As I get ready for my next exhibition at Ginza Matsuya Department Store (2/22/2012 to 2/28/2012), Matsuya did a quick write up about me on their website.  Please take a look (in Japanese only).

Matsuya Blog

Just another way to view our new collections, and get information on upcoming shows.  Specializing in 1 carat and up diamond engagement rings as well as a wide selection of diamond earrings, diamond pendants, bracelets, bangles, etc…

As a former diamond buyer for two Debeers Sightholders, and having graduated from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), allow Mark to show you the beauty of diamonds and endless possibilities of creating your own special piece of diamond jewelry.  See, feel, and touch diamonds.

www.facebook.com/Diamonds.co.jp

Or contact us directly at: info@diamonds.co.jp

By Mark Hiroshi Willis

Diamonds Tokyo, Touch Diamond, Diamond Jewelry

And from there, if I see gold breaking the low $1,700′s then we will see it go much lower and I will start buying heavily.

So what will you do?  Will you buy gold or sell gold?

Let us know at:  info@diamonds.co.jp

By Mark Hiroshi Willis

***  Next show is at the Shinjuku Hyatt Regency from 9/29/2011 to 10/03/2011 ***

Specializing in diamonds and diamond jewelry.

This gave me the idea to write this piece: Top 5 Most Interesting Places To Sell Diamonds.

So the countdown begins.   Enjoy.

#5:  The boardrooms of some of the largest international investment banks.  Over the years, I have sold numerous diamond engagement rings, diamond earrings, diamond necklaces, etc… in the boardrooms of various investment banks.  Typically, many of my clients are busy individuals who just do not have the time to go out and search the streets of Ginza for jewelry.  The funny part is, I sometimes know the locations of the meeting rooms better than the client, and end up leading the way.

#4:  Starbucks.  Hmmm I can’t even begin to count the number of diamonds I have sold in Starbucks.  And to add to the list of coffee shops there have been diamond sales in Doutour, Cafe de Crie, the local Mom and Pop coffee shop etc…

#3:  Would you like diamonds with that hamburger?  OK similar to the above coffee shops, I have also sold diamonds in McDonald’s, Lotteria, Mos Burger, etc…

#2:  The open trunk of a car in a parking lot.  Hmm sounds pretty shady to me.  Believe me, it looked shady.  The client actually had quite a few things to dump into his car and also a busy schedule.  So instead of heading to a Starbucks or McDonald’s, we actually did the deal right there.  Counting a stack of cash and handing over a small bag with some expensive merchandise inside.

#1:  And finally we get to last nights delivery.  As I said, the joyful part was not the happy customer, but the actual location.  Drum roll please.  And the #1 Most Interesting Place To Sell Diamonds is:  Hooters!!! Ahhh, life is hard and some of us have to work late at places like Hooters. Drinking beers, eating chicken wings and dealing with the noise and distractions of the staff.  Yes, my job is tough and the sacrifices I make are tough.

So if anyone would like to discuss diamonds in Hooters, please let me know.

By Mark Hiroshi Willis

Specializing in 1 carat and up diamond engagement rings, earrings, pendants etc…

For more information contact us at: info@diamonds.co.jp

Or visit us at our new office at:  Hooters

Keywords:  Diamonds Tokyo, Diamond Engagement Rings, Hooters Japan

Is there anything out there that I want for my birthday?  Well, other than a long holiday in Thailand, the only thing I can think about is gold and some silver.  Luckily for me, the markets took a nice dip today and have offered me a chance to buy in and work on my average.  Could it go any lower?  Yes it could, but in the long term if you look at history and human nature, I only see the price going up.  So instead of buying more “Stuff” that I don’t need, I will go out and buy another gold bar or two.

By Mark Hiroshi Willis

Specializing in 1 carat and up diamond engagement rings and diamond jewelry.

Keywords:  Diamonds Tokyo, Gold, Silver.

Just for your information, did you know that starting from September, we historically see an increase in Gold prices to the end of the year?  Take a look at the data below:

2005  Sept. 1st = $439.60,  Dec. 1st = $513.60

2005  $Increase = $73.40,  %Increase = 16.70%

2006  Sept. 1st = $621.00,  Dec. 1st = $632.00

2006  $Increase = $10.95,  %Increase = 1.76%

2007  Sept. 1st = $672.00,  Dec. 1st = $833.75

2007  $Increase = $161.75,  %Increase = 24.07%

2008  Sept. 1st = $822.25,  Dec. 1st = $869.75

2008  $Increase = $47.50,  %Increase = 5.78%

2009  Sept. 1st = $955.00,  Dec. 1st = $1,087.50

2009  $Increase = $132.50,  %Increase = 13.87%

2010  Sept. 1st = $1,246.50,  Dec. 1st = $1,422.00

2010  $Increase = $175.50,  %Increase = 14.08%

According to my friend, the wait to sell scrap gold was 4 hours at a popular gold dealer in Tokyo.  But if history repeats itself (and we have the data to back it up), wouldn’t you want to go and “Buy” gold rather than “Sell” it?

