WDC’s Account Executive Cait Skjeie recently ran a training seminar for the staff of the Ivanka Trump New York store, to explain the selling points of the Waldman diamond that feature in their sustainable Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry bridal collection.

Senior personnel from WDC’s New York office organized a Diamond Event for a jewelry retailer in Ellicott City, Maryland, through the weekend of March 23-25, 2012. Managing Director Eli Fruchter and Account Executive Cait Skjeie gave up their weekend to stand alongside staff at Craig Coyne Jewelers and help them to sell jewelry to their local clientele.

Craig Coyne Jewelers Store in Ellicott City

The president of Craig Coyne Jewelers, Sam Coyne said: “A company is only as good as the people who represent it.  It is the Waldman Diamond Company and its staff that help my own company to take advantage of growth potential. With their support during our Diamond Event, we were able to sell more diamonds in any three-day period than ever before!”

The team at WDC New York is happy to arrange more events like this with qualified retailers.

The new Panama office will enable the Waldman Diamond Company (WDC) to provide proximate and continuous service to its clients in Central and South America. It is led by Sam Benichou, a graduate of the Gemological Institute of America and an experienced gemological researcher.

Waldman Diamond Company CEO Alexander Waldman says: “The Latin American market has long been left on the sidelines of the diamond business. Economic growth and prosperity in recent years has created a pent-up demand for luxury goods in general, and diamonds in particular. In line with our vanguard position at the “cutting edge” of the international diamond industry, we are honored to service customers in South America, and proud to have Sam Benichou as our Regional Managing Director.”

Panama has become a popular location for those looking to live and invest in Latin America. Its favorable fiscal system, affordable cost of living, U.S. dollar currency and first-class banking system are some of the reasons why many companies are doing business there. From this base, Benichou will provide WDC services directly to the major markets of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, and he plans to launch websites in Spanish and Portuguese during 2012.

The new WDC Panama office in the Free Zone of Colon offers a range of high-quality polished diamonds for manufacturers and investors, including:

-          Round Diamonds with GIA and EGL Certificates
-          Fancy shapes: princess cut, cushion cut
-          Triple EX EX EX and Ideal Cut EGL

They also offer a wide range of diamond jewelry, designed and manufactured by the group’s Waldman Diamond Complete subsidiary, including popular bridal jewelry lines.

The WDC Group will be participating at Expo Joya Guadalajara in Mexico in October 2012, and at upcoming jewelry trade shows JCK Las Vegas and JIS Miami.

To contact Sam Benichou at the WDC Panama office, email sam@wdcgroup.com

CEO Alex Waldman (2nd from r) at the opening of the Panama office in the Free Zone with Sam Benichou (l) and Gerardo and Gino Zela from Diamante Peru.

Waldman Diamond Company is a supporter of the Diamond Empowerment Fund, which raises money from the diamond companies to support educational initiatives to develop and empower economically disadvantaged people in diamond-producing nations in Africa.

WDC's Eli Fruchter with Ivanka Trump

Four individuals received GOOD Awards for outstanding leadership in the area of good corporate citizenship, sustainability, and helping to communicate the diamond industry’s commitment to helping individuals through education in African diamond-producing nations. The four were Varda Shine and the Diamond Trading Company, Edward Hrabak and Sterling Jewelers Inc., Rebecca Foerster and Rio Tinto Diamonds, and Ivanka Trump of Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry.

Ivanka Trump partners with the Waldman Diamond Company in the production of her socially responsible Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry Bridal Collection, which uses 100% sustainable Canadian diamonds and recycled platinum. Speaking about the Diamond Endowment Fund, honoree Ivanka Trump said: “It’s just good business to care about everyone involved in the various layers of production…especially when the end product is such a beautiful symbol of love”. Click here to see the Ivanka Trump award video.

For more information about the Diamond Empowerment Fund, visit http://www.diamondempowerment.org

This is the 14^th consecutive year that Waldman has ranked as one of Israel’s top 25 diamond exporters, maintaining its strong presence in the market despite the recent entry of many international diamond trading companies.

WDC Group Chairman Alexander Waldman said: “This is a prestigious list on which to appear, but our polished diamond exports from Israel today represent one segment of our global business. As a vertically integrated manufacturer and trader of polished diamonds and manufacturer of diamond jewelry, our expanding global reach is taking us into new and exciting markets worldwide. 2011 was a successful year for the Waldman Diamond Group on many different fronts, and during 2012 we will continue to build and improve our platform for servicing customers worldwide.”

