This week: Walmart is putting advertising in store aisles. A nasty fight takes place in Diamond District store. And Kelly Clarkson wants diamonds thrown at her. All below.

 

How the recession doomers got the U.S. economy so wrong

 

The ultra-wealthy have never been richer and they’re spending like crazy

– Pam Danziger: Luxury customers putting purchases “on hold”

 

Retail rents rise in second quarter

 

Walmart adds advertising in store aisles

 

Kering-Valentino deal helps reignite luxury M&A market

 

Diamond prices plummet in “difficult market”

– De Beers faces “next quartz crisis” (subscription)

 

Botswana plans new sales channel

– Next for De Beers: a Namibia deal

 

Insurance companies think lab-grown diamonds are a “risk headache”

 

No pay disparity between lab-grown and natural diamond polishers

 

Angry letters show tensions between Indian bourses

 

555 ct. black diamond bought with misappropriated funds, says SEC

 

Over $10 million in jewels stolen from Paris Piaget

 

How a GPS-enabled Rolex led to the capture of a robbery crew

 

The great Rolex recession is here

– Discontinued Daytonas helping Rolex prices

– Second-hand watch prices slump to two-year low

 

Aurate partnering with Helzberg on collection

 

John Hardy appoints new president and CEO

– Reed Krakoff’s first John Hardy collection is here

 

IGI names new director of operations and business development

 

Lagos promotes Amanda Willinger to chief revenue officer

 

Brosway Italia hires two U.S. VPs

 

Macy’s supply chain officer steps down

 

Interview with new Smithsonian gems curator

– NPR interviews retiring curator Jeffrey Post (as does JCK)

 

How green is your watchmaker?

 

Hermès has $1 billion in watch sales in its sights

 

“How culture drives the Swiss watch industry” (subscription)

 

Tiffany lands on NRF’s list of fastest-growing retailers

 

Jesper Nielsen claims Pandora owes him money (translation)

 

Customer flabbergasted at eco-impact of jewelry packaging

 

Colonial diamonds overshadow Tower of London’s most interesting objects

 

“Beefy brawlers” get into fight in Diamond District store

 

New laser slicing technique for diamond semiconductors

 

Anti-counterfeiting tech draws on unique qualities of micro-diamonds

 

Drake bought Tupac’s ring for $1.01 million

– It’s Drake’s latest auction win

 

Kelly Clarkson says you can throw diamonds at her (but that’s it)

 

Which Sex and the City engagement ring was the most expensive?

 

From the Podcast     

The Jewelry District, Episode 101: Guest Jeffrey Post

 

Have a great weekend!

 

– Email: rbates – at – jckonline.com.

– Twitter: @robbatesjck

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