De Beers Diamond Jewellers Unveils 'Imaginary Nature' in Asia

De Beers Diamond Jewellers unveiled its jewelry collection, Imaginary Nature, for the first time in Asia today. The event was attended by award-winning actress, Gigi Leung and Taiwanese actress and model Bianca Bai. De Beers stated that the Imaginary Nature collection exhibits a journey of light, where heightened imagination meets natural beauty with diamonds.

Francois Delage, the chief executive of De Beers Diamonds Jewellers, said, “We wanted, through Imaginary Nature, to truly establish our legitimacy as a jeweler and to express our vision through a strong creative and contemporary gesture. Our unique designs inspired by our DNA bring to life our brand essence – The Jeweller of Light – by creating exquisite pieces, moments and movements from a journey from earth to light. The eight one-of-a-kind creations sublime our diamond mastery and jewelry know-how, and we are delighted to now unveil them in Asia.”

Each Imaginary Nature piece balances the contrasts of the natural world with the drama of an ascent and the grace of gliding, according to De Beers. These rich contradictions are conveyed through an array of diamond cuts and settings. Radiant pear-cut diamonds were set on a tilt in a way to engage light and trace movement. By contrast, the definite angles of the baguettes against round brilliant diamonds punctuate each piece with tradition and brilliance.

Leung (pictured) said, “It is so refreshing to see a contemporary take on high jewelry, the three-dimensional aspect and the interplay of light between different diamond cuts is truly unique.”

Hollie Bonneville-Barden, the jewelry designer, added, “Imaginary Nature represents an exhilarating yet elegant display of evolution, inspired by the beauty of transformations within nature, which are realized in a story of metamorphosis. Each piece reveals a unique gesture inspired by the essence of nature. With the diamond as our muse, the collection is centered on diamonds of character, focused on pears and baguettes to create a language of movement and fluidity.”

http://www.diamonds.net/news/NewsItem.aspx?ArticleID=41084

De Beers Jewellers Debuts Nature High Diamond Jewelry Collection

De Beers Diamond Jewellers debuted a new collection that was inspired by a mythical world where heightened imagination meets natural beauty. The De Beers Imaginary Nature High Jewellery Collection was designed by Hollie Bonneville who describes the pieces as taking ''flight for a journey of light.''

As the boundless creativity of dreams takes hold, lines of reality are blurred and a magnificent moment of transformation is conjured, according to the retailer. These illusions are captured in the eight pieces of the Imaginary Nature High Jewellery Collection by De Beers. Petals disperse and feathers unfold, instinctive movement and natural rhythm release soaring beauty, which twists and turns around the admirer, wrapping them in wonder.

One featured piece, the Embrace Ring (pictured) highlights a pear-cut 8.88-carat, D, VS2 center diamond along with 131 baguettes, 319 round brilliant and 16 pear-cut stones.

Bonneville added, ''It represents an exhilarating yet elegant display of evolution, inspired by the beauty of transformations within nature, which are realized in a story of metamorphosis. Each piece reveals a unique gesture inspired by the essence of nature. With the diamond as our muse, the collection is centered on diamonds of character, focused on pears and baguettes to create a language of movement and fluidity.''

Each piece balances the contrasts of the natural world --the drama of an ascent and the grace of gliding-- where contradictions are conveyed through the sensitive selection and detailed array of diamond cuts and settings. Radiant pear-cut diamonds are set on a tilt, for example, to engage the light and trace movement. By contrast, the definite angles of the baguettes against round brilliant diamonds punctuate each piece with tradition and brilliance.

Francois Delage, the chief executive of De Beers Diamond Jewellers, said, ''We wanted through imaginary nature to truly establish our legitimacy as a jeweler and to express our vision through a strong creative and contemporary gesture. Our unique designs inspired by our DNA bring to life our brand essence – the jeweler of light - by creating exquisite pieces, moments and movements from a journey from earth to light. The eight one-of-a-kind creations sublime our diamond mastery and jewelry know-how.''

-www.diamonds.net

DE BEERS CEO SEEKS NEW DIAMOND DISCOVERY

The head of the De Beers diamond company says that he aspires to find a new diamond deposit of very large proportions, something that has not been done in the diamond industry for fifteen years. Mining Weekly reports that De Beers chief executive officer Phillippe Mellier, at the helm of the company for just under a year, dreams of finding another Jwaneng – a reference to the world's richest diamond mine by value, located in the Kalahari Desert in Botswana and co-owned by De Beers.

