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Wednesday, April 21, 2010

The History Of Beauty

Beauty Imagined: A History of the Global Beauty Industry by Geoffrey G. Jones provides authoritative history of the global beauty industry from its emergence in the nineteenth century to the present day, exploring how today's global giants grew. Don't miss.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Random Thoughts

Emotions spread from person to person because of two features of human interaction: we are biologically hardwired to mimic others outwardly, and in mimicking their outward displays, we come to adopt their inward states. If your friend feels happy, she smiles, you smile, and in the act of smiling you also come to feel happy. In bars and bedrooms, at work and on the street, everywhere people interact, we tend to synchronize our facial expressions, vocalizations, and postures unconsciously and rapidly, and as a result we also meld our motional states.

- Nicholas Christakis /James Fowler
http://christakis.med.harvard.edu
http://jhfowler.ucsd.edu

Spot on.

Wine Market Update

Acording to Jay McInerney, the fine wine market seems to be recovering faster than the art and real estate markets. Basically the market is back in form and I hope it stays firm.

Useful links:
www.sothebys.com
www.ackerwines.com

Gary Hamel Viewpoint

I thought Gary Hamel's opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal about the fault line that runs between individuals and the institutions was rightfully true. We are a bunch of disconnected professionals. I guess there must be a way to reconnect and be truthful.

Useful links:
www.garyhamel.com
www.towersperrin.com
www.edelman.com/trust/2010
www.gallup.com
http://blogs.wsj.com/management

Monday, April 19, 2010

Random Thoughts

I had coffee with an entrepreneur last week who was worried that business was stagnant at her small, 20-person IT services company in New Delhi. She was looking for new ways to grow and asked me: Do you have any good business ideas I can use? I get asked this question almost everyday. So here is my advice to everyone: Stop looking for good ideas. That’s right, you read this correctly. Please don’t tell me about another good idea ever again. Instead tell me about good problems. They will most likely bring a business opportunity.

- Gautam Gandhi
www.google.co.in

Spot on.

Fake Artworks

The National Gallery will be displaying some of its most embarrassing acquisitions for a new exhibition looking at fake artworks. Check it out.

Useful link:
www.nationalgallery.org.uk

Coachella

Coachella: Hollywood's answer to Glastonbury. www.coachella.com + www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk

Curious Collections

A gallery of some of the wackiest collections on earth. Don't miss.

Most Innovative Companies: A Special Report

Take a look at the top 25 companies. www.bcg.com

Innovation Report

The Economist special report on innovation was insightful. The islands of success are surrounded by a sea of problems, but the opportunities are equally extraordinary. Really.

Useful links:
www.unctad.org
www.anilkgupta.com

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Random Thoughts

In addition to buying shares in mining companies and natural resources funds, investors looking to gain exposure should also consider buying loose diamond of 5 to 20 carats with grading certificates. Blue, pink, yellow and red hues are sought-after.

- Ellen Kelleher

Do your own research and do the right thing.

A Trip Inside A Diamond Mine

Diavik mine, Canada. www.diavik.ca

Friday, April 16, 2010

Chaim Even Zohar Viewpoint

Interesting overview on rough diamond prices. Many thanks.

Useful links:
www.diamondintelligence.com
www.dtc.com

Henri Cartier-Bresson Exhibition

Visit New York's Museum of Modern Art to view The Modern Century, Henri Cartier-Bresson's diverse choice of subjects. Don't miss.

Useful links:
www.moma.org
www.artic.edu
www.sfmoma.org
www.high.org

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Lawrence Stoller

Take a look at Stoller's gemstone artistry @ www.crystalworks.com

The Johnny Cash Project

A brilliant idea. Take a look at a personalized, living portrait of Johnny Cash. Visually inspiring, really.

Useful links:
www.thejohnnycashproject.com
www.aaronkoblin.com

Art Market Update

The Economist review on Hong Kong's art market was interesting. I think the television in mainland China has played a big role in encouraging the wealthy elite to enter the art market. Period.

