The R&M “Lettre”

Last week, the Argyle pink tender rolled into town. Which once again brings up the “I” word—investment.

New York – According to a few early predictions, this holiday season could turn out to be a happy one for retailers. Market research company Emarketer has predicted that retail sales in November and December could reach $885.7 billion, a nearly 6 percent year-over-year increase.

A global marketing campaign launched by Hearts On Fire which targets the so-called Millennials, people born between 1980 and the early 2000s, has put the spotlight on to the issue of how to market diamond jewelry to this category of potential buyers.

Diamond market overview Traders reported a quiet week of trading with many offices closed for the Jewish holidays. The main focus is on the US market, where jewellery retailers are preparing for the end of year holiday sales.

The Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB) in Mumbai is to ban trade in lab-grown diamonds following a vote by members at the bourse’s annual general meeting (AGM).

This week, someone called my attention to a story in the print version of the New York Post highlighting a trend many in the jewelry industry are already aware of: non-traditional engagement rings.

Auction house Christie’s is to auction a 16.08-carat cushion-shaped fancy vivid pink, type IIa diamond ring, with an estimate of $23-28 million, at its upcoming Magnificent Jewels auction in Geneva.

Storied jewelers Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels did “exceptionally well in a volatile environment,” Richemont reported in its latest financial results. 

Tiffany & Co. engaged in discussions with top Apple executives a few months back, CEO Frédéric Cumenal said during a discussion of smartwatches at the Goldman Sachs Global Retailing Conference on Sept. 10.

On Nov. 11 in Geneva, Sotheby’s will auction the Blue Moon, a 12.03 ct. internally flawless vivid blue estimated to sell for between $35 million and $55 million. 

At its Sept. 9 product event, Apple announced a new partnership with French luxury brand Hermès to produce a co-branded version of its Apple Watch. 

In a week of big stories, the outcome of Tiffany v. Costco was certainly the biggest, as a federal court in New York handed down a decision that answered the question