CIBJO Pearl Commission Report Update

The Pearl Commission of CIBJO, The World Jewellery Confederation, has reviewed a number of amendments to the Pearl Blue Book. Check it out. www.cibjo.org

Random Thoughts

The rough diamond market is recovering and prices are close to where they were prior to the downturn; the diamond stocks haven't reflected this yet, trading relatively flat over the past six months. There was also no re-rating on the back of the better-than- expected Christmas numbers and the valuations still appear cheap. We think there is an opportunity here.

- Tyler Broda
www.canaccordadams.com

Spot on.

My World

No-one sees the world the way you do. Check out BBC's MyWorld competition. It's educational and entertaining. Give it a try. For more info click here.

World Wide Wait

The Economist was spot on. Ever noticed how long it takes for web pages to load these days? Sometimes forever.

Lawrence Williams Viewpoint

Lawrence Williams raises a number of interesting points. Is China's growth for real? Some people believe the Chinese growth is all smoke and mirrors. Hard to tell, really. But if there is a crash, the aftershock will be a terrifying reminder that we are living in a mad, mad, mad world.

Useful links:
http://crisismaven.wordpress.com
www.modernchinastudies.org
www.mineweb.com

Sanjay Anandaram Viewpoint

Sanjay was spot on. Q: Isn’t every business a social venture? A: A social venture is one where the dominant goal of the venture is to have social impact (e.g. jobs, enhanced incomes, health, education) with profits (to ensure sustainability) being only the means of achieving this social impact. The entrepreneurship mindset determines the approach (e.g. scale, problem-solving) and culture (e.g. speed, efficiency, low cost, innovative) of this social venture. Many thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Useful link:
www.jumpstartup.net

Design Indaba

The biggest and best design + innovation + creativity conference in Africa. Don't miss. www.designindaba.com

Random Thoughts

So when I buy a business, I am usually buying the manager with them, because I don’t know how to run the business. So when someone comes along that wants to sell their business, I have to look at them in the eye and I have to decide whether they love the money or love the business. It’s okay to love the money, but they have to love the business.

- Warren Buffett
www.berkshirehathaway.com

Spot on.

BBC Archive

BBC’s vast archives are finally being made instantly accessible. Go to www.bbc.co.uk/archive

The Pearl Of Great Price

Mark Tully's latest via BBC on pearls and their mystical properties was a brilliant presentation. I loved it. Many thanks.

Useful link:
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qn7f

Random Thoughts

The idea that men buy the ring themselves and then get down on one knee and pop the question is a myth. We find most men are too practical to spend this sort of money on a whim. They want to think about it very carefully and weigh up the options. In most cases they don't take the decision at all, but leave it to their loved one.

- Stephen Turner
www.macintyres.co.uk

Spot on.

Raina Kelley Viewpoint

Spot on. Why everything you think about Valentine's Day is wrong. My view is just do the right thing. Period.

Love is a promise, love is a souvenir, once given never forgotten, never let it disappear.
- John Lennon

Tokujin Yoshioka Design

Tokujin Yoshioka's Rainbow Church, an inspiring collage of crystal prisms was stunningly beautiful. I have never seen anything like this before. Hats off to Yoshioka!

Useful links:
www.tokujin.com
www.musee-matisse-nice.org

The Dieline

The best package-design blog. Check it out. www.thedieline.com

The New Golden Age

Mark Stahlman's opinion piece in Strategy + Business about the new Silicon Establishment was a brilliant piece. Many thanks. It was interesting to see the technology sector morph into something new/modified generating amazing investments, and then going inert. Hopefully a new and sustainable long cycle version will emerge. Stay tuned.

Useful links:
www.carlotaperez.org
www.microsoft.com
www.ibm.com
www.intel.com
http://www2.goldmansachs.com
www.google.com

Deutsche Borse Photography 2010

The Photographers' Gallery in London is the opening venue for the exhibition between 12 February – 18 April 2010. Later in 2010 the exhibition will be shown at the C/O Berlin and the Deutsche Börse Group headquarters in Frankfurt. Don't miss.

Useful links:
www.photonet.org.uk
www.co-berlin.info

The Virtual Revolution

Join the debate. www.bbc.co.uk/virtualrevolution

Fritz Lang's Metropolis Returns

Metropolis (Germany 1927/2010). Restored version. The images speak for themselves. Don't miss.

Useful links:
www.metropolis2710.de
www.murnau-stiftung.de
www.berlinale.de

Jancis Robinson Viewpoint

Jancis Robinson's viewpoints in Financial Times about wine lovers and the new technology was a brilliant piece. Many thanks.

Useful links:
www.cellartracker.com
http://vincellar.vinfolio.com
www.wineaccess.com
www.burghound.com
www.jancisrobinson.com
www.erobertparker.com

Art: The Economist Report

Amazingly confidence is finally returning to the saleroom, after the fallout from the financial crisis. As one art dealer quipped, 'If you get in the art, the buyers will follow.' Stay tuned.

Useful links:
www.christies.com
www.sothebys.com