Mellier is instead confronted with a decidedly different set of circumstances: existing alluvial diamond mines that are reaching decreasing scales of efficiency and which must receive large infusions of cash in order to construct the appropriate infrastructure if diamond mining is to continue below ground.

One such diamond mine is the Venetia project, South Africa's biggest diamond producer, located in the Limpopo province. The mine, expected to produce until 2021, would need a cash investment of about $2.1 billion in order for De Beers to unearth its underground diamonds.

http://www.israelidiamond.co.il/

Element Six to Build Synthetic Diamond Innovation Center

Element Six will begin construction of the world’s largest synthetic diamond supermaterials research and development facility in Harwell Oxford, just 20 minutes from Oxford, England. This new $32 million (GBP 20 million) facility will consolidate Element Six’s global innovation team into one integrated space, where it will develop a pipeline of products for customers in industries from oil and gas drilling to machining and electronics.

Once complete in spring 2013, this new innovation center will reinforce Element Six’s position as a world-leader in synthetic diamond research and employ more than 100 engineers, scientists and technicians, according to the firm. In addition, 50 new material science jobs will be created, with the vast majority of those positions made available for highly-qualified graduate scientists, engineers and physicists.

Element Six, which is co-owned by the De Beers Group and Umicore, applies the extreme properties of synthetic diamond supermaterials within abrasive applications and for a diverse range of advanced technologies. One such example includes the speaker dome that is used in the Bowers & Wilkins 800 Diamond Series loudspeakers for which Element Six has just been awarded the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation in the U.K.

The Harwell Oxford location was chosen by Element Six, through support from U.K. Trade & Investment, due to its proximity of emerging technological talent and excellent global connectivity. Harwell Oxford is owned and managed by a public-private sector joint-venture to foster innovation and business in science and technology. There are more than 4,500 people involved in this community, working in some 150 organizations including key U.K. Research Councils, start-ups and multi-national organizations.

Through an “open innovation” campus structure, organizations based in Harwell Oxford are brought together at each stage of the development process. Harwell Oxford provides a supportive environment where networking and collaboration facilitate access to technology, support services and potential customers. There is also extensive development potential for new or growing organizations and investors looking to become part of this community.

Element Six's chief executive, Cyrus Jilla, said, ''I am positive [the center] will deliver higher performance products for our customers, disruptive technologies for new applications and markets, inspire and spur new related businesses in the U.K., and provide an extremely rewarding environment for our scientists who are at the forefront of their field.''

Vince Cable, a member of Parliament and Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, said, ''The investment by Element Six, that will bring a world-class research and development facility to Harwell, shows that the U.K. is a great place for innovative and cutting edge industries to invest. Along with a real boost to the local economy, providing around 50 new highly-skilled engineering jobs, the investment shows that the Oxford region is a world leading location for hi-tech research, and that the U.K. is open for business.''

-diamonds.net

De Beers Antitrust Claims May Finally Be Paid

If you filed a claim in the De Beers class action antitrust settlement, you may finally be getting your money in the near future, thanks to a new court decision.

On Dec. 20, the En Banc Panel of the Court of Appeals of the Third Circuit affirmed the $300 million De Beers settlement reached in 2006. The panel's decision overturns an earlier court ruling that put the settlement in limbo.

The only remaining option for the objectors, Jewelers Vigilance Committee president and CEO Cecilia Gardner tells JCK, is to ask for a rehearing, or appeal to the Supreme Court. But one objecting lawyer says that isn't likely.

“As the court recognized, this was a tremendous victory for all purchasers of diamonds,” says New York University professor Samuel Issacharoff, one of the appellant attorneys. “I think this litigation is finally behind us all.”

Class action attorney Jared Stamell agrees that “based on this decision, we expect no further litigation.”

“I’m glad this is finally affirmed,” he says. “We can begin now to put the machinery of distributing money into place. We hope to complete this in a manner of months.”

He noted that the original $300 million has been sitting in escrow for six years and has gained interest.

“[Class members] will get a little more money with the interest,” he says. “But with interest rates so low, I don’t know.”

