Betting on Botswana
GCAL and MOTIGANZ partner to bring Botswana diamonds Stateside

MOTIGANZ, a DTC Sightholder, will be working with GCAL to certify diamonds mined and polished in Botswana. This program will assure customers that the diamonds they are purchasing are compliant with the Kimberley Process, a set of international trading laws that prohibit so-called 'conflict diamonds', stones mined to finance warlords or involving child labor. GCAL was chosen specifically for its exclusive Gemprint® technology, the process for finding a diamond's unique optical fingerprint, and its commitment to transparent industry practices. GCAL Certified MOTIGANZ branded Botswana diamonds will be listed for purchase on CDE. "Botswana is one of the very few African democracies that actually works,” explains Donald A. Palmieri, GCAL President.

CDEcommerce Launches
GCAL and Ideal Diamond Solutions to provide free e-commerce sites for retailers

GCAL announces the launch of CDEcommerce, a customizable website module available to any jewelry retailer and exclusively offering GCAL Certified Diamonds and jewelry. This turnkey e-commerce solution is completely free of charge, and allows retailers to create a personalized website module stocked with diamonds and jewelry set up for consumer purchasing. CDEcommerce is part of an ongoing effort by GCAL to create opportunities for retailers and vendors to reach end consumers. GCAL’s Certificed Diamond Exchange (a wholesale B2B diamond exchange at www.CDEdiamonds.com) and Ideal Diamond Solutions (IDS) have teamed up to offer an online retailing solution to jewelers who might otherwise be years away from capitalizing on the dynamic internet marketplace. "At GCAL, we are dedicated to helping the professional retail jeweler bring greater consumer confidence and liquidity to the diamond pipeline,” says Donald A. Palmieri, GCAL President. “The IDS offering is one more great leap forward toward that goal.”

A simple registration system leads new users through a setup phase, and the CDEcommerce website module is automatically created immediately after the registration process with a direct connection to the full CDE online inventory. IDS then provides members with a centralized platform that allows retailers to control the GCAL product offering and customize the website with their store’s logo, ‘About Us’, and ‘Contact’ information.

IDS was created to level the playing field, and to empower independent retail jewelers to cost effectively compete online, utilizing the jewelry industry’s premier Web 2.0 e-commerce platform. Members of CDEcommerce are able to upgrade to a full IDS website package at any time. According to Larry Chasin, IDS President, there are two ways that CDEcommerce will work for retailers and CDE vendors. “First, it will provide a full online shopping experience for customers who can’t come to the bricks-and-mortar store. But second, and even more importantly, it will act as a virtual inventory tool enabling retailers to work with their customer, and then contact CDE vendors directly to bring diamonds into the store to make more in-store sales.”

"Larry Chasin's background in manufacturing and wholesale, combined with his direct interaction with retail jewelers over the course of his career, provides him with unique insight into the needs of the retail jeweler,” explains Angelo Palmieri, CDE Administrator. “I am excited to be collaborating with IDS and his team of exceptional

professionals to bring the full measure of added value that GCAL and CDE have to offer."

This interactive shopping experience allows smaller retail businesses to compete with the big chains by linking directly to CDE’s full inventory of GCAL Certified Diamonds. In addition to virtual guaranteed availability to the consumer, involvement on the retail side is minimal. IDS takes care of all administrative interface, including fulfillment, credit card processing, online marketing and customer service. Time consuming Search Engine Optimization, which drives traffic to your site via partners like Google and Yahoo!, is also part of the package for an additional fee.

“This is the first time that a diamond grading laboratory is providing a free, customized website tool to explain and show the benefits of its certificate,” Chasin says. “There is a lot of added value that comes with GCAL Certified Diamonds, and this is a great tool to help retailers make more diamond sales.” As the Business-to-Consumer extension of CDE, CDEcommerce can be linked to any existing website. “IDS is thrilled to be partnering with GCAL to create CDEcommerce, and we’re particularly excited to help retailers become more enabled to sell this amazing product to their customers.”

To begin your free CDEcommerce registration, log on to www.ids-gcal.com.

To learn more about CDE, log onto www.cdediamonds.com.