A white-jade seal dated from 1796, the last year of the Emperor Qianlong’s reign, set a new world record. Sold at auction less than two years ago for HK$46.2m against an estimate of HK$15m, it was estimated this time at HK$50m, only to earn HK$95.9m.
- Economist

Useful links:
www.sothebys.com
www.e-yaji.com

Ryan McGinness

I really liked Ryan McGinness's signature logo drawings. They were simply brilliant. Period. Take a look. www.ryanmcginness.com

Random Thoughts

It's good to stand there and take a step back and just look at the Army from a distance. This will be history one day, Camp Bastion will be dust. We are painting history.

- Graeme Lothian
www.iwm.org.uk
www.military-art.com

I think it's important to record it for the next generation.

Fast Pencil

Take a look at Silicon Valley startup FastPencil @ www.fastpencil.com

Global Business BBC

Peter Day's talk about the standards-setters; what they do, and why it matters on BBC World Service was insightful. Many thanks.

Useful links:
www.zyen.com
www.nottingham.ac.uk
www.baesystems.com
www.intertek.com
www.bsigroup.com
www.spiraltd.com

Reorganise For Resilience

Q: How can companies grow their business even in these difficult economic times?
A: Improved customer insight.

Useful link:
www.ranjaygulati.com

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Random Thoughts

How do investment crowds get started? There is no single right answer to this question. But I think it is accurate to say that most investment crowds find their genesis in the deaths of other investment crowds. I like to use a very apt cosmological metaphor to help understand this process. Investment crowds are the stars of the financial universe. The stars in the Milky Way and in the much larger cosmos have limited lifetimes, which typically end in a massive explosion called a supernova. But new stars are being born (i.e., starting their own process of nuclear fusion) all the time. What is the source of the material that is the stuff of a new star? Well, it is just the cosmic debris left by the explosions of old stars! In much the same way, investment crowds bum brightly in the financial universe and are responsible for much of the observed price fluctuation. But they have finite lifetimes (a few months to a few years). The inevitable disintegration of any investment crowd causes a big run-up or drop in prices and lots of commotion and confusion in the marketplace. But the debris associated with the disintegration of a crowd is the stuff from which the next crowd forms. The change in price associated with the disintegration of an investment crowd is powerful advertising. It attracts the attention of investors, especially of those whose portfolios have been directly affected by the rise or fall in asset value.

- Carl Futia
http://theartofcontrariantrading.blogspot.com
http://carlfutia.blogspot.com

So true!

Bill Viola

Take a look at Bill Voila's The Night Journey, an experimental video game. It's immersive. Many thanks to Hilarie M. Sheets for sharing the info.

It's a game that rewards you for slowing down and for introspection. You're alone and you're not even told why you're there. You just fall out of the sky into the middle of this amazing landscape with mountains, sea, desert, and forest, and go wherever you want. The more you do things mindfully, the more is revealed to you.
- Bill Viola

Useful link:
www.billviola.com

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Surround Vision

Take a look at MIT Media Lab's Surround Vision. www.media.mit.edu

Peter Gabriel Update

Devin Leonard's viewpoint in BusinessWeek about Peter Gabriel's recommendation technology was interesting. He is a brilliant technology thinker and entrepreneur.

Useful links:
www.thefilter.com
www.petergabriel.com

Art Market Update

Souren Melikian's opinion piece in New York Times about “La Voie du Tao” (The Tao Path) was insightful. Many thanks.

Useful link:
www.grandpalais.fr

Blind Sculpture

I thought the performances by a group of blindfolded artists was brilliant.
www.greenenaftaligallery.com

DTC Sightholders 2010

The Diamond Trading Company (DTC) sightholder list 2010. www.dtc.com

Friday, April 09, 2010

Random Thoughts

I am somebody who has been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to test my limits. And I would remind you philosophically that my definition of a fool is somebody who has reached his limits. Almost by definition, whatever goals you set, you need to constantly readjust them so that at no time do you reach your goals before your time is up.

- Samuel Zell
www.tribune.com

Spot on.

Your Life In 2020

Interesting viewpoint. Only time will tell. I think it's good to see the return of value of integrity + the real world. Stay tuned.

Horse Soldiers

Extraordinary story. A must read. www.dougstanton.net

Mission Blue Initiative

Take a look at the Hope Spots and learn about them.

Useful links:
www.mission-blue.org
www.noaa.gov
www.iucn.org

Art Market Update

The Economist report on the growing Arab art market was interesting. Many thanks.