Gardner cautions that any payouts likely won’t be a big sum for most class members in the jewelry business—“enough to take your staff out to lunch,” she says.

She adds that the period of time to file claims has expired.

-JCK Online

De Beers Diamond Jewellers Opens in Kowloon

Today De Beers Diamond Jewellers opened at ELEMENTS in Kowloon, an urban area of Hong Kong. The luxury group defined ELEMENTS as being at the epicenter of luxury shopping and it marks the company's second store in Hong Kong after The Landmark in Central.

The highlight of this opening was the world debut of the Swan Lake Collection by De Beers. Inspired by the fluidity, beauty and elegance of ballet, intertwining lines of specially selected fancy-cut diamonds (pear, oval and marquise cuts) are reminiscent of the complexity and sophistication of a dancer’s choreography and performance. The special “Red Carpet” Swan Lake necklace features 258 white, fancy cut diamonds for a total of almost 123 carats.

The new 850-square-foot ELEMENTS store features a completely new design concept of glass, light and openness. At the opening ceremony, François Delage, the chief executive of De Beers Diamonds Jewellers, said, ''We are thrilled to open our first store in Kowloon, and further more our second location in Hong Kong. The magnetic energy at ELEMENTS has the ability to draw the most sophisticated shoppers in Hong Kong to the mall.''

Also presiding over the grand opening ceremony was Andrew Coxon, the president of De Beers Institute of Diamonds, who said, ''Fire is the scintillation or spread of color that we see, Life is the sparkle and, brilliance is the natural transparency of the diamond. We know that the highly discerning clients in Hong Kong will no doubt appreciate the superior fire, life and brilliance that our specially selected diamonds exhibit.''

-Rapaport

DE BEERS OPENS NEW DIAMOND JEWELRY BOUTIQUE IN TIANJIN, CHINA

De Beers Diamond Jewellers has opened its Tianjin store at The Friendship Mall. Following the opening of its first store in Beijing in May, the Tianjin store is De Beers' second store in mainland China and represents De Beers' expansion into the fast growing Chinese market.

The 75 square meter store features some of De Beers' solitaire diamonds, classic jewelry styles, and one-of-a-kind luxury jewelry creations.

The opening was hosted by Francois Delage, CEO of De Beers Diamond Jewellers; Andrew Coxon, President of De Beers Institute of Diamondsand special guest, actress Karen Mok, who wore the De Beers Wildflowers Collection large statement necklace, bracelet and statement ring.

"We are now able to fully share our exceptional passion and expertise in diamond selection, craftsmanship and design to one of the largest and most discerning markets in the world," explained Delage.

-The Israeli Diamond Industry

DIAMOND INDUSTRY LEADERS DISCUSS FAMOUS DIAMONDS

Diamonds were the talk of the Tower of London at a private dinner held last week to mark the start of a three-day summit where, for the very first time, global diamond authorities including Rio Tinto's Tom Albanese, Cartier's Arnaud Bamberger, Christies' Jewellery specialists David Warren and Raymond Sancroft-Baker and senior figures from the Gemological Institute of America, De Beers, and the major auction houses came together as a specialist council to spearhead the search to discover as-yet undocumented rare diamonds and ensure they are showcased to an international audience.

The talks were hosted by Robert Procop, a former Crown Jeweller and leading international authority on diamonds and gemstones, to mark his recent succession from Lord Balfour as Editor-in-Chief of Famous Diamonds.

Procop commented: "For the first time, we have a team of the world's leading diamond experts - people who have mined, cut, classified, bought and sold these gemstones - joining me to embark on a quest to identify Famous Diamonds. I am delighted to say that we already have several exciting new additions which will be published in the next edition in 2012."

With over 100 diamonds in the world at 100 carats or more, the criteria for Famous Diamonds must necessarily extend beyond size to focus on the rare qualities and historical provenance of these extraordinary gemstones.

-The Israeli Diamond Industry

Anglo American takes over diamond miner De Beers

Mining company Anglo American is gaining a controlling interest in De Beers, paying $5.1 billion for the 40 percent of the company's shares held by the Oppenheimer family.

The deal announced Friday marks a historic change for the South African industrial dynasty, which has had a leading role in both companies for nearly nine decades.

