of History Into Future Success
After 89 years of serving the Albany community, Harold Finkle Your Jeweler faced a pivotal decision. For third-generation owner Justin Finkle, the demanding hours of running a small business were taking precious time away from his young family. "After 23 years, I decided this was the time for me," Finkle explains. But closing a business with nearly nine decades of inventory and customer relationships isn't something easily managed alone.
Wilkerson's comprehensive approach transformed this challenging transition into a remarkable success story. Their strategic planning handled everything from advertising and social media to inventory management and staffing — elements that would overwhelm most jewelers attempting to navigate a closing sale independently.
The results speak volumes. "Wilkerson gave us three different tiers of potential goals," Finkle notes. "We've reached that third tier, that highest goal already, and we still have two weeks left of the sale." The partnership didn't just meet financial objectives—it exceeded them ahead of schedule.
