Remembering…

Jacques Roisen, who passed away on May 26, was president of the Diamond Manufacturers & Importers Association of America (DMIA) and the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA), honorary life president of both organizations and former co-chair of the Diamond Industry Steering Committee (DISC).

Calling him an icon and legend of the diamond industry, DMIA President Ronald J. Friedman said in a statement that Roisen "taught us about business, family and humanity. His legacy is evidenced by the strength and bond of his family, his record of charitable endeavors and his involvement in industry organizations for the betterment of us all."

"We are, in part, what we are today due to the examples that he set for us. His imprint on our industry and on all of us individually will last forever," added Friedman.

IDMA Secretary General and DMIA vice president Ronnie vander Linden said everybody respected Roisen.

"His career has been amazing. Fleeing from the Nazi destruction in Europe, he arrived in New York from Antwerp and quickly re-built his life, soon to become one of the key representatives of New York's diamond industry, dedicating himself to its growth and success, for the benefit of the entire diamond district."

Isi Beck

Isi Beck, an influential member of the Antwerp diamond industry, died in Antwerp on March 20, aged 89. Beck, who was born in Cologne, Germany in 1923, was a long-time diamond manufacturer. He started in the industry as a cleaver in 1938.

He was business manager of Belgian Diamond Suppliers and member of various diamond organizations, serving as vice president and a member of the executive committee of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses from 1993 to 1998.

Beck joined the Antwerpsche Diamantkring in 1949 and served as its president from 1987 to 1999.

Overlapping with these positions, he held the post of president of the Federation of Belgian Diamond Bourses from 1990 to 1999. He also served as treasurer of the Diamond High Council (now Antwerp World Diamond Centre) in 1987 and as its vice president in 1993.

In honor of his various achievements, he was made a knight in the Order of King Leopold and an officer in the Crown Order.

“The Belgian diamond center loses a dedicated professional with great social responsibility. Isi Beck enriched Antwerp by his presence, foresight and intimate understanding of the business. It is fair to state that the Antwerp diamond industry will miss his dedication,” said WFDB president, Avi Paz.

Manoj Kumar Grandhi

Manoj Kumar Grandhi of Vaibhav Jewellers, a director of the All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation (GJF), was brutally murdered in Bangalore on February 10.

Grandhi was on a buying trip when the driver of his hired car overheard him enquiring about expensive diamond jewelry on his phone.

During Grandhi’s return journey to the airport, the driver pretended there were problems with the car's lights and gearbox. He pulled up next to a black car in which two accomplices were waiting.

The two jumped into the car and the jeweler was driven to a secluded road where he was strangled with a wire and towel and his body thrown into a remote valley.

The driver tried to hide the act by driving to the airport and, after waiting at the check-in zone, called his office to say he had dropped off Grandhi. He then returned to the office and produced a normal trip sheet.

Police were initially unable to make headway in the case as they worked on the assumption that Grandhi had safely reached the airport. Under sustained interrogation, however, the driver broke down, confessed to the crime and tuned in his two partners.

The two accomplices were picked up, and, based on information they provided, a search for the body was initiated. Grandhi's body was found hanging on a tree, 150 feet below the road in the valley.

Howard Rubin

Howard Rubin

Howard Rubin, past president of AGS and inventor of GemDialogue, passed away on January 17 at the age of 86. According to the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers, "His 64-years of gem trade experience touched every facet of the jewelry industry."

 

After serving in World War II as an infantry soldier, Rubin took advantage of the G.I. Bill to became a diamond and colored stone setter.

 

He studied gemology for the second time in 1982 enhancing his knowledge of the science of color, leading him to develop GemDialogue, a system for describing color of gemstones and fancy color diamonds. The system revolutionized the way traders described the color of their stones and made a permanent impact on the jewelry industry.

 

Rubin served as the president of the AGS New York Guild from 1976-1977. From 1979 to 1988 he was vice president of Leer Gem Ltd., the color stone division of M. Fabrikant & Sons. This was followed by a career as a consultant to companies like QVC, Wal-Mart, I.B. Goodman and Charles & Colvard.

 

In 1990 and onward, Mr. Rubin acted as an independent consultant, appraiser and educator. In 1993 he joined his wife Gail Brett Levine’s appraisal practice company, Timeless, Inc., as senior evaluator and appraiser.

 

He was a Senior Member and the National Secretary of the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers (NAJA) and was NAJA’s representative at The Appraisal Foundation serving on the Industry Advisory Council since 2004. Rubin received the 2011 Manhattan Chapter GIA Alumni Chapter Achievement Award.

 

This year saw a spate of tragic work-related accidents. Let’s hope this is the last time we have to report such occurrences.

 

Methane Blast at Alrosa Mine

Two works were killed at an Alrosa mine in Yakuita in August. An investigation confirmed initial suspicions that methane was to blame in the accident, which took place 365 meters underground.

 

Slope Failure at Jwaneng Diamond Mine

Motshwari Raseiteo, a father of three, was buried under an avalanche of soil that collapsed while he was driving through the Jwaneng diamond mine in Botswana. The 34-year old was killed by what was described as a “slope failure.”

 

Tunnel Collapse at Ghaghoo Mine Project

To workers were killed in June when ground at the face of a tunnel collapsed at the Gem Diamonds’ Ghaghoo mine project in Botswana. The company said after a full investigation that additional safety precautions have been put in place. "The company… commits itself to continuing to strive for the highest safety standards for its employees and contractors at all of its operations," said CEO Clifford Elphick.

 

Tunnel Collapse Kills 10 in South Africa

Ten illegal diamond miners were killed during illegal diamond mining activity near a De Beers diamond mine in South Africa. South Africa’s Minister of Mineral Resources Susan Shabangu said in reaction to the event that there were about 600 derelict and ownerless mines in the country.