Established in 1978 in New York, the Waldman Diamond Company is a vertically integrated international diamond company encompassing all aspects of the diamond industry, from rough sourcing through cutting, polishing, design, marketing and retail distribution. Its network of sales offices and internet portal provide a consistent supply of high-quality diamonds to jewelry manufacturers and retailers worldwide. Waldman’s new partnership with the Diamond Club will enable customers throughout Europe to obtain top-quality diamonds together with expert advice and support.

Alex Waldman, CEO of the Waldman Group, says: “We are very excited to extend our presence into Europe by partnering with the Diamond Club. The market for high-quality diamond jewelry in Eastern Europe is ripe with potential, and Erika Lori and her team have the experience and expertise to meet the needs of this exciting new arena.”

In November 2011, the Waldman Group launched a new diamond investment package that simplifies the process of buying and storing polished diamonds. Diamond Club CEO Erika Lori explains: “We had a number of private clients who were interested in investing in investment-grade certified diamonds as an attractive commodity with potential for long-term appreciation. The Waldman Group has put systems in place to simplify and safeguard the process of buying, storing and reselling individual investment diamonds. We are excited to be developing this exciting new concept with the Waldman Diamond group. I believe that, despite current economic difficulties in Europe, we are creating tremendous business opportunities which will help to promote diamonds as an excellent jewelry product and as an investment commodity.”

For more information, please visit www.wdcgroup.com and www.diamond-club.cz

With increasing demand for finely-made diamonds in Asian consumer markets, the WDC Group is extending its global reach in China and Thailand, building on the success of WDC Shanghai, which opened in 2010, and WDC Hong Kong since 2008.

CEO Alex Waldman explains: “We recognize the importance of keeping deep inventory in each of our offices, to suit the needs of the local market, but we also have the global network capability to meet the demand for specific diamonds and to deliver them throughout the world. Even more importantly, we make sure to utilize local expertise so as to offer the personal touch, which is particularly important when opening up new markets.”

WDC’s Bangkok office is located in the Gems Tower in the Bangrak district and its team of local salesman is led by Arad Eloz. “We have an experienced team,” explains Arad, who has lived in Thailand for seven years, “and we hope to build long-term relationships with our local customers, based on mutual trust and understanding.”

WDC Bangkok has the ability to provide a wide range of high quality diamonds, from round to pears, ranging in size from 0.50ct to12ct, with certificates from the GIA, HRD, IGI and AGS. “We know that our Thai customers have a preference for clean stones with high cut, high polish and high symmetry, and we will go out of our way to accommodate these preferences and whatever other specific requirements we are asked to deliver” says Arad.

Unlike other investment commodities, diamonds have been inaccessible to many investors. There were several barriers to investment: the lack of a public market for diamonds; the complexity of assessing and pricing each stone; the problem of storage and insurance, and the difficulty of resale.

Waldman CEO Alexander Waldman explains: “During WDC’s 33 years of operation, we have been approached numerous times by private individuals wishing to invest in polished diamonds.  The attraction is obvious – a solid, portable asset with real prospects for capital appreciation.”

Various diamond investment funds have come and gone, often characterized by exaggerated prices to reflect their marketing costs.  Historically, such funds have been introduced on the back of a rapid rise in diamond prices, typically peaking just as private investors have entered the market, and vanishing soon after.  Confidence in these funds has also been marred by the lack of identifiable assets attributable directly to the individual investor.

Says Waldman: “WDC’s measured approach to investment diamonds is built on our firm foundations as a long-term player in the polished diamond market.  We offer you the opportunity to buy diamonds in all market conditions, matching your needs to the prevailing pricing environment. We can provide the private investor with access to the highest quality GIA-certified diamonds at wholesale prices.  Furthermore, our optional custodial service provides a safe and convenient solution for the storage and insurance of your diamonds.”

While WDC offers no investment advice, we stand behind the range of our product offerings, from which you can choose the diamonds to suit your particular investment needs.

WDC's Eli Fruchter with Ivanka Trump

Since her own wedding in the Fall of 2009, Ivanka’s engagement rings have been sought out by consumers and received wide acclaim by the media for their understated elegance and classic timeless lines. The enhanced visibility of those styles and popularity of other bridal designs brought the issue of diamond sustainability to the forefront of a discussion about how Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry has the community obligation to evolve globally as a socially responsible company and brand.  The launch of a sustainable diamond collection is an extremely personal choice for Ivanka. She studied and analyzed the industry closely, researching the origins of diamonds and the role that the mines play in their communities. Partners at the Waldman Diamond Group were extremely supportive in educating her further regarding the unique ‘green’ qualities of Canadian diamonds.