Useful links:
www.artdubai.ae
www.sharjahbiennial.org
www.qma.com.qa
www.thethirdline.com
www.ivde.net
www.farjamcollection.com

Chaim Even Zohar Viewpoint

What a story! Really.

Useful links:
www.diamondintelligence.com
www.rosyblue.com

Marange Diamond Update

The Marange timeline: http://www.diamonds.net/zimbabwe

Useful link:
www.kimberleyprocess.com

Tuesday, April 06, 2010

Swoon

Ann Landi's viewpoints in ARTnews about Swoon's public art projects was fascinating. I think they have found there own place in the art world in a peculiar way.

Art Market Update

Souren Melikian's opinion piece in New York Times about Chinese art/market was interesting.

Judging from last week’s buying binge in New York, which the Chinese attended in such large numbers that Christie’s decided to hold the auction in the vast room usually reserved for Impressionist and Contemporary art, the days when Westerners with a great eye and the required cash could amass fabulous hoards of Chinese art are probably over. Roughly two thirds of the 611 lots that came on the block in a mammoth two-day sale went to Chinese dealers and collectors. They bought across the board, in every category, at every financial level.
- Souren Melikian

Useful link:
www.christies.com

Monday, April 05, 2010

Random Thoughts

The question I’ve been asking myself is whether the success of a company solely rests on its MBA talent pool. Is it possible for a company in India to be successful if it has a diverse set of people coming from various backgrounds such as the arts, sciences, and the humanities? Given that India itself is a diverse country and we pride ourselves on being so, shouldn’t the corporate sector reflect this? Surely we can add a bit of desi spice to the Anglo-American model? Isn’t it possible that the non-MBA fields also teach you a thing or two about being a leader, a manager, and a successful member of a team in the corporate world? Or, to put the question in reverse: do you need an MBA to be a successful manager, business leader, or entrepreneur? There’s no denying the fact that there are successful business leaders who hold MBAs here and around the world , but you also have numerous examples of people who don’t (Bill Gates, Narayan Murthy, and Steve Jobs to name three) who have gone on to lead successful companies.

- Rupa Subramanya Dehejia

Spot on.

Ryan McGinness

Rebecca Robertson's story in ARTnews about Ryan McGinness was interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Useful link:
www.ryanmcginness.com

Legatum Center

A brilliant source of info for aspiring entrepreneurs. Check it out.

Useful link:
http://legatum.mit.edu

Roman & Wiliams

Take a look at the documentary produced by The Scout about Roman & Wiliams, a New York-based design duo at http://thescoutmag.com

Useful link:
www.romanandwilliams.com

The Jazz Artist

Gina Southgate was brilliant. I loved it. Many thanks.

Useufl links:
www.thesagegateshead.org
www.ijfo.org

Chaim Even Zohar Viewpoint

The Dubai story was interesting. Today, billions of dollars worth of rough diamonds transit through Dubai. Chaim Even Zohar was spot on. Dubai is not the issue. Tomorrow uncertainty can arise in another country. What is relevant here are the policies of the WFDB. The organization will be stronger and better if it continues its policy of maximum inclusiveness. Many thanks for your insightful post.

Useful links:
www.diamondintelligence.com
www.dde.ae
www.dmcc.ae

Thursday, April 01, 2010

Green Auction: A Bid To Save The Earth

Christies will be holding an April auction set to raise awareness and funds for environmental causes. The Green Auction: A Bid to Save the Earth will take place on Earth Day, April 22, 2010 offering something for every art and fashion lover and enthusiast of nature. Don't miss.

Useful links:
www.abidtosavetheearth.org
www.christies.com/livebidding
www.charitybuzz.com

Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2010

Take a look at established and unknown artist's work for the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition - now in its 242nd year.

Useful link:
www.royalacademy.org.uk

Anish Kapoor's Orbit Tower

Anish Kapoor's spiralling sculpture designed to mark the London 2012 Olympic Games was brilliant. I liked it.

Useful links:
www.anishkapoor.com
www.london2012.com

Monday, March 29, 2010

Pritzker Architecture Prize 2010

Ryue Nishizawa + Kazuyo Sejima has won the 2010 Pritzker Architecture Prize. Congratulations!

Useful link:
www.pritzkerprize.com

Art Market Update

Souren Melikian's viewpoints in New York Times about Salon du Dessin art fair was interesting. Many thanks.

