Traditionally known as the country of gold and diamonds, it is
believed that in many instances South African shopping malls and
jewellery stores, in particular, can compete anywhere in the world
in terms of the image and quality they represent.
It is estimated that South Africa’s diamond jewellery retail
industry alone is valued at R2,2-billion yearly and, although the
industry’s diamond manufacturing sector is outdone by India
on a quantity level, its quality is rated on a par with New York
and Israel, Jewellery Council of South Africa (JCSA) executive
director Claire Minnitt reports.
Established in 1972, best stone crusher goldthe council forms an integral part of the
country’s jewellery industry and, by implication, the diamond
jewellery sector.
Playing an active role in representing the interests of the retail
jewellers on a range of issues, the council aggressively promotes
the awareness and sale of fine jewellery in South Africa, and is
also responsibleimpact crusher hand book for the creation and development of training
programmes designed to enhance the professionalism of the trade on
all levels.
With a membership of about 1 300 companies and individuals, leading
mining companies such as De Beers, Anglo Platinum, AngloGold and
the Chamber of Mines are all constituent bodies represented on
JCSA’s executive crushers in swazilandboard.
The council has identified three specific projects targeted at the
diamond industry this year.
A strategic analysis of the polished diamond market is currently
being carried out by marketing company Kaiser Associates.
“The study is being funded by the South African
government’s Fund for Research into Industrial Growth and
Equity and aims to examine how smaller entrepreneurs can overcome
the difficulty of achieving profitably, while selling their
cut-and-polished diamonds,” Minnitt explains.
Linked to this are two further initiatives to introduce zero-value
added tax programmes and dollar-based accounts.
“Both of these projects are aimed at helping smaller diamond
concerns, especially black-empowerment companies, to compete on a
more even footing with international concerns,” she
adds.
Meanwhile, the yearly Jewellex International Fair, held under the
auspices of the JCSA, will once again be held later this year at
the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.
This international three-day exhibition, the only one of its kind
in Africa, has been running for 20 consecutive years and offers
jewellery manufacturers and wholesalers from around the world the
opportunity to showcase their merchandise and product ranges to
retailers.
The yearly Jewellex Collection Awards Jewellery Design competition,
sponsored by JCSA and the Tanzanite Foundation, is another
highlight on the organisation’s agenda.
Aimed at fostering and promoting excellence in the design and
manufacture of fine jewellery among local crafters, the competition
is open to all of Southern Africa’s practising jewellers,
apprentices and students of jewellery design and manufacture.
Finally, the council is also working in conjunction with the
Jewellery Council Laboratory and a diamond committee on a project
to possibly brand diamonds as Sun Cut products under the Proudly
South African banner.
Diamonds marketed under this brand will have to conform to strict
specifications and will be issued with a special certificate and
brochure.