Rapaport TradeWire - Friday, September 04, 2009

Rapaport TradeWire - Friday, September 04, 2009
News: Rough prices softening in dealer markets despite increases by mining companies. Manufacturers squeezed by high rough prices as polished buyers continue to push for deeper discounts. Double digit drops in Aug. U.S. retail sales reflect cautious consumer sentiment. Tiffany & Co. 2Q sales -16% to $613 mil., net earnings -26% to $57 mil. DTC sight est. value of $480 mil. in Aug., ALROSA sales reach $200 mil. Belgium July polished diamond exports -35% to $958.3 mil., rough imports -45% to $627.8 mil. Japan’s July polished diamond imports -36% to $47.1 mil. De Beers partners with sightholders and retailers to launch Everlon Diamond Knot collection for Christmas sales push.


ANNOUNCEMENTS:

RAPAPORT INTERNATIONAL DIAMOND CONFERENCE - 2009
Sept. 10, New York Times Center – 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Conference Topic — "New Realities"

The New Economy and the Jewelry Industry
From Rough to Retail
Des Kilalea, Royal Bank of Canada
Christopher Ellis, Consensus Advisors

New Consumer Markets: The India Story
C.K. Venkataraman, COO Tanishq - Titan Industries
Mehul Choksi, Chairman Gitanjali Group

Riding the Wave of Change
Martin Rapaport, Chairman Rapaport Group

The Big Stone Market: The 47th Street Perspective
Ronald Friedman, Pres. DMIA
Moshe Mosbacher, Pres. NY DDC
And other leading NY diamantaires

Human Rights and the Diamond Industry: Panel Discussion
What can and should we do?

Ian Smillie, DDI
Eli Izhakoff, WDC
Cecilia Gardner, JVC
Brad Brooks Rubin, U.S. State Dept.
Human Rights Watch

The conference will be held at the new
New York Times Center, 242 West 41 St.