Useful link:
www.salondudessin.com

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Diamond World 2016

How will the diamond world look in 2016? Take a look at Chaim Even Zohar/De Beer's forecast about diamond growth rates in various key markets.

Useful links:
www.diamondintelligence.com
www.debeersgroup.com
www.dtc.com

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

FreeGreen

Free blueprints for sustainable houses. Check it out. Many thanks to Cliff Kuang. www.freegreen.com

Designing A Movement

Valery Casey was spot on. Think about sustainability as systems design. Offer real-world applications. Connect the dots.

Useful links:
http://valcasey.com
www.designersaccord.org

Mike Perry Studio

Visually intriguing. I loved it. www.mikeperrystudio.com

Global Business BBC

Peter Day's viewpoints in BBC/Global Business on the dos/dont's of doing business in Rwanda was educational and insightful. I enjoyed it. Many thanks.

Useful links:
http://bourboncoffeeusa.com
www.rwandacafe.com
www.gahayalinks.com
www.sulfo.com
www.utexrwa.com

Gaurav Jain Viewpoint

Gaurav Jain's opinion piece in Wall Street Journal on making movies in India was educational/insightful. Setting up a business in India requires a thick skin/hardwork/patience + a bit of luck.

Useful link:
http://www.illusion-i.com

Architecture Update

Nicolai Ouroussoff's viewpoints in New York Times about the imaginative effort by architects to retain the fading world of the Bedouin culture/landscape via high-tech aesthetics of the West and the traditions of the desert was a brilliant piece. I thorougly enjoyed it. Many thanks.

Useful links:
www.jeannouvel.com
www.pcf-p.com
www.heritageofqatar.org
www.qma.com.qa

Josh Humbert Viewpoint

Josh Humbert's opinion piece in JCK about the state of Tahitian pearl farming was interesting. Josh, you are passionate about pearls, and I wish you all the best.

Useful link:
www.kamokapearls.com

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Industry Gallery

Brilliant contemporary designs. www.industrygallerydc.com

Annie Leonard Update

Annie Leonard, the genius behind The Story of Stuff and The Story of Cap and Trade, has released The Story of Bottled Water just in time for World Water Day. Check it out.

Useful link:
www.storyofstuff.com

App Entrepreneur

Mark Gregory's viewpoints in BBC News about new type of entrepreneurs a.k.a app developers was a brilliant piece. Many thanks.

Useful links:
http://pocketgod.blogspot.com
www.admob.com

Coral Update

According to a news release from ocean conservation organization SeaWeb, the vote to protect red and pink coral failed to receive the necessary two-thirds majority at the 15th Conference of Parties of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Sixty-four countries voted in favor of protection, 59 against it and 10 abstained. Definitely a step backward for the long-term survival of red and pink coral, really.

Useful links:
www.seaweb.org
www.cites.org
www.tooprecioustowear.org

Bostor Art Theft

John Wilson's report in BBC News about the Gardner robbery was interesting.

Useful link:
www.gardnermuseum.org

Monday, March 22, 2010

Doorway Photos

The doorway photos were brilliant. They are truly real windows into other cultures. Here are 23 of the best images. Many thanks to Budget Travel.

Useful link:
www.budgettravel.com

Gambler's Book Shop

For all things gambling related. Check it out. www.gamblersbookshop.com

Human Rights Watch Update

Loubna Freih Georges/Walter Stresemann's viewpoints in Rapaport News about blood diamonds + Switzerland's role in the global and domestic jewelry trade was educational and insightful. My view is retailers and wholesalers should refuse to purchase diamonds that originated in Marange. Those in the jewelry industry should have genuine certificates attesting the stones' legitimacy. Period.

Useful links:
www.baselworld.com
www.kimberleyprocess.com
www.hrw.org

Random Thoughts

Our culture is celebrity obsessed. We live and breathe famous people. We read magazines to see what they are doing and watch television channels devoted to their comings and goings. When are own lives do not seem nearly interesting enough we look to the famous few who live their splendidly isolated lives – isolated from any semblance of reality – and we think to ourselves, if only we were more like them.

- IdexOnline
www.idexonline.com

So true!

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Baselworld Update

Ken Kessler's viewpoint in the Wall Street Journal about the Baselworld show was interesting and insightful. Baselworld is the showcase for the best new models/designs in jewelry and watches. Like every trade fair, Baselworld has its own rules, hierarchy and high costs, but still it's a must visit for those who are in business.

