Solomon Brothers Fine Jewelers Joins The Diamond Search Engine

We are hapy to announce a new jeweler to join our diamond and engagement rings search engine. Solomon Brothers Fine Jewelers of Atlanta, Georgia.

Solomon Brothers offers a large selection of Certified Diamonds, Loose Diamonds, Diamonds, Engagement Rings, Diamond Rings, Wedding Bands and other fine jewelry.

Israel Diamonds Joins The Diamond Search Engine

We are please to announce that israel-diamonds.com has joined the Diamond Search Engine. They offer a large selection of loose diamonds, engagement rings, gemstones and other fine diamond jewelry.

Diamond Prices Index Update - 150.3 UP 1.3

On Friday, November 3, the diamond prices index rose by 1.3 points to 150.3, representing an average increase in retail diamond prices of 1.3%.

We expect modest increases to continue in the next few weeks as the holiday shopping season nears.

Diamond Prices Index Update- 149.0 DOWN 1.0

On Friday, October 27, the diamond prices index fell by 1 point to 149.0, representing an average drop in retail diamond prices of 1.0%.

This is a bit of a surprise considering the holiday season is fast approaching and may be the perfect opportunity to save now if you are considering an engagement proposal this Christmas.

Diamond Prices Index Update - 150.0 UP 5.3

On Friday, October 6, the diamond prices index rose an additional 5.3 points to 150.0, representing an average increase in retail diamond prices of 5.3%.

This confirms our earlier prediction that prices will begin to rise as we approach the holidays. Modest gains should continue for the next few weeks.

Diamond Prices Index Update - 144.7 UP 5.7

On Friday, September 29, the diamond prices index rose 5.7 points to 144.7, representing an average increase in retail diamond prices of 5.7%. We anticipate further upward pricing movements as we approach the holiday shopping season.

Diamond Prices Index Update - 139.0 DOWN 3.2

For the first time since January 2006, we saw a drop in the average retail prices of diamonds. Our index fell 3.2 points this week, representing an average decrease in retail diamond prices of about 3.2 percent.

Diamond Prices Index Update - 141.1 UP 1.1

On Friday, June 2, the diamond prices index rose 1.1 points to 141.1, representing an average increase in retail diamond prices of 1.1%.

Diamond Prices Index Update - 140.0 UP 1.1

The diamond prices index rose 1.1 points this week to 140.0, representing an average increase in retail diamond prices of just over 1%.

Diamond Prices Index Update - 138.9 UP 1.1

The diamond prices index rose 1.1 points this week representing an average increase in retail diamond prices of just over 1%.

Diamond Prices Index Update - 137.8 UP 2.2

The diamond prices index rose 2.2 points this week representing an average increase in retail diamond prices of a little over 2%.

Diamond Prices Index Update - 135.6 UP 0.9

The diamond prices index rose 0.9 points this week representing an average increase in retail diamond prices of just under 1%.

Nicollette Sheridan's (Desperate Housewives) Tiffany Engagement Ring Auctioned on eBay

If you're in the market for a unique engagement ring with a bit of history behind it, this may be of interest. You can own the Tiffany diamond engagement ring offerred to Desperate Houseviwes star Nicollette Sheridan (Edie Britt) by former beau Nick Soderblom.

The ring has a Platinum setting with a 1.15 carat Round Brilliant GIA certified center stone, H color and VS1 clarity. The ring is surrounded by 14 Square Modified Brilliant diamonds totaling .44 carats, G-H color and VVS-VS clarity, plus 30 Round Brilliant diamonds weighing .17 carats, also G-H color and VVS-VS clarity bringing the total carat weight of the ring to 1.76 ct.

The ring is being offerred for auction on eBay and ends on April 21. Starting bid is $20,000 with no Buy It Now currently shown.

View the auction

**UPDATE 4/14/2006: The starting bid has now been lowered to $17,999 - I guess Mr. Soderblom needs some "desperate" cash!

**UPDATE 4/21/2006: The auction ended today without any bidders and as of now has not been relisted.

Diamond Prices Index Update - 134.7 UP 0.7

Our round brilliant loose diamond prices index rose 0.7 points this week to 134.7. This rise represents a 0.7% increase in the average online retail price of loose diamonds.

Find diamonds from jewelers around the web with our loose diamonds search engine.

Wholesale Diamonds for Consumers? There Is No Such Thing.

If you've been shopping for a diamond online, you may have seen lots of ads and sites with a title of Wholesale Diamonds or something similar. Sounds great, diamonds are expensive so wholesale diamonds must be a great deal, right? THERE IS NO SUCH THING! At least not available to retail buyers like you and me. Take a look at some prices from these supposed wholesale diamond sellers and then compare them to retailers like Blue Nile, Ashford or Mondera - not much difference and sometimes the "wholesale" sites ARE MORE EXPENSIVE!

