Kim Kardashian & Kanye West Are Engaged!! The Ring Is Reported To Cost $8,000,000M

http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/kanye-west-kim-kardashian-engagement-article-1.1493496

Kanye tried to hit a "Home Run" by renting out AT&T Field and a Fifty Piece Orchestra for the proposal! 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/22/fashion/jewels-that-could-tell-400-years-of-history.html?

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2013/10/22/fashion/22inyt-fjewel22.html?smid=pl-sh

The "Pink Star" Diamond A 59.60ct. Vivid Pink Was On Display In Geneva, Switzerland on October 16th

David Bennett, chairman of Sotheby's Jewelry Division in Europe, told Reuters that this diamond will be the star lot of the November 13, 2013 sale in Geneva. The oval cut stone is the largest internally flawless fancy vivid pink diamond ever graded by the (GIA) Gemological Institute of America. On the American International Gemologists "Jewelry of Washington" tour in 2003, we were able to see it in the “Splendor of Diamonds” exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, alongside the De Beers Millennium Star. #AmericanInternationalGemologists.

Former Youth Gangs Linking Business & Slum Population in Nairobi

http://www.flyingblueclubafrica.com/inspire/andreas-impressions/big-companies-discovering-the-african-slum

Many people in the African slums cook with charcoal, poor quality lamp oil, wood or even waste. They aren't aware of the negative effects on eyes and airways.  The Brotherhood Foundation, in Nairobi is the first youth group National Oil is working with is selling 424 gas cylinders for 2910 Kenyan shilling (25 euros) each. The youngsters themselves earn 120 shillings (1 euro) per cylinder.

On top of the cylinder a burner can be attached while it can also be used as a gas lamp. “Cooking with this stove is much faster than using charcoal, which makes it cheaper”, one of the customers proclaims. In advance, National Oil trained the youth in sales techniques and how to use and connect the cylinders. The youngsters also take care of the refilling. 

Researchers at the Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF & the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich Have Extracted Oyster DNA From Pearls!

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=pzgefecab&v=0010ZqHgiR1O6AdDKuWyZXwLvo5ty7JxXT15m4jdHEnnFWHj1M2IqlqlNBtLLkiTWReC0uxStEf0eczHd7XF9g2Z_-78-P6JTvFIFlYdScnz5Y%3D

A two year research project funded by the Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF to advance knowledge about pearls and to investigate the possibility of using DNA to determine geographic origin of pearls.

The amount of recovered DNA was sufficient to identify the mother oyster species of studied pearls. The sampled pearls came from Pinctada Maxima, Pinctada Margaritifera and Akoya oysters, which are the most important species in the trade of natural and cultured marine pearls. Samples also included Pinctada Radiata pearls from the Arabian/Persian Gulf, Pinctada Maxima from both Australia and Indonesia and Pinctada Margaritifera from Fiji and French Polynesia.

Russian Diamond Miner ALROSA Recovers a 235.16 Carat Rough Diamond

http://en.ria.ru/russia/20131009/184034647.html

http://www.diamonds.net/News/NewsItem.aspx?ArticleID=44794

ALROSA described the diamond as “Gem Quality” and estimated its value range from $1.5 million to $2 million. The stone was produced from the deep Yubileynaya (Jubilee) diamond pipe, at Factory No. 14 of Alrosa’s Aykhalsky mining facility.  It measures 42mm x 26mm x 28mm. The crystal is transparent, with a yellow hue and there are small graphite-sulfide inclusions along the periphery.

ALROSA explained that recent technological advancements made at the production facility have improved recoveries and reduced breakage of exceptionally large stones.

RIO Tinto's Annual Argyle Pink Diamond Tender Has Set A New World Record!

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/sale-hits-a-record-as-pink-diamonds-sparkle/story-e6frg9df-1226739252143#!

In Colombia, 63 percent of all gold mines are technically illegal.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-07-24/colombia-illegal-gold-mines-prosper-in-global-rout.html

A Diamond Known as “The Orange” Will Be Auctioned by Christie’s

The 14.82-carat diamond is the largest fancy vivid orange diamond ever to appear at auction


http://www.nationaljeweler.com/nj/fashion/a/~31900-Christies-to-auction-14carat-fancy

University of Cambridge in the U.K. has synthesized opal!

Using nanotechnology, The University of Cambridge in the U.K. has synthesized a substance that has structural color much like opals.

http://www.nbcnews.com/science/gem-idea-synthetic-opals-colors-never-fade-6C10133769

Sapphire and Ruby Mining in Pailin, Cambodia

Locals in Pailin, a province in western Cambodia near the Thai border, mine for sapphires, rubies, zircon, and garnet.

http://www.gia.edu/news-research-cambodia-mining-pardieu

http://www.gia.edu/news-research-cambodia-

Platinum Refinery On The Horizon in Zimbabwe

Platinum accounts for 36 percent of Zimbabwe's total mineral production. 

http://allafrica.com/stories/201309300587.html

Victoria & Albert Museum London; Pearls Exhibitions; & Galleries

This is a fantastic video of the history of pearls!

