Welcome to the final edition of Diamond Shavings, at least under this name. JCK will likely still feature a web roundup in some form in the future.
I feel like I’ve explained why I’m stepping down as JCK’s news director a lot over the past week—but if you’re still interested, you can read about it and my future plans on LinkedIn.
To be clear, I will continue to contribute articles to JCKonline—one’s coming Monday!—and to cohost The Jewelry District podcast.
As Diamond Shavings has been my signature feature, I’ll tell you why it’s significant I’m writing these words this particular week.
March 18 was the 28th anniversary of the day I started working at JCK, way back in 1998. The very first Diamond Shavings ran 19 years ago this week, on March 16, 2007. (You can see it here; the format has been cleaned up since then.) That means I’ve done somewhere between 900 and 950 of these weekly roundups.
So it’s been 28 years at JCK and 19 years of Diamond Shavings—plus 15½ years compiling JCK News Daily. It’s been a fantastic ride. It also feels like it’s time to do something different.
Press releases about people leaving jobs often say, “I’ve made the difficult decision to leave.” And sometimes that seems trite. But trust me, this was a very difficult decision—one of the hardest I’ve ever made. I’ve always felt lucky that to stay employed for so long at such a quality publication.
And on that note, I’d like to thank my JCK colleagues Victoria Gomelsky, Melissa Rose Bernardo, Sarin Bachmann, Randi Gewertz, Karen Dybis, Natalie Chomet, and many, many others—past and present—for being so supportive, and tolerant of my idiosyncrasies.
I also want to thank JCK for everything. You have given me so much, and I hope I contributed a lot in return. I will always feel connected to the JCK family, even though I am (mostly) leaving the nest.
And thank you to all of you who have been reading all these years.
So here’s one last list of links. All below.
Signet to shutter James Allen, Rocksbox sites
– Earnings call transcript
– The Motley Fool: Is Signet undervalued?
– Company’s stock jumps
De Beers cuts about one-third of sightholders
Exit interview with GIA legend Tom Moses
JCK scores first interview with Amber Pepper as Natural Diamond Council CEO
– WFDB allots “significant” amount for natural diamond marketing
Interview with the Responsible Jewellery Council’s new CEO, Purvi Shah
The U.S. consumer is hitting a rough patch
– 59% of Americans say economy’s getting worse
Saks Global’s Chapter 11 gets go-ahead from bondholders
– Saks CEO received $8.5 million signing bonus
Nordstrom experiences “glow-up” under private ownership
Lab-grown diamonds, fine jewelry are standouts for Macy’s
No “recovery in sight” for diamond industry
– Bloomberg: Empty Surat bourse mirrors industry’s pain
– FT on how the industry “lost its sparkle”
S&P downgrades Botswana credit rating amid diamond market crisis
Lucara finds rare blue diamond at Botswana mine
Diavik to permanently halt mining on March 24
Burgundy getting larger loan to stabilize Ekati’s finances
Alrosa invests in Russia’s diamond-cutting industry
Ghana hosts Kimberley Process review meeting
“Why gold can’t be lab-grown”
Swarovski reports revenue boost but sees tougher 2026
– Interview with Swarovski CEO (video)
Why Breitling writedown shows “governance failure”
Newly formed entity acquires C.W. Sellors out of administration
Ballerinas, supermodels give 24 Karat Weekend extra glitz
Kering COO Duplaix appointed to head company’s new jewelry unit
David Yurman promotes Maria Valim to EVP, global sales
Japanese jeweler Tasaki names new global CEO
Former Sotheby’s watch specialist joins Christie’s
“Master jeweler” Thomas Gentille dies
De Beers board member Matome Tsholetsa Malema dies
U.K. Rolex dealer jailed for money laundering
Southern Jewelry News goes “digital-first” under new owner
Tanishq opens 10th U.S. location, in Westborough, Mass.
Can two Caviar trademarks for jewelry exist?
The “growing trend of divorce diamonds”
Australian jeweler slammed for mocking homeless people in ad
Inside first Christie’s first jewelry sale of the year
26+ ct. diamond tops $1 million in London auction
– We previewed it
Sotheby’s, De Beers unveil Jwaneng diamond
Oscars 2026: Jewelry looks we loved
JCK Rocks books Nelly to headline 2026 event
Tiffany debuts campaign with Natalie Portman
Trump-appointed commission approves gold coin with his image on it
9-year-old sells jewelry to support local fire department (video)
Chinese scientists create “hexagonal diamond” tougher than natural
Some dude is leaving his job
From the Podcast:
Tucson, Tariffs Update, Gold Volatility, and Diamond Market Trends: The Jewelry District
From the Blog:
Interview with Responsible Jewellery Council CEO Purvi Shah
Interview With Natural Diamond Council CEO Amber Pepper
Exit Interview With GIA Legend Tom Moses
That’s a wrap! Talk to you all soon.
– Email: robbates922@gmail.com
– Connect on LinkedIn, X, and Instagram
– I’ve written four diamond industry mystery novels! Check them out here!