Useful link:
www.baselworld.com

Chaim Even Zohar Viewpoint

Chaim Even Zohar's opinion piece in IdexOnline about De Beer's mining policy was interesting. Many thanks.

Useful links:
www.diamondintelligence.com
www.debeersgroup.com
www.dtc.com

Random Thoughts

Hockey is a consummate sports analogy for trading — fast moving, full of energy, full of fight and emotion, tremendous back and forth. Nearly every winning move, from skate to stick, is chock-full of deception. Try it, you'll see.

- Jay Pasch

Gem /diamond business is no different.

Gemfields Update

Gemfields has announced the results of its first 2010 rough emerald/beryl auction, which was held March 11-15, in Jaipur, India. Check out the Jaipur auction results at http://www.gemfields.co.uk/images/stories/reports/62.pdf

Useful link:
www.gemfields.co.uk

Friday, March 19, 2010

Elise Skalwold

Elise Skalwold. Gemological curator at Cornell University. Check it out.

Useful link:
www.nordskip.com

Art Market Update

The Economist report on Maastricht art fair was insightful. Maastricht is the sort of fair where clever dealers bring their discoveries. What's really amazing is that there is no shortage of money to spend. Indeed a great place to spend time, really.

Useful links:
www.tefaf.com
www.pelhamgalleries.com

Diego Rodriguez Viewpoint

A conversation with Michael Mauer was a brilliant piece. Many thanks.

Useful link:
http://metacool.typepad.com/metacool
www.porsche.com

Gary Hamel Viewpoint

Gary Hamel's opinion piece in Wall Street Journal about Gore’s management practices was educational and insightful. I really liked the concept where associates, who are all owners in the company, self-commit to what they want to work on. This creates a sense of belonging, which is what is lacking in many companies worldwide.

If you call a meeting, and no one shows up, you’re probably not a leader, because no one is willing to follow you.
- Terri Kelly

Useful links:
www.garyhamel.com
www.gore.com
http://blogs.wsj.com/management

AFOL A Blocumentary

Jess Gibson's blocumentary was simply brilliant. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Many thanks.

Useful links:
http://vimeo.com/9581676
http://jessgibson.com

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Socially Resposible Design

Citizen Architect = a brilliant documentary. The idea = teach architecture by doing architecture. Check it out.

Useful link:
http://citizenarchitectfilm.com

Startup Updates

Don Clark's viewpoints in Wall Street Journal on two silicon valley startups (Tier Logic + Tabula) was interesting. At the end of the day it's all about customer needs and connecting the dots.

Useful links:
www.tierlogic.com
www.tabula.com

Ivory Update

The Economist report on ivory sales was interesting. Those in favour of such sales (most notably, the countries which seek to make them) say they allow countries to benefit from having elephants, and help to finance elephant conservation and protection. Those against them (some conservation charities and some academics in the field) argue that any sale of ivory will lead to an increase in poaching by stimulating demand, and that little of the money raised actually goes to elephants. I think both sides are right in this.

Useful links:
www.cites.org
www.iied.org
www.bornfree.org.uk

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Update

(via JCK) The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning consumers about the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using the products immediately.

Name of Product: Children's Metal Charm Bracelets
Units: Unknown
Importer: Buy-Rite Designs, of Freehold, N.J. (The firm is no longer in business.)
Hazard: The bracelets contain high levels of cadmium. Laboratory analysis determined that following a 24-hour incubation in simulated stomach acid, over 20,000 micrograms of cadmium were released from the snowman alone. Cadmium can be toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Description: This warning involves Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer brand children's Christmas and winter-themed bracelets. The two styles involved in this notice are the Bumble Snowman and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The bracelets were sold with winter and Christmas-themed charms including a snowman, Christmas tree, candy cane and snowflake.
Sold at: Discount and dollar-type stores nationwide between 2006 and March 2009 for about $1.Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should immediately take these charm bracelets away from children and dispose of the jewelry.


Useful link:
www.cpsc.gov

Global Business BBC

Peter Day's report on Rwanda's ambition to become the information technology and business hub for central and eastern Africa was insightful. I wish Rwanda all the best.