By Mark Hiroshi Willis (Tokyo, Japan)

Specializing in 1 carat and up diamond engagement rings.

info@diamonds.co.jp

Two days ago I timed the market perfectly and sold my trading position of scrap gold.  Since then, gold prices have plummeted by over 7%.  Will I ever have such luck with my timing again?  I seriously doubt it, but please allow me to toot my horn for a few more days.

What was the reason that made me sell.  First off, the gold price was skyrocketing and I was getting a little uneasy.  I could feel a correction coming around the corner.  Also seeing the long line of old ladies in the market selling their hoard of gold coins, gold bars , and jewelry made me do it. So no there was no real technical data, it was a just “Gut” feeling.

If you are kinda disappointed that my Trading Method does not include some sexy algorithm, then let me add just a little more to my explanation.

Every month there are options expiration dates.  Here we see a lot of traders unwinding there positions.  Therefore, if I have to sell, I typically will do it a few days before they do.  This time the date was the 25th, and I sold on the 23rd (please remember that we also get an extra half day here in japan before the markets in the US open up).

Now here is the million dollar question.  When do we buy back in?  I probably won’t get it right, but I am looking within the next few days.  From past experience I have always bought expensive, but when I look back at those prices today, I sure wish I had bought a lot more at those expensive prices. Just remember, though gold is down 7% from two days ago, it is still up 12% this month.

Both history and human nature do not change, therefore long term trend is for gold and silver prices to continue to go up.

What was the reaction on the street?  All the gold dealers and pawn shops were backed up.  People were selling gold!  From gold coins, gold bars, necklaces, rings, scrap etc… the type of gold being sold was as diverse as the clientele cashing it in.  I even saw an old man selling his gold teeth!  In some places, the wait was over 2 hours. Some shops had to even turn away customers because they ran out of cash to buy.   So did I follow the crowd?  Yup, I sold a bit of my trading position.

I am not a professional when it comes to analyzing the gold charts, but I am buying gold, platinum, and silver on a regular basis for making my jewelry and for investment purposes.  This is what I do know:

1.  Gold had it’s best month since September 1999, going up 16% in this month alone.

2.  Contracts for September Gold Options expire on August 25th and typically we see a pull back around the expiration dates.

3.  The freeing of Libya.

All of the above means that we may see a bit of a correction.  How low will it go and how long will it last?  If I knew the answer to that, I would be sitting on the beach smoking a cigar with drink in hand.

What is my next move?  I will wait out the week and get ready to buy again.  Only by averaging your buy ins can you reduce your risk.  Also the long term trend is for gold to continue to go up.  Here are a few reasons:

1.  Typically gold becomes strong at the end of summer.  With the end of Ramadan, the celebration of Diwali, Christmas, and Chinese New Years, we see massive buying taking place.

2.  Depressed world markets and poor economic data (such as the unemployment numbers) are forcing people to shift to the safety of gold.  Keep your eyes and ears open for what Bernanke has to say at this Friday’s meeting at Jackson Hole.

3.  Various central banks continue to buy gold to diversify their portfolios.  Venezuela plans to take physical delivery of 211 tons of gold (approximately $12 million).

4.  History shows that fiat currencies have a life span of 40 years.  August 15th, 2011 was exactly 40 years since the Bretton Woods agreement where the US Dollar was taken off the gold standard and became a fiat currency.

In my opinion, the reasons to buy gold still out weigh the reasons to sell gold.  I will be waiting for a correction or dip and continue to average my holdings.

For those of you who are thinking of investing in gold, here are a few things to consider:

1.  Gold prices are set in USD.  For those of you buying with Japanese Yen the exchange rate will have a direct impact.  Many times I see the gold price go up, but the Yen strengthens and the end result is no real movement in yen terms.

2.  Buy gold ingots instead of gold coins.  Coins will carry a premium whereas the premiums on ingots are minimal.  If you can buy smaller size ingots without having to pay a premium, do so.  There may be a time when you want to sell off a small amount instead of selling a whole kilo bar.

3.  Don’t forget the tax man.  When selling gold or any jewelry, you will need to give a copy of formal identification.  Amounts over JPY 2 million do raise eyebrows and will be registered (that is why you want to try and avoid 500 gram and 1 kilo ingots).

4.  Some websites to increase your knowledge of gold and to check on gold prices:  Goldprice.org and Kitco .

If you have any questions about gold, diamonds, and jewelry, please contact us at info@diamonds.co.jp

Wow!!!  This watch is brighter than the sun.  Swiss made by Hublot, it took over 1 year to complete from start to finish.  45 gem cutters worked non-stop for a month to cut and polish the total of 143.48 carats of diamonds.  From there it would take over 2,000 hours for master gem setters to set each and every stone.  With a price tag of $3,000,000 and over 140 carats in diamonds, it kinda makes Kim’s diamond engagement ring look…kinda normal

See the details here.

And for those who like a happy ending, here is another story of a woman who finally found her diamond ring in the vacuum cleaner bag of an amusement park.

See the details here.