Jeweller - May 2019

NEWS
Future of Canadian
mining in doubt?
Canada may be the world’s third-largest
rough diamond producing country
by volume, according to recent figures
from the Kimberley Process, but the
future of its mining industry has been
called into question amid rising costs
and low-value yields.
A new report from Bloomberg found that
every mine in Canada produces stones
that fall well below the global average
price per carat.
In addition, Canadian stones have
tended to be smaller and lower quality than
expected. This sector in particular is facing
increasing competition from synthetic
diamonds, which are cheaper
to produce and sell.
Diamond mining is still a young industry
in the country, with the discovery of
kimberlite in its Northwest Territories
occurring in 1991. But while there were
once high hopes for the region, two of its
main mines, Ekati and Diavik, are now at the
mature end of their life cycle and nearing
closure. Several other major mines have lost
significant market value in recent years and
have changed ownership several times.
Establishing new mines has been
hampered by the high cost of labour and
the remoteness of the sites; northern
Canada is frozen most of the year with
temperatures as low as -50 o C and little
existing infrastructure.
However, recent technology breakthroughs
including drones, autonomous vehicles and
sensors could be the key to overcoming
some of the challenges.
A revival of the CanadaMark brand,
emphasising the ethical practices and
positive associations consumers have with
Canada itself, is also taking place.
MINING IN CANADA IS FACING CHALLENGES
HORMONE-COATED
BACKINGS FOR
JEWELLERY ARE
BEING TESTED
Jeweller to the stars shines in Australia
Celebrity jeweller Robert Procop has joined
forces with Australian diamond expert Garry
Holloway to launch his latest collection,
which was designed with A-lister Angelina
Jolie and her daughter Zahara. The Style
of Jolie collection made its debut at Holloway
Diamonds in Melbourne on April 30.
Procop’s association with Jolie dates back
many years. He has also created pieces for US
President Ronald Reagan and was CEO of the
UK’s Crown jeweller, Garrard.
Procop was introduced to Holloway last year,
saying: “We just clicked. He invited me to
Australia, and I thought, what better place
to launch the new Jolie Collection than in
Australia with a true pioneer in this age-old
diamond industry.”
ROBERT PROCOP AND GARRY HOLLOWAY
All profits from the Style of Jolie range go
towards The Education Partnership for
Children of Conflict, which builds schools and
dormitories in Afghanistan and Cambodia.
The launch also raised money for Dementia
Australia, of which Holloway is a supporter.
Contraceptive jewellery in the works
Scientists have begun testing a new
form of contraception: jewellery.
Researchers from the Georgia Institute of
Technology have developed a hormonecoated
backing for jewellery including
earrings, watches and rings, which can
deliver doses high enough to prevent
pregnancy through the skin.
The method mimics nicotine patches and
existing contraceptive patches, but on a
much smaller scale. Scientists first tested
the hormone backings on pigs before
moving on to hairless rats.
They used a 16 hours on, eight hours
off cycle to mimic a woman taking her
jewellery off before going to bed. “The more
contraceptive options that are available,
the more likely it is that the needs of
individual women can be met,” said lead
author Professor Mark Prausnitz. “Because
putting on jewellery may already be part of
a woman’s daily routine, this technique may
facilitate compliance with the regimen.”
While human trials are yet to begin, the
initial positive results were published in the
Journal Of Controlled Release.
CIBJO president addresses OECD
Addressing a forum of the Organisation for
Economic Co-operation and Development
(OECD) in Paris last month, CIBJO president
Gaetano Cavalieri discussed the organisation’s
plans to ensure responsible sourcing across
jewellery, gemstone and precious metals.
CIBJO released its Responsible Sourcing Blue
Book in January this year, which references
to the OECD’s Due Diligence Guidance
for minerals from high-risk areas, and also
promotes compliance with the Kimberley
Process and the World Diamond Council
System of Warranties.
During his OECD speech, Cavalieri noted
that the jewellery industry is largely operated
by small-to-medium enterprises, which are
frequently family owned and run and have
limited resources.
He noted that while awareness of responsible
practices has grown among CIBJO members
and the public over the past decade, the
challenge was “meeting the requirements of
a socially aware business community, while
trying to protect the fabric of our industry”.
As a result, the Blue Book was written so that
all industry members ‘irrespective of size or
financial capacity’ could apply its standards.
CIBJO is also in the process of setting up a
free online platform to educate members
about due diligence.
14 Jeweller May 2019