Report by Brygita Lapszewicz

“Beauty will save the world!” – the words of Dostoyevsky, the renowned Russian classic, are echoed by the organisers of “Amber Trip 2012” - the largest jewellery exhibition in the Baltic States, which will take place on March 14–17 in Vilnius. This annual exhibition, which is already in its 9th year, has in a way made Vilnius the unofficial capital of Baltic jewellery.

“Amber Trip” is already established on an international level, and participants from around the world are expected every year.

Art intermingles with business symbiotically during this four-day celebration of jewellery, beauty and fashion. The exhibition is an excellent opportunity for participants to showcase their jewellery and find new customers. Guests, in turn, have an opportunity to get acquainted with the latest jewellery trends, to purchase exceptional products at a special price, and to simply revel in the beauty of the pieces on display, which are veritable works of art.

Since “Amber Trip” is traditionally held in the first half of March, participants and guests have come to refer to the event as a “herald of spring”.

Report by Virginija Pavalkienė
Head of Legal – Inspection Division of Lithuanian Assay Office

Economic entities – legal person, foreign legal person or organisation without legal person‘s status, and their affiliates, as well as natural persons may not carry out commercial-economic activities related with precious metals and gems in the Republic of Lithuania, unless they have been registered in the Lithuanian Assay Office.  
One-time registration fee approved by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania back on 3 September 1998, under the Resolution No. 1077, is LTL 60 + VAT, i.e. LTL 72.60 (EUR 21.03) in total).  Registration certificate is issued for the period  of three years, i.e. every three years economic entities must update their data, provided that their registration is still in effect.  
All articles made of precious metals and gems intended for sale within the Republic of Lithuania must bear 2 (two) compulsory marks: 

Interview with Gumerov Flun Fagimovich, President of the company “ALMAZ-HOLDING”, member of the Committee on Precious Metals of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Russia.

    The company “ALMAZ-HOLDING” has its own jewellery production, i.e. 6 jewellery production enterprises, a powerful far-reaching trade network (over 200 shops) almost in all regions of Russia and in some countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, such as Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, Mordovia, Udmurtia, Chuvashia and the Republic Mari EL as well as in Kazakhstan, and Belarus. Without stopping at the achieved, the company continues developing its retail network by opening 20 new jewellery shops per year.
– Over 30 percent of “ALMAZ-HOLDING” production goes abroad. Do you have any plans about exporting your production in the Baltic Region?
    I am very sentimental about this region. Maybe because there was a time when we were one country, and the Baltic States as if represented Europe, foreign states, fashion novelties.

Report by Jevgeni Kampus
Head Manager Jevgeni Kampus of the company “Sangla”
Member of the Estonian Gold Association

In the re-independent Estonia, the first act regulating the manufacture and sale of articles of precious metals entered into force on 1 March 2003.
The act was prepared by the Assay Office of Estonia which was still operating since the times of the Soviet Union.
The act had received a “cosmetic repair” and was based on the principles of the laws of the Soviet Union adapted to the Republic of Estonia. At that time, this was crucial for keeping the given field alive.
By 2002, it was certain that Estonia would join the European Union and laws needed to be adjusted to new circumstances.
For the first time, a working group suitable for a demographic country was established. It consisted of representatives of the Ministry of Finance of Estonia, the Estonian Consumer Protection Board, leading jewellery manufacturers – Juveelitehas and AS Sangla Juveelisalong, also the representative of the Estonian Gold Association. The Precious Metal Articles Act was prepared.

“Medicine of the future must be

focused on the body energy supply system”

E. I. Gonikman

Knut Rudloff, Director of the

Nordschmuck GmbH

At first I want to make a big compliment to the Polish producer. I’ve worked with amber-goods for almost thirty years, but I have never ever seen such a well done forgery. It is very difficult to distinguish the “Eco-Amber” with eyes only from Real Amber – and that’s the danger about it.

Report by Dr. Grita Skujiene, Lecturer of Vilnius University and Sigitas Podenas Professor of Vilnius University

Baltic amber is fossilized resin of pines that grew in the big territory of in Northern and Central Europe during Eocenian period. Pinus forests usually do not support great diversity of land snails. Because of that we can’t expect that diversity of mollusks could be great in fossilized rezin of amber mother plant. The vast majority of land snails now live in leafy or mixed forests on limestone. The pine forests are the purest in mollusks.

Report by Vladimir Zboikov


Problems of Normative and Legal Regulation in PMG Sphere

   In terms of the normative and legal regulation by Russia, interests of economic entities in each of the aforementioned groups strongly and often drastically differ due to natural and economic reasons: from introduction of the most strict state supervision and maximum of prohibitions (e.g. production of diamonds) up to the complete market liberalization (e.g. jewellery trade).

      The situation is being complicated by natural conflicts of interests of national manufacturers of products from PMG and importers of finished jewellery products from abroad and exporters of PMG raw materials.
   Besides, significant segments of Russia’s sectoral normative and legal framework demonstrate complete “mess” in terms of technical regulation: there is no even an established conceptual row reflecting facilities of the sector. Different facilities are referred to by the same term in various normative documents currently in force. This happens due to the fact that various normative documents on this subject have been developed by different departments and at different periods.
 

Thursday May 29 2008

A Delgany resident accused of stealing almost a quarter million euro worth of jewellery and watches has disputed the value put on the haul.Latvian native Aleksandrs Afanasjevs, of Apartment 15, Church Drive, Edengate, Delgany, was arrested at Weafer Street in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, on May 15 and accused of stealing €19.95 worth of DVDs from nearby Cloke's electrical shop.

Information provided by lrytas.lt

Two young men robbed a jewellery store in Vilnius on Thursday. The damage inflicted equals to EUR 3,770 thousand; one of the suspected is detained.

Information provided by BNS and lrytas.lt

During the joint operation of Lithuania’s Klaipeda city and district criminal investigators, three seaport residents, trading in contraband brilliants and semi-precious stones, were detained.

A grande show of gems & jewellery from Jan 6 – 9, 2012

 Mumbai, 6th January, 2012- GJEPC’s India International Jewellery Show Signature 2012 is back with its 5th edition to showcase the world’s best and finest in gems and jewellery across 22,00 sq mts of space in the financial and commercial capital of India – Mumbai. With over 10, 000 visitors, 800 booths, 450 + exhibitors IIJS Signature 2012 has grown to more than double its size and much more grande than its previous avtaars seen in Goa and Mumbai. The fifth edition of India International Jewellery Show – Signature IIJS is to be held from January 6-9, 2012, at Bombay Convention & Exhibition Centre (NSE Complex), Mumbai.  IIJS Signature has been conceptualized to represent and showcase the best that India has to offer in design, craftsmanship and quality. This exclusive platform will see participation from India’s leading, hand-picked companies who will display the choicest in products and design.