International News
Chris Ploof wins Luxury Lifestyle Awards’ Best Luxury Jewelry Honour in the USA

The above engagement rings – Ella, Layla, Hailey, Chloe, and Emma – are hand-forged with precious metal mokume gane, at Chris Ploof’s solar-powered studio in Central Massachusetts.
Chris Ploof Designs, the eponymous brand of blacksmith jeweller Chris Ploof, has won the Best Luxury Jewelry in USA at the 17th Annual Luxury Lifestyle Awards (LLA), held in April. Previous jewellery winners include Tiffany & Co, Bvlgari, Boucheron, Buccellati, Chopard, among others.
The awards recognise the most exceptional experiences, products, and services that embody luxury in the global marketplace. Chris is recognised for his fearless creativity and technical brilliance, forged over decades of innovation, tradition, and uncompromising quality.

“I am extremely honoured to be recognised by the Luxury Lifestyle Awards,” says Ploof. “I love sharing my passion for creating beautiful wearable art with the world. Whether it’s making distinctive patterns in hand-forged Damascus steel or mokume gane, or turning meteorite and carbon fibere into luxury jewellery, my team and I enjoy the process of creation, especially when crafting really cool things from unexpected materials. And we do it all with sustainable business practices in our solar-powered Massachusetts studio.”

International News
Gold continues upward march;Bank of America forecasts $5,000/oz for 2026

Gold prices in India saw a modest rise on Wednesday today Oct 15, mirroring an uptick in international markets as renewed US-China trade tensions and expectations of further US interest rate cuts bolstered demand for safe-haven assets.24k gold traded at Rs.1,28,360/10gm after gaining ₹10 in early trade, while silver prices increased by Rs.100 to Rs.1,89,100 per kilogram.
Gold prices surged to a record high of $4,179.48 per ounce on October 14, 2025. Investors flocked to safe-haven metals amid trade tensions and Fed rate-cut expectations. U.S. December gold futures jumped 57% year-to-date. Bank of America raised its 2026 gold forecast to $5,000 per ounce, warning of possible near-term corrections.
Gold prices soared to an unprecedented $4,179.48 per ounce on October 14, 2025, marking a historic milestone for the yellow metal. The rally comes as investors worldwide seek safety in hard assets amid a turbulent global economic backdrop marked by escalating trade tensions, slowing growth, and expectations of further interest rate cuts by the U.S. Federal Reserve.
The sharp surge in bullion prices has been driven by a combination of macroeconomic uncertainty and aggressive monetary easing. As inflation pressures remain sticky and central banks pivot toward dovish policies, gold has reasserted its role as a hedge against both currency debasement and market volatility.
In futures trading, U.S. December gold contracts have skyrocketed nearly 57% so far this year, underscoring the strength of investor demand across both institutional and retail segments. Analysts note that central bank buying—particularly from emerging markets—has added further momentum to the rally, with several countries diversifying reserves away from the U.S. dollar.
Reflecting this bullish sentiment, Bank of America has raised its 2026 gold price forecast to $5,000 per ounce, citing continued monetary easing, geopolitical instability, and robust central bank accumulation. However, the bank also cautioned that short-term corrections are likely, given the rapid pace of the recent run-up and potential bouts of profit-taking.
Overall, gold’s meteoric rise underscores a broader shift toward safe-haven assets, as investors navigate a world increasingly defined by economic fragmentation, shifting interest rate cycles, and persistent geopolitical risks.
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