STRENGTH
IN NUMBERS
The latest evidence that
the lab-grown diamond
business is gearing up for
expansion is the organization
founded by the
companies that make, sell
and distribute them. The
International Grown
Diamond Association
is the first association
for the promotion of labgrown
diamonds and its
goal is to “serve as the
central point of communication,
education,
development and growth”
for the lab-grown diamond
industry. Founding
members include Diamond
Foundry, Chatham
Created Gems & Diamonds
and Pure Grown
Diamonds. theigda.org
This article originally appeared in the June 2016 edition of INSTORE.
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COLLABORATION
INNOVATION
Not only are customers
always right, they usually
want to have a hand in
designing their jewelry.
With the latest editions
of CounterSketch, the
CAD software from
Stuller and Gemvision
that allows a jeweler and
customer to collaborate
on a jewelry design in real
time, it’s easy to do. There
are three options: CounterSketch
Bridal (focused
on engagement and
wedding rings), Counter-
Sketch Plus (bridal styles,
plus a library of 1,100
additional customizable
jewelry designs) and
CounterSketch Studio
(with more than 1,100
starting point models and Freehand mode that permits
additional creative
touches). stuller.com/countersketch
MARKET MOVES
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The
NPD Group has
introduced a better way
to find out what’s happening
in the diamond
market than anecdotes
and industry gossip. Its
Diamond Tracker Service
collects point-of-sale data
from thousands of retail
doors in the U.S., including
all major jewelry
chains and hundreds of
independent jewelers.
The service allows users
to track the performance
of specific diamond
types, like natural and
lab-grown, and characteristics,
starting with the four Cs, which makes it
easier to identify where
consumer demand might
be greatest.
npd.com .
ROCK RESALE
A name synonymous with
diamonds is behind the
latest resource for reselling
and buying stones.
The
International
Institute of Diamond
Valuation is part of the
De Beers Group of Companies.
Clients using its
consumer-facing website may sell diamond jewelry
to IIDV online or through
approved jewelers. Retail
and wholesale business
may access a trade-only
website to shop for stones
online. iidv-trade.comiidv-trade.com
SET IN STONE
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It’s not just loose diamonds
that require grading
information. That’s
why the American Gem
Society Laboratories
now provides grading
reports for diamonds American Gem
Society Laboratories
now provides grading
reports for diamonds set in jewelry. Mounted
Diamond Evaluation
Reports will include total
carat weight (as provided
by the manufacturer),
color and clarity grades,
and a description of the
jewelry and verification
of the mounting stamp
indicating the quality of
the precious metal. The
reports will also indicate
whether or not diamonds
are natural and untreated.
americangemsociety.org/agslabs
SAFE & SOUND
Whether it’s because of client queries or simply
the personal inclinations of jewelers and manufacturers,
the origin of jewelry materials — especially
their environmental and social impact — is
under more scrutiny than ever. To respond to
the demand for ethical choices, precious metals
refiner and recycler
Pease & Curren has
strengthened its commitment to processing only
conflict-free gold. It will no longer accept materials
from private parties — only reclaimed gold
from registered businesses — to avoid circulating
gold from conflict zones.
peaseandcurren.com .
