Digico Holdings Ltd acquired the retail jewelry association, Leading Jewelers of the World, under a newly formed subsidiary LJOTW Holdings. Jewelry Marketing Company LLC (JMC) is Digico�s New York-based marketing arm for the independent retailer and the company, which will be directly responsible for the product support of the association. Leading Jewelers of the World chooses market leaders who have shown innovation, excellence, entrepreneurship and have a reputation that is beyond reproach, reports Digico. Each retail member must comply with codes of conduct and abide by the standards and practices set forth by the association.

JMC will develop custom brands by leveraging Digico�s strength in ideal makes, patented special cuts, and its own infrastructure of nationwide sales teams and an in-house marketing division, exclusively for the Leading Jewelers of the World members. JMC�s CEO, Nehal Modi, said that branded credit cards, concierge service for LJW end consumers, private client services, a LJW grading laboratory for the highest market standard, are all initiatives that are in the development stage and should see market introductions by mid-year 2007.

Jack Gredinger, executive director of Leading Jewelers of the World said the organization is primed to fulfill its role as the retail leader in the marketplace and he expects the association will command $l billion in retail market share by 2010, or a four-fold growth from current market share. Digico, a Diamond Trading Company sightholder group, through its Gitanjali entity markets such brands as Gili and D�damas.