Jeweller - February Issue 2018

10 YEARS AGO
WHAT WAS MAKING NEWS 10 YEARS AGO?
A SNAPSHOT OF THE INDUSTRY EVENTS THAT MADE NEWS HEADLINES IN THE FEBRUARY 2008 ISSUE OF JEWELLER.
Calleija sets designs
on exports
The story: The innovative jewellery of a Gold Coast
based designer is set to shine brighter in European
markets, thanks to a Smart State grant.
Regional Development and Industry Minister Desley
Boyle recently announced a $47,500 grant to Calleija
Jewellers to assist the company in develop a new
export marketing strategy.
“Calleija Jewellers has been selling its designs to a
number of overseas clients,” Boyle said.
“It has recently been awarded an exclusive
JAA and DCLA
reunite
The story: The Diamond Grading Laboratory
of Australia has agreed to cease its consumer
promotional campaign, which criticises
elements of the industry including the JAA.
The move is part of peace talks between the
JAA and DCLA to reunite for the common
good of the industry.
“The DCLA has agreed to the following:
To immediately cease its traditional
promotional campaign, to rejoin the JAA, to
work closely with the JAA to bring to the JAA’s
attention deceptive industry conduct.”
commission to develop a range of jewellery for the
prestigious English car company Aston Martin.”
Boyle highlighted that Calleija now had designed
three ranges, which Aston Martin will exhibit at its
London dealership and at buyer functions.
WA JEWELLERS CELEBRATE
DESIGN AWARD WINS
The story: The WA jewellery industry
is fast becoming the country’s hub of
jewellery design, with a solid number
of designers from the state winning
awards for their pieces and new design
facilities being built to support them.
Nine of the 25 national finalists in
the inaugural AGR Matthey Next
Generation Design Competition
were from WA.
According to Michael Dieckmann,
JAA director for WA, the timing of this
achievement could not have been
better, with WA Central TAFE having just
established a state-of-the-art jewellery
studio in the heart of Perth.
GOLD PRICES FLY TO RECORD
HIGH INTERNATIONALLY
The story: Gold’s appeal as a safehaven
investment saw the metal shoot
to the record price of $US914 an ounce
early last month.
“There is blue sky ahead of us and
room for gold to go higher,” said Darren
Heathcote of Investec Australia.
Other analysts predict that prices will
break through $US1,000 an ounce this
year. The price hike comes as a concern
for retail jewellers around the world.
New technique takes guesswork out of opal mining
The story: Australian scientists have developed a new
technique for detecting opals underground.
Professor Chadderton, of the Research School of
Physical Sciences and Engineering at Australian National
University, said the new technique could be a major
boom for the opal mining industry.
“These discoveries have the immediate potential to
revolutionise the way that exploration for precious
opal is undertaken, and could pave the way for more
cost-effective exploration, mining and continuity of
supply,” he said.
Natural radiation emitted from the stones allows
prospectors to “see” underground areas of high opal
concentration to improve the detection process.
42 Jeweller February 2018