Useful links:
www.rwandaworks.com
www.rwandaworks.com
www.minaffet.gov.rw
www.bnr.rw
www.dfid.gov.uk
www.rwandaworks.com
www.hrw.org

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Art Market Update

Souren Melikian's viewpoints in New York Times about the 23rd European Fine Art Fair was insightful. Many thanks.

Useful links:
www.tefaf.com
www.ottonaumannltd.com

Innovation Uncensored Conference

Applied creativity. Practical advice. Inspiration. Don't miss.

Useful link:
http://innovationuncensored.com

Pearl Market Update

Rosario Autore was spot on. A global grading system is needed to identify pearls of the highest quality, wherever they come from. A good pearl is rarer than a diamond. Sadly consumers today are grading pearls with their pocketbooks.

Useful link:
www.pearlautore.com.au

Chaim Even Zohar Viewpoint

ChaimEven Zohar's viewpoints on India's diamond market was interesting. At the end of the day it is the presence of a strong government/banking support that makes the Indian diamond sector survive/thrive in the dog-eat-dog world.

Useful link:
www.diamondintelligence.com

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Random Thoughts

Managers thinking about accounting issues should never forget one of Abraham Lincoln’s favorite riddles: “How many legs does a dog have if you call his tail a leg?” The answer: “Four, because calling a tail a leg does not make it a leg.” It behooves managers to remember that Abe’s right even if an auditor is willing to certify that the tail is a leg.

- Warren Buffett
www.berkshirehathaway.com

Spot on.

Gary Hamel Viewpoint

Gary Hamel was spot on. Be passionate. Lead, don’t follow. Aim to surprise. Be unreasonable. Innovate incessantly and pervasively. Sweat the details. Think like an engineer, feel like an artist. It does makes sense, really.

Useful links:
www.garyhamel.com
http://blogs.wsj.com/management

Gurcharan Das Viewpoint

Gurcharan Das's opinion piece in Wall Street Journal about India's overweening regulators and the marketplace was educational and insightful. TII (This is India).

Useful links:
http://gurcharandas.blogspot.com
http://gurcharandas.org

Zumtobel Group Award 2010

Architecture. Engineering. Designs. Sustainability. Quality of life. Check it out.

Useful link:
www.zumtobel-group-award.com

Tim Fishlock

The Art of Tim Fishlock. www.timfishlock.com

BBC SuperPower

A visualization of the growth of the internet via BBC was brilliant. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Many thanks.

Russian Culture And Art

Souren Melikian's opinion piece in New York Times about Russian culture/art was fascinating. Many thanks.

Useful links:
www.louvre.fr
www.shm.ru

Random Thoughts

This year we saw the emergence of a new generation of actors who have embraced their individuality. They are using the red carpet to express their personal styles, whether vintage inspired or very modern, we are seeing diamonds used in an exciting variety of ways.

- Jamie Cadwell
www.dps.org

Spot on.

Monday, March 08, 2010

Thailand's Blue Diamond Affair

Christopher Shay's report in Times about Thailand's blue diamond heist was interesting. The two-decade old whodunit reads like a paperback thriller, really, but this is Thailand (TIT). Thailand will continue to investigate the case with new twists/turns complicating the mystery behind the blue diamond affair. In Thailand everything takes time so stay tuned.

Nandos

I really liked the creativity/innovation behind Nando's website. It was brilliant. Check it out.

Useful link:
www.nandos.com

Art Market Update

Georgina Adam's viewpoints in Financial Times about the state of the art market was educational and insightful. Many thanks.

Those driving the art market right now are citizens of the world, they have homes in five, six, 10 different places. A perfect example is the billionaire “Gilded” Lily Safra, revealed by Bloomberg to be the buyer of the £65m Giacometti, who has homes in London, Geneva, Monaco, the Côte d’Azur and New York.
- Bill Ruprecht
www.sothebys.com

Useful links:
www.sothebys.com
www.artparis.fr
www.tefaf.com
www.christies.com
www.theartnewspaper.com

Random Thoughts

I love that Gossip Girl uses my jewelry to help tell the stories of each of the characters. It's exactly the reason why I designed the collections--whether it's a favorite number, or a lucky elephant, each icon represents something special and meaningful to the wearer. It's all about telling your own story and making it personal.

- Alex Woo
www.alexwoo.com

Spot on.