Signup opens for IJL 2015

Visitor registration for the Diamond Jubilee Edition of IJL 2015 has opened. The organisers today invited visitors and exhibitors to download the new free IJL App and be in with a chance to win some sparkling 60th anniversary prizes. Sam Willoughby, event director, said: “The new IJL App promises to…

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Footfall dips slightly in April

Footfall in April was 0.8% lower than the same time last year, according to new figures released today by the British Retail Consortium (BRC).  This is according to the BRC and Springboard Footfall and Vacancies Monitor which found footfall in April was below the three-month growth average of -0.3%. High…

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Goldmajor

Goldmajor –  one of the largest suppliers of amber in the UK – has unveiled its new collection of marcasite jewellery. The collections include a Chinese-style colour infused enamel and marcasite pendant with a freshwater pearl, a marcasite brooch styled with a Celtic twist, along with a range of earrings…

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US and India drive global jewellery demand

The first three months of 2015 saw stable gold demand, according to the latest Gold Demands Trends report from the World Gold Council (WGC). Total demand for Q1 2015 was 1,079 tonnes, down just 1% on the same period last year. The WGC said conditions differed from market to market,…

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NAG and BJA to host unification meetings

The National Association of Goldsmiths (NAG) and the British Jewellers Association (BJA) have announced they will host two members’ meetings to discuss the planned unification of the two organisations. The trade bodies have written to their members inviting them to attend a members day where both will be making presentations to…

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WFDB express concern over undisclosed diamond treatment

The president of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB), Ernie Blom, today expressed his concerns over the discovery by the GIA of a shipment of allegedly treated diamonds.  Yesterday, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) said that some 500 colourless to near-colourless diamonds have been submitted primarily to its…

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World record jewellery auction for Sotheby’s

Sotheby’s has set a new world record total for a jewellery auction – breaking six other world auction records in the process.  The ‘Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels’ auction, which was held on Tuesday May 12 in Geneva, achieved a total of 149,851,375 Swiss Francs (£102.9m) – the world record…

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Hallmarking figures up 10% in April

The total number of hallmarked articles grew 10% in April following a disappointing March, according to new figures released from all four of the UK’s assay offices.  According to the data, which was compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office , there was a total of 810,831 articles hallmarked in April…

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GIA notifies trade of potential undisclosed diamond treatment

Approximately 500 colourless to near-colorless diamonds submitted primarily to GIA’s grading laboratory in Ramat Gan, Israel, were potentially subjected to an undisclosed temporary treatment, the body has announced. GIA said it believes that the treatment “temporarily masks the body colour of the diamond, resulting in a colour grade that can…

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FEATURE: Focus on – Casting

There have been great technological changes in the casting industry in recent years. After the latest announcement of 3D printing jewellery by Argos, and the introduction of laser-sintering machines that ‘print’ jewellery directly in precious metal, TOM DAVIS looks at where the industry is heading  In recent years the casting…

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