Pearls / Exhibitions & Galleries / Happenings / V&A Channel

President Alpha Condé Wants to Transform The Mining Sector in Guinea

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jul/30/africa-guinea-mining-bsgr-steinmetz

The Challenge of Investing in Afghanistan's Mineral Wealth

http://lightbox.time.com/2013/08/29/treasure-land-the-mines-of-afghanistan-by-yuri-kozyrev/#1

Jimmy Kimmel Bought His Wedding Ring From Costco, Really!!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/17/jimmy-kimmel-wedding-ring_n_3943823.html

South Africa Rockwell Diamonds Found Four Stones, Each Weighing Over 100 ct, From Middle Orange River Alluvial Operations

http://www.miningweekly.com/article/rockwell-diamonds-recovers-four-heavyweights-from-sa-alluvial-operations-2013-09-17

Omega Speedmaster, The “Moonwatch” A Retro Version of The Wristwatch Worn By NASA Astronauts

http://www.watchtime.com/wristwatch-industry-news/watches/vintage-watch-lovers-omega-speedmaster-57-co-axial-chronograph/#

De Beers & A New System for Rough Diamond Purchases

http://www.business-standard.com/article/markets/de-beers-introduces-forward-contract-in-rough-diamonds-113072200381_1.html

Diamonds Don't Grow On Trees, But They Do Grow Like Trees

http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/diamonds-grow-like-trees-study-113091600691_1.html

Ancient Golden Treasure Found at Foot of Temple Mount

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-09/ancient-golden-treasure-found-near-jerusalem-temple-mount.html

Swiss Gemmological Institute (SSEF), Discovers a Damaging Conch Pearl Treatment

http://www.nationaljeweler.com/nj/colored-

stones/a/~31734-New-treatment-could-damage-conch

Malca-Amit West Africa is Falsely Representing Itself as Part of Malca-Amit International

http://www.malcaamit.com/blog/scam-alert/

Gem-A Announces A New Editor for The Journal of Gemmology

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=pzgefecab&v=001Xb0L0r5qCg09tM2F6LGBxe01JwNTNyMd_Y9BXGE0WU4HOz_aUfPa0D1pUT7lDH_CPjeqU00ctn76fNkQIOsgGmFqfdNH09thBtBc1rodIIE%3D

2013 America’s Cup “Red Sails in the Sunset” Pendant

http://4csblog.gia.edu/2013/dressing-americas-cup

Guinea's Parliamentary Election To Be Held Later This Month

http://allafrica.com/stories/201309051302.html

118 Carat Diamond For Sale in Hong Kong

Watch the video. This is one big diamond!

http://bloom.bg/1dIt9YP

President Alpha Condé Has Plans to Tackle Mining Corruption in Simandou

http://www.channel4.com/news/guinea-corruption-and-diamonds-video

President Obama again says "No" to Burma, the Country of Myanmar.

The importation into the United States of any jadeite or rubies mined or extracted from Burma and any articles of jewelry containing jadeite or rubies mined or extracted from Burma is hereby prohibited.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/08/07/executive-order-prohibiting-certain-imports-burmese-jadeite-and-rubies

Ghana Crackdown on Chinese Gold Miners in The Ashanti Belt

Ghana crackdown on Chinese gold miners.

Michael Dettlaff found a 5.16ct. Diamond at Arkansas' Crater of Diamonds

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/diamond-mining-arkansas-12-year-finds-516-carat-19934195

Diamonds Are Forever, Diamond Mines Are Not!

Kleinsee is on the brink of resembling a ghost town.

American International Gemologists Rough Diamond Buying Office in Guinea Conakry

American International Gemologists Rough Diamond Buying Office in Guinea Conakry  AIG Labs Guinea Conakry, 2013.

Moshe Pereg's Abalone Pearl Creations

http://www.abalonepearlscreations.com/

New York City Gem Tower

New York City Gem Tower

USPS Express Mail Mishandled Again

And the Post Office wants to know why we just don't want to use their services. We sent an express mail package up to San Francisco yesterday for overnite delivery. It got delivered alright. The jewelry inside the box was crushed. That's right crushed. We double boxed and bubble wrapped the merchandise. Somewhere along the way the box was mishandled. Thanks USPS.    Now we have to file a claim with USPS and our jewelers block policy. The client is mad, and we all are spending time on this that we should be spending working. #Norman Monteau, #americaninternationalgemologists.

Togo Arrests Ivory Trade Kingpin

Togo arrests 'Ivory Trade Kingpin'

The Indian Rupee Continued Its Downward Spiral This Week

The Indian rupee continued its downward spiral this week.

In Gaborone; Botswana's Capital, Diamonds Are Cut, Polished and Sold!

Botswana's Capital Gaborone now cuts, polishes and sells diamonds.

7.59ct. Fancy Vivid Blue Diamond

7.59ct. Fancy Vivid Blue Diamond In Hong Kong

Madagascar, The Real Wild Wild West!

Madagascar is the new Wild Wild West