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BLOCKCHAIN
Alrosa partners
with De Beers
to pilot Tracr
programme
Tracr, the end-to-end diamond
industry blockchain traceability
platform being developed by De
Beers Group has announced that
Alrosa has joined the platform’s pilot
programme.
Alrosa will join industry leaders
from the diamond manufacturing
and retail sectors in creating the
blockchain platform. Following the
announcement of the Tracr pilot
earlier this year, Alrosa’s involvement
brings the world’s two largest
diamond producers together to
provide “enhanced assurance” for
consumers and trade participants
about the provenance and
authenticity of their diamonds, and in
creating a digital foundation for new
services that can only be developed
on an end-to-end platform.
Bruce Cleaver, CEO, De Beers
Group, said: “ To provide true
traceability, diamonds must
be tracked from their point of
production. We are delighted that
Alrosa has joined the Tracr pilot, as
the collective efforts of the world’s
two leading diamond producers will
enable more of the world’s diamonds
to be tracked on their journey from
mine to retail. Having a critical
level of production on the platform
will deliver significant benefits for
consumers and diamond industry
participants.”
Sergey Ivanov, CEO, Alrosa said:
“ Traceability is the key to further
development of our market. It helps
to ensure consumer confidence
and fill information gaps, enabling
people to enjoy the product without
any doubts about ethical issues or
undisclosed synthetics. Alrosa is
glad to participate in testing Tracr,
along with other market solutions.
We believe tracing requires industry
cooperation and complementation
for the sake of a common goal.”
December 2018 | jewelleryfocus.co.uk
JEWELLERY NEWS
World Gold
Council reports
6% increase in
jewellery demand
Jewellery demand in Q3 of 2018 saw
price-led year-on-year growth of 6%,
as lower gold prices during July and
August encouraged bargain hunting
among “price-sensitive consumers”.
According to the latest report by
the World Gold Council, growth in
India and China was up 10% in each
region, outweighed weakness in the
Middle East which was down 12%.
The group said lower gold prices saw
retail investors “take refuge” in bars
and coins, while jewellery purchases
increased in India, China and across
South-East Asia.
Alistair Hewitt, head of market
intelligence at the World Gold Council,
said: “The physical market responded
quickly when the gold price breached
$1,200/oz in August, with retail
investors around the world diving into
the market.
“And there are welcome
developments in the central bank
space. They’re buying a lot and we
are seeing new central banks enter
the market as they look to hedge their
dollar exposure.”
He added: “The equity sell-off
last week is a timely reminder of the
threats stalking markets: valuations
are stretched, debt levels are high, and
rising rates and quantitative tightening
pose risks that an allocation to gold can
help hedge.”
Sale rates from this
auction go to show the
strength of the market
for the best in class of
jewellery, silver and
watches...
Steve Collins, head of jewellery,
silver and watches, Cheffins
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The price of gold
decreased by
£9
to £949/oz in November
CRIME
Boodles installs
new security at
Sloane Street
store following
failed robbery
Boodles Jewellers has completed
work on their London Sloane Street
storefront, installing a new fully glazed
Warrior Doors sliding security door.
Boodles had previously installed a
Warrior Interlock on the Basil Street
entrance of their exclusive Sloane
Street showroom. The installation of
the Interlock was in response to the
vicious smash-and-grab robbery that
took place at the store in August 2017.
In March 2018 armed criminals
returned and failed to breach the
showroom’s Basil Street entrance
after ramming it with a 2.2 tonne Land
Rover Discovery. However, the store
was not compromised due to the new
Warrior door.
Boodles’ exclusive Sloane Street
showroom opened in May 2017 and
was designed by Czech architect and
designer Eva Jiřičná. The installation
of a physical security solution to the
front entrance of the boutique would
need to preserve the store’s aesthetic
integrity.
Michael Wainwright, Boodles’
managing director, was thrilled
with the installation of the Warrior
Sliding Door, said: “[The Warrior
door] makes the store’s environment
look even more luxurious than it was
before and enhances the ambience
of the boutique.”
JEWELLERY FOCUS
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