Unless you know someone who is in "the business" and has contacts with ACTUAL diamond wholesale companies, you're not going to find a diamond at true wholesale prices online or in any store, period.

I don't mean to sound angry, but this whole "advertising as wholesale" business is just plain misleading. If you want to find the best price on diamonds, use the Loose Diamonds Search Engine. You'll see inventories and prices from multiple RETAIL jewelers (because consumers can't buy from a wholesaler) and you can compare what each has and the available price differences between each.

So the next time you see an ad for "wholesale diamonds", don't believe the hype.

Diamond Prices Index Update - 134.0 UP 4.1

Our round brilliant loose diamond prices index rose 4.1 points this week to 134.0. This rise represents a 4.1% increase in the average online retail price of loose diamonds.

Diamond Prices Index Update - 129.9 Down 3.1

Our round brilliant loose diamond prices index dropped 3.1 points this week to 129.9. This drop represents a 3.1% decline in the average online retail price of loose diamonds, presenting a good buying opportunity for those planning a Valentine's Day engagement.

2005 Holiday Sales Figures From Publicly Traded Online Jewelers

Blue Nile, Inc. (Nasdaq: NILE) announced that it will release its fourth quarter and full year 2005 financial results on Tuesday, February 7, 2006. The Company will hold a conference call to discuss these results on Tuesday, February 7, 2006, at 2:00 p.m. PT/5:00 p.m. ET. The call will be broadcast live via webcast.

Abazias (OTCBB: ABZS) announced that based upon the significant holiday sales figures, it is pleased to announce preliminary fourth quarter sales for 2005 of $1.369 million, over $300,000 ahead of their projected sales. This figure is 161% over the same quarter last year which amounted to $524,407. Please note, these figures are not final and may be subject to adjustment.

GIA Makes Sweeping Changes After Scandal

Ralph Destino, former president of Cartier, Inc. was named as GIA Chairman, a newly created position. Current GIA president William Boyajian will keep his title but will now report to Destino.

Among other notable changes is the discontinuation of the GIA's "membership" structure where different clients were charged different prices based on their volume of grading submissions. There will now be a single pricing structure for all clients.

The GIA will also no longer accept or ask for donations from diamantaires whose diamonds are submitted for grading in the lab.

Linda Scholl, recently appointed to the post of Chief Compliance Officer will oversee the enforcement of compliance policies for the GIA lab. Some of the steps taken include the clear message that no employee may solicit or receive compensation in any form from lab clients. Violators will be fired. The retention of EthicsPoint, a leading provider of services to support compliance, workplace ethics and corporate governance to encourage open, anonymous and safe communication between GIA staff, clients, students and vendors.

GIA has also taken steps to strengthen its Professional Ethics and Conduct compliance statement and added a whistleblower policy whereby employees will lose their jobs if they fail to inform GIA management of any code of conduct violations that they may witness or become aware of.

GIA Manhattan Diamond Grading Lab Faces Bribery Inquiry

Federal prosecutors are gathering information about a bribery scandal at a diamond-grading laboratory in Manhattan that is known as the nation's most trusted evaluator of the quality of precious gems, sources close to the inquiry said.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) said it reported to federal law enforcement officials that "a small community" of diamond dealers had been trying to improperly influence employees of its Midtown laboratory, which assigns grades to diamonds for their clarity and color. The institute replaced the executive who oversaw the lab and fired four employees who worked there, but has declined to say how many dealers were offering bribes or how many diamonds may have been fraudulently rated.

Ralph Destino, chairman of the institute, confirmed last night that the institute's lawyers had turned over information to prosecutors about violations of its code of conduct by the four unidentified employees who were dismissed and a "handful" of the lab's customers. He said the employees had "improper contact" with dealers who had submitted diamonds for grading. The violations involved only a "handful of stones" he said, though he declined to provide a specific number.

Jewelry dealers in the diamond district have been buzzing about the matter for weeks. The Diamond Dealers Club, a group of prominent brokers, has called on the institute to define the scope of the problems it uncovered and release the names of those it suspects of offering bribes, but Mr. Destino declined.

"I'm sure diamond dealers are curious, but the G.I.A. is not a law enforcement agency," Mr. Destino said. "We don't accuse, we don't indict, we don't subpoena."

Mr. Destino said members of the diamond-trading industry had "grossly exaggerated" the size of the problems at the lab. "I can assure people that there is no reason to question the integrity of any G.I.A. report that's out there."

The internal investigation was spurred by a rare lawsuit against the institute brought by an iconoclastic gem broker who once managed the diamond room at the Harry Winston jewelry store on Fifth Avenue. The broker, Max Pincione, alleged in the suit that two large diamonds he sold to members of the Saudi royal family in 2001 had been given inflated grades in certificates issued by the Midtown lab.