NY diamond manufacturers in Jakarta

NY diamond manufacturers in Jakarta

JAKARTA (JP): If the well-being of a nation's economy was
measured by the number of European jewelers infiltrating the
domestic market, then Indonesia is indeed be gaining affluence.

From Jan. 18 to 22, Louis Glick Diamonds of New York is
presenting a display of their jewelry at the Shangri-La Hotel.
On Wednesday, in order to celebrate the occasion and entice local
buyers cloaked in Chanel, Louis Glick Diamonds, in co-operation
with Star Diamonds of Jakarta, also held a glittering fashion
show.

Much of the classically simple collection was comprised of
chokers, pearl-drop or flower-shaped earrings, and tasteful
tiaras.

The quality of a diamond is judged by its color, cut and
clarity. The rings set with rare yellow diamonds were
particularly impressive. Only the "fancy pink" and "fancy blue"
varieties are more expensive. Yet an exhibit cannot exist on
subtlety alone. A half diamond and half emerald necklace, and a
glimmering choker with a dangling massive pearl of emerald,
elicited gasps from the audience.

All the glitter, however, is served strictly on a silver
platter. Although the Louis Glick jewelry is not for sale and
will be shipped straight back to New York after the exhibit, the
minimum a prospective buyer will have to part with is US $50,000.
More ornate pieces fetch more than $200,000.

In defense, Gabriel Ramos, Glick's representative, explains
that Louis Glick Diamonds is the biggest manufacturer of diamonds
in the world, and earns that prestige from producing only the
highest-quality jewelry.

"Our diamonds have life, they have a history", said Ramos,
"and the best French designers work with us, like Buisson,
Souleine and Georland."

Louis Glick began specializing in small diamond manufacturing
50 years ago. Ten years ago, they began venturing into jewelry
design and production. Today they are the second largest diamond
manufacturer in the U.S., supplying handsome jewelry to luxury-
goods houses Cartier, Tiffany and Van Cleef & Arpels.

The move to enter the Indonesian market, Ramos explains, was
fueled by the impressive performance of the Indonesian economy,
and by the increasing share of the Southeast Asian market in
worldwide diamond sales. Southeast Asia, including Hong Kong,
accounts for 40 per cent of total worldwide sales, and Ramos
expects this figure to rise to 60 per cent. Considering that
precious jewels have long been the luxury of the European, North
American and Japanese elite, these numbers come as a surprise.

Ramos elaborates that sales in the U.S. and Europe suffered
due to the recent recession, but has since stabilized. In
Indonesia, however, Ramos "sees a good future, because the GNP
here is growing while elsewhere it is stagnant."

With his enterprise benefiting from an annual sales increase
of 10 to 15 percent, Indra Hidajat from Star Diamonds agree that
the market in Indonesia for luxury jewelry is becoming larger.
His work with Louis Glick Diamonds stem from a desire to widen
the diamonds market here, and to improve the technology and
expertise of domestic diamond manufacturing. The learning
process, however, is still at the infant stage, and Hidajat
acknowledges that "the results of cooperation can only be seen in
the long-term."

-- Dini S. Djalal