Okavango Diamond Company to Pilots GIA ’ M2M to with Botswana origin diamonds
Second Ethical Gem Fair to take place in London
Mayfair Jewellers celebrate Royal Academy ’ s 250th anniversary
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DIAMONDS
Okavango Diamond Company to Pilots GIA ’ M2M to with Botswana origin diamonds
GIA has announced Okavango Diamond Company ( ODC ) is participating in the Institute ’ s M2M program .
M2M is a digital platform that allows the GIA to scientifically match rough diamonds to the resulting polished gems with information from each step in the value chain that tells the complete story of a diamond ’ s journey .
The ODC is a rough diamond marketing company that is wholly owned by the Botswana Government . With access to 15 % of Debswana ’ s run-ofmine production , ODC is an important supplier to the market with sales in excess of $ 500m (£ 380m ) per annum
Having completed another pilot phase of the program , GIA has processed thousands of rough diamonds ranging from one carat up to more than 100 carats . As part of a pilot initiative , a selection of ODC rough diamonds that have been evaluated by GIA for its M2M program will be offered at the ODC July 2018 Spot Auction .
ODC managing director Marcus Ter Haar , said : “ The M2M platform allows ODC , and our customers , to finally share with the consumer the story of the proud heritage and history of Botswana ’ s diamonds and the positive contributions they make to society . This is an important step in confirming diamond provenance , which we anticipate will have benefits for our customers , retailers and ultimately consumers .
“ This pilot will allow those ODC customers who participate the advantage of confirming that the
polished outcome of the M2M rough stones they purchase can be certified ultimately as true Botswana origin .
GIA said the M2M program allows the retailer and ultimately the consumer to trace the journey of a polished stone , adding to its story at each point along the value chain .
The M2M program allows for the individual characteristics of a polished stone , and its unique journey , to be shared with consumers using mobile application and smart card technology , together with traditional grading reports .
EVENTS
Second Ethical Gem Fair to take place in London
The success of the inaugural Ethical Gem Fair in early March 2018 has resulted in the organisation of a second fair , taking place on August 31 to September 1 2018 .
The two-day event will allow guests to purchase gemstones that offer full provenance , in addition to presentations from each of the suppliers about the traceability and sourcing of the items they are bringing to the market .
The stones available include sapphires , rubies , opals and diamonds , which are sourced from countries such as Sri Lanka , Australia , Malawi , Tanzania and the USA .
Stuart Pool , director of ethical jewellery store Nineteen48 , said : “ The first fair earlier this year was a real eye opener for us and demonstrated that UK and European designers have a growing appetite for gemstones that have full provenance and are mined ethically and responsibly .
“ Moreover we also want to share our story about how our gemstones are mined and processed as well as working with our designer friends to take these stories to their customers and clients that is why we are having a series of short presentations on the first day of the show .”
ACCOLADES
Mayfair Jewellers celebrate Royal Academy ’ s 250th anniversary
Susannah Lovis Jewellers and Liss Llewellyn have announced a partnership on a floral collection exhibition to celebrate the 250th anniversary of The Royal Academy of Art .
Works from modern British artists and the Mayfair jewellers ’ collections of antique pieces will be featured on the display entitled ‘ A Hanging Garden ’, which will run from the 22 June to 31 August .
Artworks from Winifred Knights , Evelyn Dunbar , Charles Mahoney , and former president of the Royal Academy , Sir Thomas Monnington will all be the focus of the exhibition in addition to artwork representing the styles and techniques of the 20th Century British art .
The display will work alongside Mathilde Nivet ’ s summer installation in the Burlington Arcade , which will be based on the English garden theme . Similarly , a selection of botanically inspired jewellery from throughout the ages will on display . Works including a 1950s handcrafted gold pierced openwork onyx brooch to a Victorian floral diamond necklace will represent the jewellery from Susannah Lovis .
‘ A Hanging Garden ’ is part of Liss Llewellyn ’ s ongoing programme of exhibitions , produced in partnership with cultural institutions , museums and commercial venues to reexamine British art ’ s “ unsung heroes and heroines ”.
Lovis said : “ We are absolutely thrilled to be supporting Liss Llewellyn Fine Arts in this exhibition . The stunning works on display will serve as a perfect blend of modern and vintage , acting as a fine balance to our antique jewellery collection .”
12 JEWELLERY FOCUS August 2018 | jewelleryfocus . co . uk