Gemologist Carmona accepted to Pacific Council
Los Angeles--Gemologist Charles I. Carmona is the newest member of the Pacific Council on International Policy, an international affairs organization focused on issues that affect the West Coast...
JA: Economic recovery act will benefit jewelers
New York--Jewelers of America (JA) says the economic stimulus act contains several measures that will benefit jewelers, including small business provisions that will benefit the industry, and tax...
Thai government urging gem traders to follow rules
Bangkok--Given the recent U.S. ban on Burmese rubies, Thailand's Ministry of Commerce is joining forces with state agencies and industry bodies to urge rough-gem traders to adhere to stricter...
N.Y. state considers increasing luxury goods tax
Albany, N.Y.--An additional sales tax of 5 percent on luxury goods costing more than $20,000--including jewelry--is one element of New York Gov. David Paterson's proposed $12.1 billion state budget,...
Obama unveils plan to help small businesses
Washington--Under fire for the bailout of big banks and Wall Street institutions, President Barack Obama unveiled a plan on Monday that will make it easier for small-business owners to borrow money,...
CIJBO Congress program now available online
Milan, Italy--The program for the upcoming 2009 CIBJO Congress is now available on the dedicated Congress Web site, Congress2009.CIBJO.org.
Can Obama bring change to retail outlook?
Washington--Though many Americans were on an emotional high after Barack Obama was elected the nation's first black president, retail jewelers who spoke to National Jeweler were more grounded in their...
N.Y. rejects proposed luxury tax
Albany, N.Y.--Legislators for the state of New York have rejected New York Gov. David Paterson's proposal for a luxury tax on jewelry and watches, among other products, according to a report from the...
JA's Political Action Committee expands board
New York--The Jewelers of America Political Action Committee (JAPAC) has expanded its board of directors and embarked on a two-year drive to raise funds from JA members.
Montblanc, Sotheby's launch tour to support literacy
New York--Montblanc and Sotheby's auction house have partnered to put on a worldwide tour of 12 unique portraits that will be auctioned off next fall in support of global education and literacy...
Birks and Mayors cuts staff by 15 percent
Montreal--Chain retail jeweler Birks and Mayors eliminated 73 positions on April 30, and has reduced its workforce by a total of 150 since the beginning of the year, a filing with the Securities and...
JA fights Obama's proposed LIFO repeal
New York--Jewelers of America (JA) has begun an aggressive campaign to oppose a repeal of the last-in, first-out (LIFO) inventory accounting method that President Barack Obama has proposed in his...
Know the rules before hosting a 'gold party'
New York--Retail jewelers cashing in on the phenomenon of private "gold parties" should be aware of the laws that regulate secondhand purchases, the Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC) cautions.
Birks and Mayors 3Q sales drop 23 percent
Montreal--Same-store sales decreased 23 percent at Birks and Mayors Inc. for the 13-week third quarter ended Dec. 27, 2008, and net sales decreased 28.2 percent to $88.1 million compared with $122.6...
RJC to participate in U.N. Global Compact
London--The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) formally joined as a participant in the United Nations Global Compact--Civil Society on Jan. 15 to bring added value to the RJC and its members by...
Which watch brands do Obama, Biden wear?
Washington--The fashion choices of First Lady Michelle Obama have already generated much press, but for the watch industry, all eyes are on what type of timepieces the leader of the free world, and...
NGOs to KP: Suspend Zimbabwe's membership
Ottawa, Canada--Members of the Kimberley Process (KP) Civil Society Coalition are calling upon the KP to suspend Zimbabwe's membership in light of the recent violence unleashed on diamond diggers in...
BHP Billiton backs off bid for Rio Tinto
London--The board of mining company BHP Billiton announced today that it is not moving forward with its acquisition of rival mining company Rio Tinto.
Birks and Mayors holiday sales down 26 percent
Montreal--Same-store sales at Birks and Mayors decreased 26 percent for the 2008 holiday selling season (Nov. 2-Dec. 27), compared with the similar period last year (Nov. 4-Dec. 29, 2007), the company...
NRF: Stimulus bill doesn't do enough for consumers
Washington--The National Retail Federation (NRF) told the Senate on Thursday that the economic-stimulus legislation under consideration fails to do enough for consumers, and repeated its call for a...