Diamond Grading Labs

Ken Gassman writes about diamond grading labs, their certificates and methodology + other viewpoints @ http://www.idexonline.com/portal_FullMazalUbracha.asp?id=30649

Hats off to Ken Gassman! It was a brilliant article.

Heard On The Street

Fall in love in haste, repent at leisure.

India-British Trade + Diamonds

(via the-week) According to London-based Commonwealth Business Council, rough diamonds accounted for as much as 70 percent of British exports to India until two years ago. Nearly half that level now, they still account for 33 percent of exports, often concealed in official trade reports as 'non-metallic mineral manufactures'. Scrap metals account for another three percent. Although India is the third largest consumer of diamonds, with an eight percent share after America (51 percent) and Japan (11 percent), much of the diamonds sold to India through Britain are thought to head straight to Surat, Gujarat, for cutting and polishing. Eleven out of every 12 diamonds sold around the world are processed in India, irrespective of where they are mined. In terms of value, the exported precious stones are worth around 1.1 billion pounds ($2 billion).The Commonwealth Business Council figures, which are to be released officially later this month in its report, 'India UK Trade and Investment Flows 2008', are backed up by British government statistics.

Useful link:
www.cbcglobal.biz

Random Thoughts

Ain’t only three things to gambling: knowing the 60-40 end of a proposition, money management, and knowing yourself.

- 'Puggy' Pearson, the late, great poker pro

How true!

Online Games + The Experience

Recent advancements in video game designs are offering advanced degree of realism + connect with the characters much more + each moment in a game is providing a unique experience.

Useful links:
www.naturalmotion.com
www.lucasarts.com
www.gamedaily.com

Jewelry From Mine To Shelf

Wal-Mart Stores Inc is introducing a line of gold and silver jewelry that can be traced from mines and manufacturers that meet its environmental and human rights standards. A customer who buys the jewelry can log on to a website to see where their particular piece of jewelry was mined and learn about the suppliers' environmental programs.

Useful links:
www.walmart.com
www.samsclub.com

As the largest retailer of jewelry in the world, we see an opportunity to bring more sustainable practices to this industry.
- Wal-Mart

Hats off to Wal-Mart! Wal-Mart's move is definitely a baby step in the right direction. I hope other brand jewelers would recognize the need and follow Wal-Mart's footsteps that meet sustainability standards.

Starbucks Phenomenon

I found John Quelch's views on Starbucks' troubles + the impact @ http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/5973.html educational and insightful.

Useful link:
Marketing Know: How

Stores no longer have the soul of the past and reflect a chain of stores vs. the warm feeling of a neighborhood store.
- Howard Schultz

How true!

Carbon Capture + Storage (CCS) System

I found the article on carbon capture and storage system @ http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jul/14/carboncapturestorage.fossilfuels very interesting. My view is even if they find a suitable location for storing carbon, the real challenge would be proper maintenance and monitoring systems. But at least it's a step in the right direction.

Useful links:
www.ldeo.columbia.edu
www.bgs.ac.uk