Crystal Beam Melody
Debuts on DiamondID.com Sir Gabi S. Tolkowsky talks science and beauty

With over 50 years in the diamond industry, Sir Gabriel (Gabi) Tolkowsky is recognized as the world's foremost master cutter and diamond expert. Never content to rest on industry standards, he is a pioneer who continues to create some of the most compelling diamond innovations, including the 105-facet Gabrielle Diamond. One of his most unexpected projects is Crystal Beam Melody, an invention that uses the unique optical response of a gemstone to produce a song. This optical response is found using Gemprint®, the world’s most sophisticated, non-invasive diamond identification and registration system, owned by GCAL. How does it work? Simply put, a diamond’s unique sparkle pattern (found using Gemprint®) is converted to a sound transfer file based on algorithms. As the optical response of each gemstone is unique, the musical representation will be unique. Ready in time for holiday season, sample music from the Crystal Beam Melody project will be available on DiamondID.com. DiamondProfile talked to Tolkowsky about the idea behind the process and how it will excite the consumer. Diamond Profile: Why are you so interested in the relationship between science and beauty?

Sir Gabi Tolkowsky: Science and beauty are major facts that we need to be able to face the challenges that guide us towards discoveries. If you ask me why was I able to marry the two so brilliantly, it is because a diamond’s complexity in both science and beauty is always giving us something new to work with, and therefore presents us with challenges that help our industry grow.

DP: Why is Gemprint® the perfect partner for this project?

GT: Gemprint® provided us with the possibility to identify the unique return of light refracting from the heart of every single polished diamond. This in return produces, for each single diamond, its unique fingerprint. By understanding that energy such as light could respond to such a demand, it was natural to continue towards the next energy such as sound and discover the response. From there we learned that the rays of such light return can be transformed into a ‘unique and single melody’, or Crystal Beam Melody.

DP: Why will Crystal Beam Melody intrigue the diamond-buying consumer?

GT: This process is already a success in many countries around the world, so I think that the U.S. will be equally as excited. With Crystal Beam Melody, you can not only see and touch diamonds, but you can listen to their particular and unique melodies. The current fragile state of the world will probably make people aware that one of life’s great pleasures is enjoying joyful sensory experiences, especially ones that arose from natural discoveries.

CDE Spotlights New Sellers

Lipworth Diamond Corp.

The newest addition to Certified Diamond Exchange, Lipworth Diamond Corp. specializes in high-quality inventory in round and fancy shapes from thirds to 4 carats. President Alan Lipworth and his senior assistant Maria Callica have over 60 years combined experience in the diamond industry. The corporate emphasis on consistent top-make, competitive pricing and excellent service distinguish the brand from the competition. Lipworth is associated with various joint venture operations worldwide, including siteholders and major manufacturers; this, combined with a low overhead, enables Lipworth Diamond Corp. to bring the market high-end diamonds at very reasonable prices.

Currently, CDE carries more than a thousand Lipworth diamonds, and the partnership will be long-term. “The level of grading at GCAL is consistent and uniform, and the lab is marketed well and run by people who know what they’re doing,” explains Lipworth. “This really presents an opportunity for us to be aligned with another business that takes pride in performing at the highest standards. Their level of internet expertise and innovative approach has convinced me that GCAL will be a major force in the industry.”

EL OR Company

EL OR Company has been serving many of America’s foremost jewelers and designers since 1982 with matched pairs and matched layouts of diamonds. EL OR supplies the matched diamond pairs and diamond layouts either loose or mounted with a flexible head for your center diamond.

Pairs are available in cost effective semi-mounts that can be set with center diamonds currently offered on CDE. EL OR offers the service of providing a ring with the sized head to the supplier of the center diamond to set and ship the ring complete to the client, thereby saving the store time, money and production hassles. All mounted pairs are accompanied by a GCAL Guaranteed Certificate as an additional value added service.

The company's award-winning website allows fine jewelers to brand their store name to stay ahead of the competition.

All of your holiday shopping needs right at your fingertips. Just log on to CDEdiamonds.com to peruse GCAL Certified Diamond inventory from the sellers listed below.

[Back to Top]

The Botswana Family Tree

GCAL, MOTIGANZ and Day’s Jewelers join forces at the counter

From left to right: Jim Corey (Day’s Jewelers), Angelo Palmieri (GCAL) Kathy Corey(Day’s Jewelers), Donald Palmieri (GCAL), Jeff Corey (Day’s Jewelers)
MOTIGANZ Botswana Factory	MOTIGANZ patrons Botswana’s National Champion Football team
MOTIGANZ Botswana Factory	The Miss Botswana Contest Received a Sponsorship from MOTIGANZ

[Back to Top]