Waldman Diamond Company supplies Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry with diamonds from the Diavik mine, and Polar Gem supplies diamonds from both Diavik &  Ekati Mine in Canada’s Northwest Territories. Diavik and Ekati Canadian diamonds are of the highest quality with a variety of colours ranging from D-J with stunning clarity and an array of cuts including spectacular emerald, cushion and round stones. The Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry sustainable bridal collection is competitively priced by not costing anymore than non-Canadian diamonds making the choice to be luxuriously chic and green accessible to all consumers.  Ivanka Trump engagement rings are priced from $15,000 and all rings can be customized to a client’s specific needs and budget.  This sustainable bridal collection will feature signature styles that mark the timeless elegance of Ivanka Trump such as the shanghai setting, signature ovals and Ivanka’s own micro-pave basket ring.

Outside of the bridal arena, the first Ivanka Trump high jewelry piece created using these diamonds and recycled platinum (the Diva Ring)  is part of the 2011 Noor collection. This stunning medallion ring features a bi-level design comprised of 6.81 tw with a 2.01 ct round brilliant center stone. This ring celebrates Ivanka’s partnership with Waldman and symbolizes a future of sustainable success and one day integrating ‘green’ diamonds into the entire Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry collection. All styles will be available beginning June 2011 at the Ivanka Trump New York City Flagship boutique and at authorized Ivanka Trump retailers across the USA and abroad, including soon-to-open international retail locations in China.

“I am very pleased to be entering into this exclusive endeavor with Waldman Diamond Company and Polar Gem” says Ivanka Trump. “I am thrilled that Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry is making the commitment to be socially responsible with an environmentally conscious bridal bar.”

About The Diavik Mine:

The Diavik mine is a joint venture between the Harry Winston Diamond Corporation and Diavik Diamond Mines Inc., a subsidiary of Rio Tinto Group. The lifespan of the mine is expected to be 16 to 22 years. All diamonds mined and supplied by Diavik to Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry are certified to be Green Canadian diamonds by the Canadian Diamond Code of Conduct.  This is a guarantee that the diamonds are an ethical conflict free product and mined by an environmentally responsible company. The Diavik mine is also certified by the International Organization for Standardization to be ISO14001 compliant. They are on the forefront of social and environmental responsibility with community outreach efforts, progressive reclamation, and a commitment to sustainable development research by funding several studies with Canadian Universities. In addition to diamonds from the Diavik mine, stones from Canadian Polar Gem will also be integrated into the line to create pavé work, signature to many of the Ivanka Trump engagement ring styles. Polar Gem is a phenomenal source of Canadian diamonds that mines from the Ekati mine in Canada’s Northwest Territories

About Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry:

Ivanka Trump launched her fine jewelry collection in September 2007 with a flagship store in New York City.  In March 2010, the company launched its global expansion through partnerships with exclusive retailers throughout the U.S., Asia and the Middle East.  The collection is represented today in over 60 high quality retail doors as well as luxury department stores in the USA, Caribbean, Canada, Asia and Middle East.  Ivanka is opening her first retail boutique in Chinalater this year, to be followed by 4 more by 2015.  Other developments under way will bring the Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry collection to Central America, Southeast Asia, Korea, Russia and Eastern Europe over the next few years. For more information please visit www.ivankatrumpcollection.com.

“We are delighted to work with Waldman Diamond Canada, who will extend our representation and reach into western Canada,” said Jonathan Goldman, chief executive of Frederick Goldman. “Their in-depth experience and understanding of our industry and the support they will bring to our Canadian retailers will be a great benefit.”

Vancouver-based Waldman Diamond Canada was established in 2005 as a division of Waldman Diamond Company, which is a Rio Tinto Select Diamantaire. The firm is a vertically integrated organization encompassing all aspects of the diamond industry, from mining through cutting, polishing, marketing, and retail distribution.

Waldman utilizes the Gemprint technology to track and identify its polished diamonds. According to Simeon-Lee Loon, Waldman’s senior manager, rough diamonds sourced from Rio Tinto’s Diavik diamond mine are polished in Israel. Information about each diamond is sent back to the miner, including parcel number and purchase date.

The diamonds are graded by Gem Certification & Assurance Lab (GCAL), receive GCAL’s Canadian Source Veritas that comes with the 4C’s Zero Tolerance Consumer Grading Guarantee, which assurance consumers the accuracy of grading.

The goods are available for purchase on Certified Diamond Exchange.

“The information that accompanies the purchased diamond documents the process that ensures the high standard of our diamonds,” Loon said. “A consumer wants to know that the beautiful diamond purchased as a gift was mined ethically, polished at a high standard and that the handled by reputed companies. This is an essential process of transparency.”

GCAL said it was chosen for its ability to accomplish this level of transparency through its exclusive Source Veritas Process and Gemprint technology, the process for finding a diamond’s unique optical fingerprint.

GCAL and Certified Diamond Exchange are subsidiaries of Collectors Universe, a NASDAQ Global Markets traded company.