The transaction potentially raises Anglo American's stake in De Beers to 85 percent. However, the government of Botswana has pre-emption rights to buy one-fourth of the Oppenheimer shares for $1.275 billion at the time the transaction closes, potentially increasing its stake to up to 25 percent.

"This has been a momentous and difficult decision as my family has been in the diamond industry for more than 100 years and part of De Beers for over 80 years," said Nicky Oppenheimer, speaking for the Oppenheimer family interests which are held by CHL Group.

Oppenheimer and his son Jonathan are both directors of De Beers, but the family's clout has waned. Nicky Oppenheimer, who retired from the Anglo American board earlier this year, was rebuffed when he asked whether his son might replace him.

"They said I was an anachronism in a sense, and if proper corporate governance had been applied, I would not have got onto the board," Oppenheimer said in a September interview with the South African business newspaper Financial Mail.

Anglo American, founded by Ernest Oppenheimer, became the largest single shareholder in De Beers in 1926. The Oppenheimer family, influential in philanthropy, cultural affairs and politics in South Africa, has 25.2 million shares in Anglo American, a 2 percent stake, through E. Oppenheimer & Son International Ltd.

Anglo American "is the natural home for our stake," said Oppenheimer, who retired from the Anglo board earlier this year.

Anglo American shares were up 2.8 percent in midday trading in London.

De Beers produces 35 percent of the world's rough diamonds by value, and has mines in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Canada; it employs more than 13,000 people in 20 countries.

Cynthia Carroll, chief executive of Anglo American, said the deal was strengthened by a 100-yaer-sales agreement with the Botswana government that ensures a steady supply of diamonds.

De Beers' roots goes back more than a century. The discover of the 83.5-carat "Star of Africa" in 1869 sparked a South African diamond rush, and Cecil Rhodes, a teenager from England, joined in, setting up a business selling ice to miners.

Rhodes used his profits to buy up mining rights including the farm originally owned by Johann and Diederik de Beer, whose land became the site of the Kimberley and De Beers mines, before he agreed to a merger with another Englishman, Barney Barnato, to form De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd.

Ernest Oppenheimer cannily exploited uncertainties during World War I to gain assets in the rich diamond fields of the Sperrgebiet in German South West Africa, now Namibia. He offered shares in the newly formed Anglo American to the German investors in the Sperrgebiet, and they accepted, fearing they might lose all of their stakes if Britain won the war and expropriated their holdings.

Oppenheimer then swapped his Namibian assets for shares in De Beers and a seat on the board, and became managing director of De Beers in 1927.

He founded the Central Selling Organization, a cartel that restricted the supply of diamonds to keep prices up. De Beers also turned to advertising — and the famous slogan "a diamond is forever" — in the late 1930s to generate demand, especially for engagement rings, which had not been commonplace until then.

Ernest's son Harry — described as "the prince of South African businessmen" in Allister Sparks's definitive history, "The Mind of South Africa" — supported the white, liberal opposition during the apartheid years.

He was elected as an opposition member of Parliament in 1948, but left parliament to run De Beers following his father's death.

-Diamond Investing News

DE BEERS SEEKING SYNTHETIC DIAMOND START-UPS IN SILICON VALLEY

Diamond mining giant De Beers has opened a venture capital office in California’s Silicon Valley dedicated to identifying and funding start-up companies to develop applications for its lab-grown diamonds, the Mercury News reports.

Susie Wheeler, managing director of Element 6 Ventures, says that synthetic diamonds can be employed in a range of industries, due in part to thediamonds’ ability to “perform in extreme environments.”

Element 6 Ventures, founded in 2007 and until now based in Luxembourg, is also constructing a factory in Santa Clara to manufacture synthetic diamonds.

-Rapaport

NDTC Dividends to Namibia, De Beers Approach $13M for 2011

The Namibia Diamond Trading Company (NDTC) paid $12.5 million (NAD 100 million) in dividends to the government and to De Beers so far this year, the company's chief executive, Shihaleni Ndjaba, The Namibian newspaper.

Namibia's Mines and Energy minister, Isak Katali, said the dividends reflect steady progress and growth for the local diamond industry. He was quoted saying, "Unemployment continues to be a challenge to our country, but I am particularly encouraged by the progress that is being made by the NDTC and its partners, through value-addition activities, to try and address the lack of skills and capabilities in our job markets through training and development programs.''

-Rapaport